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Selling ebook & FTC. Any Connection?

by lydia515
7 replies
Hi fellow warriors,

I hope someone can clarify for me in regards to FTC. If I'm selling an ebook as opposed to earning a commission, am I affected by the new FTC rulings? Thanks in advance.

Lydia
#connection #ebook #ftc #selling
  • Profile picture of the author lydia515
    Hi all,

    I really hope somebody can chirp in here. I know FTC affects a lot of us IMers because we do affiliate marketing. But if we sell ebooks and pocket the money, are we still affected by the new FTC rulings? I really hope someone can help out here. Thanks again
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    • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
      Originally Posted by lydia515 View Post

      I know FTC affects a lot of us IMers because we do affiliate marketing.
      That's not entirely correct how you phrased it.

      You must abide the FTC rules because you are marketing. Not because affiliate marketing. Seller or affiliate - the rules are the same.
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  • Profile picture of the author Teresa Coppes
    Are you referring to the testimonial/reviews part of the FTC ruling? Whether you are a seller or an affiliate you have to abide by the rules.

    Example: Your new ebook that you want to sell is on weight loss. You received a testimonial from a couple people saying how they lost x amount of weight. The FTC ruling states (to my understanding) that you have to have an average. So if one person lost 100lbs but another only lost 10lbs you have to take the average of that. (I am not a lawyer & cannot speak FTC gibberish so it's best to talk with an expert).

    But in essence, yes - you have to follow the same rules.

    Teresa
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  • Profile picture of the author koncorps
    I thought you were selling an ebook and THE FTC, I got excited.
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    • Profile picture of the author lydia515
      Thanks to all who have replied. So if my ebook does not have any testimonials, do I still need to have a disclaimer that says basically "Hey, anything you buy from any of the links on this site earns me a commission..."

      Just wanted to be sure. Otherwise, I guess just to be save, I'll just state something along those lines.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
        Originally Posted by lydia515 View Post

        Thanks to all who have replied. So if my ebook does not have any testimonials, do I still need to have a disclaimer that says basically "Hey, anything you buy from any of the links on this site earns me a commission..."

        Just wanted to be sure. Otherwise, I guess just to be save, I'll just state something along those lines.
        If you don't have testimonials, you pretty much don't have to worry about any rules governing them.

        As far as a commission disclaimer, the supposed intent of the new rules was for website owners to disclose when they earn a commission (or get freebies or some other remuneration) on a product they promote or endorse or recommend.

        If John Smith writes "Buy this book I read and think is great," you don't know whether John Smith is recommending the book because he enjoyed it or because he gets a commission if you buy it (or both).

        However, if John Smith writes "Buy my book," it's pretty much a given that he's going to make money if you buy his book.

        In the former, there is no indication of the relationship between John and the book while, in the latter, it's quite clear that John receives a benefit if you buy his book.

        Thus, in the former case, a disclosure becomes necessary while, in the latter, none is necessary because the relationship is clear.

        Of course, I'm not a lawyer or FTC representative or anything, so none of this should be construed as professional advice.
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  • Profile picture of the author verbose
    No what the FTC is cracking down is claims you cannot support. So if in your book you say the average person can make 1000 dollars a day you better have proof that they are earning that much.
    Easiest thing to do is on the front page you can state these are your earning and results depend on them doing the work needed to achieve your results.
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