Here at Southern Weddings, we like to keep you informed of the goings-on not only in our little office and the wedding world at large, but also in anything that might affect how we do business. This, of course, includes the happenings across the blogosphere. Since the SW blog is a big (okay, huge) part of our life (and hopefully yours, too!), we thought it important to share some newly-announced Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that will change how blogs do business in the upcoming year.
Effective today (December 1), any website (including blogs!) receiving money for a post must disclose that they received compensation for the post. For example, if a photographer is paying a wedding blog to write about or feature them, said wedding blog has to disclose that fact to their readers. Similarly, if a blog receives a complimentary product to review, the blog is compelled to let readers know they received the product for free. Additionally, consumers may no longer describe unusual results in a testimonial (even with a disclaimer noting results as “not typical”); rather, they can only disclose the results or reviews of a service or product that are typical.
The FTC’s new regulations also have consequences for how websites recognize their print and online advertisers. Not only must bloggers disclose when and where their membership is paid advertising, they also have to disclose any featured vendors or contributors in editorial posts who are also advertisers.
Why the sudden concern for websites properly noting paid sponsor posts and recognizing advertisers, even in editorial features? Simply, the FTC wants sites to be honest and upfront about money changing hands and what consumers might reasonably expect from certain products or services.
What does all this mean for you? As a reader and prospective consumer, you’ll now be able to tell whether a blog genuinely supports or recommends a particular vendor or if they are being compensated for their online coverage of that vendor. Genius!
Since Southern Weddings always has chosen not to take part in paid sponsor posts, you can trust that any vendor we highlight, feature or recommend really does deserve our praise and really is among the best in the industry. That’s not to say we never feature real weddings from some of our advertisers; to the contrary, we think our advertisers are among the most talented in the business and are always eager to share the best of their work with you. But we promise to always let you know whenever a featured vendor (be it a photographer, florist, wedding planner, etc.) is also a member of our advertising family. Think of it as an official SW seal of approval!
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Free hugs? Feel free to email me at katharine {at} iloveswmag {dot} com.
Happy December, y’all!
P.S. if we’re gonna make you read a boring post, we might as well put in an awesome image, right? Done. image credit :: jeff newsom
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