Does your Niche Require a Disclaimer?
What is a Disclaimer?
A statement that simply denies responsibility.
Example: You go to a concert, park your car on a parking lot for $10 for the full time of the event and you see a sign big as day...WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEFT, DAMAGE, OR ANY VALUABLES LEFT IN VEHICLES ON PREMISES.
You think, why come they can't be held responsible? This is their lot, I PAID to park here! But just as easy as it was for you to park somewhere else, they can put up their sign and if anything happens, they can say we warned you, there is nothing we can do. Simple as that.
What Does Your Niche and Disclaimers Have in Common?
Okay, you've come up with a great niche and an even better website. Of course you want to take responsibility for creating something great, you take pride in making something successful, its your baby and so much more! But wait just a damn minute! No need to read it again because I'll say it again, wait just a damn minute! What if you were required to take your site down? What if someone held you accountable for something you damn sure didn't want to be held accountable for? Do you really want to take all of the responsibility? Do you want to be held liable? Do you want to be sued? Let that marinate for a minute, or two, or three....If you haven't made a decision by now, then I will for you. NO! You do not want to take full responsibility and say that you are liable for everything on your website. Why?
When creating your website I'm pretty sure you did a lot of research, which is information that was provided by someone else that did research and so on and so on. How accurate could the information actually be? You don't really know! When creating a website/blog we are taking risk. There should always be a level of uncertainty because for every person that thinks you are right, you should know that there are even more that would like to tell you, you are wrong. For every opinion you have, there is someone that would like to debate with you and give you their's. There are also people that love trying new things and a lot of them like to try them out on the internet, which is where we come into play, and trying new things with a lot of new people could involve a lot of risks.
My niche is acne. I have been battling acne for 15 years. My niche is going to provide acne sufferers with new products that I've tried that worked for my skin, it will show other users saying what has worked for their skin, therefore would result in a lot of people trying new products. If something bad was to happen while they are taking the product they would say they found out about it from my website and would be looking for me to be held responsible for their problems. Not only do I have to worry about the products being used but I have to worry about the cruel things people may say or do. Of course I am going to offer support on my website and be there for my users as much as I can, but there will be some people that are just mean and wants to make someone's day worse than their's. They may talk about their acne, put them down, which can cause depression, can cause some people to be suicidal etc. I do not want to be held responsible for that. I want my website to be fun, supportive, engaging, you know, all the good stuff. But everything is not going to go perfect, I understand. That's why I added a disclaimer to my site! To honest with you, I am still doing research on disclaimers and I may be updating it, but I feel it is better to have something up than nothing at all. Visit www.freefrombreakouts.com/disclaimer to check out what I have so far!
Recent Comments
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By the way, looked over your website (liked it!) and was wondering if you have ever tried internal methods to treat your acne?
That is, looking at removing toxins etc from your liver gallbladder etc?
Thanks so much! I have more to add, but its getting there! No, I haven't! I will definitely try some! Out of all the things I have tried I have never heard of trying to clear it from the inside out! You just got my back on everything huh?! LOL
I have lots of lawyer friends who help me set up my own LLC's.
If I didn't know them, I would probably use a software package called LegalZoom. Don't know for sure, but Legal Zoom would probably have LLC's covered as well. Check it out.
There is a young lady on youtube named Cate Costa. check her out.
she has videos that talk about how to set up EIN's. Think of your EIN is your LLC's SS#.
. You want different EIN's for each business.
2 things you need to remember.
1. It's not how much you make, ITS HOW MUCH YOU KEEP.
2.
Most people do three things 1. earn money. 2. taxed on money earned. 3. spend what's left
I want YOU to do this. 1. earn money 2. spend money 3. taxed on what is left See the difference? LLC's are one of the tools of the rich.
You work hard for what you earn, don't give it to Uncle Sam, he is one greedy you know what.
Start thinking like a rich woman. When you wake up in the morning, and have to go do something, think, Is this related to my business?
If so and it costs money,... get it? driving? lunch? buying printer paper? Example, going shopping, if downtown and you see a new skin product you want to try, and you get it, volia! Your shopping trip just turned into a business trip.
Shop around and find a good tax accountant. He/She may cost more then HR Block, but the cost is relative. If He/She is good, could save you thousands over the course of any business, Plus whatever you pay THEM, - related to your business!
Regular hardworking Americans like you are never taught this,
Go to the library and check out a book called "Rich Dad, Poor Dad".
by Robert Kiyosaki its a small read, but will really help you.
You need to start getting together your power team. You got some here at WA, now start local in St Louis. Start small, build tall.
All the Best Byron
OMG! This was a wonderful comment! I am definitely going to follow all of the advice I got from you today! I REALLY APPRECIATE IT! You don't know how much better you are going to make my businesses! Good luck and I pray a lot of blessings come your way!
Good thought. What is true for you may not be for me, what works for Peter may not work for Paul. Glad I looked at your website, I am going to add a disclaimer to mine. Do us all a favor, and after a while do a training on disclaimers. Also, set up a LLC, ( Limited liability company)
With it's own taxpayer ID number. Gives you great tax write offs and you get to keep more of your own money. Best part, if you are sued, your damages are limited to the LLC. Great protection for you.
That's the first thing I do with ANY business I start. Cuz you are right honey, there are people out there who want to make your day worse then theirs. Don't let them mess with a nice girl like you.
Love what you are doing. You got class.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate you bringing this to my attention! I am definitely going to set up an LLC for all of my businesses!
Good work Shanice ! Yes Disclaimers are very important especially if you are going to promote healthcare/medical products on a website. In fact another student was just going over this very thing with me as she just added one to her own website The lively Vegan. I ended up doing an over kill just in case. Thank you for putting this great article together for everyone to read, and I am sure that many other students here will also find it to be extremely helpful :)
Thanks so much Jonathon! I hope this helps someone else to make the great decision of adding a disclaimer to their site. I feel like you could never go wrong having one. I did add one to my site, were you able to take a look at it for me?
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Basically your body removes toxins and waste through 3 body systems.
Your skin is the last, and poorest way your body is trying to remove
toxins.
Simply put, even though you are young and shapely , your liver, gallbladder, kidneys, large and small intestines may be overloaded with toxins. Maybe 1, maybe more.
If you have had any medical operations, taken any type of pharmaceutical drug or street drug, lived anywhere on this planet,
I guarantee you have ingested, drank, inhaled pesticides, insecticides,
and lord knows what kind of chemicals.
Your ancestors and mine has bodies that didn't have to deal with this type of abuse and ate much better then we do today. Our bodies weren't build to shed man made toxins
Perhaps it affects you more because your above named organs are not able to deal with the crap or are more senstive.
When my website is ready to go I'll give you the address.
The products I am going to promote aren't specifically for acne, but they have been known to help in some cases.
Ok thanks again!