Starting Dec. 1 the FTC will put into affect a new regulation that could very well be a bride’s best friend. Simply stated, it means that if someone has been paid or is paying to be on a “preferred vendor” list it must be disclosed to the public. So no longer can a vendor pay a site to be listed on their preferred list without being identified as such. If money changes hands it must be noted on the list. If a venue gives you a list of preferred vendors, it must be vendors that they have worked with and actually do not hesitate to recommend and have accepted no money from in exchange for a listing. If it is a paid list it you must be told upfront. The same is true for blogs that review a product or person. If the person being reviewed has paid for the opportunity that must be disclosed. Here is the actual FTC Act if you would like to read it.
We’ve talked before about the need to be careful of magazines, websites, blogs and even some vendors’ lists of preferred vendors or “award” winners. Now it looks like these lists are going to have to be a lot more honest and forthcoming.
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