Affiliate and Influencer Disclosure Cheat Sheet
Tricia Meyer
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Tricia is an Affiliate Marketer, Blogger, and Consultant.
Affiliate and Influencer Disclosure Cheat Sheet
Date: July 10, 2023
By: Tricia
FTC Disclosure Guidelines
My posts may include paid links for which I earn a commission.
After reviewing the newly revised FTC Disclosure Guidelines, many questions arise about their practical application. While the guidelines themselves provide overall rules, other resource documents offer specific examples:
- "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"
- "FTC’s Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking"
- "Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers"
Hashtags for Disclosure
The FTC approves these three hashtags for disclosure:
- #ad
- #Brand_Ambassador
- #Brand_Partner
They prefer #ad over the others as they are more understandable.
Unapproved Hashtags
The following hashtags are not considered clear enough by the FTC:
- #Brandad
- #Endorsement
- #Client
- #Advisor
- #Consultant
- #Ambassador
- #Partner
- #FreeProduct
- #Comped
- #Hosted
- #Spon
Alternative Disclosure Phrases
Separating words can make hashtags more readable and understandable. Here are some approved alternatives:
- Ad: Paid Ad, Advertising: Sponsored by Brand, Promotion by Brand, Brand Partner, Brand Ambassador, Paid Post by Brand, Advertisement, Gifted by Brand, Paid Link, Thanks Brand for Free Product
Unapproved Disclosures
The FTC disapproves of the following phrases due to lack of clarity:
- Gifted
- Affiliate Link
- Buy Now
- Commissionable Link
Contextual Disclosures
Some disclosures depend on context, such as:
- #PaidforByBrand
- Sponsored
- Promotion
- Thank You Brand
- Brand Asked me to try Product
- Brand_Consultant
- Brand_Advisor
Remember, all disclosures must follow the full set of guidelines, including being clear and conspicuous. We can also expect more specific examples from Twitter chats, FAQs, letters, and other official proceedings.