+  

FTC  Guidelines  Blogging  Ethically  Social  Media  Rules  &  Regula:ons  The  rules  you  need  to  know  in  order  to  stay  in  compliance  

+FTC  Guidelines  

n  Did  you  know  that  you  must  disclose  all  posts  that  contain  any  type  of  compensation?  n  Did  you  know  that  this  also  includes  Tweets,  Facebook  posts,  and  all  other  social  media  posts?  

n  Did  you  know  that  you  cannot  put  your  disclosure  at  the  bottom  of  your  post?  n  Disclosures  must  be  clear  and  conspicuous/obvious  that  you  were  “paid”  for  the  post  and  must  be  before  any  claim  or  link.  This  is  whether  it  is  in  a  blog  post,  Facebook  post,  Tweet,  etc.  

n  Did  you  know  that  your  disclosure  cannot  have  a  font  that  is  smaller  than  the  regular  font  you  use?  

+How  to  post  your  disclosure  

n  Your  disclosure  must  be  clear  and  conspicuous  and  the  closer  it  is  to  the  claim  the  better.    You  can  use  an  image  at  the  top  of  your  post.  

n  Your  disclosure  must  be  included  in  any  communication;  Tweet,  Facebook  post,  Pinterest  pin,  Google+  post,  YouTube,  ect.  

n  You  cannot  abbreviate  your  disclosure  in  Tweets  and  other  social  media,  you  must  say  AD,  Sponsored,  Client,  etc.  You  cannot  just  use  the  Sponsored  abbreviation  “spon”.  The  FTC  says  that’s  not  good  enough  

n  The  disclosure  must  be  before  any  link  that  will  take  your  reader  away  from  your  page  

n  Although  you  must  disclose  that  your  post  is  sponsored  do  not  post  it  at  the  very  beginning.  Google  will  Klat  you  for  it.  

n  Download  the  .com  Disclosures  -­‐  http://www.ftc.gov/os/2013/03/130312dotcomdisclosures.pdf    

How  to  stay  in  compliance  with  the  FTC,  Google,  and  your  readers!  

+Affiliate  Disclosure  &  Review  Disclosure  Examples  

+Blogging  Ethically  

Blog  with  Integrity  and  be  TRUTHFUL  

n  Be  true  to  yourself  and  to  your  readers!  n  Your  readers  come  to  you  for  advise  n  Your  readers  rely  on  what  you  say.    n  Your  readers  TRUST  you!  

n  From  the  mouth  of  Danielle  Smith:  n  If  it’s  not  “Hell  Yeah”,  it’s  NO!  

n  Would  you  buy  the  product  you’ve  reviewed  based  on  your  written  review?  

n  If  you  don’t  blog  with  integrity  than  others  tend  to  not  trust  all  bloggers.  

TELL  THE  TRUTH!  

Check  out  http://www.blogwithintegrity.com/  for  more  on  Blogging  with  Integrity.  While  you  are  there,  take  the  pledge!  

+Social  Media  Rules  &  Regula:ons  

n  Are  you  using  the  correct  social  media  icons?  -­‐  http://shawnann.com/social-­‐media/    

n We  all  spend  lots  of  time  and/or  money  getting  our  blogs  looking  the  way  we  want  to.  We  may  even  have  special  social  media  icons  made  up  so  they  match  the  theme/layout  we  are  using.  n  Did  you  even  know  that  there  are  speciKic  rules  and  policies  you  must  follow  when  posting  social  media  buttons  on  your  site?  

n  Are  you  following  the  social  media  rules  for  giveaways?  n  Some  social  media  sites  do  not  allow  you  to  use  their  platform  to  host  and  even  promote  giveaways,  let  alone  add  your  accounts  to  gain  entries.  

+Kris:e  from  Saving  Dollars  and  Sense  

+Jolyn  from  Bargains  to  Bounty  

+Mallery  from  Horrible  Housewife  

+Candace  from  Serendipity  Mommy  

+These  Social  Media  Icons  are  in  Viola:on  n  Twitter  

n  You  cannot  use  a  speech  bubble  or  words  around  the  bird,  rotate  or  change  the  birds  direction,  animate  the  bird,  change  the  color,  or  use  any  other  marks  or  logos  to  represent  the  Twitter  Brand  

n  Facebook  n  You  cannot  modify  the  “f”  logo  in  any  way,  such  as  changing  the  design  or  color.  The  actual  

Facebook  Logo  is  not  allowed  to  be  used  on  any  site  other  than  Facebook.  

n  Google+  n  You  can’t  use  the  word  Google+,  you  can’t  use  blue,  green,  or  any  other  color  not  speciKied  by  

Google,  do  not  use  the  Google  icon  to  represent  Google+,  and  many  other  rules.  

n  Pinterest  n  You  cannot  rotate,  alter  colors  or  proportions,  obstruct,  or  add  extraneous  effects  

n  Instagram  n  You  are  not  allowed  to  use  Instagram  or  IG  in  any  variation  with  your  own  name/product  and  if  

you  do  use  the  Instagram  logo  you  must  include  a  statement  on  your  site  that  clearly  states  that  you  are  using  their  logo  in  accordance  to  their  terms,  etc.  

