Internet Marketers - The FTC Endorsement Guidelines Have Been Updated - Have You?

Hello! This is a quick blog post to share "the buzz" on a recent change with one of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines. More specifically, I am referring to the FTC Guide regarding Testimonials and Endorcements (Advertising, Reviews, Blogging, Celebrity) and how this affects online marketers for both corporate and work at home businesses.

This is rather huge change to the FTC Guides. This particular one has not been updated since 1980. It was also not expected that it would have taken effect this soon (October 2009) nor that it should happen in such a general manner that does not spell out exactly how you should explain what are "average results" for a consumer and that the FTC has the right to handle each case on an individual basis, therefore we should all take heed.

How does this FTC Guide apply to you? Internet Marketers that utilize testimonial / review sites, blogging, celebrity endorcements and advertisements need to watch how they are stating "above average" results for a product or service they represent. For example, a banner advertisement that says a person lost a huge amount of weight with a particular product and that others can, too. Another example could be a Sponsored Listing or Internet Marketing training where someone makes huge amounts of commission in their first month and states that others can, too. In such cases, online marketers and advertisers can no longer place these types of endorcements with just a quick disclaimer near the posts regarding "above average" results with a product or service. They need to explain to the consumer what they should expect as average results because such is not typical with a particular product / service. There is now also the need to mention whether a review, testimonial, blog post or advertisement is from a paid sponsor, affiliate or client. This does include affiliate / commissioned sales ads.

You can read more about the FTC Guides – Internet Advertisements, Testimonials, Endorcements and see if they apply to any of your marketing strategies. Please make sure to delete any blog, forum posts or advertisements on Our Private Network should they not comply with the FTC Guides. I will also double check and delete accordingly.


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Author: Lea Charlton
Website: http://www.almcsolutions.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/almcsolutions