A lot of buzz has been created on the Internet surrounding the implementation of the new FTC rules, which came into effect on December 01, 2009. While these new rules have resulted in a lot of work for an untold number of Internet marketers, in the end, they should help to bring back a bit of the trust that has been missing in the industry for quite some time now.

One of the practices that some Internet Marketers use that really makes me angry goes something like this.

They place an ad that is eye catching for people that are looking for a way to make an income on the Internet.

The website they land on generally gives them the opportunity to receive a free “trial” cd, dvd or kit.  This is a physical item that must be delivered and the customer is required to only pay shipping and handling.  But, of course there is a catch.

On the surface, this looks like a pretty good deal and many Internet marketers do use this type of promotion.  The majority of those that do, also use good practices as well.  Then there are the ones that don’t.

The ones that do not use customer friendly practices will add a catch that goes something like this.

• Once the customer has ordered the “trial” product, they have also given their payment information. This type of marketer will generally not use a service such as Clickbank or PayPal, so they then have the credit card and address information of that customer.
• Along with the sending of the “trial” product, there is a clause that many fail to notice.  That clause says in one form or another that the customer will have a given time period to review the product, after which, they will be billed for an additional amount and often, that billing is set up to re-occur monthly.
• The “trial” period is very short.  Often 7 or 14 days, which may or may not be long enough for the “trial” product to actually arrive so that it can be reviewed by the customer and an informed decision made on whether to continue with the automated payments.
• The marketer gives the customer very little, if any contact information with which the customer is able to opt out of future charges. Some even give bogus contact information.

One result is that often the customer has forgotten signing up for this “trial” offer and is surprised when it shows up.  This is particularly true if they have visited multiple opportunities.  The “trial” product may or may not arrive within the time frame of the trial.  Usually if it does arrive within that time frame, there isn’t a lot of time remaining.  Life being what it is, the customer may get to opening the “trial” product in a few days.

In the meantime, the “trial” period expires and all of a sudden the customer notices a charge on their credit card.  It may take them a bit of pondering to realize where that charge came from, and when they do, they start looking for a way to get their money back, however, they are unable to find any contact information to do so.

I’ve received a number of emails from people who have been caught up in a marketing promotion of this type.  It goes with the territory of Internet marketing and each time it happens I get angry.

• I get angry because these customers have essentially been taken in and that makes all Internet marketers look bad.
• I get angry when someone knowingly abuses another person’s trust.
• I get angry when these people end up emailing me for answers on what to do and the only thing I can tell them is to contact their credit card company and have the charges stopped.

I will not knowingly promote or recommend a product or service that uses these tactics because my customers trust and respect are valuable to me. My good name is also valuable to me as it should be to any person conducting business of any nature. If someone has an issue with a product I have promoted and they have subsequently purchased through my affiliate link, I will do whatever I can to see that they are able to get their money back. Unfortunately, for those I mention above, as I was not involved with their purchase, there was little I could do to help.

Some things to look for to avoid be taken in by this type of promotion are:

• Contact information – legitimate affiliates and marketers will make sure that the customer has the opportunity to contact them and will post their contact information on their web pages.
• Read the fine print.  If it says you will be charged after a specified period of time, you can be sure that you will in fact be charged.
• Is the “trial” period a realistic one? Is there sufficient time for this product to reach you and for you to review it before the “trial” period expires.
• Know what steps are required to decline further charges before handing over your credit card information. If they give a phone number, call it and make sure it is their legitimate number. I’ve run across products that list the contact information for another company, rather than their own.
• If a company name is given, try Googling it.
• If it is a re-occurring billing transaction, are they using a service such as PayPal, Alertpay or Clickbank? These services add an extra layer of protection for the consumer in that you always have someone you are able to contact. Make sure you investigate any company that does not use a service of this type thoroughly.

If you do sign up for a promotion of this sort, take note of the web site and any pages you are directed to. Also note any contact information, the terms of the “trial”, and keep a copy of the receipt given for the shipping charges so you have a record of the date of the transaction.

Should you decide to discontinue whatever you are being asked to pay for, and you are unable to contact the seller, you generally have 30 days from the date of the transaction to contact your credit card company and request a charge back if there is no means for you to contact the seller and opt out of future charges.  The credit card company will want to know all of the steps you have taken to work the problem out with the seller, so make sure you have documented everything.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this rant, there are many marketers that use a form of the “trial” type of promotion, most of whom run legitimate businesses and have trustworthy reputations. As with many things, there are also some that are less than above board and their actions result in everyone being tarred with the same brush. By taking a bit of time to check things out before you hand over your payment information, you can generally avoid being taken in by this type of marketer.

To Your Success,

SherryD
http://www.wbobr.com

Those that are easily offended should not watch this video.

I am not in agreement with all that Gary says, or better said, I would temper some of his passion as it is not tempered here with the other side of the coin, such as the need to take time away to avoid burn out.  Obviously, if you are just starting out building your business and you also hold a full time job, you’re time must be focused on what you are capable of doing in the time you have.  One of the online marketing realities is that you will need to learn the various aspects involved. It takes time to learn the various components.

Another of the online marketing realities is that there are times in life that we will hit a brick wall when it comes to the amount of time we have available to devote to our business building efforts.  For myself, my IT job has gone from the standard 35 hours a week to unlimited hours required as the company I work for moves to another location.  However, I know that this will be a finite time period and I still do as Gary suggests and eek out every spare moment available to devote to my own business.  I can count on one hand the number of hours I’ve spent watching a show on TV in the past months.

I have to be aware of the signs of burn out, and listen to what they have to say.   And quite frankly, once you establish a routine for working on your business, you will have a harder time giving yourself permission to take time off.  Even so, not doing this periodically can hinder your progress, you accomplish more when your brain has had the rest it needs.

Gary is very real about what it takes to make it online.  He shares his own passion for his life choice with you in this 15-minute video.  Take his words to heart and drive your efforts based on your own passion and have the patience to recognize that there are online marketing realities that you must work within to succeed.

To Your Success,

SherryD
http://www.wbobr.com