Hi there, social media influencer: noteworthy things are happenings in the e-commerce world! Make note: 1) the FTC put celebrity endorsers on notice, and 2) Amazon is rolling out a new social media “influencer” program. In this post, we’ll summarize the events and then review a few social media marketing legal “don’ts.”

FTC to Social Media Celebrities: We’re Watching You

After a consumer watch group applied some pressure, the Federal Trade Commission sent letters to 90 celebrity social media influencers. To paraphrase the message: Stop being tricky with disclosures. Truth-in-advertising rules apply! It’s against regulations to disguise that you’re getting cash-money to hawk products.

According to FTC regulations, any person with a “material connection” to a given product must “clearly and conspicuously disclose relationships to brands” when promoting.

Don’t Try To Bury or Hide Disclosures

Hiding disclosures is also a no-no. Compliance requires that all declarations be made before the “more” button, to accommodate diminished screen real estate on cell phones.

The FTC’s action marks the first time the commission directly reached out, with unsolicited guidance, to celebrity endorsers. So far, no measures have been taken. However, if any of the letter recipients continue to flout guidelines, they’ll most likely be slapped with a gigantic fine.

When asked why it chose to focus on this issue, a spokesperson from the advocacy group explained:

“Instagram has become a Wild West of disguised advertising, targeting young people and especially young women. That’s not going to change unless the FTC makes clear that it aims to enforce the core principles of fair advertising law.”

Amazon’s Influencer Program: Do You Know The Rules?

In Amazon’s manifest destiny quest to claim all things retail, as of late, the company has been concentrating on fashion. And, like most style brands, the e-commerce behemoth is enlisting social media influencers to market and promote.

Still in its beta phase, the program is “invitation only” — and according to Amazon, participants don’t have a say in product selection.

So, who is Amazon asking to join this Amazon influencer promotional hive? According to reports, the company considered “various factors, including but not limited to number of followers on various social media platforms, engagement on posts, quality of content and level of relevancy for Amazon.com.”  Amazon was also sure to clarify that “[t]here is no set cut-off and influencers across all tiers and categories are represented in the program.”

Social Media Marketing Crib Sheet

So, what legal issues must Amazon influencers consider when promoting products? What disclosure tactics don’t pass FTC muster? Here’s a quick list.

• Don’t bury disclosures in a long string of hashtags. The Federal Trade Commission considers it deceptive.
• Don’t use #sp (for sponsored) or #partner as the only disclosures. They’re not clear enough.
• Don’t use #Thanks [Brand] as a disclosure. The phrase does not meet FTC truth-in-advertising standards.

Click here for a more in-depth list of social media marketing dos-and-don’ts.

Contact An E-Commerce Business Consultant

If you’re an Amazon influencer or social media promoter with questions for an attorney who handles online marketing issues, get in touch. Our team has helped hundreds of online business entrepreneurs with everything from affiliate marketing contracts to FTC investigations. Our rates? Exceptionally reasonable. Our knowledge-bank? Invaluable. Let’s chat; we have the answers and know-how you need.