Hostmonster.com is another host that I was told was bought out by Endurance International Group. Instead of a email like the ones friends have been sending me. I get one that looks exactly like the one for bluehost.com.
https://hosting-reviews-exposed.com/hosts-that-use-exposed-reviews/bluehost.html
Like many of the big name hosts that appear on so called review sites, hostmonster.com shows up on many top lists. Its no mystery why these affiliates create fake rankings, after all at $65 per sign up how could they possible resist? While there is no clear connection between Endurance International Group and Hostmonster.com. I find in interesting that Hostmonster.com has sent out a FTC compliance email at the same time as other EIG companies.
The Hostmonster.com FTC compliance email
Dear Affiliate,
As you may know, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has strict guidelines that relate to affiliates who offer reviews, rankings, endorsements and testimonials; and we require all affiliates of our CJ program to comply with these requirements.
To be compliant with the FTC Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, HostMonster expressly requires you to disclose that there is a “material connection” between you and HostMonster anytime you offer an endorsement or testimonial on our services.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
If you provide reviews, rankings, endorsements or testimonials about a service for which you receive commissions from us, you must clearly disclose the fact that you receive such compensation in a clear and prominent place–that is close to your endorsement.
The FTC takes the Endorsement guidelines seriously and has started to enforce them for both content providers like yourself and advertisers like HostMonster.
As an advertiser, HostMonster will monitor affiliate sites to be sure our services are represented appropriately. Under the updated Affiliate Agreement, failure to comply with the endorsement guidelines could result in removal from our affiliate program and the cancellation of commissions.
TIPS FOR MAKING SURE YOUR SITE IS COMPLIANT
To make it easier for you, we’ve pulled together information, based on a recent FTC enforcement case, to illustrate ways you can disclose a material connection between you and your advertisers. Take a few minutes to review this summary at:
HostMonster Affiliate Disclosure Requirements and Examples can be seen at: https://www.hostmonster.com/cgi/info/ftc.html. The FTC also offers a variety of resources to help make it easier for you to comply with the guidelines, including: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising: http://ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005endorsementguidesfnnotice.pdf The FTC’s Revised Endorsement Guides: What People are Asking: http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus71-ftcs-revised-endorsement-guideswhat-people-are-asking Dot Com Disclosures: Information About Online Advertising: http://business.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/bus41-dot-com-disclosures-information-about-online-advertising.pdf
Please note: These links are intended to provide guidance only. If you provide endorsements of some type, you should obtain legal advice on how the FTC rules apply to you.
Please take steps immediately to make sure your site is in compliance with these guidelines. Several of our leading affiliates have already posted their disclosures, and they continue to enjoy great success.
Best wishes,
The HostMonster Affiliate Team
In short what does that mean if your a Hostmonster.com affiliate?
It means if you run a site that runs any form of review for profit, you have to disclose that detail right next to the link that send people to the host.
Bluehost.com is amongst many hosts that find themselves in so called top 10 sites as well as reviews. After all $65 per sign up is very encouraging. It also means I have more material for pointing out review sites that do not comply with this Federal Trade Commissions requiremens.
If Hostmonster sticks with this, they are on the right path to not showing up on my blog
