Review Site Requirements

14 replies
Quick question on what requirements I need to follow when writing a review for a product I haven't actually owned.

I DO NOT want to decieve my readers. Basically I'll be looking at products, reading dozens of reviews from other people who actually bought/used them, and writing a summary of what they have to say. (Which I'll let my readers know is what I'm doing).

Legally, however, is there anything special I have to put on the page or the site letting them know I'm doing this?

Thanks

Michael
#requirements #review #site
  • Profile picture of the author fcf360
    If I were you, I would definitely disclose (at the bottom in small fonts) that you have not actually used the product and that you are taking the opinions of your friends that have used the product. That would be the most ethical thing to do and that is what I do as well when writing reviews on products that I haven't tried out personally myself.
    Signature
    The Warrior Forum
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893674].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author larryboy03
      Originally Posted by fcf360 View Post

      If I were you, I would definitely disclose (at the bottom in small fonts) that you have not actually used the product and that you are taking the opinions of your friends that have used the product. That would be the most ethical thing to do and that is what I do as well when writing reviews on products that I haven't tried out personally myself.
      Don't do that, just add it to your privacy policy, that's what I do.
      Signature
      Do you have a website making money and want to sell it? Contact me, I'm looking to buy sites monetized by Amazon and Adsense!!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893682].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    You're going to review products you haven't actually used?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893687].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Ignore the people telling you to hide the fact that you haven't tried the product in tiny type or bury it in your privacy policy.

      Just tell the truth. In fact, you can make it a positive.
      "Truth time. I don't own this product and I haven't used it. But that's okay. Unless your situation is just like mine, my opinion might not help you much. But the opinions of dozens (or hundreds, if true) of other people might. I've already spent hours reading reviews, and here's what I found..."
      You can sort out the shill reviews and the poison pen trash ones, too. It's like a cop I know says, there are three versions of the truth - his, yours and what really happened.

      Just don't call them "reviews". I like the term "product spotlight"...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893884].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JohnTheJock
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      You're going to review products you haven't actually used?
      He's obviously not bald, does that mean he shouldn't write product reviews for baldness treatments?

      I bet there's some women who write reviews about male enhancement products .... and the chances are ... they've not used them :confused:
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8894167].message }}
    • Thank you everyone. That is exactly what I needed.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8894222].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author AffiliatingAlan
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      You're going to review products you haven't actually used?
      Why do people on WF act like this. Do as I say not as i do = wf
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8894244].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by AffiliatingAlan View Post

        Why do people on WF act like this. Do as I say not as i do = wf
        And you've come to this conclusion, how?

        Here's a newsflash. The FTC very much frowns on "contrived" reviews. So do whatever you feel works, okay?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8894368].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author AffiliatingAlan
          Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

          And you've come to this conclusion, how?

          Here's a newsflash. The FTC very much frowns on "contrived" reviews. So do whatever you feel works, okay?
          lol i bet 80% of affiliate marketers have never used the products they promote.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8897369].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bill Jeffels
    Originally Posted by Michael Levanduski View Post

    Legally, however, is there anything special I have to put on the page or the site letting them know I'm doing this?
    Yes, It'll go like this. ''I have reviewed none of these products of which I'm talking about.''

    '' I have not bought , tested or used these products. Everything Is absolute hearsay and conveyed to me by people who have used these products.''


    Bill


    .
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893887].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
    I would recommend putting up all of the required legal pages on your blog/website such as terms of service, privacy policy, FTC statement, earnings disclaimer, affiliate disclosure, DCMA notice, contact info & refund policy. Those are pages that I put on every review/niche blog that I own.

    There are a few sites on the web where you can go and just fill in the blanks and generate these forms for free. Then you could just copy & paste them onto your blog.

    Also, if you are using WordPress there are a few good plugins out there that will do it all automatically for you. As far as review blogs go, I think one of the most important pages to have is the FTC/affiliate disclosure. It discloses that you have a business relationship with the companies whose products you promote and that you will receive compensation from them should a consumer purchase through your affiliate link. I'm not a lawyer but I do believe that disclosure is required by the FTC.

    Another important one to have is a privacy policy. Lots of merchant services require those as well as a refund policy if you are creating and selling your own products through your blog.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8897402].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author amalgam
    John McCabe is correct. You should never hide disclosures.

    And they should not be incorporated into your privacy policy or terms and conditions policy. Hidden disclosures or disclaimers will provide little or no protection for you and will only serve to make you look bad in the eyes of your visitors, or worse, the court, in the unlikely event you ever have to defend yourself.

    Here is what our attorney had to say about posting disclosures and disclaimers:

    State and Federal law is very clear on disclosures and disclaimers: Disclosures and
    disclaimers are to be posted in a "clear and conspicuous," spot, without defining
    exactly where that spot is.

    The common definition provided by most state and federal agencies is the language in the body of a document is "conspicuous" if it is in a larger or other contrasting type or color font." At a minimum, it must be at least the same size font as the surrounding text. And there should be the likelihood the average person would see the disclaimer, disclosure or privacy policy by itself or as part of a document.

    That said, the best disclaimer or disclosure will probably not protect you against gross exaggerations or writing bad reviews about a product you never used, especially if it causes harm in any way to the manufacture.

    The FTC does have specific guidelines about advertising, endorsing products and making claims.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8972573].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author shadeofinfo
    Alot of great points here but I have a question for those that provided answers. Would people actually decide to purchase something from a person who hasn't used the product themselves?

    And if it is the case that people naturally would do it, then for the person doing the review, is it something that could be monetized and used to sell affiliate products?
    Signature
    Actionable blueprints and strategies for growing your site. www.contentranked.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8972706].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Gambino
      Originally Posted by shadeofinfo View Post

      Alot of great points here but I have a question for those that provided answers. Would people actually decide to purchase something from a person who hasn't used the product themselves?

      And if it is the case that people naturally would do it, then for the person doing the review, is it something that could be monetized and used to sell affiliate products?
      I think there's definitely a way to successfully market a "review of reviews site." Essentially, you're compiling information for the user. Your value isn't providing a first hand review of the product. Your value is compiling reviews of several other reviewers and ultimately providing them in a convenient way to save the user time. Of course, you have to market this up front and honestly. In a way, it's sort of like Angie's list.

      I would use that as the unique selling point.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8972726].message }}

Trending Topics