Comments on: Testimonials and Endorsements Subject of New FTC Guide http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide Internet Marketing Strategies, Techniques, Tips And Tricks Every Website Owner, New Or Experienced, Should Know, To Become Successful Too! Tue, 22 May 2012 06:12:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mentors 4 U http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-25349 Mentors 4 U Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:35:07 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-25349 Any time the FTC is mentioned it naturally becomes a nerve wracking situation. However, educating ourselves on the stipulations and laws is the best choice. If we turn our head to these warnings that is when problems could stem from Just gather as much info on the regulations as you can and implement them into your affiliate or small business. All will be good in a few months Megan Any time the FTC is mentioned it naturally becomes a nerve wracking situation. However, educating ourselves on the stipulations and laws is the best choice. If we turn our head to these warnings that is when problems could stem from

Just gather as much info on the regulations as you can and implement them into your affiliate or small business. All will be good in a few months

Megan

]]> By: Tony Shepherd http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24947 Tony Shepherd Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:02:54 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24947 Does this mean that any testimonials that DON'T mention earnings will be allowed? My best (off the cuff) guess is that 80-90% of testimonials don't mention actual amounts. If we remove T's with earning figures the rest might be fine. Obviously a test case / legal ruling is needed on this but it's interesting..... Tony Shepherd Does this mean that any testimonials that DON’T mention earnings will be allowed?

My best (off the cuff) guess is that 80-90% of testimonials don’t mention actual amounts.

If we remove T’s with earning figures the rest might be fine.

Obviously a test case / legal ruling is needed on this but it’s interesting…..

Tony Shepherd

]]> By: Andy Beard http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24935 Andy Beard Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:09:26 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24935 Johnny, Seems like you might do some stuff in the weight loss niche, which is business to consumer. In such a situation you would want to be running a Limited company just for financial security, and then if you have websites as a Ltd company you need to have full business details easily visible. I am not a lawyer... but you probably need one. Johnny,

Seems like you might do some stuff in the weight loss niche, which is business to consumer.

In such a situation you would want to be running a Limited company just for financial security, and then if you have websites as a Ltd company you need to have full business details easily visible.

I am not a lawyer… but you probably need one.

]]> By: Case Stevens http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24934 Case Stevens Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:03:33 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24934 Of course it's your call Johnny, but you may want to read that guide again. Oh, and for activities in Europe, read John Furst's article <a href="http://blog.fcon21.biz/274/regulations-advertisers-in-usa-and-eu-should-know-about-ftc-and-european-commission/">Regulations Advertisers in USA and EU Should Know About</a>. Europe is even worse! Of course it’s your call Johnny, but you may want to read that guide again.
Oh, and for activities in Europe, read John Furst’s article Regulations Advertisers in USA and EU Should Know About. Europe is even worse!

]]> By: Sarah http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24946 Sarah Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:10:46 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24946 Ugh guidelines make everything more complicated.. Thanks for posting about it, I doubt I would've found out otherwise. I'm going to check out that plugin you mentioned, seeing as I'm probably going to need it by December! Ugh guidelines make everything more complicated.. Thanks for posting about it, I doubt I would’ve found out otherwise. I’m going to check out that plugin you mentioned, seeing as I’m probably going to need it by December!

]]> By: Johnny http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24932 Johnny Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:47:39 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24932 Well now it would seem that you have to add more BS to your disclaimer thanks to the FTC. Anyway, the FTC will probably start to hunt down the big guys, well known infoproduct creators, not people with small businesses. I'm from europe and I'm more of an affiliate rather than a product creator, so no, this won't affect me personally. It's not fair for the other people though.. Best regards Johnny Well now it would seem that you have to add more BS to your disclaimer thanks to the FTC.

Anyway, the FTC will probably start to hunt down the big guys, well known infoproduct creators, not people with small businesses.

I’m from europe and I’m more of an affiliate rather than a product creator, so no, this won’t affect me personally. It’s not fair for the other people though..

Best regards
Johnny

]]> By: Real Estate Guy http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24923 Real Estate Guy Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:20:20 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24923 Keeping everything above board is never a bad thing. I don't think it will drastically affect bloggers other than adding an additional disclaimers to posts (where it's warranted) and a blanket disclaimer on the site. However, I always have issues with the Government doing things on a case by case basis because of the subject nature of it. We'll have to see how this one unfolds Keeping everything above board is never a bad thing. I don’t think it will drastically affect bloggers other than adding an additional disclaimers to posts (where it’s warranted) and a blanket disclaimer on the site. However, I always have issues with the Government doing things on a case by case basis because of the subject nature of it.

