How do you deal with the FTC's Affiliate Disclosure?

zerofoxtrot

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I currently have a hyperlink button in my navigation bar saying: "DISCLOSURE: We're being compensated for this review". But I thought this might scare off potential customers even though it's the best legal solution I've found. How do you affiliates deal with it? Thanks.
 
if i were you i would put it somewhere the user won't be checking like the bottom of the page. think of it like the famous 'terms and conditions' that people don't really read but will save you from legal issues :P

just my 2 cents.
 
if i were you i would put it somewhere the user won't be checking like the bottom of the page. think of it like the famous 'terms and conditions' that people don't really read but will save you from legal issues :P

just my 2 cents.

That would be in conflict on the FTC's disclosure criteria: "the user has not to scroll or interact in any way to see that you're being compensated".
Thanks for your 2 cents anyway. :)
 
oh bugger.

there's gotta be another way :P

how about mixing it with your other policies or some boring legal stuff?

do something long and your visitors won't bother to read it.

good luck mate
 
btw, you said you were using a hyperlink to lead them to the disclosure. isn't that against with their terms too? clicking the button is a way to interact to see that you're being compensated. :P

how about putting it in the sidebar? "the content in this site may or may not be compensated" or something like that and then make the font size smaller than your usual size.

anyway, i have to get back to work now. good luck!
 
Last edited:
oh bugger.

there's gotta be another way :P

how about mixing it with your other policies or some boring legal stuff?

do something long and your visitors won't bother to read it.

good luck mate

The FTC actually WANTS the visitor to read it, therefore it has to be extremely clear from the start that you're being compensated. :(

btw, you said you were using a hyperlink to lead them to the disclosure. isn't that against with their terms too? clicking the button is a way to interact to see that you're being compensated. :P

how about putting it in the sidebar? "the content in this site may or may not be compensated" or something like that and then make the font size smaller than your usual size.

anyway, i have to get back to work now. good luck!

The sidebar's too, let's say, "empty" for the disclosure to blend in nicely. Also the disclosure has to be of the same size text as the main text on the website.
 
we're talking about this, right? :
Code:
[url]http://www.ftc.gov/os/2013/03/130312dotcomdisclosures.pdf[/url]

It seems that it mostly deals with product claims, returns policies, and minute details, like if a diamond is said to be 3/4 of a carot, but may actually be a little more or less than that. I didn't find anything about general affiliate disclosures

I keep mine in the footer, "privacy & disclosure policies". Disclosure is a small paragraph under a mountain of privacy legalese. After reading this, I may switch them around so the disclosure is on top.

Last I read, affiliate disclosure was a "guideline", meaning you didn't actually have to do it (but of course our affiliate programs might require it).

If you're running an affiliate blog or site, I wouldn't be too worried, but if you're making claims about a product's performance, and those claims aren't exactly true 100% of the time, then you're gonna need disclosure right next to your claim, or maybe linked by an asterisk/hyperlink.

What I gather, this is more about not decieving people, and less about disclosing that you're an affiliate in neon lights at the top of every page.

see this:

Code:
http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus71-ftcs-revised-endorsement-guideswhat-people-are-asking

Note bullet points #1 and #3:

Endorsements must be truthful and not misleading;
- pretty much covered in the other guide- if you're gonna stretch the truth, you need disclosure right then and there..

_

If there?s a connection between the endorser and the marketer of the product that would affect how people evaluate the endorsement, it should be disclosed.
- Notice that is says "Should". Not MUST.

One last snippet:

I?ve read that bloggers who don?t comply with the Guides can be fined $11,000? Is that true?

No. The press reports that said that were wrong. There is no fine for not complying with an FTC guide.

Sorry if I'm being verbose...I tend to get a bit carried away sometimes :)
 
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