To Blog or Not to Blog – What Does the FTC Say?

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This month bloggers everywhere were informed by the FTC that they were going to have to change the way they blog. The Federal Trade Commission in their “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” is speaking directly to bloggers and network marketers.

As far as bloggers go, the FTC now mandates that if you are blogging about a product and you are being compensated for what you are doing then you must tell your readers. The goal is to improve “truth in advertising.” For example the new promo that Chevy is doing right now with stay at home moms (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/C0021E5474FA25C88625765C00073849?OpenDocument) where the moms are encouraged to be brutally honest about their experiences must let their readers know that they are being compensated for the test driving and the blogging.

While Chevy and the moms are talking about the mommy initiative they have going on right now, and brutal honesty is being “encouraged” Chevy will also compensate the moms with extra perks if they persuade readers to visit their local Chevy dealer and make a purchase of a new vehicle. Makes you wonder just how honest those reviews will be.