Understanding the FTC Guidelines for Bloggers is a must when writing sponsored content on your blog and on your social media channels. Learn how to properly disclose your relationships with brands below!

Understanding the FTC Guidelines for Bloggers

If you're new to blogging, the FTC Guidelines for Bloggers may seem a bit overwhelming, but trust me they're not. This set of guidelines simply states that you must disclose all relationships with brands, in a clear and conspicuous manner. Also, both you and the sponsor have an obligation to be accurate in your claims about a product. No lying!

Sponsored Posts and Product Reviews

When writing a sponsored post and product reviews you need to let your readers know immediately they are reading sponsored content. This must be disclosed at the top of your post, before any sponsored links, and can be brief like the examples below.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of (Company Name).

Here’s another example to consider:

I am so thrilled to have this opportunity to receive a complimentary FastAction™ Fold Click Connect™ Jogger from Graco.

In both examples, you are identifying to your readers that you have been compensated for this post.

If the sponsored post requires a longer, more descriptive disclosure, you can add this to the bottom of your post or link to a landing page with a more detailed disclosure policy. And be sure to disclose any affiliate links you have at the top of the post as well.

Social Media

When you send a tweet, post to Facebook, upload an image to Instagram, pin an image to Pinterest, or update any other social media channel that is promoting (amplifying) a sponsored post or sponsored content, you need to once again let your readers know they are reading sponsored content.

To let readers know the are reading sponsored content on a social media channel, simply add the word AD (or# ad) in front of your statement or any URL links. This disclosure must be in every social media amplification and it needs to be in a prominent place. You need to make sure the disclosure stands out.

Here are a few examples of what tweets that are compliant with the new guidelines look like:

#ad Loved meeting my #GracoJogger buddies today and trying out our new strollers! Have u seen how pretty they are? (LINK)

Come see how much my baby Jane LOVES her new #GracoJogger today on my blog. She’s smiling from ear to ear! #ad (LINK)

As always, we encourage you to take some time to read through the FTC guidelines for bloggers yourself! You can check out a copy here: FTC Guidelines.