Andy Beard - Internet Business Systems Discussion - Latest Comments in FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Teli Adlam — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:40:02 -0000

Aw, I hope you're feeling better and have a wonderful Christmas.

~ Teli

P.S. Thanks for being my copy editor and can't wait to see your 5 things; please don't hold it against me. :)

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Teli Adlam — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:40:02 -0000

Aw, I hope you're feeling better and have a wonderful Christmas.

~ Teli

P.S. Thanks for being my copy editor and can't wait to see your 5 things; please don't hold it against me. :)

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

AndyBeard — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:09:46 -0000

I fixed the typo and another I spotted :)

I have actually been offline for 5 days. I suppose I need to write an "I am sick" plugin for times when you are off sick and didn't obviously have anything prepared in advance.
It doesn't help that from tomorrow I will be offline again for a few days (lots of Christmas guests)

I still have to respond to being "tagged".

I have a few more links but will save those for a fresh post.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

AndyBeard — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:09:46 -0000

I fixed the typo and another I spotted :)

I still have to respond to being "tagged".

I have a few more links but will save those for a fresh post.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Teli Adlam — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:20:35 -0000

Gah!! Seems I have web design on the brain. Must remember to proof read before publishing LOL.

FTP -> FTC

~ Teli

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Teli Adlam — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:20:35 -0000

Gah!! Seems I have web design on the brain. Must remember to proof read before publishing LOL.

FTP -> FTC

~ Teli

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Teli Adlam — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:18:14 -0000

I came late to this discussion, however, after reading through the various posts online and the FTC opinion, I believe Brian (Copyblogger) has a good point: this will most likely affect the more shady companies than anyone else.

If you're not making false claims simply to have someone click on your link and make a purchase, the likelihood of the FTC coming after you is probably slim.

It's ludicrous to treat everyone on the web like a child. People should be able to use their better judgement when someone recommends something. The FTC should only step in when someone is blatantly making false claims or promising the moon, sun, and the fountain of youth (bottled) which is already illegal.

On the positive side, it appears PPP isn't taking any chances with this. Some affiliate networks may take a similar stance, though I doubt it -- they may start cracking down on individual affiliates and enforcing what they are allowed to say/promise in their product endorsements.

My 3.72 cents :),
~ Teli

P.S. This is merely speculation. IANAL.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Teli Adlam — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:18:14 -0000

If you're not making false claims simply to have someone click on your link and make a purchase, the likelihood of the FTC coming after you is probably slim.

My 3.72 cents :),
~ Teli

P.S. This is merely speculation. IANAL.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

AndyBeard — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 09:08:54 -0000

Hi Dane

It is going to come down to whatever pressure is placed on the affiliate networks. It is quite possible the more regulated affiliate networks will adopt something faster than those promoting things that are safe for work.

The plugin only places stuff at the bottom of posts.

"Disclosure blindness" will effectively make this a totally non-issue for most readers after a very short while.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

AndyBeard — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 09:08:54 -0000

Hi Dane

The plugin only places stuff at the bottom of posts.

"Disclosure blindness" will effectively make this a totally non-issue for most readers after a very short while.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Dane Morgan — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:51:15 -0000

I'm suddenly a little more interested in this topic, though very begrudgingly so.

But what constitutes disclosure in a legal sense? Is the link-text (aff) thing good enough? Do I have to have six paragraphs of legal jargon adjacent to every affiliated/monetized link?

And too, compensation. Compensation does not strictly mean money. Will we see silly things like
http://linktoacoolsitethatl... (DISCLOSURE: This link earns me a link back that results in lots of traffic). Never overestimate the US Federal Governments ability to be stupid.

And what is prominently placed. Can I have a disclosure page? Or must the discloser reside on every page? Or must it be adjacent to the link itself?

There is much shaking out to be seen yet before there is any thing real here. I'll be downloading the plugin, Andy and playing with it. Though I'm still of a mind to have a disclosure page with a nofollow link in the footer of the blog and the feed.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

Dane Morgan — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:51:15 -0000

I'm suddenly a little more interested in this topic, though very begrudgingly so.

But what constitutes disclosure in a legal sense? Is the link-text (aff) thing good enough? Do I have to have six paragraphs of legal jargon adjacent to every affiliated/monetized link?

And what is prominently placed. Can I have a disclosure page? Or must the discloser reside on every page? Or must it be adjacent to the link itself?

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

CyberCelt — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 20:13:38 -0000

Wish I had read this post about an hour ago. I was trying to put this all together for a blog post. I will now just link to this page. Thank you!

PayPerPost offered the opportunity for bloggers to write and post a disclosure policy, place an I DISLOSE banner, and be paid for it back in early November. I have adopted the WOMMA blog ethics. They are also posted on my blog.

Thanks for keeping a neutral stance. I am pretty angry about the way everyone is blaming PayPerPost because Edelman and Zipatoni are writing flogs for corporate clients.

Now people want to bring in the Federal Trade Commission. Just what we need is more government. LOL

Now, if you can tell me what Google said. I think they just restated their SPLOG policy.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

CyberCelt — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 20:13:38 -0000

Wish I had read this post about an hour ago. I was trying to put this all together for a blog post. I will now just link to this page. Thank you!

Thanks for keeping a neutral stance. I am pretty angry about the way everyone is blaming PayPerPost because Edelman and Zipatoni are writing flogs for corporate clients.

Now people want to bring in the Federal Trade Commission. Just what we need is more government. LOL

Now, if you can tell me what Google said. I think they just restated their SPLOG policy.

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

DP Dan — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:08:11 -0000

Nice Andy, really well done!

Re: FTC | Word of Mouth and Affiliates

DP Dan — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:08:11 -0000

Nice Andy, really well done!