Quitting Internet marketing.

52 replies
I can rank my websites on google page one. I get decent traffic to my sites. And I am only 5 months old to IM. I make my self around 100 $ per month rite now. And I have so much confidence in my techniques that I can expand all this to make 10000 $ per month by the end of this year.

But something is bothering me and making me depressed like hell. I am not able to understand FTC policies at all. I am worried that they will take down my business and punish me if I am not in compliance with their policies.

I don't have a clue what all is to be put up on my money making sites so that my sites are in compliance with FTC policies. Privacy policies? Compensation Disclosures? Disclaimer? Earning Disclaimer? WTF! Its so confusing!

It gives me nightmares thinking that FTC will sue me! I am just 19! I didn't do anything wrong on purpose, I swear!

I am currently an affiliate of clickbank, amazon and three-four other individual affiliate programs and also run Infolink ads. I'll write them all a letter to close my accounts.

God I am so depressed!
#internet #marketing #quitting
  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
    And you're creating a new thread about this why? Just to tell everyone you're quitting? LOL
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    • Profile picture of the author marcromero
      He's depressed and needs guidance not someone to laugh at him!
      Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

      And you're creating a new thread about this why? Just to tell everyone you're quitting? LOL
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      • Profile picture of the author techservice
        Listen Youngchild and listen good. You are clearly making a good start in IM. Your not scamming anyone. If it makes you feel better to have a compensation disclosure then that’s fine but I guarantee you are not breaking any laws. The FTC will not bother you.

        Your fear is based on ignorance and is not real! get your sites up and come back and tell us how your making $100 days.

        Say the below to yourself:

        "As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil... FOR I AM THE BADDEST MOTHER *UCKER IN THE VALLEY"
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      • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
        Originally Posted by marcromero View Post

        He's depressed and needs guidance not someone to laugh at him!
        Yeah, he needs someone to laugh at him. He has the brains to do this:
        I can rank my websites on google page one. I get decent traffic to my sites. And I am only 5 months old to IM. I make my self around 100 $ per month rite now. And I have so much confidence in my techniques that I can expand all this to make 10000 $ per month by the end of this year.
        but not enough brains to get answers about the FTC?

        "Waaaahh, I'm quitting IM because the FTC scares me!"

        Sorry, not buying it.
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    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

      And you're creating a new thread about this why? Just to tell everyone you're quitting? LOL
      He's not really quitting.
      It's just that these type of threads attract quite a lot of attention.
      So much so, that there are usually around 5 a week started.
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  • Profile picture of the author marcromero
    Just do a little research and dont stress so much. you are to young to be so stressed. Maybe you should just get in touch with the ftc or whoever you are worried about and simply ask them if your website complies and if not what you need to do to change it. Dont sweat it!
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  • Profile picture of the author Conrad Stuart
    Dude, you really need to relax Seriously, think of it this way:

    1) if you aren't doing anything wrong and use all the relevant disclaimers and such, you'll be fine

    2) the FTC has waaaaaaaaaaay bigger fish to fry, no offense

    3) Quitting IM because of that would just be dumb

    4) DO NOT QUIT because of that, holy sh*t man you're worried about practically nothing!

    5) At 19, if you keep at it you could be more successful at 25 than most people become by the time they hit their 40's

    6) DO NOT QUIT please man I promise if you close those accounts you will regret it....more than likely you will realize later on that it was silly and have to start all over again.

    PM me if you need any more help with this.

    and read this now :Shark Tank & Success & Motivation « blog maverick
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  • Profile picture of the author simonbuzz
    Banned
    Don't mind I think this is nothing to discuss about...
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  • Profile picture of the author Eduardo2
    I want to add my take and say that I understand where your worries come from, and even before you said you were 19 I assumed that you were young on age.

    Your fear is relevant and it is good because you are conscious of the world, however...you lack a bit of real worldwide business experience and I'll sum this up like this: as long as you don't guarantee false claims, promise to refund people (but don't), charge people more than the actual price and all kinds of scammy things like this then you are pretty much ok.

    a privacy policy and disclaimer are there so every law or Search engine will know that you are transparent...

    if you are really worried consult with more experienced business IMers, and you can also seek lawyers that expertise in e-commerce.
    you cna also look at well established internet business and copy their disclaimers\privacy policies (because it probably means they know a thing or two...)

    Hope this relaxes you a bit...

    Enjoy
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  • Profile picture of the author TryBPO
    Cheesy, maybe, but I really liked the video, thanks for that. My favorite quote was, "Playing small does not serve the world." Pretty cool...
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  • Profile picture of the author Shana_Adam
    Well done for your success and as long as you have disclaimer pages on your sites you should have nothing to worry about.

