The end of affiliate marketing?

48 replies
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is planning to stop bloggers from getting paid for endorsing products unless they explicitly say they are getting paid for their endorsements.

More details here:
The Associated Press: FTC plans to monitor blogs for claims, payments
#affiliate #end #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[985518].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author la dominatrix
    Affiliate marketing will never end as long as producers of products want to reach a wifder audience. As a service it will always have a value, it may well change. What am I talking about it will change but at the ned of the day it will remain a legitimate service. As big says "Not likely...not by a long shot!"
    La dominatrix
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[985544].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Adrian Cooper
    I can see the reasons behind it.

    Blogs are trusted sites designed to blog about every day experiences, observations and viewpoints, not to promote IM products.

    Blogs have been extremely abused for years now, and the average blog reader is finding it increasingly difficulty to know what is genuine and what is a biased sales pitch.

    I personally think that all IM'ers should use websites configured for purpose.

    Anyone using a blog for IM now will always be wondering whether they will get spotted or reported for promoting affiliate products, so time to change is now.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[985628].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author sahi
      But what about the bloggers that are outside USA and don't come under the jurisdiction of FTC? They can still keep on promoting/endorsing products without disclosing their affiliation with them in any way.
      Signature

      Get your Brand mentions/Interviews in top magazines around the US & UK like Forbes, Harvard EDU, American Express, INC, Entrepreneur, LA weekly, and many more
      Email Me for more details and share your requirements.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[985636].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Michael_burke
        Originally Posted by sahi View Post

        But what about the bloggers that are outside USA and don't come under the jurisdiction of FTC? They can still keep on promoting/endorsing products without disclosing their affiliation with them in any way.
        I live in Ireland so will my blog be affected? not if these new changes stay in the US.. but we'll probably see a global sway in this direction sooner or later
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[985883].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Not a chance of the affiliate system being destroyed.

    Sure more roadblocks will be built but savvy and well informed affiliates will always earn good money.

    TL
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[985861].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Adrian Cooper
    It isn't about affiliate marketing it is about affiliate marketing on blogs.

    Create a normal site, i.e. not in blog format and it is a non issue.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[985875].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author enrikole
    YES, if affiliate marketing was "posting fake reviews on blogs" .

    But that is not the case. This is just a tiny method and will by no means mean the end of affiliate marketing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986195].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hersh
    The end of affiliate marketing??!?!

    What are you talking about?

    All my subscribers know that I'm an affiliate. I never hide the fact that I'm getting paid and that's why I'm so successful with them. I have to other list in other niches which I can't really tell them that I'm an affiliate and they are not responsive at all.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986208].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author squeezecpa
      To say the end of affiliate marketing is abit misleading.I don't see it as a bad thing. It'll help bring some credibility to the industry. Corporations need affiliates, as they've realised how powerful we can be. But certainly, blogs have always been viewed as an information media, and I guess grass roots bloggers who do it for the passion will be for this possible legislation.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987583].message }}
  • Affiliate marketing is not coming to an end, I can assure you of that. The FTC is cracking down on flogs (fake blogs) for good reason and a lot of it has to do with the government grant flogs that were EVERYWHERE a few months ago.

    A lot of affiliate marketers made a great deal of money the "lazy way" with those flogs. Particularly before Facebook cracked down on them advertising there. It really was a "cash grab" for a while.

    Were they ethical? Well, that depends...

    How ethical is a celebrity endorsement for a product? Does Jamie Lee Curtis really scarf down Activia all the time? Does Tiger Woods really drive a Buick Enclave?

    Of course, I'm not taking the position that flogs are ethical, my point is that there are very, very gray areas still left to be partitioned into what is "acceptable" and "not acceptable" for affiliate marketing. Since this industry is so young, its taking legislators this long to finally start to look into the business - for better or for worse. And they only showed this much interest after being swamped with complaints about shady rebilling practices by the advertisers.

    Sorry to go off-topic, but I felt that some back story was warranted to help give you some perspective that the sky is not falling and there will be plenty of products/services for you, I, and everyone else here to promote for years to come.

    -DareDevil
    Signature
    DareDevil Marketing
    Fearless Marketing Strategies
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986219].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jeff Noel
      I love this idea of cracking down by the FTC not only with blogs and fake testimonals but in general the whole IM marketing community.

