A few days ago a story broke that the FTC is planning on monitoring blogs and other websites for tainted reviews, a current BIG approach to affiliate marketing in healthcare and other markets. Excellent!!!! Since unwitting consumers are misled daily by reviews that are biased, this is a GREAT thing. For one, we might have more truth in advertising. For another, this is going to be a GOLD RUSH boon for ethical affiliate marketers who know how to position themselves and their products correctly.
So it comes down to this. Assuming you are an ethical online marketer, how do you stay out of harm’s way and/or handcuffs while profiting handsomely? The answer lies in credible and honest due diligence in promoting things. This is important everywhere, but even more important in healthcare where people can be physically or psychologically harmed by bad ideas, products and information.
There will be greater scrutiny for marketing buzzwords like “secret ingredients” and promises of “amazing results”. In the place of arbitrary, unsubstantiated and even faked testimonials there will have to be evidence of more moderated and scientifically based “social proof”. How do you get there? That is what this site is all about. Stay tuned in so you don’t have to be forcibly tuned out. If you think your site is hard to find and you are flying below the radar, you are dead wrong in this day of easy keyword spy and competitor research. We use these tools. So, do you honestly think the FTC never heard of them?
If you want to read the FTC document of the upcoming proposed changes, download it here: FTC Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Source: Washington Post June 21 2009 Article
6 Responses to “FTC Friendly HealthCare Affiliate Marketing?”
Is this only for the health blogging niche? I’ve just gotten into affiliate marketing and I’m glad to see that some people are getting regulated for their practices.
I honestly think that the best way to build up customers is to be honest and open. That’s how you make long-term customers and profits.
Nice blog thanks for sharing.
This is a great initiative by FTC to monitor the blogs and websites.In this way we can stop all the illegal activities happening around the internet.