    You dont need to be a lawyer and know every detail.

    Your young and have years to learn all the details inside out.

    Focus on the money and create a good life for yourself and your family.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fazal Mayar
    dont worry man i dount you are doing some fraud or breaking rules big time. A lot of people dont know their online legal too.

    keep working
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  • Profile picture of the author Henry White
    Too many have forgotten that the government works FOR us, and when they don't we have recourse at the ballot box as well as in the courts.

    Read this, direct from the FTC:

    Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road | BCP Business Center

    In short, it's mostly boilerplate, but also the parameters so you can CYA.

    Really nothing to worry about, and certainly not any reason to quit IM!

    Sidebar: as mentioned, you're already way ahead of many others who have been at this for years.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by youngchild92 View Post

    I am not able to understand FTC policies at all. I am worried that they will take down my business and punish me if I am not in compliance with their policies.
    I think it's pretty easy to comply with them, actually - "specimens" and "information" are fairly readily available.

    I'm outside the US, and have my sites hosted outside the US, myself, so they don't apply to me ... but I actually choose to comply with them voluntarily anyway, because (a) I like them and think they serve a good purpose and (b) I think I sell more that way, too (especially because of the disclosures - people like honesty and there are ways of wording it to your advantage, too).

    Don't let them get you down ... is my advice. Unless you do anything grotesque, you're far from being the sort of person/business they really want to pursue, anyway.

    I started my online business when I was 19, too ... but am an old lady of 21 now, and wishing you well, if/when you decide to continue.

    Originally Posted by youngchild92 View Post

    I am currently an affiliate of clickbank, amazon and three-four other individual affiliate programs and also run Infolink ads.
    Just a little observation: I found it much easier to concentrate on one thing (Clickbank, in my case), and not try to divide my efforts at all. I'm trying to diversify a little now, but that's after more than 2 years, and now earning a very good living from it. I'd never have managed to make a living from it, if I'd started off doing too many different things.
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    • Profile picture of the author scrofford
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      I started my online business when I was 19, too ... but am an old lady of 21 now
      This right here LOL and old lady of 21 LOL! I only wish I was 21 again errr maybe not though! hahahahahaha! Thanks for making my day Alexa!
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by scrofford View Post

        old lady of 21 LOL! I only wish I was 21 again
        "By comparison", you understand ... "old lady by comparison".

        It's mostly when Caleb Spilchen and James "Jamjar" are posting that I think I'm getting on in years ...
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        • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post


          It's mostly when Caleb Spilchen and James "Jamjar" are posting that I think I'm getting on in years ...
          Alexa,

          Confirmation of thinking you're getting on in years comes when a 21 year old says she feels like she's getting on in years.

          Below is my latest mug shot and soon to be avatar, my current Avatar was from back in the 20's, I just added some colour.

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          Wibble, bark, my old man's a mushroom etc...

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        • Profile picture of the author Caleb Spilchen
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          "By comparison", you understand ... "old lady by comparison".

          It's mostly when Caleb Spilchen and James "Jamjar" are posting that I think I'm getting on in years ...
          Alexa,

          As I tell all women, you still look 16 ;D
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          • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
            Originally Posted by Caleb Spilchen View Post

            Alexa,

            As I tell all women, you still look 16 ;D
            You might be able to do that Caleb but I'd be put behind bars before I could say "Caleb told me to do it......"

            I also doubt you'd say it to this one...

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  • Profile picture of the author scrofford
    Originally Posted by youngchild92 View Post

    I can rank my websites on google page one. I get decent traffic to my sites. And I am only 5 months old to IM. I make my self around 100 $ per month rite now. And I have so much confidence in my techniques that I can expand all this to make 10000 $ per month by the end of this year.

    But something is bothering me and making me depressed like hell. I am not able to understand FTC policies at all. I am worried that they will take down my business and punish me if I am not in compliance with their policies.

    I don't have a clue what all is to be put up on my money making sites so that my sites are in compliance with FTC policies. Privacy policies? Compensation Disclosures? Disclaimer? Earning Disclaimer? WTF! Its so confusing!

    It gives me nightmares thinking that FTC will sue me! I am just 19! I didn't do anything wrong on purpose, I swear!

    I am currently an affiliate of clickbank, amazon and three-four other individual affiliate programs and also run Infolink ads. I'll write them all a letter to close my accounts.

