FTC Ponder Regulating the Blog and SM sites

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death ~ Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

Then the United States started to create bureaucratic organizations to let unelected people impose “laws” on us to control us!

And now the FTC's has concerns. As if it does not have enough to do. They are worried that some bloggers may not disclose that they're earning commissions from a company when they write a blog that promotes that company's products. “The common practice of posting a graphical ad or a link to an online retailer – and getting commissions for any sales from it – would be enough to trigger oversight,” the reporter wrote. WHO REALY CARES?

We all should watch this issue to see how it plays out. It is of course possible that the FTC might back away from any strict regulations if bloggers are more transparent about financial disclosure. That's the path that all bloggers should probably be doing anyway as an official spokesperson for a company although it is usually pretty obvious if someone is being one sided about a particular product or company anyway. You build more trust with your readers when you're up front having vested or a financial interest in the topic.

Existing FTC rules already ban deceptive and unfair business practices. But bloggers are not included in the existing regulations, so that's one reason the FTC is looking at implementing new guidelines. The huge field of online affiliate marketing could be brought under the new guidelines, and it is likely to include Twitter posts as well as blogs.

* Christian Science Monitor

Larson note: While this might seem somewhat daunting, it will not affect your ability to be an effective marketer, as long as you adhere to the guidelines. Ya right more rules and regulations by Unelected bureaucrats! As for the Larson Blog, we only represent ourselves and our ideas. If we like something we will say it loud and clear but not for pay. If you want to pay us, we will and can write your blog, but it would be your company’s blog, not ours.



Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
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