Very interesting post. On the other hand, good copywriters are very well considerated because they achieve very good results. For exemple, a good headline can make that much more people read your post. Richard Kein…

Sorry, but I am not wrong. I said DO NOT LIE.
In your example, you lie by omission.

Do not lie in your ad copy or your testimonials. That’s what I said.

Earnst, all I was saying was that your comment was wrong. Your testimonials can be true, but might still get you in hot water under the new guidelines.

Example: “I lost 50 pounds taking XYZ pill.” Might be true, but not ok if your testimonial also ran 3 miles each morning and ate only oatmeal and that info doesn’t appear anywhere in the ad.

Asking for forgiveness rather than permission can be a dynamic strategy. Just need to be careful, that’s all I’m saying.

As a note: If you have the resources to fight a legal battle with a government agency, have fun. I don’t and I bet most of us don’t.

I think Ray works for the FTC. Or maybe he’s a plumber, I don’t know.

Hey Ray, maybe you should send all your stuff to the FTC and get it cleared before you run it?

And Ray as you know, the FTC isn’t the final word. There’s always an appeal. I have a special plumber for that. My United States District Court plumber.

I know you already know this Ray but,
the FTC appeals cases all the time. Why? Because they lose…a lot. Just because the FTC says it, doesn’t make it law. One of the main reasons the FTC sues, is to make law by precedent.

You can also sue the FTC. The ABA is threatening to sue them. It goes both ways.
Maybe they should fear us? There are more of us than there are of them.

I can see it now, the Wall Street Journal headline. 276,987 individual suits filed against the FTC and many more expected.

It must also be said that the FTC probably has done some good stuff too. I’m sure they have protected me from something. I’m not anti-FTC.

Well, I’m next in line for a swine flu shot so time to go.

P.S. That Simple Writing System really works.
Go get it now!

My advice is to not panic, and see how this continues to shake out. Nothing the FTC says can be ignored. But neither should it be misconstrued, or used to incite hysteria.

Just want to point out this is horribly wrong. Under new FTC guidelines, your testimonials can be true but still be “misleading.”

“Your plumber has enough legal experience to get you an acquittal.”

But your lawyer might not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOM1D1iwJvw
I’m a big fan. You and Terry Pluto from the Akron Beacon Journal are the best writers in the universe. (except my Dad…sports writer for 40 years… I’m sure you understand)

Peace…Out

Gregg