    God I am so depressed!
    What's not to understand? If you mean you don't know what you should do as far as disclaimers and what not, I understand that one, but it's not hard to find out and not worth quitting IM over. I mean it's just another thing you need to research and learn about. No biggie. Not worth quitting over. It's worth studying and finding out how you get compliant.
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  • Profile picture of the author magnates
    Don't let it get to you . It is not as hard as you think it is . Even if you do not have a clue I am sure there are people who can help you with the FTC compliance if you are just ask for help.Don't quit just because of FTC . How many people would not make money online because you decided to quit
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  • Why don't you search for templates for all your legal docs? Just research dude. You can figure it all out. If you can even have a lawyer look at it. Or contact the FTC to find out what you need to do. But you can't let fear run your life thats madness. Fear will cause you to fail and you only fail if you give up. Why would you give up if you have figured out how to make money? Sounds like you just need to do some research bud!

    Peace and Love,

    Anthony Spencer
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  • Profile picture of the author MatthewNeer
    Whether you think you're right or wrong... You're right.
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  • Profile picture of the author webapex
    The pattern of announced legal actions seems to dhow that they only get around to going after gross offenders who have raked in millions from unauthoried CC rebills or have accumulated 100s of complaint submissions to the ftc.
    I've heard interviews of ftc reps. who have said some of the rules scaring so many are more of a guideline, they won't come down on you for missing some punctuation.

    You are more likely to get grief from networks and merchants who also have to worry about their affiliates not misrepresenting them in a way that will get the ftc after them, I hear some are already dictating the type size and placement of disclaimer statements in detail more exact than the ftc has ever defined.
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  • Profile picture of the author corsleymaxwell
    Its nature sometimes we fall. Don't be discourage about what happen at first. My advice is read and read all the nice strategy. Find in GOOGLE or video tutorials about that. And have a rule. Manage well for the next time, especially the TIME. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author gskesavan
    I'm pretty sure you will not quit internet marketing for such a reason.
    You already make $100 / month. You are CONFIDENT that you will make $10k / month by the end of this year. Yet, you want to quit knowing all these things? Sorry, but I will try not to be rude, but this is too absurd.
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by gskesavan View Post

      I'm pretty sure you will not quit internet marketing for such a reason.
      You already make $100 / month. You are CONFIDENT that you will make $10k / month by the end of this year. Yet, you want to quit knowing all these things? Sorry, but I will try not to be rude, but this is too absurd.
      Exactly.

      The subject line is purely designed to attract attention. Nowhere in the OP did he mention quitting, he just said he's terribly depressed the FTC may sue him because he doesn't understand everything they say. :rolleyes:

      Frankly I don't suffer from depression over things like that and think the OP is worrying over nothing.

      Instead of being depressed over such a minor thing, Youngchild should be happy that at 19 he/she has a $100 a month income because if they're getting depressed over this, you're going to have a very tough life and most of it will be self inflicted with no good reason for it.

      You can Google "Online Disclaimer" and there are tons there. If you're using WP, they even have a plugin for it.

      Good luck and don't you even think about giving up.
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  • Profile picture of the author rekerlolz
    Youngchild ...don't let fear make your choices for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claire Sharp
    Don't stress yourself too much with this issue. There are many ways you can do, not by quitting internet marketing. Ask some help from experts, do some research.
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    go read the WSO section see how many "stick two fingers up at the F.T.C." Do not worry. It's the I.M way.
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  • Profile picture of the author bogdan247
    Bashing following... Sorry but I can't help it. That's just absurd. It's like quitting your job because you're afraid of getting fired.
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    • Profile picture of the author CheapTrafficDude
      Originally Posted by bogdan247 View Post

      Bashing following... Sorry but I can't help it. That's just absurd. It's like quitting your job because you're afraid of getting fired.
      ^^ LOL- I quit jobs for stupider reasons... Didn't pay enough, keyboard wasn't flat enough, employer refused to grease the chair, annoying co-workers stealing my chair, taking my garbage can away, asking me to sit somewhere else, equipment failures, didn't agree with new policies, not letting me read the WF etc... Yeah, I'm a lowsy employee but I'm good with computers and bilingual so I get jobs easily

      Ok, back to the original topic... The FTC is first of all a USA based agency and have no power outside the USA unless you scammed someone for LOTS and LOTS of money. As a rule of thumb, here's a few guidelines to fly under the radar.

      #1- Privacy Policy- This is mainly a Google thing but the FTC will like it if you have one.

      #2- Disclaimer- Just to protect your behind.

      #3- Terms of Service- Same as #2

      #4- Disclosure (New For Blogs)- Same as #2 & #3. They want you to make it clear that you are (or not) making money from your site and how you are making money.

      #5- Contact- You run chances of getting reported by your competitors if you don't have one... It just looks fishy if you don't. At least put in a contact form if you don't want to show your e-mail address or phone number.

      #6- Be of legal age in your jurisdiction to enter a legally binding contract. For example if you are not legal age to sign a contract and something happens and you get sued, they won't stand a chance because you had no right to even enter the contract, in turn, your legal guardian will have to pay for it. Affiliate programs might even refuse to pay you and there's nothing you can do about it.

