Transparency, Honesty and Disclosure

Independent bloggers who fail to disclose paid reviews or freebies may face up to $11,000 in fines from the Federal Trade Commission, according to revisions to the agency's Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising published Monday.

View Press Release : FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials

The FTC will be watching celebrities, as well. Celebrities will have to disclose their relationships with advertisers when making endorsements outside traditional advertising venues.

Download your copy of the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 255
Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (PDF, 81 pages), by clicking here or using the link above.

A couple of years ago, disclosure was a buzz word in the blogosphere. Bloggers who wrote sponsored posts or paid reviews, gave testimonials for or reviewed products were called to disclose. If you are not aware of the importance of transparency and honesty in advertising, you should read the summary of the document by FTC. After all, it did take almost 30 years for the FTC to amend them.

If want help with disclosure, you could use my disclosure policy as a draft, and change it up or generate another one. Something that I have added to all my blogs is my personal blogging ethics, based on Word of Mouth Marketing (WOM) Guidelines. View my blogging ethics here.

Transparency, Honesty and Disclosure are the best way to conduct business. If you use your blog or website to generate revenue, let your readers know.