Comments on: Is Your FTC Disclosure Policy Ready? Happy December 1st

By: How Honest Affiliate Marketers Leverage the FTC Guidelines in Their Favor - 5 Star Affiliate Blogs

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:18:43 +0000

[...] you are still wondering how to leverage the FTC Guidelines into a positive force for your business, then I think the following articles can really [...]

By: G Mitchell

G Mitchell — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:06:48 +0000

Labeling links . wow i been making money for a while and never was worried about that, but i appreciate the info anyways. Thanks

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:10:05 +0000

There that wasn’t so bad. Labeled my clients as Sponsors and labeled the 3 affiliate links as Ads.

By: James Basic

James Basic — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:03:01 +0000

More importantly who’s going to keep the FTC honest?

Are they going to destroy Clickbank and CPA affiliates but let major companies like Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers, Subway and LA Weight Loss continue to use specific A-Typical testimonials?

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:00:53 +0000

Oh actually I do have some affiliate links in my sidebar that I totally forgot about (in the affiliate resources section). I was mainly thinking about any content I write in the blog posts. That’s how little I do affiliate marketing myself, totally forgot those aff links were there. Maybe I’ll just pull those. Or maybe I just need to put Advertising at the top of that whole sidebar. Hmmm.

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:50:00 +0000

“You are technically supposed to label those links as sponsored links (like Google) or advertising.”

You know, good point. To me they are obviously my advertisers/sponsors. But that may not be obvious to everyone. Hmmm gotta work on changing my sidebar now. Thanks James.

By: James Basic

James Basic — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:32:29 +0000

“Consumers must be able to see the disclosure when they are viewing the endorsement and at the point of the link to the seller’s website.”

Video Conference With Richard Cleland From The FTC:
http://jimedwards.s3.amazonaws.com/ftc-advertising-interview/index.html

Click >>> Affiliate Disclosure: 0:35

But I think you might be OK because those links off to the right are just “advertising”. If that is the case then the old rule applies. You are technically supposed to label those links as sponsored links (like Google) or advertising.

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:58:16 +0000

VERY interesting parallel Geno. Where the FTC draws the line vs the way the government guys on the sales tax side view affiliate links!

By: Geno Prussakov

Geno Prussakov — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:49:08 +0000

Yes, Mr. Cleland did sound like they are not going to go after affiliate websites that do not post reviews/endorsements/testimonials, but do “pure, straight advertising”. While this is a totally different subject, I find this statement especially important in light of the governmental approach to what’s become christened an “affiliate tax”. It does appear that the FTC clearly recognizes that many affiliates are essentially “advertising”.

By: Linda Buquet

Linda Buquet — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:30:14 +0000

Hi James,

I’m not complying correctly? I have nothing to disclose as I’m not being paid for this post. But still, I have my disclosure on every page at the bottom clearly market with a *. Plus there is a link above the fold on every page at the top of my right sidebar under blog navigation.

“It’s also supposed to be above the first affiliate link.”

I don’t have any affiliate links. But to be sure I’m clear… where did you read that disclosure is “supposed to be above the first affiliate link?”

I haven’t seen that anywhere. In the interview with Richard Cleland of the FTC, according to Geno, affiliate links don’t even need to be disclosed if they are straight affiliate links. Only if they are in reviews or endorsements. If it were me though to be on the safe side I’d have affiliate disclosures on every page just in case.

By: James Basic

James Basic — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:43:49 +0000

Technically you aren’t complying correctly. The disclosure is supposed to be on every page that you link out to the affiliate merchant on. It’s also supposed to be above the first affiliate link.

By: Geno Prussakov

Geno Prussakov — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:39:33 +0000

Thank you for the mention (and kind words), Linda. Much appreciated.