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What does "As Seen In ..." really mean?

by Raydal
28 replies
I'm seeing more and more websites using the logos from
some very reputable companies and claiming "as seen in"
"as seen on" etc.

If I paid to advertise my business in TIME magazine, can I
ethically claim "As seen in TIME magazine" in my promotions.

I find that many marketers are simply lying and others are
smudging the lines. If I advertised in a magazine then I
should claim "As ADVERTISED in ...." but not a "As seen in"
because they mean completely different things.

Maybe it's just me. Or is it?

-Ray Edwards
#as seen in
  • Profile picture of the author Floyd Fisher
    You are dead on. Unless it was mention in an article, that is a flat out lie.

    A better thing would be 'see our ad in xxxxxx magazine' which reflects the truth more accurately.
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  • Profile picture of the author Freeman77
    HAve you seen banners that claim "As seen in Goolge, Adsense, EzineArticles, etc." As if those are some very exclusive sources.

    It's true that people are deceptive, and are slipping by on a technicality. I suppose if I showed up in the Oprah audience and flashed my product to the camera, I could claim, "As seen on Oprah!"
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Ray,

      I would have the same response as you on this, if I'd seen "as seen on/in" and then discovered they meant as advertised in.

      That is definitely not how the expression is normally used.

      You are right to call attention to this as either deceptive or deliberately misleading.

      And if it becomes common, I am going to have to advise my publicity clients to use a different expression!

      Marcia Yudkin
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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        I would have the same response as you on this, if I'd seen "as seen on/in" and then discovered they meant as advertised in.

        That is definitely not how the expression is normally used.

        You are right to call attention to this as either deceptive or deliberately misleading.

        Isn't there a whole "As Seen On TV" brand? You know where you see their stuff on TV?

        Infomercials.

        It's nothing new. I'm not saying I agree with it. I'm just not the least bit surprised that it's making it's way to CPA offers, other IM offers, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
      Originally Posted by Freeman77 View Post

      It's true that people are deceptive, and are slipping by on a technicality. I suppose if I showed up in the Oprah audience and flashed my product to the camera, I could claim, "As seen on Oprah!"
      I'm sure if you were in the Weight Loss niche you could always talk about those unsightly extra pounds and include the "As seen on Oprah!" tag line without being deceptive.

      KJ
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    • Profile picture of the author Raydal
      Originally Posted by Freeman77 View Post

      I suppose if I showed up in the Oprah audience and flashed my product to the camera, I could claim, "As seen on Oprah!"
      This is funny, but it introduces the matter of CONTEXT.

      TIME = Respected news media.
      Oprah = Popular Interest?

      The New England Journal of Medicine = Scientific Proof.
      WSO Poster = War Room Member

      So whenever these sources are mentioned a context is implied.
      If I were in the crowd at the inauguration of the president it
      would be wrong for me to mention "As seen on all major news outlet"
      on my copywriting site. Because this implies the answer to the
      question: "Was seen how?" ... In other words, featured.

      -Ray Edwards
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  • Profile picture of the author blase40
    I have noticed a lot of people will say things like as seen in the New York Times, and all they do is put a placement targeted adwords ad somewhere on the site. It's pretty funny.
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  • Profile picture of the author Suthan M
    You know, this is very popular with Clickbank products !! Wonder why !
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    Whats the latest movie you watched? Anything good?

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    • Profile picture of the author Hesaidblissfully
      It's an attempt to piggyback of someone else's credibility. Aside from the issue of misleading readers, I don't think it's even legal to use someone's logo without their permission, especially when you benefit financially from it.
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      • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
        It's an attempt to piggyback of someone else's credibility. Aside from the issue of misleading readers, I don't think it's even legal to use someone's logo without their permission, especially when you benefit financially from it.
        Excellent points. Keep in mind that Oprah and the FTC have recently filed suit against infomercial marketers for misleading and false claims. You are risking legal action if you claim "As seen on Oprah" when the exact product you are selling was not featured on Oprah - or wherever you are claiming.

        What some of you think is funny, law enforcement officials may have an entirely different view of the matter.

        Marcia Yudkin
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Hesaidblissfully View Post

        It's an attempt to piggyback of someone else's credibility. Aside from the issue of misleading readers, I don't think it's even legal to use someone's logo without their permission, especially when you benefit financially from it.

        I've seen advertisers in Neverblueads putting in their TOS that affiliates cannot use those logos in their ads, but can use the words as seen on ....
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  • Profile picture of the author globalpro
    Ray,

    Marcia pretty much nailed it. The legalities of it is the issue. I have seen what you are talking about and I know some of the places I have seen this that it's a lie.

    I do like the possibilities of 'As Seen in the Warrior Forum'.

