In one of my posts, I had a commentor that claimed to be an insider with Endurance International Group and that Bluehost.com had been purchased by EIG. I was hoping with now 7 Eundurance International Group hosts asking for FTC compliance I would get and email with the same format from Bluehost.com. That is not the case. I got a very different email, unlike the 7 that I have gotten so far, this one lacks any html.
The timing is about the only thing that could make me think that bluehost.com belongs to Endurance International Group.
The Bluehost.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, BlueHost expressly requires you to disclose that there is a “material connection” between you and BlueHost 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 BlueHost.
As an advertiser, BlueHost 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:
BlueHost Affiliate Disclosure Requirements and Examples can be seen at: https://www.bluehost.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 BlueHost Affiliate Team
In short what does that mean if your a Bluehost.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 $90 per sign up is very encouraging.
