How to Make Sure Your Blog Complies with FTC Regulations

We want to help you comply with FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Endorsement Guidelines for influencers and disclosures for sponsored and affiliate content. Here are best practices to follow when promoting any ShopStyle Collective affiliate content, as well as sponsored content.

Each post using our tools (links, widgets, Looks, etc.) as well as any paid campaigns, must include a clear and conspicuous disclosure. When you receive product for free it is considered the same as being paid and must include a disclosure. By disclosing the relationship between you, the Merchant, and ShopStyle, a viewer of your posts can decide how much weight to give your endorsement.

Use the examples below as a baseline for how to craft clear, FTC-compliant messaging.

Types of Disclosures for paid/sponsored campaigns:

• Facebook: #Sponsored, #Promotion, #PaidAd, #ad, #CommissionLink
• Instagram: #Sponsored, #Promotion, #PaidAd, #ad, #CommissionLink ** Please note the disclosure is recommended to be placed before the “more” link to open up and see more hashtags. Please note, when posting to Instagram, even if you utilize the “Paid partnership with [sponsor name]” tool, ShopStyle requires our influencers to also use #sponsored or #ad.
• Blog post: “I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.”, and Sponsored by [sponsor name]
• Pinterest: #Sponsored, #Promotion, #PaidAd, #ad, #CommissionLink
• Video: Clearly state in the video that it’s sponsored by [sponsor name], that the content in this video has affiliate links you can make money off of when clicked on (if it does), and add in disclosure (#CommissionLink) under description in video.

Types of Disclosures for affiliate links used in blog and social posts:

• Facebook: #ad, #CommissionLink
• Instagram: #ad, #CommissionLink
• Blog post: “I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.”
• Pinterest: #ad, #CommissionLink
• Video: Clearly state in the video that it’s sponsored by [sponsor name], that the content in this video has affiliate links you can make money off of when clicked on, and add in disclosure (#CommissionLink) under description in video.

Best practices to follow for all disclosures:

• Note: These hashtags are not approved by FTC: #sp, #spon, #partner and #partnership
• Disclosures must be next to the content to which it relates to; a viewer should not need to scroll to view the disclosure
• Disclosures must be in a font of the same size as the rest of your post
• Disclosures must be obvious, not buried in a long paragraph of unrelated text or hashtags
• Disclosures should be visible every place the post appears, not only be accessible by clicking a hyperlink such as your Bio or About Me page
• Always disclose if a brand sent you product for free. e.g: Revolve sent me this jumpsuit or #FreeSample c/o Revolve

If you have further questions see here for official answers from the FTC. The Fashion Law also has informative content surrounding FTC guidelines for influencers.

For members of ShopStyle Collective: Per our Terms & Conditions, you must adhere to FTC Endorsement Guidelines and disclose any time you use our tools. If you do not comply, ShopStyle may terminate your Collective account and disclaim any obligation to pay you your earnings.