For a marketing agency with clients spanning nearly all industries, it is extremely important we stay abreast of little things like the Federal Trade Commission’s regulations. On October 5, 2009 the FTC updated their regulations to offer more specific rules in regards to testimonial advertising, celebrity endorsements and blogging.

New regulations include:

- Disclosing any compensation, whether in kind or free product, that a blogger or reviewer has received as compensation for a favorable review.

- Testimonials that present a scenario which is not typical are allowed, but the company must also offer what a customer could expect from a product, or the “typical results”.

- Celebrity endorsements are fine, although the celebrity must disclose the relationship he or she has with an advertiser.

In short, the FTC is doing their darnedest to keep it real and we can all appreciate that. For a full description of revised regulations, click here.