We stay compliant by treating every post and ad like an ad, running it through a pre-publish checklist, and using the platform’s disclosure tools plus plain-language disclosures that a customer can’t miss.
For day-to-day social, we build your content plan inside our social media marketing services workflow with three guardrails: (1) disclosure rules (FTC and state consumer protection rules), (2) platform community guidelines and branded-content rules, and (3) ad policy rules for anything boosted or run in Ads Manager. That keeps you out of the “post looks fine but gets limited or rejected” trap that hits a lot of Orlando businesses.
On the legal side, the FTC expects disclosures when there’s a “material connection” between a brand and a creator, that includes payments, free products, discounts, affiliate commissions, or any perk tied to posting. The disclosure has to be clear, hard to miss, and close to the claim. In plain terms, if a follower could reasonably think the post is “just your opinion,” we add a disclosure that removes doubt right away. If you run paid social, the same truth-in-advertising rule applies, and that ties directly into what paid social advertising can and cannot say.
Platform policies change, so our rule is simple: use the platform’s built-in tools when they exist, and still add plain language in the caption or on-screen. Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and X all have their own disclosure expectations, and some features cannot be added after publishing, so we handle it before anything goes live. For boosted posts and Ads Manager campaigns, our PPC team checks the same creative for ad-policy issues like misleading claims, prohibited targeting, restricted categories, and landing page mismatches, because one weak link can get the ad rejected or the account flagged.
| Platform | Built-in disclosure tool | What we add in the content | Placement rule we follow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram and Facebook | Paid partnership or branded content tag | Ad or “Paid partnership with [Brand]” if needed | First line of caption, plus on-screen text for Stories and Reels |
| TikTok | Content disclosure setting for promotional content | Ad or “Sponsored by [Brand]” | On-screen text early, and caption disclosure near the start |
| YouTube | Paid promotion checkbox | Spoken disclosure plus a short on-screen note | Near the start, and again if the sponsor segment is later |
| Paid partnership label | “Paid partnership” language if the label is not available | Before publishing, since labels may not be editable after | |
| X | No universal built-in label for creators | #ad or “Sponsored” in the post text | Inside the post, not buried in a thread or replies |
| Promoted label for ads (platform-applied) | “Sponsored” or “Paid partnership” for creator posts | Opening line of the post or the first visible line before “see more” |
Our pre-publish checklist is short and practical, because that’s what catches problems before they cost you time or reach: (1) disclosure present and readable on mobile, (2) claims are supportable and not exaggerated, (3) no “before and after” claims that imply guaranteed results, (4) no sensitive personal-attribute language (especially in ad copy), (5) correct category rules used when required (example: housing, credit, employment rules in ad platforms), and (6) landing page matches the offer and includes any needed disclaimers.
For regulated local niches we see a lot in Central Florida, we add extra checks. Healthcare and dental: no patient-identifying info, written permission for testimonials or images, and conservative language around outcomes. Law firms: no promises, no “guaranteed” language, and clear framing that results depend on facts. Home services: avoid fear-based claims that can trigger policy issues, and keep pricing or warranty statements specific and true.
Influencer or UGC partnerships get their own mini system: a one-page brief that spells out required disclosure wording, where it must appear, what claims are off limits, and who approves. We also ask creators to share drafts before posting and keep screenshots of the final post and the disclosure. If you’re wondering where the line is between “boosting” and “running ads,” our boosted post vs Ads Manager FAQ breaks it down in plain English.
If you want, tell us which platforms you use most and whether you run influencer content, and we’ll map a simple disclosure template your team can reuse without second-guessing every caption.
