The new testimonial guidelines state that bloggers and internet marketers with affiliate compensation connections or “material compensation connections” (money, free products or software) must disclose that information if they are representing that product or service. This disclosure must be legible and visible.

The testimony or endorsement must represent the “honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experience of the endorser.” and the endorsement may not “convey any express or implied representation that would be deceptive if made by the advertiser.” (FTC guideline Consumer Endorsements 255.1(a)) The marketer and endorser may both be liable if there are misleading and deceptive statements. Affiliates need to make sure that the products they endorse are honest and legitimate products. Bloggers and internet marketers need to make sure that affiliates understand and comply with the new FTC guidelines.

Internet business lawyer Mike Young and case studies expert and copywriter Karl Barndt have a solution based on the new FTC Guidelines that you can easily and quickly apply to your business. This solution shows you how to retell your customers’ testimonials in a way that reduces your risk.

They’ve created a special report called “Kill Your Testimonials! How to Create Success Stories That Sell and Won’t Get You Sued.” When you invest in this report (pdf file), you’ll learn…

- How the FTC has changed the way you can use testimonials.
- What it could cost you if you violate the FTC’s rules.
- The biggest problem affecting testimonials beyond the FTC’s new guidelines.
- Practical solutions for telling your customers’ success stories that are even more effective than testimonials — and won’t get you into trouble.

Because the new FTC guidelines are now in effect, you’ll want to claim your copy immediately.

Claim Your Special Report: “Kill Your Testimonials! How to Create Success Stories That Sell and Won’t Get You Sued”

Note: This is not legal advice. To address legal issues consult your internet lawyer.

The FTC (U.S. Federal Trade Commission) has enacted new guides or rules that govern and affect endorsements by organizations, celebrities, consumers, experts, material connections (affiliate compensation), testimonials, and bloggers.

Advertisements showing a consumer sharing their experiences for a service or product, must disclose the outcome that can generally be expected. The term “results not typical” will no longer be acceptable.

“Material connections” or affiliate compensation usually in the form of payments or free products must be disclosed. This is sometimes called the affiliate compensation disclosure. This is true if you are a blogger or internet marketer.

Celebrity endorsers, under the new guides, must disclose their connection with advertisers (material connection – affiliate compensation) and not give unconfirmed or false statements about the product or service. Advertisers and endorsers may both be liable.

The effective date for these new guides was December 01, 2009.

How can you protect yourself, your blog and website? You can hire an attorney to draft the appropriate documents or use a software program to provide the correct documents. Either way, you should have certain documents on your website or blog. They include Terms and Conditions of Use, Privacy Policy, Anti-Spam Policy, External Links Policy, Earnings Disclaimer, Affiliate Agreement, Affiliate Compensation Disclosure (material connection) and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Notice.

Remember, the FTC guides are to protect consumers. Be in compliance so you and others can enjoy your blog and website.

If you wish to view the entire regulations, please view the FTC and Electronic Code of Federal Regulations website links below.

Effective Date: December 01, 2009

http://www.ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005endorsementguidesfnnotice.pdf

FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials
Changes Affect Testimonial Advertisements, Bloggers, Celebrity Endorsements

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
Title 16: Commercial Practices
PART 255—GUIDES CONCERNING USE OF ENDORSEMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS IN ADVERTISING

… 255.5 “Disclosure of material connections. … When there exists a connection between
the endorser and the seller of the advertised product that might materially …”

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=14055e58afb9046553e3ed2f75dc0e2e&rgn=div5&view=text&node=16:1.0.1.2.22&idno=16

Website Legal Forms Generator version 2.0 by Internet lawyer Mike Young is for bloggers and website owners who want to protect their sites.

Note: This is not legal advice. To address legal issues consult your internet lawyer.

One option is to hire an internet lawyer who can help you write the the appropriate Affiliate Compensation Disclosure. Another option would be to use software that can focus on the needed documents.

One software was developed by a well know internet attorney, Mike Young. His creation is named Website Legal Forms Generator. Not only is the Affiliate Compensation Disclosure included, but several other necessary legal forms. The other forms that are included are the Terms and Conditions of Use, Privacy Policy, Anti-Spam Policy, External Links Policy, Earnings Disclaimer, Affiliate Agreement, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Notice. The new Website Legal Forms Generator version 2.0 also includes a “100% IRON CLAD 30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE.”

It is no longer buyer beware, it is now seller beware! Protect your website and yourself!

Website Legal Forms Generator version 2.0 by Internet lawyer Mike Young is for bloggers and website owners who want to protect their sites.

Note: This is not legal advice. To address legal issues consult your internet lawyer.

What’s new?

1. Non-U.S. addresses can be used more easily with the software.

2. The Affiliate Compensation Disclosure policy (required in the new FTC guidelines)drafted by Internet lawyer Mike Young based on the new FTC guidelines has been added into the software.

3. The software generates a Refunds/Returns policy that even allows the blogger or website owner the ability to charge a restocking fee for returned goods.

4. A new Health Disclaimer was also included in the package.

5. The original 7 website legal forms (Terms and Conditions of Use, Privacy Policy, Anti-Spam Policy, External Links Policy, Earnings Disclaimer, Affiliate Agreement, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Notice) have been modified to reflect the new FTC guidelines.

Several bonuses are included as well:

BONUS #1: – Website Legal Protection Course (taught by internet lawyer Mike Young)

The Website Legal Protection Course consists of 10 modules that cover different topics of website legal protection documents and how they reduce your online legal risks. You can choose to watch these modules as videos online or download as mp3 audio files to listen to at your convenience.

BONUS #2 – Internet Marketing Legal Secrets Revealed

This e-book covers some of the most important Internet legal issues you should know when operating an Internet business. You’ll learn…

How to set up your online business to protect yourself from web designers, joint ventures, outsourcing, e-mailing, copy or trademark infringement, intellectual property rights, and more.

BONUS #3 – The Client Advisor Newsletter

This monthly digital newsletter is loaded with Internet legal and marketing tips.

BONUS #4 – 7 Steps to Protecting Your Internet Business – Audio Presentation

This audio presentation is a recording that Attorney Mike Young taught to a group of Glazer-Kennedy Inner Circle Members on how to protect themselves while doing business on the Internet. Listen to it on your computer, mp3 or burn a CD.

Bonus offers can change at any time.

The new Website Legal Forms Generator version 2.0 also includes a “100% IRON CLAD 30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE”.

Website Legal Forms Generator version 2.0 by Internet lawyer Mike Young is for bloggers and website owners who want to protect their sites.

Note: This is not legal advice. To address legal issues consult your internet lawyer.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates e-commerce activities. These regulations include consumer privacy, business e-mails, and online advertising.

One way to protect your online business is to have the appropriate legal form links attached to the bottom of your website that includes, but not limited to, DMCA notice (Digital Millennium Copyright Act), Anti Spam Policy, External Links Policy, Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions of  Use, and an Earning Disclaimer.

You could hire an internet lawyer to complete these forms for you or you could use internet software to complete the task. I am using internet software to complete these legal forms located at the bottom of my website. I was so impressed, I became an affiliate for the company. Click here to learn more about Website Legal Forms Generator software.

Note: This is not legal advice. To address legal issues consult your internet lawyer.