    Thanks,

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author .X.
    There is a right way to do things.

    And . . .

    There is a wrong way to do things.

    Some people know the difference
    and some people don't.

    X
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  • Profile picture of the author msafi
    Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

    marketers are simply lying
    No way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author misterwrecker
    We all have noticed the "As seen on TV" logos. We usually see this stamped on infomercial products. All that means is someone paid thousands of dollars to place an ad on TV and now they can stamp an "As seen on TV" logo on their product. So if someone paid money to advertise in Time Magazine and then places an "As seen in Time magazine" logo on their product, I don't see a problem with this. (Providing Time Magazines agrees accordingly.)


    -John
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      "As seen on TV"
      This doesn't have the same meaning at all as the examples Ray brought up.

      It doesn't imply any endorsement because there is no news-type show or magazine mentioned.

      This expression is used when there is a product that has, up to a certain point, only been available in TV infomercials and then suddenly is available through other channels, such as direct mail or online.

      Marcia Yudkin
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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        This doesn't have the same meaning at all as the examples Ray brought up.

        It doesn't imply any endorsement because there is no news-type show or magazine mentioned.
        I agree and disagree.

        They both use the word "seen". And technically, that's where you saw it.

        The first is meant to imply that TV is an authority. Plenty of people find credibility in what they see on TV, hear on the radio, or read in the newspaper. Even the advertisements. If they see it enough, it gets ingrained in their brain to associate the advertisers products with the show they find credible. And some of that credibility is subconsciously transferred.

        And for some people, you don't even need a show to associate with it. They watch so dang much TV that the TV itself is what has the credibility. And if they see an ad repeated enough on TV, it's credible.

        And the "As Seen on TV" is counting on that.

        The two examples are not all that different. It doesn't make them right or wrong. Just similar. The right or wrong judgement is one people have to make for themselves. But I don't see how you can separate the 2 completely.
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        "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
        ~ Zig Ziglar
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        • Profile picture of the author Hesaidblissfully
          Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

          I agree and disagree.

          They both use the word "seen". And technically, that's where you saw it.

          The first is meant to imply that TV is an authority. Plenty of people find credibility in what they see on TV, hear on the radio, or read in the newspaper. Even the advertisements. If they see it enough, it gets ingrained in their brain to associate the advertisers products with the show they find credible. And some of that credibility is subconsciously transferred.

          And for some people, you don't even need a show to associate with it. They watch so dang much TV that the TV itself is what has the credibility. And if they see an ad repeated enough on TV, it's credible.

          And the "As Seen on TV" is counting on that.

          The two examples are not all that different. It doesn't make them right or wrong. Just similar. The right or wrong judgement is one people have to make for themselves. But I don't see how you can separate the 2 completely.
          You're right about the psychology behind it, but there's still a big difference between saying "As seen on TV" and saying "As Featured on CNN" with the copyrighted CNN logo that you're using on your website without CNN's permission for monetary gain.
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  • Profile picture of the author JustinHart
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      the hope is that you will think that the PRODUCT was featured.... in reality it isn't
      That is the very definition of what makes something misleading!

      Here is what the FTC says:

      The Commission believes that to be deceptive the representation, omission or practice must be likely to mislead reasonable consumers under the circumstances.

      The basic question is whether the act or practice is likely to affect the consumer's conduct or decision with regard to a product or service. If so, the practice is material, and consumer injury is likely, because consumers are likely to have chosen differently but for the deception.
      Plainly stated, it is against the law to mislead people to think that something about your product is true that is not true, if that something makes them more likely to buy it.

      Marcia Yudkin
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  • Profile picture of the author diro
    Hello Raydal,

    I seem to remember that in the last 10 days or so several companies including Harpo (Oprah's company) filed several hundred lawsuits & Cease and Desist Orders over this exact thing. Their claim is that unless you r product was actually featured, you cannot claim "seen on" or anything similar. If I can find the article again I'll post a link to it for all.
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  • Profile picture of the author mdunn123
    I issued a press release for a site of mine awhile back and it was picked up the likes of AOL, Yahoo News, Google News, of course PRWeb, EmediaWire, AOL (not front page or anything close but still), Topix, and Technorati (like thats a hard one lol).

    I've put up an image banner showing that I've been featured on those sites because I have. And it goes live soon.....will see if it boosts conversions It should in theory.
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  • Profile picture of the author DrewG
    Basically it's a form of building a visitor's trust. So let's say CNN has an article about **** berries: well every landing page is going to put "as seen on CNN, etc, etc" in regards to the product they're trying to sell.
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  • Profile picture of the author mdunn123
    I've actually known a marketer awhile back who put as seen on Google, MSN, CNN etc because he had adsense on those sites and adwords etc running...and thought it was ok...it was a funny argument
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