We’ll have to see how this one unfolds

]]> By: Case Stevens http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24901 Case Stevens Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:16:18 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24901 Ah, thought they wouldn't allow them. Thanks for clearing that up! :-) Ah, thought they wouldn’t allow them.
Thanks for clearing that up! :-)

]]> By: Andy Beard http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24899 Andy Beard Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:22:51 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24899 Actually Clickbank have no problems with bonuses as long as people stick to the rules set, which aren't always easy to find. Discounts/rebates are out You have to make it clear that the bonus is your responsibility not Clickbank or vendor. Deliver bonuses within stipulated times (automate it makes sense) Actually Clickbank have no problems with bonuses as long as people stick to the rules set, which aren’t always easy to find.
Discounts/rebates are out
You have to make it clear that the bonus is your responsibility not Clickbank or vendor.
Deliver bonuses within stipulated times (automate it makes sense)

]]> By: Case Stevens http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24897 Case Stevens Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:33:33 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24897 LOL John! LOL John!

]]> By: John W. Furst http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24895 John W. Furst Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:44:19 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24895 We will learn to live with it. Considering the upcoming holidays, this changes come with a fairly short notice. Some markets enjoy their best revenues at the end of the year. It's not really a good season to fiddle with proven copy and to change sales letters and autoresponders, ... I mean downgrade them from "here are my best results" to "NOT SO EXCITING". How will consumers react? They have been trained to expect too much, and get little in many markets. Most of them adapted; only a minority ran off to the FTC and complained. Will copy about "averages" pull as well? Likely not. A new approach is needed. Moving from "results" to "experience". This kind of stimulus package certainly works for copywriters and lawyers. Well, done. Yours John W. Furst Disclaimer: I only had 1 cup of coffee today, therefore, I am not sure if I make sense. Let's call it a joke to be on the safe side. (No medical, financial, legal, advice. Consult a professional of your choice.) BTW: Nobody has or will pay me for writing a comment here. (It's a shame I know.) We will learn to live with it.

Considering the upcoming holidays, this changes come with a fairly short notice. Some markets enjoy their best revenues at the end of the year. It’s not really a good season to fiddle with proven copy and to change sales letters and autoresponders, … I mean downgrade them from “here are my best results” to “NOT SO EXCITING”.

How will consumers react? They have been trained to expect too much, and get little in many markets. Most of them adapted; only a minority ran off to the FTC and complained.

Will copy about “averages” pull as well? Likely not. A new approach is needed. Moving from “results” to “experience”.

This kind of stimulus package certainly works for copywriters and lawyers. Well, done.

Yours
John W. Furst

Disclaimer: I only had 1 cup of coffee today, therefore, I am not sure if I make sense. Let’s call it a joke to be on the safe side. (No medical, financial, legal, advice. Consult a professional of your choice.)
BTW: Nobody has or will pay me for writing a comment here. (It’s a shame I know.)

]]> By: Case Stevens http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24882 Case Stevens Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:00:26 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24882 @Andy LOL. Clickbank won't be happy with your bonus idea! @Andy
LOL. Clickbank won’t be happy with your bonus idea!

]]> By: Case Stevens http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24881 Case Stevens Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:57:17 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24881 @Bohol Yes, decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis. That means that chances of getting caught are minimal, but IF you are subject to investigation, you won't be happy with that, whatever the outcome. @Bohol
Yes, decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis.
That means that chances of getting caught are minimal, but IF you are subject to investigation, you won’t be happy with that, whatever the outcome.

]]> By: SEO wizz http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24879 SEO wizz Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:40:53 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24879 It is a bit of a pain and I question the effectiveness of the guidelines, but let's face it, all it takes is adding a disclaimer link to the top of your page or at the end of every post, not really a big deal. Tim It is a bit of a pain and I question the effectiveness of the guidelines, but let’s face it, all it takes is adding a disclaimer link to the top of your page or at the end of every post, not really a big deal.

Tim

]]> By: Case Stevens http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/testimonials-endorsements-ftc-guide/#comment-24880 Case Stevens Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:44:29 +0000 http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/?p=1042#comment-24880 @Tim No, it's not that easy! If you're an affiliate, you have to disclose any relationship with the vendor. Same applies if you're doing paid reviews or getting free review copies. As for testimonials and endorsements, you can't get away with the term 'results are not typical', certainly not within a disclaimer or TOS page. You have to explicitly mention what results ARE typical! How would you do that? Read Michael Fortin's post: <a href="http://michelfortin.com/affiliate-marketing/" rel="nofollow">Is This The End of Affiliate Marketing?</a> @Tim
No, it’s not that easy! If you’re an affiliate, you have to disclose any relationship with the vendor. Same applies if you’re doing paid reviews or getting free review copies.
As for testimonials and endorsements, you can’t get away with the term ‘results are not typical’, certainly not within a disclaimer or TOS page. You have to explicitly mention what results ARE typical!
How would you do that?
Read Michael Fortin’s post: Is This The End of Affiliate Marketing?

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