      However not only should they be cracking down on unethical affiliates I also think that they should also hold the merchants accountable on the people they choose as affiliates. For example if you run a brick and motor business and your salesperson misrepresents the product or service being sold. It is the merchant who gets the big slap on the wrist first. Then the merchant has to take action against the employee.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986252].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Cash37
      Originally Posted by Daredevil Marketing View Post

      Affiliate marketing is not coming to an end, I can assure you of that. The FTC is cracking down on flogs (fake blogs) for good reason and a lot of it has to do with the government grant flogs that were EVERYWHERE a few months ago.

      A lot of affiliate marketers made a great deal of money the "lazy way" with those flogs. Particularly before Facebook cracked down on them advertising there. It really was a "cash grab" for a while.

      Were they ethical? Well, that depends...

      How ethical is a celebrity endorsement for a product? Does Jamie Lee Curtis really scarf down Activia all the time? Does Tiger Woods really drive a Buick Enclave?

      Of course, I'm not taking the position that flogs are ethical, my point is that there are very, very gray areas still left to be partitioned into what is "acceptable" and "not acceptable" for affiliate marketing. Since this industry is so young, its taking legislators this long to finally start to look into the business - for better or for worse. And they only showed this much interest after being swamped with complaints about shady rebilling practices by the advertisers.

      Sorry to go off-topic, but I felt that some back story was warranted to help give you some perspective that the sky is not falling and there will be plenty of products/services for you, I, and everyone else here to promote for years to come.

      -DareDevil
      This.

      Nothing new... and nothing is dead..
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986271].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author plasticman
        Can't the FTC just stay out of our lives? Everyday the government dips a little deeper into our shorts and nibbles away. I'm an honest guy and won't screw anyone but as a capitalistic society isn't one of our motto's 'caveat emptor'.

        Sorry for outburst... I'll step down off my soapbox now...
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986387].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author The Pension Guy
    plasticman,

    If we accept that "caveat emptor" is the only motto that the capitalistic society should honour... then we gave a lot of ammunition to floggers to defend their unethical, dishonest way of doing business by putting fake testimonials, lies etc. on their sites - because you agree with them that ALL the responsibility should be on the visitors/readers/buyers shoulder. Is it really that what you want to promote?
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986465].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author plasticman
      Pension - didn't say it was the only motto but one of the mottos.

      Our government is so bloated and ineffective now that there is no possible way they can regulate a fraction of a fraction of the ridiculous laws they implement. But yet they keep churning out these laws and regulations that do nothing but hurt the common man and small business.

      Come on, honestly, should "stopping bloggers from getting paid for endorsing products unless they explicitly say they are getting paid for their endorsements" be on the governments agenda?


      Originally Posted by The Pension Guy View Post

      plasticman,

      If we accept that "caveat emptor" is the only motto that the capitalistic society should honour... then we gave a lot of ammunition to floggers to defend their unethical, dishonest way of doing business by putting fake testimonials, lies etc. on their sites - because you agree with them that ALL the responsibility should be on the visitors/readers/buyers shoulder. Is it really that what you want to promote?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986611].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
    Wow.. cool! Now, there won't be anymore of dick pill ads.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986470].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
    Affiliate marketing, per se, has been around FAR longer than the internet.

    Basically anyone that gets paid a commission for anything is essentially an affiliate - offline as well. That's the basic model; affiliate marketing as we tend to think of it has just made that same concept very easy for anyone to get into on the internet.

    The end of affiliate marketing? Definitely not. Might keep a couple more people out of the game, but there are always ways around it too.. You should have a disclaimer/privacy policy or something on your blog/site anyways; Google likes those.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986544].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HR_MBA
    Might make sense actually. In Australia a couple of radio commentators got into alot of trouble for "Cash for Comments", where they would talk up products on-air but not mention they were being paid to do so.

    Bit hard to distinguish between entertainment and advertising these days anyway
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986656].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
      Originally Posted by HR_MBA View Post

      Might make sense actually. In Australia a couple of radio commentators got into alot of trouble for "Cash for Comments", where they would talk up products on-air but not mention they were being paid to do so.

      Bit hard to distinguish between entertainment and advertising these days anyway
      That's pretty much the entire American entertainment industry to a tee.

      Product placement? oh yeah - it's huge. And it's just one small part of this picture...
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986662].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by plasticman View Post

        Can't the FTC just stay out of our lives? Everyday the government dips a little deeper into our shorts and nibbles away. I'm an honest guy and won't screw anyone but as a capitalistic society isn't one of our motto's 'caveat emptor'.

