Does Your Blog Break Federal Law?

Although apparently little noticed, if not noted in the blogging universe, is a new federal law that most if not all of the blogs I have seen that advertise goods and services or promote affiliate products (in other words any monetized blog) run afoul of.  Starting with Google Ad Sense. 

Yes, you know who you are.  And so does Uncle Sam.  All he has to do is look on your website for language that should be there and usually isn't.

And that can be a very big "oops" that can run you thousands, if not more, if your highly (or even mediumly) successful blog gets caught in a Federal online "gotcha" sting.  

And before you think that Uncle Sam isn't going on the hunt for all the resources he can find, just remember these two facts.  First is that funny thing called a huge and ballooning deficit.  Not to mention all those state workers that are being furloughed, one of the hidden screw ups by the states that the Feds forgot to factor into the "recovery" that is causing the double dip recession right now. 

Do I need to dot the i in "idiotic oversight" or does the need for a quick revision of your blog now seem the expedient thing to do on the double?

For those who never heard about it, don't have the disclosure on their site, or decided that they knew better and didn't share their munificence with you because they probably thought that Uncle Sam was snoozing, (and thus didn't need to pass the news on) here's the skinny.  Per the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) as of October 2009, all blogs promoting or selling products or services must disclose that they have a "relationship" with the companies they are being either paid to promote or receive an affiliate commission when they generate a sale, or both.

The law in question, a Federal puppy, so you don't want to run afoul of the Feds, particularly if you have a highly trafficked site and make all those Internet Gazillions per month (as we are constantly reminded is possible if not commonplace in the ranks of the Internet Marketing Maven Elite), is 16 C.F.R. Part 55, outlined in press release here.

How do you comply with it?  Do as I do.  Scroll down to the bottom of my website for suggested language to use in your blog too.

While you think the Feds may be making mountains out of molehills, I wouldn't want to be the mole that got caught out of my molehill on THIS one, particularly given all the boasting that goes on (and we won't disclose where that happens) about the amount of money successful blogs can make.

And if you are wondering why you never heard about this before, there are lots of little tricks, tips and trade secrets that the "gurus" don't share that will be forthcoming here as we expand our expertise, knowledge base and backlog of blog entries.

It has occurred to me more than once as I gain expertise from an excellent resource that is advertised on this site (you see I always disclose my relationships with companies) - Blogging Income that there are quite a few things that seem to have escaped the notice of the master gurus who strut their stuff online.

Not to mention the claims of various companies.

So, look for more instances of me bursting those bubbles in the near future.  As I see it, that's how I create value for you.

And in the meantime, make sure you add a tag to your blog if you do any promoting or selling online via your website (of any kind but in particular a blog) similar to the way I have created the disclosure in the footer below.

Happy promoting,

Cheers

Marguerite