Draft for review by counsel
Disclosure policy
Commercial relationships must be clear where the reader or viewer sees the content.
Evidence and payment.
Disclose before the reader acts
Put a clear disclosure above the fold on each paid placement, before the main review or paid link. Name cash, free products or closeout stock when relevant. Do not hide a disclosure in a footer or behind a link.
Mark paid links
Paid and affiliate links use rel="sponsored". A link label alone does not replace the placement disclosure. Do not add an affiliate disclosure unless a real affiliate relationship and link exist.
Use true bylines
Name a creator as the reviewer only when they used the product. Otherwise use “OI review team” and explain whether the article uses specifications, sources or direct observations. Do not invent a person, experience, score or review.
Creator video sponsors
A creator who mentions a sponsor must disclose the relationship in the video where viewers encounter the mention. Do not rely only on a description link.
Forums and communities
Post only from named personal accounts. One account per person. Post only where the forum’s rules allow members with a commercial relationship. Every post says the brand paid us or sent the product. Never post a review as a customer.
Our own review sites
Every page on a site we own says that Outdoor Influencers owns it. A paid review on our site is labelled Sponsored and names the payment.
16 CFR 465 review note
Review content and incentives must be checked against the FTC rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, 16 CFR 465. No fabricated reviews or incentives tied to a required positive or negative opinion. Counsel must review this policy before adoption.
