Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers
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Do you work with brands
to recommend or endorse
products?
If so, you need to comply with the law
when making these recommendations.
One key is to make a good disclosure
of your relationship to the brand.
This brochure from FTC sta gives tips on
when and how to make good disclosures.
The FTC works to stop deceptive ads, and its Endorsement Guides
go into detail about how advertisers and endorsers can stay on the
right side of the law.
If you endorse a product through social media, your endorsement
message should make it obvious when you have a relationship
(“material connection”) with the brand. A “material connection” to
the brand includes a personal, family, or employment relationship or
a financial relationship – such as the brand paying you or giving you
free or discounted products or services.
Telling your followers about these kinds of relationships is important
because it helps keep your recommendations honest and truthful,
and it allows people to weigh the value of your endorsements.
As an influencer, it’s your responsibility to make these disclosures,
to be familiar with the Endorsement Guides, and to comply with laws
against deceptive ads. Don’t rely on others to do it for you.