{Our next guest post is courtesy of D.C. flack and photographer Stacey Viera, who ponders how much disclosure to provide when promoting your clients on social networks and/or entering into partnerships with other vendors.}

“In the interest of full disclosure.” How often do you use those six little words? I would argue, probably not often enough.

I acknowledge that full disclosure can be overused. “In the interest of full disclosure, I’m married.” Hey, I didn’t ask if you wanted to go on a date. I just wanted to know if you were done with the Metro section of the paper so that I could read it!

But how often do we see a Tweet from a PR person promoting their “friend,” only to find that it originated from a paid client relationship? Or a Facebook link for a “beautifully designed new blog” that we only later learn was designed by the same person who posted the link?

There’s something to be said for sharing client news on social networks, let’s not rehash what you’ve learned at conventions, roundtables and from countless blogs. But there’s a way to share information with your network and promote clients to potential partners/clients and earn credibility, not chip away at it.

Be transparent. Once upon a time (OK, more like a few years ago), I hired a fantastic PR firm with the knowledge that they had a bigger client on their roster who could be seen as my competitor. But after some time (and success!) the other client was not so thrilled, and we ended up parting ways after a great year together.

Be trustworthy. The work they did for us was stellar; I’d hire them again in a minute. I can make that statement because when we parted ways, I knew they were completely honest from the get-go about potential conflicts. That earned my trust and respect.

Be honest. What if my former colleagues hadn’t disclosed that essential information? And what about the social networking flacks mentioned in the paragraphs above? It would lead me to wonder, “what else are they hiding?” If you’re honest up front, you’ll never allow the seeds of doubt to be planted in the client’s mind.

Let’s talk about where do you draw the line between too much or too little disclosure:

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Stacey Viera, freelance PR pro and photographer with Best Light Communications, LLC in Washington, D.C., works with clients in food, government relations and other industries to present them in the best light.

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