Comments on: New FTC guidelines for bloggers are a bigger challenge for marketers http://asimplerway.com/new-ftc-guidelines-for-bloggers-are-a-bigger-challenge-for-marketers/ Digital Business Strategies For Indie Authors & Publishers Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:37:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: The OTR Disclosure Policy | Organize to Revitalize!http://asimplerway.com/new-ftc-guidelines-for-bloggers-are-a-bigger-challenge-for-marketers/comment-page-1/#comment-98 The OTR Disclosure Policy | Organize to Revitalize! Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:37:55 +0000 http://funanymore.com/?p=1179#comment-98 [...] New FTC guidelines for bloggers are a bigger challenge for marketers (funanymore.com) [...] [...] New FTC guidelines for bloggers are a bigger challenge for marketers (funanymore.com) [...]

]]> By: Evo Terrahttp://asimplerway.com/new-ftc-guidelines-for-bloggers-are-a-bigger-challenge-for-marketers/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Evo Terra Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:02:35 +0000 http://funanymore.com/?p=1179#comment-96 Celebs aren't exempt. They just have different requirements. Mick Jagger can say how healthy Campbell's soup is without disclosing he gets half a mill to say that, sure. Because we -- as a society -- have come to expect that. But what Mick can't do is take a millon dollars to say that AudioTechnica microphones are the best on the planet *unless* he uses them on tour. You still can, since you're not the expert.There's more to it than that, but it quickly gets pretty hairy.Affiliate links don't count, unless you cross the line and make an endorsement. You can say "You should buy DirectTV" and put an affiliate link on your blog without issue. You can event tweet it. No problem. Where you cross the line is when you say "Man, I love my DirectTV way better than that shitty cable company I had" and include a link. You've just endorsed. And if you have a monetary interest in their clicking through and signing up. But it's easy enough to clarify that you're using an affiliate link. And no, you don't have to disclose how much you make. Just that you have an affiliate relationship is enough.And *they* -- as in the FTC -- don't monitor this. It's up to the marketer to monitor those who provide the testimonials and endorsements. But anyone can make a complaint, and there's a well-documented series of events that follow. And it's a lot easier to catch someone in the act now, as you can nab a screen shot a lot easier than trying to wait to record a commercial. :) Celebs aren’t exempt. They just have different requirements. Mick Jagger can say how healthy Campbell’s soup is without disclosing he gets half a mill to say that, sure. Because we — as a society — have come to expect that. But what Mick can’t do is take a millon dollars to say that AudioTechnica microphones are the best on the planet *unless* he uses them on tour. You still can, since you’re not the expert.

There’s more to it than that, but it quickly gets pretty hairy.

Affiliate links don’t count, unless you cross the line and make an endorsement. You can say “You should buy DirectTV” and put an affiliate link on your blog without issue. You can event tweet it. No problem. Where you cross the line is when you say “Man, I love my DirectTV way better than that shitty cable company I had” and include a link. You’ve just endorsed. And if you have a monetary interest in their clicking through and signing up. But it’s easy enough to clarify that you’re using an affiliate link. And no, you don’t have to disclose how much you make. Just that you have an affiliate relationship is enough.

And *they* — as in the FTC — don’t monitor this. It’s up to the marketer to monitor those who provide the testimonials and endorsements. But anyone can make a complaint, and there’s a well-documented series of events that follow. And it’s a lot easier to catch someone in the act now, as you can nab a screen shot a lot easier than trying to wait to record a commercial. :)

]]> By: Chuck Reynoldshttp://asimplerway.com/new-ftc-guidelines-for-bloggers-are-a-bigger-challenge-for-marketers/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Chuck Reynolds Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:32:37 +0000 http://funanymore.com/?p=1179#comment-97 this topic is all the buzz in the marketing world today but honestly what's the big deal? I'm not sure I like the FTC getting into anything we do but all they're saying is if you get paid to say something is awesome... you have to say you got paid to say this is awesome. If people are genuine, as they should be in blogging and podcasting, there shouldn't be an issue.The big bullshit comes when you read the part about celebrities.... they still don't have to disclose anything. um WTF? And how they define who is / is not a celebrity is pretty vague at best so... if you're rich you can saw whatever you want. If you're poor and make a couple bucks slingin a product you have to say something.Also as far as I know affiliate stuff doesn't count either... so you can still link to any affiliate link w/o declaring it is as such.And how are they monitoring this? Just people complaining about it I guess? meh - it's stupid this topic is all the buzz in the marketing world today but honestly what’s the big deal? I’m not sure I like the FTC getting into anything we do but all they’re saying is if you get paid to say something is awesome… you have to say you got paid to say this is awesome. If people are genuine, as they should be in blogging and podcasting, there shouldn’t be an issue.

The big bullshit comes when you read the part about celebrities…. they still don’t have to disclose anything. um WTF? And how they define who is / is not a celebrity is pretty vague at best so… if you’re rich you can saw whatever you want. If you’re poor and make a couple bucks slingin a product you have to say something.

Also as far as I know affiliate stuff doesn’t count either… so you can still link to any affiliate link w/o declaring it is as such.

And how are they monitoring this? Just people complaining about it I guess? meh – it’s stupid

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