Sometimes I’m really in despair of my fellow marketers.
You might have noticed the few BILLION posts regarding the FTC and their views on bloggers/affiliate marketing and the like.
Remember? I posted about it yesterday (or maybe the day before?) – it dealt with:
- FTC: Bloggers must disclose freebies or payments; testimonials to reflect typical results
- FTC: Bloggers must disclose freebies on reviews
- FTC Eyes Blogs for Conflicts of Interest
My gosh, and the Internet marketing posts all about the Internet too! It defies belief…it really really really REALLY does. The forums all over the place were rocking with them:
- FTC: bloggers must disclose payments & freebies for reviews …
- Bloggers, Marketers & Affiliates Beware! FTC Has Laid The Smackdown!
- Bloggers: New FTC rules you need to know about
- FTC is coming for the bloggers
Sigh.
Then what should appear but:
FTC Confirms Bloggers Need Not Fear the $11,000 Fines
I mean, nothing personal folks, but let’s take a long hard look at this, shall we?
The fact is, there are TONS of sites out there that make extremely outlandish, stupid and downright idiotic marketing claims on what people can expect from using their products.
PT Barnum would be very proud of those folks.
Now, I have nothing against hitting on the emotional buttons that will get people to buy….IF and only IF what you’re selling really works.
ie, you know how to dominate Google? Great! Give me proof. Show me the steps you used. And if I know I can apply them with my own skills…I’ll happily send you the money!
BUT!
Telling me that my cell phone will literally force rabid customers to fling their hard-earned cash into my deserving bank account so I have no choice but to ACCEPT their payments…..
No thank YOU.
Such trickery isn’t limited to making money online, of course.
Look at scams like
Dazzle White and Easy White Scam – Mom’s trick to whiter teeth, like Easy Google Cash
To this DAY WOW! Their site is actually DOWN!
No, wait. I’m wrong. There’s another scam site just for it.
Anywhos, you visit the site and you see a wonderful place to see if you QUALIFY for the product. Gotta love that! Offer your zip code and you’ll see:
Notice that cute little animated gif? It will continue to animate until a few seconds have passed, to give you the impression that something is ACTUALLY BEING DONE.
Something certainly is, mind you – you’re getting conned.
Anywhos!
If you’re naive enough to hang around on the site, you’ll be able to first submit your contact info WITHOUT your credit card. That email address will then be used for future spamming.
But! The next glorious screen shows how the discount price is only one low price of $2.95 for S/H!
And you see
Hurry! Trials are going fast!
And if you’re caught up in the hype, you probably DON’T notice:
Folks, methinks THOSE are the types of offers the FTC is trying to smash down. And for good reason!!
The Dazzlewhite pro folk try to sneak in a continuity program, in which they can bill your credit card every single month. Sigh.
Here’s a simply spiffy idea instead!
Be HONEST in your marketing. Be truthful. Showcase what your product does and how it will benefit your reader…WITHOUT resorting to brazen lies.
Full disclosure rocks! It’s great for the consumer and it’s great for you too….because you’ll have far fewer returns. And that, of course, can only be described as a Very Good Thing Indeed!
Enjoy,
Barbara Ling