+These  Social  Media  Icons  are  Approved  

n  Twitter  n  https://twitter.com/logo    

n  Facebook  n  https://www.facebookbrand.com/    

n  Google+  n  https://developers.google.com/+/branding-­‐guidelines    

n  Pinterest  n  http://business.pinterest.com/brand-­‐guidelines/    

n  Instagram  n  http://help.instagram.com/393313264071311    

+Facebook  Giveaway/Contest  Rules  

n Mandatory  entries  cannot  be  to  like  your  page  or  the  sponsors  page.  These  can  be  extra  entries.  

n  You  cannot  ask  for  comments  on  your  page.  

n  Do  not  announce  the  winner  on  Facebook!  

n  Facebook  isn’t  responsible  and  cannot  be  held  liable.  

+TwiOer  Giveaway/Contest  Rules  

n  Variety    -­‐  don’t  have  the  exact  same  tweet  going  around  the  entire  contest.  Try  to  switch  it  up  if  possible.  

n  Ask  your  users  to  include  you  in  their  tweets  so  you  can  see  all  the  entries.  

n  Include  relevant  hashtags  in  the  tweets!  

n Make  sure  you  are  following  applicable  laws  and  regulations  

n Make  sure  that  your  #AD  or  #Sponsored  hashtag  remains  within  the  tweet  of  an  entry.  

+Google+  Giveaway/Contest  Rules  

n  Google+  does  NOT  allow  you  to  run  contests,  sweepstakes,  or  other  such  promotions  directly  on  Google+  

n  You  can  run  a  giveaway  and  post  a  link  to  said  giveaway  on  Google+  as  long  as  you  and  Google  are  not  solely  responsible  for  the  promotion  and  where  you  are  meeting  all  federal,  state,  and  local  laws  for  promotions.  

n  You  must  release  Google  from  any  liability  in  that  promotion.  

n  Do  NOT  ask  for  a  +1  of  your  post  or  to  be  added  to  their  circle  

Sources:  https://www.google.com/intl/en/+/policy/content.html  &  http://blog.rafKlecopter.com/2012/08/google-­‐plus-­‐sweepstakes/    

+Pinterest  Giveaway/Contest  Rules  

n  Running  a  contest  on  Pinterest  vs  your  own  site.  

n  When  running  a  contest  on  Pinterest:  n  Suggest  that  Pinterest  sponsors  or  endorses  you  or  the  contest.  n  Require  people  to  pin  from  a  selection—let  them  pin  their  own  stuff.  n  Make  people  pin  or  repin  your  contest  rules.  This  is  a  biggie.  n  Run  a  sweepstakes  where  each  pin,  repin,  board,  like  or  follow  represents  an  entry.  n  Encourage  spammy  behavior,  such  as  asking  participants  to  comment.  n  Ask  pinners  to  vote  with  pins,  repins,  boards,  or  likes.  n  Overdo  it:  contests  can  get  old  fast.  n  Require  a  minimum  number  of  pins.  One  is  plenty.  

n  When  running  a  contest  on  your  blog:  n  Basically  you  are  responsible  for  making  sure  it  complies  with  all  legal  requirements  and  you  

cannot  hold  Pinterest  responsible  for  anything.  

Sources:  http://business.pinterest.com/brand-­‐guidelines/  &  http://kimgarst.com/pinterest-­‐contest-­‐guidelines-­‐changing-­‐contests-­‐comply    

 

+Instagram  Giveaway/Contest  Rules  

n  Follow  the  rules  for  Facebook!  

+Giveaway  Rules  you  should  include  

n  How  to  enter    

n  Who  can  enter  

n  The  number  of  entries  required  

n  Start/Stop  

n  Product  value  and  information  

n  Who  provides  the  prize  -­‐  If  blogger  hosting  giveaway  is  responsible  for  prize  shipment  or  not  

n  Number  of  winners  

n  How  winner  is  chosen  

n  Time  winner  gets  to  respond