        Sorry for outburst... I'll step down off my soapbox now...
        Leaving aside the soap box fodder, as a practical matter there needs to be something beyond 'caveat emptor'. As a coping mechanism for dealing with the sheer volume of ads and other stimuli bombarding us, we establish patterns and automatic reactions to things.

        If we train consumers that "I have to watch out or I'll get lied to, cheated and otherwise hosed", consumers will simply stop believing all reviews, testimonials, etc.

        As Ben Franklin said, "A cat who sits on a hot stove will never do it again. Nor will she ever sit on a cold stove."

        Next time you see a celebrity pushing a product on TV, look for the magic words in small, faded type flashing across the screen - "Paid Endorser".

        Check your Sunday paper or mainstream magazines for the disclaimer 'advertorial' or 'special advertising supplement'. These folks are still in business and presumably making money because the ads still run.

        Heck, here in Florida there's a lawyer referral service that advertises heavily. The opening line is "Hi, I'm [Name]. I'm not a lawyer, just a spokesperson for ..." It doesn't seem to be hurting their business any...
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986754].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
          I love your signature John....
          Signature
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986808].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author plasticman
          I believe Franklin also said...

          Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."

          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          Leaving aside the soap box fodder, as a practical matter there needs to be something beyond 'caveat emptor'. As a coping mechanism for dealing with the sheer volume of ads and other stimuli bombarding us, we establish patterns and automatic reactions to things.

          If we train consumers that "I have to watch out or I'll get lied to, cheated and otherwise hosed", consumers will simply stop believing all reviews, testimonials, etc.

          As Ben Franklin said, "A cat who sits on a hot stove will never do it again. Nor will she ever sit on a cold stove."

          Next time you see a celebrity pushing a product on TV, look for the magic words in small, faded type flashing across the screen - "Paid Endorser".

          Check your Sunday paper or mainstream magazines for the disclaimer 'advertorial' or 'special advertising supplement'. These folks are still in business and presumably making money because the ads still run.

          Heck, here in Florida there's a lawyer referral service that advertises heavily. The opening line is "Hi, I'm [Name]. I'm not a lawyer, just a spokesperson for ..." It doesn't seem to be hurting their business any...
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986890].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author psresearch
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          Next time you see a celebrity pushing a product on TV, look for the magic words in small, faded type flashing across the screen - "Paid Endorser".

          Check your Sunday paper or mainstream magazines for the disclaimer 'advertorial' or 'special advertising supplement'. These folks are still in business and presumably making money because the ads still run....
          I was thinking the same types of things. Even though I already have an affiiate disclosure policy at the site there is what I consider to be an irrational mental block from using words like "Sponsored Reviews", "Advertorials", "Sponsored Listings" even though I am aware that in the mainstream media that IS how things are done and it obviously can work very well.

          MediaBloggers in fact requires their bloggers to use the words "Sponsored Review" by their sponsored review in order to qualify for the special insurance deal that they recently secured for the blogging community.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987309].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author worlok
    What about blogs where you have, say, Amazon ads embedded as blog posts? I'm not reviewing or saying anything about them in that case. They are just there. they are a blog entry, but anyone with half a brain can tell it's not a review post.

    I can't wait until this overreaching liberal government goes down in flames, hopefully in the next midterm elections to send a message and then for good in 2012. I knew these people were going to be nothing but trouble.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986710].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author plasticman
      Originally Posted by worlok View Post

      What about blogs where you have, say, Amazon ads embedded as blog posts? I'm not reviewing or saying anything about them in that case. They are just there. they are a blog entry, but anyone with half a brain can tell it's not a review post.

      I can't wait until this overreaching liberal government goes down in flames, hopefully in the next midterm elections to send a message and then for good in 2012. I knew these people were going to be nothing but trouble.
      Amen brother. I knew this guy and his cronnies were going to be bad...but this bad? I had no idea! I almost to the point where I wish he would talk to Jimmy Carter on fiscal policy.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986929].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    When you realize that "affiliate marketing" is simply another term for a company having a "commissioned salesperson" who is working as an independent contractor instead of as an employee, you'll quickly realize that affiliate marketing is not going to end.

    It is a common and well-established means for obtaining customers.

