Affiliate and Influencer Disclosure Cheat Sheet
Tricia Meyer
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Affiliate and Influencer Disclosure Cheat Sheet
July 10, 2023
by Tricia
My posts may include paid links for which I earn a commission.
Understanding the FTC Disclosures
After the recently revised FTC Disclosure Guidelines, a common question arises: what can and cannot be used for disclosure? The FTC provides general rules but offers few examples. For specific instances, refer to resources like "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising," "FTC’s Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking," and "Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers."
Approved Hashtags
The FTC approves these three hashtags for disclosure:
- #ad
- #Brand_Ambassador
- #Brand_Partner
They prefer #ad as it is more clear than the others.
Disapproved Hashtags
These hashtags are considered unclear and should be avoided:
- #Brandad
- #Endorsement
- #Client
- #Advisor
- #Consultant
- #Ambassador
- #Partner
- #FreeProduct
- #Comped
- #Hosted
- #Spon (due to merging letters)
Alternative Disclosure Words and Phrases
The FTC provides many alternatives to hashtags:
- 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
Additional Disclosures to Avoid
The following are also disapproved due to lack of clarity:
- Gifted
- Affiliate Link
- Buy Now
- Commissionable Link
Contextual Disclosures
Some disclosures depend on context:
- Sponsored: Acceptable in the Influencer 101 document but may require further clarification in other contexts.
- #PaidforByBrand, Promotion, Thank You Brand, Brand Asked me to try Product, Brand_Consultant, Brand_Advisor – avoid these if they fall into the gray area.
Remember, all disclosures must adhere to the full set of guidelines, including being clear and conspicuous. Stay updated with Twitter chats, FAQs, letters, and other official proceedings for more specific examples.