New FTC Endorsement Guidelines affects testimonials, bloggers and celebs - GoFuckYourself.com

Sharky · 12-01-2009, 10:03 PM

Below outlines some of the more significant changes made by the FTC:
-The endorsement message must reflect the true opinion, experience and findings of the endorser (whether a consumer, celebrity or an organization)
- All claims and statements made in an the endorsement message must reflect what consumers can generally achieve otherwise it should clearly disclose the generally expected performance
- All claims and statements must be substantiated
- All material connections between the advertiser and endorser must be disclosed (whether monetary, in form of gift or research funding)

FTC Press Release can be found here: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

How do you think this will affect our industry?

XPays · 12-01-2009, 10:07 PM

since all of the folks banging away with noncompliant pages are offshore, probably none lol

Sharky · 12-01-2009, 10:11 PM

lol, but income trails through the US no doubt.

The adult industry is notorious for fake reviews, almost everyone of us has used them at some point or another...

Things have really gotten out of hand in Mainstream. The "get ripped in 5 days" ads are all over the place, even on Tubes now!

TheDoc · 12-01-2009, 10:27 PM

Normal Results: Members login and masturbate...

We took some testimonials down where the client makes claims about our products and replaced them service testimonials. Like: "I got instant access, I got more than I asked for, this is exactly what I needed, your support is fast, and ranting support emails."

I claim all over you get instant access, instant download, ships in 3 days, whatever it is.. so I don't have to make any unique claims about the service.

On our review sites we put at the bottom of the reviews... "we buy products, we try the products, and we tell you which products you should and shouldn't buy so you don't get ripped off." Some crap like that.

Or something like .. "This has been a communication of information for profit."

Emails, just add in personality... "...and don't forget if you like this and pick it up, I get a little reward called... beer money!"

Disclaimers taken care of..

Sly · 12-01-2009, 10:28 PM

From the various information I've read about it... they are "guidelines" and nobody is actually going to attempt to enforce anything. Enforcing something like that would be pretty funny though. Talk about a waste of time.

PornMD · 12-01-2009, 10:31 PM

The Internet Marketing community will finally have to actually get real testimonials from people for their overpriced info products...that's at least one good thing that'll come of it. Honestly it's been a long time coming and glad something has happened to put a foot down against fraudulent BS.

Sharky · 12-01-2009, 10:58 PM

Yeah I agree. Good will eventually come of this. It will be interesting to see how it is enforced though. I have a feeling there might be a smash and grab try by the gov though

12-01-2009, 10:03 PM	#1
Sharky Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,938	New FTC Endorsement Guidelines affects testimonials, bloggers and celebs Below outlines some of the more significant changes made by the FTC: -The endorsement message must reflect the true opinion, experience and findings of the endorser (whether a consumer, celebrity or an organization) - All claims and statements made in an the endorsement message must reflect what consumers can generally achieve otherwise it should clearly disclose the generally expected performance - All claims and statements must be substantiated - All material connections between the advertiser and endorser must be disclosed (whether monetary, in form of gift or research funding) FTC Press Release can be found here: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm How do you think this will affect our industry? __________________ Sharky

12-01-2009, 10:07 PM	#2
XPays Team Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Inside the most accurately counting and reporting affiliate system in the world at XPays.com Posts: 13,002	since all of the folks banging away with noncompliant pages are offshore, probably none lol __________________ InterNext Expo Domain Auction Live Now thru Feb 5 HuntingMoon GFY Domains Marketplace is LIVE XPays always pays! Top Site: * RealJasmine.com * + HotelHeiress® with The Paris Hilton Sex Video Insert the HotelHeiress® HD FEED into your members areas XPin.com Opening for Pin Partners Soonish Mainstream Offers For Emailers and DomainersNONADULT.COM Like Us!

12-01-2009, 10:11 PM	#3
Sharky Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,938	lol, but income trails through the US no doubt. The adult industry is notorious for fake reviews, almost everyone of us has used them at some point or another... Things have really gotten out of hand in Mainstream. The "get ripped in 5 days" ads are all over the place, even on Tubes now! __________________ Sharky

12-01-2009, 10:27 PM	#4
TheDoc Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Currently Incognito Posts: 13,827	Normal Results: Members login and masturbate... We took some testimonials down where the client makes claims about our products and replaced them service testimonials. Like: "I got instant access, I got more than I asked for, this is exactly what I needed, your support is fast, and ranting support emails." I claim all over you get instant access, instant download, ships in 3 days, whatever it is.. so I don't have to make any unique claims about the service. On our review sites we put at the bottom of the reviews... "we buy products, we try the products, and we tell you which products you should and shouldn't buy so you don't get ripped off." Some crap like that. Or something like .. "This has been a communication of information for profit." Emails, just add in personality... "...and don't forget if you like this and pick it up, I get a little reward called... beer money!" Disclaimers taken care of.. __________________ ~TheDoc - ICQ7765825 It's all disambiguation Last edited by TheDoc; 12-01-2009 at 10:28 PM..

12-01-2009, 10:28 PM	#5
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,292	From the various information I've read about it... they are "guidelines" and nobody is actually going to attempt to enforce anything. Enforcing something like that would be pretty funny though. Talk about a waste of time. __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available. Wanted: CCBill pay sites for sale

12-01-2009, 10:31 PM	#6
PornMD Mainstream Businessman Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 9,291	The Internet Marketing community will finally have to actually get real testimonials from people for their overpriced info products...that's at least one good thing that'll come of it. Honestly it's been a long time coming and glad something has happened to put a foot down against fraudulent BS. __________________ Want to crush it in mainstream with Facebook ads? Hit me up.

12-01-2009, 10:58 PM	#7
Sharky Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,938	Yeah I agree. Good will eventually come of this. It will be interesting to see how it is enforced though. I have a feeling there might be a smash and grab try by the gov though __________________ Sharky