    All the FTC is looking for is more transparency in online recommendations to combat fraud. That is so easy to comply with it is a non-issue.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986734].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Pat Ordenes
    I'm really not a fan of these 'the end of...' threads. I mean, let be realistic when starting on topics and not use the element of fear to spark conversation.
    surely there's more positive things to focus on...
    just my opinion.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[986920].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author worlok
    I wouldn't mind if I could just cover it with a sentence in my TOS, but I fear that every post will need a disclaimer thus making the whole thing so impractical as to be nigh impossible to continue. Hopefully this is a non issue because I have my doubts that something as slow and as inefficient as government could ever hope to police all of the blogs out there. Maybe they'll be too busy chasing after the totally automated scam blogs.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987088].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
      Originally Posted by worlok View Post

      I wouldn't mind if I could just cover it with a sentence in my TOS, but I fear that every post will need a disclaimer thus making the whole thing so impractical as to be nigh impossible to continue. Hopefully this is a non issue because I have my doubts that something as slow and as inefficient as government could ever hope to police all of the blogs out there. Maybe they'll be too busy chasing after the totally automated scam blogs.
      Another little thing to keep in mind is that in pretty much every case I've seen, the FTC waits until someone is making enough money to make it worth their while.

      IE - they never go after someone who is making a few bucks on the side with affiliate marketing. Their MO is to wait until someone has a decent sized business then go in and slam them hard and take all their revenues.

      I've heard quite a few stories of the FTC actually waiting until businesses hit that critical mass and THEN moving in, even though nothing changed and they were well aware of what was going on all along.

      The vast majority of warriors aren't going to hit that critical mass anytime soon.

      I wouldn't be too bothered about this...
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987114].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author plasticman
        Originally Posted by JonathanBoettcher View Post

        Another little thing to keep in mind is that in pretty much every case I've seen, the FTC waits until someone is making enough money to make it worth their while.

        IE - they never go after someone who is making a few bucks on the side with affiliate marketing. Their MO is to wait until someone has a decent sized business then go in and slam them hard and take all their revenues.

        I've heard quite a few stories of the FTC actually waiting until businesses hit that critical mass and THEN moving in, even though nothing changed and they were well aware of what was going on all along.

        The vast majority of warriors aren't going to hit that critical mass anytime soon.

        I wouldn't be too bothered about this...
        Good point but the whole concept of such a practice is obnoxious.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987143].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author psresearch
        Originally Posted by JonathanBoettcher View Post

        Another little thing to keep in mind is that in pretty much every case I've seen, the FTC waits until someone is making enough money to make it worth their while.

        IE - they never go after someone who is making a few bucks on the side with affiliate marketing. Their MO is to wait until someone has a decent sized business then go in and slam them hard and take all their revenues.

        I've heard quite a few stories of the FTC actually waiting until businesses hit that critical mass and THEN moving in, even though nothing changed and they were well aware of what was going on all along.

        The vast majority of warriors aren't going to hit that critical mass anytime soon.

        I wouldn't be too bothered about this...
        The FTC definitely wants to go after the bigger fish in most instances.

        As far as them knowing what's going on and moving in later, keep in mind a couple things.

        1) Sometimes companies are given a "clean up" period. In one of the recent cases, one of the companies on the Operation Shortchange list was giving the appearance of "cleaning up" while still working out deals with another buyer to set the whole scam up under a different name.

        2) The FTC has VERY limited manpower and is seriously underfunded.

        In my discussions with one of the senior litigators there she told me she doesn't even have a paralegal! And she was working an insane amount of hours on just one of the cases, had to go through several hundred complaints, find the RIGHT people to testify (and who were willing to testify voluntarily ideally) on specific points, was working with an investigator who was taking time off work who was the ONLY person she had to collect much of the evidence she needed. It goes on and on.

        The FTC cannot go before the courts with a request for an injunction until it has ALL of it's ducks in a row and certainly cannot make the general public aware that they are doing anything at all about a case, because if they did then the companies would quickly try to pull away as much potential evidence as possible before the FTC could collect it.