      #7- Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. If you say something like, "I Made $10,000 dollars last month with the tips in this e-book or membership" or whatever, be ready to back it up.

      #8- Pay your dues where dues are due. Pay your taxes on time and keep a paper trace of everything, taxmen are no fun to deal with. Depending on your jurisdiction, you want to check that you havethe proper licenses to operate business. In some places, well, here in Canada, you are required to have a business license if you make over $30,000 of off-payroll tax deductible earnings and yes, affiliate marketing is tax deductible income.

      Depending on where you live, you may be liable to territorial taxes goods and service taxes and as an affiliate, you are offering a "promotion" service which is taxable. For example, if you live in Texas and you offer a consultation service to offline clients residing in Texas, you are responsible for collecting sales tax and submiting it to the IRS.

      #9- Fly below the radar. Don't use any "Blackhat" tactics, you never know who'll you'll run into.

      #10- stay up to date with new FTC guidelines. Usually, you'll see a notice somewhere in here.

      I sincerely hope I didn't scare you. Honestly though, the FTC go after the big fish, those who run money laundering schemes and multi million dollar scammers. There not that bad, the proof, look at how many Clickbank garbage products are still there and how any have been exposed in the social media

      Hope this helps and all the best to you!

      PS: I'm NOT a lawyer nor entitled to give legal advice, just well rounded in the legal field.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kal Sallam
    Bro That's nothing to worry about I guarantee you!
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  • Profile picture of the author omk
    It's really not that hard to understand. Find someone who has more exprience and ask them for help. You can also find a good attorney familiar in this area. Otherwise, unless you're very successful and making a lot of noise, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Get the help you need to make sure you are in compliance and you'll be fine.
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  • Profile picture of the author OrangeBull
    Originally Posted by youngchild92 View Post

    I can rank my websites on google page one. I get decent traffic to my sites. And I am only 5 months old to IM. I make my self around 100 $ per month rite now. And I have so much confidence in my techniques that I can expand all this to make 10000 $ per month by the end of this year.

    But something is bothering me and making me depressed like hell. I am not able to understand FTC policies at all. I am worried that they will take down my business and punish me if I am not in compliance with their policies.

    I don't have a clue what all is to be put up on my money making sites so that my sites are in compliance with FTC policies. Privacy policies? Compensation Disclosures? Disclaimer? Earning Disclaimer? WTF! Its so confusing!

    It gives me nightmares thinking that FTC will sue me! I am just 19! I didn't do anything wrong on purpose, I swear!

    I am currently an affiliate of clickbank, amazon and three-four other individual affiliate programs and also run Infolink ads. I'll write them all a letter to close my accounts.

    God I am so depressed!
    So you are telling me there may be a niche market not being served for Internet marketers who need a product that tells them in plain English what they can legally do and remain in compliance with the FTC?

    Thanks for the tip. As a lawyer, that one will go in the products to create file.
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  • Profile picture of the author mysterrio
    The FTC will let you know if you are in violation...lol
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  • Profile picture of the author Alfredo Carrion
    Check with your local small business advice organisation if you're really that worried. Besdies if you aren't out to scam anyone, display the regular disclaimers, you should be fine.
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesGw
    Take some Lexapro and keep working damnit.
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  • Profile picture of the author MurkieMurkie
    Where do I get a complete write up on FTC anyway?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Banks
    MOVE TO CANADA
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  • Profile picture of the author DavidTT
    dont quit. You can always make your way past anything but if you quit, its all over.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    The FTC is a complaint-driven organisation.

    They are not going to do a damn thing unless and until the complaints start piling up in their office and someone says "We had better do something about this 19 year old guy selling this Clickbank stuff."

    But that's not going to happen to you, because you don't have that many people complaining about you.

    Even if you did, they're not really complaining about YOU, but about the product you promoted. That product has way more complaints than just yours, and - like Frank Kern found out - they're going to go for the head of the snake and take out the product.

    Meanwhile, you'll just pick another Clickbank product from the same general category and you'll be fine.
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  • Profile picture of the author DavidTT
    ^Id be more afraid of that ceiling cat honestly....
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  • Profile picture of the author Reed Floren
    Originally Posted by oncewerewarriors View Post

    but who or what is an ftc

    im not in usa so i dont need it i guess
    Federal Trade Commission if you market to USA residents you need to comply with their rules, they do go after companies/individuals who live outside of the US
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  • Profile picture of the author nicolas simpson
    I cant understand as to why you are worrying so much and you said that you have not done any thing wrong. It just don't make sense. All you need to do is research on what is bothering you so that you can know how best to deal with it.
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