Comments on: FTC Blogging Regulations, A Webinar You Need To See http://wpbloghost.com/blog/ftc-regulations-interview/ Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:37:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: John Hoff http://wpbloghost.com/blog/ftc-regulations-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-1228 John Hoff Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:17:14 +0000 http://wpbloghost.com/blog/?p=2597#comment-1228 Well being that you're from England, you don't need to be as concerned with this as much as Americans do - since the FTC is a USA agency. However, Mr. Cleland did mention in the interview that if you're selling products which comes from an American company (as many affiliates do), then the FTC could put pressure on the American company to tell their affiliates they need to add the proper disclosures. The thing about it is, the FTC really doesn't have any enforcing power, but you never know what might change and you don't want to be on their hit list. Basically, from what Mr. Cleland said, what the FTC primarily wants to see is that a customer or visitor to your website has a clear vision that when they click on this link here or that link over there, that they are understanding that YOU make a commission in some way should they follow that link and make a purchase. They just want people to "know what's going on" - and that's basically the deal. From what he said, USA sites should definitely have a disclosure somewhere should they be selling affiliate products. Furthermore, they would much prefer that just below or after an affiliate link that there is some kind of disclosure statement (like I have in my sidebar just below the RoboForm ad). It can definitely make your content sound a little choppy. I mean, people cry about how writing for search engines impedes on their writing style, imagine now having to add affiliate disclosures! .-= John Hoff´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WpBlogHostVideoTutorials/~3/LKBV-xxDIBg/" rel="nofollow">How To Backup Your WordPress Blog’s Database With A Plugin</a> =-. Well being that you’re from England, you don’t need to be as concerned with this as much as Americans do – since the FTC is a USA agency. However, Mr. Cleland did mention in the interview that if you’re selling products which comes from an American company (as many affiliates do), then the FTC could put pressure on the American company to tell their affiliates they need to add the proper disclosures.

The thing about it is, the FTC really doesn’t have any enforcing power, but you never know what might change and you don’t want to be on their hit list.

Basically, from what Mr. Cleland said, what the FTC primarily wants to see is that a customer or visitor to your website has a clear vision that when they click on this link here or that link over there, that they are understanding that YOU make a commission in some way should they follow that link and make a purchase.

They just want people to “know what’s going on” – and that’s basically the deal.

From what he said, USA sites should definitely have a disclosure somewhere should they be selling affiliate products. Furthermore, they would much prefer that just below or after an affiliate link that there is some kind of disclosure statement (like I have in my sidebar just below the RoboForm ad).

It can definitely make your content sound a little choppy. I mean, people cry about how writing for search engines impedes on their writing style, imagine now having to add affiliate disclosures!
John Hoff´s last blog ..How To Backup Your WordPress Blog’s Database With A Plugin My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Cath Lawson http://wpbloghost.com/blog/ftc-regulations-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-1225 Cath Lawson Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:46:07 +0000 http://wpbloghost.com/blog/?p=2597#comment-1225 Hi John - I need to check this out. I've been out of the loop so much this year that I don't fully understand these regulations. If we recommend affiliate products in a post - do we have to mention that it's an affiliate product, or can we just put a link to a disclaimer at the end. It all seems so confusing. Hi John – I need to check this out. I’ve been out of the loop so much this year that I don’t fully understand these regulations.

If we recommend affiliate products in a post – do we have to mention that it’s an affiliate product, or can we just put a link to a disclaimer at the end. It all seems so confusing.

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