As a commentator and adviser, I act as an independent advocate for my clients when choosing software and service options. I am occasionally paid by vendors for product R&D purposes as well as for speaking engagements / podcasts / interviews. More often than not, I will forgo payment - although I will accept travel budget assistance which is quite standard in the IT industry. I am referral partner for a Microsoft Office platform called InTapp a point I make to all vendors and clients at the beginning of discussions.
Several vendors offer me referral programs / agreement if their solution is ultimately selected by a client in a situation where they were not already engaged with the prospective client, but I decline these - I ask for my 'commission' to be handed back to the client, after all, they are paying me.
At conferences I am predisposed to picking up diaries & pens and other marketing gimmicks/SWAG (much to my wife's chagrin), but the use of a vendors pen does and should not reflect as an endorsement of said vendors product - some just buy nice pens they hand out!
I built my business on being annoyingly and fiercely independent and this is reflected in how my articles are written and my clients advised. I do not - sadly in retrospect - own shares in any companies I write about - my stockholdings are limited to what is contained in my superannuation fund (currently Macquarie) the choice and investment of which shares are bought & sold, I have no control of.
If you have any questions, drop me a line.
Alan
