Are you having trouble sleeping? I have the perfect solution. Just pop on over and read the FTC's 53 page document on how bloggers should properly disclose any interests, recommendations, sponsorships, or affiliate links on their blog. You'll be asleep before you finish the Overview section, guaranteed.
Regardless, beginning December 1, 2009, the FTC requires bloggers to disclose whenever there could be hidden interests or unspoken biases related to recommendations-they think you're idiots and are violating the First Amendment with their regulation of what bloggers publish. To make clear to them that I am playing by the rules, however, and to ensure you know that I'm taking myself on a lavish vacation with the $0.40 I earned from Amazon through your purchase:
First, the obvious: I'm a food and fitness blogger. I like food, fitness gear, exercise, and trying new things.
Second, the less obvious: Per the FTC rules, if someone gives me a delicious natural snack to try, or a pack of tortillas, some spices, or a bottle of cold brew coffee, I have to disclose this. Same thing if I use an Amazon link for ingredients in my recipe that gets me 7 cents instead of an Amazon link that gets me zero cents. If someone gives me some new workout gear to try out, and I wear it while I'm coaching- you guessed it - disclaimer. Disclaimers all up in yo' face, all the time.
This makes my job of blogging way less fun, and likely makes your experience of reading my blog less fun too. Rules is rules, though. To cover my ass and preserve your reading experience, please assume that for the links and products I use, one or more of the following hold true:
- Writer got fed.
- Writer got some sweet swag.
- Writer received mad cash.
If I’m given free stuff to try out and review, I’ll tell you I got it for free when I write the review. If I'm given free stuff to giveaway to you, I'll tell you that I got it for free when I host the giveaway.
I also get money or in-kind compensation from places that have ads on the site, and my posts may contain affiliate links. But you could probably figure that out on your own.
Thanks again for reading and supporting this blog; your trust in me is appreciated.
