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$1k - $2K Profit Per Day but an FTC risk ( Should I Kill It?) (12)

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Hey everyone,


I'm running a Weight loss offer on Native and have managed to get it hitting over $1k profit daily


However, I'm starting to worry about the FTC.


The campaign is: Ad > Advertorial > VSL Offer


My advertorial landing page is quite aggressive and uses fake testimonials and photos. Headline is clearly misleading "how they lost 100lb overnight" style.

It's been approved by the traffic source (not cloaked)...so it's not crazy aggressive or scammy.


My question is...would you still rinse it?

What are the chances of the FTC a) finding out b) doing anything?

Don't want to. get hit with a million dollar fine or worse

Notes: I'm not based in USA but i'm targeting the US.

Thanks

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I believe this is the key component here... since you're not in the USA, chances are they won't bother messing with you, unless you're running HUGE volumes.

There have been cases when the FTC or some other regulation body stepped in and gave fines to those involved, but usually the actual advertisers/vendors get most of the heat.

Don't consider this legal advice though please

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Thank you for your reply. So if you were in my shoes would you continue to run it?

I obviously won't base my life decisions on a forum reply, but's just good to hear what other's would do.

I don't know if i'm over thinking it or being sensible.

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I would wager that there are guys with much more aggressive landers doing much more volume than 1-2k a day. Doesn't mean its safe but they are all in more risk than you. And like matuloo said it all leads back to the vendors/advertisers.

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I think it's being sensible to at least consider. Better that than to overlook and have them on your ass unexpectedly.

I've faced something somewhat similar with a 6 figure fine and it's not nice.

If you're having these thoughts anyway, maybe now's a good time to get creating another lander that certainly won't get you in trouble but matches the conversion rate (easier said than done). Try all of the techniques in the book to increase CR other than the sketchy stuff (if you haven't already). Even if the new lander makes you $800 profit instead of $1,000 maybe then -$200 is worth the quality of sleep increase?

I'm curious is this your first big campaign?

I ask because sometimes some guilt/anxiety can come with making a lot of money - especially the first few times - and does make you question yourself.

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Yeah true, it's not at massive scale...but only takes a few people to report/ complain


Good points...I tried a less aggressive lander and it just wasn't profitable. I'm still working on it though.

And this is my first proper native campaign. I've done other stuff before but not at this scale or with weight loss

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I've run things that were probably against the rules of FTC or at least on the edge, hows that for an answer?

I don't see much difference between an ad for a washing powder that cleans 10x better than the previous version, the next year its 10x better again etc... and an ad that claims 100lbs weight loss, both are BS and exaggerated for the sake of selling more and any sane person should understand this.

Marketers all over the world are doing the same thing that you do, on a daily basis... some in a more aggressive way, some in a more acceptable form.

The final decision is yours, but you're definitely not the only black sheep out there

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Good points, thanks again

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I think i'm going to keep running it for now, while split testing more compliant pages to see if i can find a replacement.

Does anyone have any FTC horror stories that might change my mind

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Here you go, found some for you:

https://www.allure.com/story/ftc-fak...ndorsement-ads (celebs in ads)
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...m_npd_nn_tw_ma (fake CBD oil claims)
https://www.autonews.com/fi-blog/ftc...repair-schemes (credit repair)
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blog...ight-loss-free (weight loss)


And here are some examples from the mainstream world, even the biggest players get fined from time to time: https://www.businessinsider.com/fals...ent-dementia-8

Want more?

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Wow, sounds like the they don't mess around.

Although I spotted a few positives...

They sent the CBD companies warning letters. So there is hope they would just send the vendor a letter, who would then contact me to tell me to change my lander/ close my account.

and for the celeb one it says " who reportedly made $179 million by deceiving customers over five years — were ordered to pay the commission a $6.4 million fine" .. " I'll take 6 mill hit if it means i can take $173 mill home haha"

Overall, I'm not super worried this offer but I'll try to avoid making a habit of breaking the rules in future

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Yup, they usually go after the biggest players in the chain and the ones who actually collect payments from customers. Chances for an affiliate of getting into trouble are low... but they do exists, I don't want to create a false safe feeling here.

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