        So my guess is there is a REAL alternative explanation for may just be a perception of the FTC waiting to move in.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987341].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author actionplanbiz
    Shall we Also say

    " We Get Paid When You Click On Ads! and When You Opt In To My Newsletter, There is A Chance i Will Make Money off You "
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987187].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Viggie
    Having the regulations is not an issue and would protect the consumers. I just feel that no one nations government should be able to impose any regulation on the internet. This sanctions should come from an international organization which governs content on the world wide web. State governments have no business in the world wide web it transcends borders and needs to be treated as such.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987190].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JECKELLL
    The end of affiliate marketing?
    I dont believe that for a second, Im sure true internet marketers can adapt to this, you just have to get creative, and creatively bend the rules
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987192].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author stevenbrandon411
    Bloggers should have to say whether they are getting paid for their endorsements. It is so hard to believe that any of the endorsements on the internet are real nowadays.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987223].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mikemcmillan
    Alexa, I love your posts so this isn't a criticism. You said, "Liberty, in this context, meaning 'liberty to conceal the truth from people', perhaps?" Not easy to imagine that's quite what Benjamin Franklin had in mind, is it."

    However, if we were to jail everyone who concealed the truth from others, the House, Senate, and office of the president couldn't assemble a quorum to conduct business. Just a thought Alexa--keep up the good posts!

    Beginning Of Rant: I have seen a lot of people post against putting up blogs to promote products as affiliates which they have never bought or seen personally. I do this all the time and I make no apology for it to anyone. I tell visitors right up front that I am an affiliate, and in many cases I have openly mentioned that I have not purchased the product. On such blogs I have included free information valuable to affiliate marketers. I make no false claims, nor do I make any earnings promises. I simply describe the product from information I have collected.

    I do not call these review sites--they are not. I am promoting a product. But the reason people come to my pages and order through my links is 95% due to the unique and substantial bonuses I offer. This is no different than a car dealership offering free gas for a year, free oil changes, or free inspections if you buy through their franchise. It's about the bonuses and it is a totally legitimate and honorable way to do business. It's only when people make fake claims and/or use misleading testimonials that deception occurs.

    I do not demand that a car salesman have driven a car I buy from them. I do not require a Realtor have lived in a house that I buy through them. I do not require that an affiliate marketer purchase and read a product before promoting it. Just an opinion. When I buy a product online I never buy from the vendor--I always buy through an affiliate so I can get a bunch of free stuff.

    If you look at goobers' pitch pages for new products you will find that in the vast majority of cases, their testimonials come from fellow uber-goober-affiliates in on the product launch. That falls into a greyish area, however, in my opinion.

    Back to the review pages. If you have a problem with bloggers setting up pre-sell pages to promote products they haven't purchased and read themselves, then--you must surely be aghast at your own government's activities. Over the past six months we have witnessed time and time again, rules committees in both the House and Senate put 1,000-page bills up for votes without even 24 hour periods for reviews by House & Senate members.

    My question to you is this: If your congressmen vote to pass a bill (providing an implicit testimonial or vote of confidence for it) without ever reading the bill themselves--should that act fall under the FTC proposed rule for review pages or testimonials? It is no different that what the FTC proposed--additionally, many of the legislators receive donations from companies who profit from the legislation. There is some deceptive marketing for you.

    The purpose of the government of our republic, in the eyes of every objectivist, and in the intent of the founding fathers, is/was to protect our personal property and our liberties. Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more!

    Anything else the thieving robber barons of government do falls under personal profiteering or social engineering, neither of which I find mentioned in the Constitution.
    Signature

    I'll help you create a reputation-building evergreen product in any niche and launch it successfully!
    Check it out here.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987252].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author plasticman
      Sweet post. Anyone who thinks government is a solution to anything should should visit us in Michigan for a few months a see the toll of government over-regulation and the suffocation of the free market.

      Again, great post.

      Originally Posted by mikemcmillan View Post

      Alexa, I love your posts so this isn't a criticism. You said, "Liberty, in this context, meaning 'liberty to conceal the truth from people', perhaps?" Not easy to imagine that's quite what Benjamin Franklin had in mind, is it."

      However, if we were to jail everyone who concealed the truth from others, the House, Senate, and office of the president couldn't assemble a quorum to conduct business. Just a thought Alexa--keep up the good posts!

      Beginning Of Rant: I have seen a lot of people post against putting up blogs to promote products as affiliates which they have never bought or seen personally. I do this all the time and I make no apology for it to anyone. I tell visitors right up front that I am an affiliate, and in many cases I have openly mentioned that I have not purchased the product. On such blogs I have included free information valuable to affiliate marketers. I make no false claims, nor do I make any earnings promises. I simply describe the product from information I have collected.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987391].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jeff Noel
      Originally Posted by mikemcmillan View Post

      The purpose of the government of our republic, in the eyes of every objectivist, and in the intent of the founding fathers, is/was to protect our personal property and our liberties. Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more! Nothing more!
      Man oh man you need to preach that to your "Goverment of Republic" I think they forgot about that one. lol
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987402].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by plasticman View Post

        I believe Franklin also said...

        Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."
        Cracking down on scammers does nothing to limit their ability to choose to scam. If someone wants to post phony reviews for money, no one is stopping them. On the other hand, even in the real Wild Wild West, they used to hang horse thieves...

        Originally Posted by mikemcmillan View Post

        Beginning Of Rant: I have seen a lot of people post against putting up blogs to promote products as affiliates which they have never bought or seen personally. I do this all the time and I make no apology for it to anyone. I tell visitors right up front that I am an affiliate, and in many cases I have openly mentioned that I have not purchased the product. On such blogs I have included free information valuable to affiliate marketers. I make no false claims, nor do I make any earnings promises. I simply describe the product from information I have collected.

        I do not call these review sites--they are not. I am promoting a product. But the reason people come to my pages and order through my links is 95% due to the unique and substantial bonuses I offer. This is no different than a car dealership offering free gas for a year, free oil changes, or free inspections if you buy through their franchise. It's about the bonuses and it is a totally legitimate and honorable way to do business. It's only when people make fake claims and/or use misleading testimonials that deception occurs.
        That's my point. You don't have to lie to people to make money as an affiliate. If you had something on offer as an affiliate, I'd have no problem at all buying through you.

        Another poster said something about disclaimers on ads. Posting Amazon listings in blog posts that are obviously Amazon listings is not lying. It's not very original, but it's not lying. Adsense ads have their disclaimer built in - the little tag line that says 'Ads by Google'. Not flashing neon, but there and not hidden.

        Just for the record, I'm all for personal liberty. The flip side of the coin is personal responsibility for the consequences of exercising that liberty. If you aren't prepared for that "if you don't want the time, don't do the crime."

        I'm ignoring the personal anti-government rants because they belong in the off-topic forum.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987558].message }}
  • Affiliate marketing never will die, affiliate marketing is living so long how long are living market- thousands years, and to talk about end...
    Signature
    Buy Vitamins Online- Save Africas Childrens from Death! Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria! With our help we can stop this deadly disease! £1 of every purchase in this site will go for saving childrens lifes!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987333].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Adrian Cooper
    I think this has been taken out of context.

    Affiliate marketing lives on. In fact in a few years it will be the very backbone of eCommerce. Paying commissions on sales has worked for the last 200 years and will work for the next 200 years.

    But that is not the issue.

    The issue is perception.

    The general public, the casual web browsing type, perceives a blog as an authority and the author an expert, thereby adding disproportionate weight to the blog posts.

    We all know blogs are horribly abused. There have been plenty of "products" out there that create them by the million and automatically fill them full of junk.

    The main issue though is where the blog author reviews a bunch of products, or recommends a single product, for no other reason that he makes $50 per sale, while presenting the product as the best thing since sliced bread, not ever having seen it.

    How many people here actually purchase the products they promote? Be honest.

    If the FTC targets blogs that would be good for the Internet. The proper platform would be Joomla or XSite Pro based sites or whatever, that actually look like review or affiliate sites.

    I have seen countless blogs that could get busted by the FTC. Frank Kern got busted a few years back for far less.

    As the saying goes - there is no smoke without fire.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987372].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JakeDaly
    As long as you're honest, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. It's not a coincidence, either, that honest marketing is the only long-term business plan that works for all of the successful marketers here on WarriorForum.

    If the FTC later does attempt to crack down too hard on us innocent folk, though, they'll be in a tizzy fit over the amount of web businesses and affiliate programs that will become hosted, registered, & servered in third world countries rather than here.

    But knowing the FTC, they'll probably try to enforce some "All U.S. citizens must register and host all of their online endeavors within the United States" type of law sometime down the road.. but no, affiliate marketers will always be one step ahead. Kind of like drug kingpins, except it's the FTC instead of the DEA trying to bring us down.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987393].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Adrian Cooper
      Originally Posted by JakeDaly View Post


      If the FTC later does attempt to crack down too hard on us innocent folk, though, they'll be in a tizzy fit over the amount of web businesses and affiliate programs that will become hosted, registered, & servered in third world countries rather than here.
      The point of enforcement is the place of residence.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987415].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author p2y
    I love sensationalism.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[987796].message }}

Trending Topics