With the FTC “laying down the law” on us bloggers, it’s time to clean up and refine your disclosure policy. While it’s 
perfectly okay to have a generic statement as your disclosure, I highly recommend your personalize it in your usual writing tone. I also recommend you mark your posts clearly as benefited and/or compensated with whatever your choice of words are.
I’m doing this for three main reasons.
- 1) I want to be in compliance with the FTC and will make sure my butt is covered.
- 2) I want companies to feel safe about working with me and understand what my ethics are as a blogger and as a person.
- 3) I also want new readers and current readers to understand that just because I do receive a free product or compensation, doesn’t mean I can be bought. My opinions are always my own and if I don’t like a product or company, I simply won’t work with them or accept the sample. I want them to know that they can trust what I write, about a product/company.
WHAT TO COVER IN YOUR DISCLOSURE
Some things you might overlook that should be considered for your disclosure include, Twitter, Facebook, and Affiliate links. Clarify your position on on all three of these things. It’s also important to add a way to contact you on that particular page just in case a reader, company, or blog police need to ask you any questions. {giggle}
MY DISCLOSURE
Disclosure Policy for A Cowboy’s Wife (dot com)
As of today, November 5, 2009, you will see one of two badges on a review or sponsored post, along with any additional disclosure a company may require. They will look like this (and lead to my disclosure policy):
BENEFITED REVIEWER
When you see this image, that means I was sent a product for review. I want it to be clear that something was sent to me. Please read the entire disclosure so that you understand how I work!
COMPENSATED REVIEWER
When you see this image, that means I was paid to create the content for this post. That means the time it took to create the content such as researching, writing, editing, and publishing. Again, read my entire disclosure to understand my standards.
As with any and all posts and in my life, I strive for authenticity. I’ve worked hard to establish a trust with my readers and hope that you all know that I would never lie or deceive you for a product or for money. It’s not how I roll. ;)
OVER TO YOU!
So, what’s in your disclosure and how are you handling review and compensated posts? I’d love for you to read mine and give me your thoughts on it too. Maybe I missed something or maybe it’s overkill? I wanna hear from ya!
Lori is the Owner and Founder of four blogs, a 4 year Problogger, a social media influencer, and tech nerd at heart. She's been married 18+ years and has 3 handsome boys; Tyler 17, Toby, 14, and Truett 4. 
Love the badges! Great idea!
Hi Lori. Saw your tweet on this and your post is excellent. Great model for others to follow.
Thank you so much John. I appreciate that!
Thanks Lori, this is a great reminder that we should revisit our disclosure statements and refine them a little.
I love the badge idea too!
I think that’s a good way to cover your butt on the reviews. I’m not really changing much with the way I blog right now. The “FTC guides” are just … ugh.
What really worries me is when I see our president on TV saying that he wants to make the internet a controlled environment and a level playing field, etc… It makes the future sound very unpleasant to me.
I have a category in the middle of my page that leads to my Disclosure page and I make a comment after every review. I like the badge idea too!
Kasandria
My blog has a blanket disclosure as well, I do however had a badge that I add to every product review post so that it is clear that I received a product for doing the review.
Love your badges, I don’t have one for compensated reviews and giveaways but I need to make one!
.-= Allison aka Misadventurous Mommy´s last blog ..Cooking With My Misadventurous Kids =-.
I’ve always been up front about my reviews and compensated posts and will continue to do so. At the bottom of every non-family related topic I clearly spell out how a company was involved in my writing whether it be a product sample, gift card or any form of money.
.-= Cat´s last blog ..We’re Not Crash Test Dummies =-.
So interesting – I was just working on mine today.
I’ve used bits and pieces from all over that I’ve found and liked.
.-= Jendi´s last blog ..Do You Take Your Camera With You? =-.
Great idea. Currently I have an image I add to most posts with generic verbiage on it. Now I think I might just link to my disclosure policy that I already have with a small image or a link.
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..Review & Giveaway: Value Rays Warm Mouse (Ends11/30) =-.
I like the badge idea, but I think benefited/compensated have the potential to be confusing terms. Is compensation not a benefit? Is a benefit not considered compensation? I know my employer gives cash benefits and vacation is considered compensation. I think the two words essentially mean the same thing, and without the copy, it’s a sticky wicket.
You may be correct but I do explain what each one means to *me* on the disclosure page so that if anyone is confused, they can see my explanation of they work here on my blog.
Thanks for the info!!
Lori, i agree, you should be clear. I prefer a case by case disclosure as in “i was sent this or received it”, because I dont want my site to be corporate..its really not what its about.
I think the FTC stuff is all blown out of proportion but i do want to make sure my visitors trust me, so i add it in. Although, I have ALWAYS added it in..i am sure most bloggers have.
Great advice here.
trisha
.-= trisha´s last blog ..Sleep Number Mattress: FAIL! =-.
I have a blanket disclosure then add in more if the post needs it .
Kas
When I first heard about the FTC drama, I thought I’d do the same thing w/a little badge/button. But what I like is the phrase “benefited”. It describes it perfectly! Great idea & info. Thanks for sharing all your info w/us!
a
.-= oh amanda´s last blog ..Top Ten {Tuesday}: Television Shows of 2009 =-.
Lori, I was just reworking my disclosure last night…tick-tock!
I didn’t think about Twitter/FB/etc, so thanks for noting that. I need to address that as well.
And I love the idea of badges/graphics to make it easier for everyone to identify sponsored/paid/benefitted content. I may just adopt that idea, too! ;-)
Great ideas we all need to consider. ;-)
Very well said, and nicely put. You have been doing a great job and I’m glad that you said you can’t be bought, because as a reader, you do have people that trust your word and believes in you. I know how hard that is to do when you first get started and now that you have grown, you have many followers and still growing. Keep up the great work Lori. We love you!!
With more and more blogs doing reviews, I think it’s important to get the word out there about disclosure. Great post. We have a line at the end of each post which simply states a product was given for “review purposes” and the old disclosure statement is still listed in various places…giveaway rules, about me page. It’s hard to miss!
Excellent advice, Lori. I really like your badges and am working on something similar for my site.
Thanks so much for sharing your expertise.
Oops. It looks like I “mixed up” the website and Twitter ID URLS in my previous comment. It’s actually a bit confusing the way those two boxes are currently aligned. But maybe that’s just my browser…?
Thanks again for this insightful post.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..10 MORE Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Her =-.
I love your ideas. I definitely need to redo my disclosure statement. How do you handle disclosing affiliate links?
.-= Lisa @ Simplified Saving´s last blog ..New York & Company – Most Redline Items Only $7.99 =-.