| If you are an acne sufferer, then the last thing | | | | indeed affiliates for the product they are |
| you want to do is read through dozens of | | | | promoting) are untrustworthy; the key here is to |
| advertisements hawking the latest and greatest | | | | know what to look for in an acne treatment |
| acne treatment. After all, as a society we've | | | | review - or ANY review for that matter. |
| become numb to advertising. For one thing, | | | | So back to the biggies to look for: |
| advertisements can't always be trusted; obviously | | | | 1. As we discussed, the all-important "Affiliate |
| the advertiser has a vested interest in seeing to it | | | | Earnings Compensation Disclosure," prominently |
| that you purchase the product. | | | | displayed. |
| Product reviews, however, don't generally fall in | | | | 2. Contact information, including phone number. |
| the same category as blatant advertisements. | | | | Now, realize that it's risky to put your home or |
| And so it should be with acne treatment reviews. | | | | cell phone number on the internet - regardless of |
| The reality here, though, is different; the internet | | | | how trustworthy the site is that the phone |
| is full of acne product reviews that are thinly | | | | number is on. A toll-free 800 or 888 number, |
| disguised ads. The result is that you feel like you | | | | however, can go to an inexpensive answering |
| are looking at nothing but advertisements when | | | | service for an affiliate site, protecting the affilate's |
| you read most acne treatment reviews. | | | | privacy. But the presence of such a number on |
| The reason? Because of the number of affiliates | | | | an affiliate's website is a sign of goodwill. |
| that are promoting acne treatments. Many of | | | | 3. Testimonials (on the merchant's site). |
| these affiliates have never even bought the acne | | | | An acne treatment review that recommends a |
| product they are promoting, much less tried | | | | particular product should only recommend one |
| them. Yet they'll act like they are intimately | | | | with testimonials - verifiable through email |
| familiar with the product and all other similar | | | | addresses posted on the merchant's site, or |
| products. Being the astute and observant web | | | | available on request. Recorded audio testimonials |
| surfer that you are, however, you can see right | | | | on the merchant's site are also a good sign, as |
| through their ploy. | | | | are photos of the persons leaving the testimonials. |
| So how do you know which acne treatment | | | | If the merchant can show that some testimonials |
| reviews to trust? | | | | are UNsolicited, all the better. |
| Luckily, there are some specific tell-tale clues to | | | | 4. Specific product information to help the web |
| look for on the reviewer's (affiliate's) website. | | | | surfer (you) know the product better. |
| Number one, the affiliate should prominently | | | | While this may seem obvious, too often you'll run |
| display an "Affiliate Earnings Compensation | | | | into acne treatment review sites that have little |
| Disclosure" statement - or something to that | | | | more than the same info that you can get |
| effect - on the front page of the product review | | | | directly from the merchant's sales page. |
| website. This statement is now, in fact, required | | | | Statements like, "This is the best acne treatment |
| by the FTC - Federal Trade Commission - as well | | | | product available anywhere, it works great..." are |
| as Google for all affiliate websites. | | | | vague, blatant salesy-type statements that don't |
| The statement should say something like, "You | | | | help you know the product. |
| should assume that the owner of this website is | | | | Instead, something like, "Tests performed by |
| an affiliate for providers of goods and services | | | | XYZ corporation showed that 78% of Grade II |
| mentioned on this website and may be | | | | acne sufferers who tried this product experienced |
| compensated when you purchase from a | | | | an improvement in their acne within 14 days." |
| provider. Perform due diligence before purchasing | | | | Statements like this that give specific numbers |
| from this or any other website." | | | | are what you should look for. |
| 99% (percentage is just my guess here) of all | | | | 5. Background science and/or history of a |
| affiliate product review sites, however, do not | | | | product. |
| prominently display this information. Instead, they | | | | This shows that the affiliate is making an effort |
| reluctantly comply with the FTC's requirement by | | | | at educating you instead of just selling you on a |
| burying a tiny, almost transparent link to this | | | | product. |
| statement somewhere in an obscure 'corner' of | | | | So, yes, it is possible to find a trustworthy acne |
| their website. The idea here being that if you | | | | treatment review online, even though the |
| know ahead of time that the website owner | | | | reviewer will often be an affiliate of the acne |
| stands to get a commission if you buy a product | | | | product that he/she is reviewing. But if the |
| through their site, that you may click away in | | | | affiliate has done his job right, you stand to |
| disgust. | | | | benefit from his research, saving you time and |
| I should point out, however, that this would be | | | | money in the process. You will be an educated |
| prejudicial on the part of a website visitor! | | | | 'acne cure product web searcher,' able to make a |
| Because not all affiliate sites and their owners | | | | smart purchase decision. |
| (even if they DO hide the fact that they are | | | | |