I recently wrote about my interpretation of the new FTC Marketing Guidelines that go into effect on December 1st. Among other restrictions, those guidelines compel online marketers, such as me, to make full disclosure when we are compensated for the recommendations that we make.
If you’ve been online for any length of time, you know what affiliate marketing is. And so it shouldn’t surprise you that I’m an affiliate for many of the products that I promote and recommend. Not all of the links on this blog are affiliate links, but you may as well assume that they are, and that I am compensated if you buy or sign up for things.
Hopefully, you already knew that affiliate marketing is part of my business, so this news doesn’t change anything for you. If it does, perhaps you’ll be comforted by knowing that I wouldn’t recommend any products that I didn’t firmly believe would be beneficial to a large number of my readers…probably including you.
On the other hand, this may all come as a shock to you and you might never believe a word I say. Well, all I can say is that I hope that’s not the case.
Now, to be frank, I’m not certain that this notice is in the proper legalese, but I think that’s okay. The new guidelines don’t specify the wording you are supposed to use.
So, please consider this notice my "full disclosure" that I’m a paid affiliate.
What do you think? Did you already know that am an affiliate? Now that you know, does it change what you think of me and recommendations I make?
Let me know, below.
–Mark Widawer