Wondering about my disclosures on top of posts?
Savvy California uses affiliate and referral links on some pages. My blog is my passion and my business, so sometimes I do benefit when I refer happy readers to trusted sources. Not “mad scrilla” exactly, but it helps keep the lights on. All this really means is that if you follow a link to sign up for something, use a promo code, or buy something after clicking over to a merchant site, I may earn a little something (at no extra cost to you).
If a post is sponsored, you’ll see a disclosure for that, too. Only a small percentage of the links you find here are shilly. But if I can find a referral link or sponsor for something I’m going to tell you about anyway, I’ll grab it and use it. You know, like those links to Amazon. Like many bloggers, I participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, “an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.” Other partners include event ticket and hotel booking sites.
If you’ve noticed this type of disclosure more often in the blogosphere and on social networks lately, that’s because the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) now insists that every blogger/influencer disclose absolutely every time a link might possibly result in a freebie or a buck, even if it doesn’t. They want it in your face, top of the post or before any promotional links, everywhere, every time (although many bloggers think that’s rude have been slow to comply).
I would let you know about this anyway (in a less annoying way probably) but now the FTC is all over it. And really, they probably have your best interests at heart. I appreciate your trust and will never recommend anything unless I believe in it and would do it/use it/buy it personally. My opinions are never for sale and never have been.
Got it? Thought so. Hopefully the FTC will, too.
Stay savvy,
Kat Summers
Publisher of SavvyCalifornia.com
PS. In case you’re interested in more legal stuff, here’s the Savvy California Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Image credit: Illustration by Louis Gray and Jeannine Schafer.