Groups: Member
Joined: 7/30/2007
Posts: 648
Location: Lake Norman Area
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I'll put some kind of disclaimer on my blogs, website, and I suppose also on Squidoo & FaceBook, too, but I am not sure yet what I will say. I am not providing testimonials, nor endorsing anything... I am just providing a way for people to buy something that may interest them. My blogs have adsense ads, but no one clicks them, so I am not making anything from those. I'm not getting paid to write my blogs, or to post those ads that appear in the sidebar... But I reckon I must still inform people that if they click a link and end up buying something, that I will/may/could possibly be paid for it.
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Groups: ProSeller
Joined: 3/19/2007
Posts: 5,972
Location: Saint Louis
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I don't do paid advertising on my ZBlog nor do I sponsor anything, no click for pay ads just my own products. What, if anything, am I supposed to say....'dear visitor, these pictures are linked to my store if you buy anything I get paid'?
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Groups: ProSeller
Joined: 3/15/2008
Posts: 1,959
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Groups: Member
Joined: 6/14/2009
Posts: 932
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Here's my disclaimer:
Anything I say is none of the gov't's business. If they don't like it, they can pound sand.
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Groups: Member
Joined: 4/24/2009
Posts: 85
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The more people object to being honest with their viewers the more I understand why the rules were necessary.
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Groups: Member
Joined: 4/24/2009
Posts: 85
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mousearte wrote:I don't do paid advertising on my ZBlog nor do I sponsor anything, no click for pay ads just my own products. What, if anything, am I supposed to say....'dear visitor, these pictures are linked to my store if you buy anything I get paid'? The rules are intended to make it clear when the links are biased advertising. If it is clear from the context then a disclaimer is not required. The rules are intended to make it clear that recommendations and reviews may be influenced by the money rather than the quality of the products. If this is clear from the context then a disclaimer is not required. The rules are intended to make clear the difference between expected results and extraordinary claims. If this does not apply then no disclaimer is required. It really isn't that hard folks. People are making mountains out of mole hills here. Just be open and honest and make it clear when you are getting paid for your opinion.
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Groups: Member
Joined: 7/30/2007
Posts: 648
Location: Lake Norman Area
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GLManley wrote: My blogs have adsense ads Not anymore 
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Groups: Member
Joined: 6/14/2009
Posts: 932
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QuipsNQuotes wrote:The more people object to being honest with their viewers the more I understand why the rules were necessary. If they're dishonest then the rules won't make them honest. Only honest people will follow the rules.
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Groups: Member
Joined: 4/24/2009
Posts: 85
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All kinds of rules force people into behavior that protects the customer. The dishonest don't like it but they follow the rules because they fear the consequences. It doesn't make them "honest" business people but it achieves the goal of consumer protection by reducing their opportunity to mislead.
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Groups: ProSeller
Joined: 9/21/2008
Posts: 2,454
Location: Wisconsin
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I won't be doing anything any differently than I am doing now. No one needs 'protection' from me.
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Groups: Member
Joined: 6/14/2009
Posts: 932
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Okay, I'll continue to live in the real world though.
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Groups: ProSeller
Joined: 12/9/2008
Posts: 1,980
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mousearte wrote:I don't do paid advertising on my ZBlog nor do I sponsor anything, no click for pay ads just my own products. What, if anything, am I supposed to say....'dear visitor, these pictures are linked to my store if you buy anything I get paid'? lol.
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Groups: Member
Joined: 7/8/2009
Posts: 6
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Groups: Member
Joined: 5/19/2006
Posts: 200
Location: Kaibab National Forest
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Groups: Member
Joined: 4/22/2009
Posts: 400
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QuipsNQuotes wrote:All kinds of rules force people into behavior that protects the customer. The dishonest don't like it but they follow the rules because they fear the consequences. It doesn't make them "honest" business people but it achieves the goal of consumer protection by reducing their opportunity to mislead. Explain to me why the customer needs protection when he clicks on an zazzle affiliate link? For the customer there is no difference if he clicks and affiliate link or a non-affiliate link. No change in price for him, no extra costs. If people affiliate something, then they usually did the job of marketing the product and bring the customer to the store to make a sale. Thats called work and for work people get paid.
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Groups: Member
Joined: 4/24/2009
Posts: 85
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Actually reading the FTC stuff will get you a lot further than believing some stuff people are saying. Not one word in the rules discusses affiliate links. It does not discuss merely making stuff available for sale. The rules relate to being honest as to whether opinions expressed are paid endorsements or testimonials, and being honest about product expectations. Disclosure goes to helping people evaluate the credibility of the statements made. Yeah, the idea that people have to actually SAY they have a financial motive in making recommendations might make potential customers doubt the sincerity of the recommendation ... awful ain't it.
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