Will FTC Screw up my REAL Reviews?

[alleycatnews]

I know the point of the FTC stuff is suppose to be hey results not typical etc.. And in testimonials etc...

My question is this though.

I run review sites. Real reviews where I buy the product or get a copy from the vendor and then review the product etc.. And give weekly/monthly updates on how it is going for me. Of course I have a link to the site with my affiliate link on the site if the product has any merit.

I suppose I got to put that these are my results and not typical stuff? Even though it isn't my site. And say that is my affiliate link.?

thoughts?

[Drew Castle]

As long as you state that results aren't typical, and don't know the average results, I can't see how they could reign on your parade.

[bgmacaw]

If they want to mess with you, they will. You're already guilty of at least 3 federal felonies anyway under current laws.

[getsmartt]

hmm.. IANAL, but you are personally reviewing a product, as long as you state that you either received a free review copy and/or are being compesated for your review. and somewhere you state that you are an affiliate, I do not think that you have to worry about the "average user thing".

[hjalte81]

This is my take on the FTC Guidelines for Affiliates:

First of all, it doesn't effect us all that much. The FTC clearly states that it is first and foremost the vendors responsability that the guidlines are overheld (I've no idea how they'll manage to keep up with this)
I belive they are trying to hit down on some of the FLOGS (Fake Blogs) out there, as well as the fake testimonials on both affiliate and vendor sites.

However, In the time of writing, the FTC Guidelines for affiliates aren’t very clear. The only info we get, is to “be upfront and straightforward” about our relationship with the company, which products we review.

The guidelines don’t state anything about where we should be upfront and honest. In fact, they don’t mention anything about affiliate marketing (not as I read it anyway).

So, we need to find a balance so that we are upfront, but at the same time, we don’t have to write that we’re getting affiliate commissions with big red letters all over.

The first step is obviously to write a disclosure policy, where you make sure to let everyone who’s reading it, know that you get affiliate commissions (we already done that in the “Disclosure policy” step earlier)

The next step is to make sure that the disclosure post isn’t too hard to find on your blog.

So I would put links to my disclosure in my sidebar.

And maybe write something like this at the end of your presale page:

There is affiliate links in this post – read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

As I read them, I believe this would be enough.

What do you guys think?

[Steven Wagenheim]

Here is what you have to do.

If you are an affiliate, you must state that if they purchase the product off
of YOUR recommendation that you will be compensated for it.

As for the review itself, you are not the product creator, so you don't have
to account for all other uses of the product. Just be honest about your
own results and state that you don't know what the typical results are
but these are mine.

Have documentation to back it up and you'll be fine.

Bottom line: Be above board with everything and you'll be fine.

[SeanSupplee]

I have not really read up on this yet but will have to however couldn't you make a general disclosure and then at the bottom of a review post just put in a link to the disclosure on your blog? Would that cover you?

[hjalte81]

Originally Posted by SeanSupplee

I have not really read up on this yet but will have to however couldn't you make a general disclosure and then at the bottom of a review post just put in a link to the disclosure on your blog? Would that cover you?

Yes, that is what I'm thinking also.

"I'm getting commissions for purchases made through these links" or "There are affiliate links on this blog - I do get commissions from time to time"?

I can't find anything that states that you HAVE to do it as an affiliate as you haven't received anything yet (besides the free product review, maybe)

[hjalte81]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Here is what you have to do.

If you are an affiliate, you must state that if they purchase the product off
of YOUR recommendation that you will be compensated for it.

As for the review itself, you are not the product creator, so you don't have
to account for all other uses of the product. Just be honest about your
own results and state that you don't know what the typical results are
but these are mine.

Have documentation to back it up and you'll be fine.

Bottom line: Be above board with everything and you'll be fine.

Steve, are you sure on this or is this your interpretation of the guidelines?
Not saying you're wrong or anything, just want to know how you get to that conclusion.

Thanks anyway

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by hjalte81

Steve, are you sure on this or is this your interpretation of the guidelines?
Not saying you're wrong or anything, just want to know how you get to that conclusion.

Thanks anyway

Look, I am not a lawyer, but I read that PDF 3 times.

The FTC, in my opinion, is not out to screw people.

Conduct your business honestly and ethically and you should be fine.

Having said that, NOBODY here is qualified to answer your question
definitively.

If you're concerned, get a hold of a lawyer who is an expert in this type
of law and have him or her look at your site.

That is your best course of action.

[hjalte81]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Look, I am not a lawyer, but I read that PDF 3 times.

The FTC, in my opinion, is not out to screw people.

Conduct your business honestly and ethically and you should be fine.

Having said that, NOBODY here is qualified to answer your question
definitively.

If you're concerned, get a hold of a lawyer who is an expert in this type
of law and have him or her look at your site.

That is your best course of action.

I think you're right. The Guidelines aren't made to get more fish in the net, but to make everything safer and better for the consumers.

I don't think this is at bad as many make it. I agree with what your are saying and that being honest and ethical should be enough.

Thanks for your input Steven.