Is it illegal to sell a e-book about golf to other people if you've never played it before?

[cleojonesuk]

Maybe golf should be made illegal? That'd really confuse things.

[forthwrite]

Personally I think this brings up an interesting point of discussion. Most people will promote niches that are completely unrelated and have no relevance to one another what so ever.

Because of this, people will then use commercial licensed photos, pen names etc to avoid being caught out. Many people may not be an expert in their field, but they have researched and obtained vast knowledge of a topic which they will then send information out to mailing lists trying to sell products to them.

So based on the above, without breaking any laws, you may be using a name that isn't yours, a photo that isn't you, and sending information to people who think you're an expert, even though you don't have that much personal experience with what you're talking about.

Now I know I exaggerated a bit above, but what are the legalities to keep an eye on in the affiliate marketing world in this regard? I think many people may be bordering with fraud in some instances and aren't aware of it.

[madison_avenue]

If someone is dissatisfied because you haven't turned them into the next Tiger Woods, you can just offer a refund.

[rarebiz]

If you talk or bluff like you have played it, that's unethical.

[naruq]

No it is not illegal. Marketers write e-books and create products on sport niches where they never played the sport.

[Scott Million]

Originally Posted by forthwrite

Personally I think this brings up an interesting point of discussion. Most people will promote niches that are completely unrelated and have no relevance to one another what so ever.

Because of this, people will then use commercial licensed photos, pen names etc to avoid being caught out. Many people may not be an expert in their field, but they have researched and obtained vast knowledge of a topic which they will then send information out to mailing lists trying to sell products to them.

So based on the above, without breaking any laws, you may be using a name that isn't yours, a photo that isn't you, and sending information to people who think you're an expert, even though you don't have that much personal experience with what you're talking about.

Now I know I exaggerated a bit above, but what are the legalities to keep an eye on in the affiliate marketing world in this regard? I think many people may be bordering with fraud in some instances and aren't aware of it.

Sounds like you're not doing any affiliate marketing. This is the kind of negative stuff that keeps people from taking action.

Put up a disclaimer on your site if you're paranoid. Use your real name if you're selling a product.

If you're making an affiliate site, why would you need to have any name on there? Just refer to yourself as YourSite.com

"YourSite.com recommends XXX based on in depth research and consumer feedback found from X.com, x.com, and x.com."

Nothing wrong or illegal about that type of recommending.

[forthwrite]

Originally Posted by Scott Million

Sounds like you're not doing any affiliate marketing. This is the kind of negative stuff that keeps people from taking action.

Put up a disclaimer on your site if you're paranoid. Use your real name if you're selling a product.

If you're making an affiliate site, why would you need to have any name on there? Just refer to yourself as YourSite.com

"YourSite.com recommends XXX based on in depth research and consumer feedback found from X.com, x.com, and x.com."

Nothing wrong or illegal about that type of recommending.

So if you build up a list in various different niches, you're going to refer to yourself as yoursite.com1 and yoursite.com2 when communicating with them?

I'm not trying to be negative at all by the way, I was genuinely intrigued as to what the appropriate methods are in this context.

[Mayfair Pearl]

hi

no its not illegal. thats what click bank is about. i would say that its unethical. my advice to you is to promote products that you have actually tried that way you will come across more genuine. or at the very least promote products that you have an interest in

[GeorgR.]

it as as "illegal" as your favorite celebrity promoting BRAND X on television in a commercial.

Do you think

a) She/He is REALLY promoting this because it is a kicka$$ product and she/he really, really likes it

b) She/He is in the commercial rather because she/he got offered a HUGE CHECK by Company Y to be in the commercial

If you chose a) then you might have a problem

Some more old truths:

a) Race Cars do NOT have all those stickers on there because it looks "cool"
b) football players and whoever big sports celebrity usually doesnt care whatever name is on their shirt - rather how much they get for having the name on it
c) "Product placement" in movies is usually not done because the actor (or fictious movie character for that matter) likes PEPSI..but rather because they have a contract with PEPSI, or maybe Coke didnt pay enough

d) Nothing speaks against promoting a book/product, you don't have to state that YOU actually wrote it...also its rather irrelevant whether you're a golfer or not, its really just a matter of wording.