FTC, Affiliates, Product Claims, Article Marketing, Kimkins? Phew!
I have to begin today with the source of the sudden frenzy:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9a58f44c-1fae-11de-a1df-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
It appears the FTC has finally decided to start cracking down on products that are promoted via viral marketing and using false claims. This crack down can be extended to blogs as well who chose to publish those materials.
The main target of the new guidelines appears to be the widespread practice of viral marketing in which companies recruit non- employees to talk up products in exchange for samples or promotions.
So, where does this put things?
Well, product owners are now responsible for what other are saying about the product. In addition, as a blog owner – should you blog something about a product endorsing it, you could be in hot water if the findings you publish are not true.
I had to think about all the original articles that Kimkins had floating around. Those articles are still found on miscelaneous blogs, and many are so far from the truth as far as the information they deliver. The original source of many of those artilcles can be traced back to Kimkins.com. And what becomes of the article directories harboring those materials? The viral marketing that has been touched on refers more toware social sites like Twitter and Facebook – but should only one child be punished for being bad when all of them did it?
What is to be said about the Kimkins affiliate program? Affiliates who can not afford the plan are incentived with the option to promote the diet, sell a few, and get a membership. But, how do you promote something you know nothing about? You are reliant on sources found freely on the web.
An uneducated blogger may choose to find previously published articles as a means to promote. Hey, we’ve seen it happen folks. In turn, the blogger can be held responsible for publishing misleading information, as well as the main source of the product – in this particular case I’m referring to Kimkins.con.
I wish these matters had been brought up a few years ago.
And while some marketers are beginning to scream “Not fair!” It forces marketers to be a little more careful of what they are promoting.
I won’t lie to you. There is an easy formula to marketing and it is quite possible to follow that formula over and over – using it for a variety of products available online. It almost makes it too simple to sell something.
I for one have no issue with taking some time to decide if what I’m promoting is really all that it says it is. I hope this scare will encourage others to take a good look at what they are doing. It could really help clean up some of the crap out there.
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Filed under: affiliate marketing, article writing, kimkins, slamboard, viral marketing, Wouter Van Dyck
I just found this from Slamboard about my current favorite scammy affiliate marketer Wouter Van Dyck.
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