DISCLOSURE

Blogging is something I’ve done for eighteen years, and I love sharing stories, thoughtfully curated edits and life and style inspiration that I think readers will enjoy. My intention is to inspire readers in the same way I like to be inspired and I hope you find this here. This is said with the awareness that influencer content can have negative connotations, especially in a time when we need to be careful, considered consumers. Sharing content that sometimes creates an income (be that cash payment, gifted items or the potential to earn affiliate commission), comes with a sense of ownership and responsibility - one that I feel and act accordingly.

When it comes to home or wardrobe I no longer subscribe to the policy of to have “the look” you have to buy the thing. A feeling, vibe or moment can be recreated in an individual way using what you might already have to style as suggested. If there’s definitely a purchase to be made, please carefully consider it before adding to basket - I’m forming the habit of leaving whatever it is for a few days to make sure that I need it as opposed to buying it on the power of suggestion alone!

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Here’s a bit more information about what the Ad and Affiliate Commission means... 

If a blog post on Simply Start Living contains any of the categories mentioned below, in any combination, I’ll lay it out for you in simple terms in a disclosure note.  

Paid For Content 

In order to facilitate an income, I occasionally partner with brands to create paid for content. This will only ever be with brands I love and who I already shop with or would happily decide to buy from. 

My business model means that sometimes I’m able to create content in partnership with a brand who is a really good fit with my online space and existing content. These intermittent paid for posts, here or on Instagram, enable me to meet my business running costs and make a small profit each year.

If I’m being paid to create content like this you’ll also see the word AD appear in the title of the post. This means I’m paid for my time to come up with the concept and styling - take photographs (or employ a pro) and then weave it all together with copy to create informative or inspirational blog and social media content. These are self-taught skills I’ve acquired over the years, so it feels great to flex those creative muscles occasionally and get paid for doing so. I don’t get paid to recommend something I don’t rate, create a false impression or regurgitate sales speak verbatim.  

Affiliate Links 

If I use product affiliate links in a blog post, I’ll include a statement of explanation at the top of the blog post. Affiliate linking means that if a reader makes a purchase from clicking a product link or image, I receive a small percentage of the sale in the form of a commission payment. This doesn't impact the cost of the product to the reader and dependent on the brand, is generally between 2% and 10% of the item amount.  

It doesn’t mean that the brand has any say over how I feature the link/image/product or even whether I should feature it in the first place. 

I partner with Reward Style to facilitate the majority of my affiliate links and you can read their Privacy Policy here. 

As an Amazon Associate, I also earn commission from qualifying purchases.

Gifted Items 

On occasion I feature gifted items within blog posts or over on Instagram. 

In 99% of cases, my working setup means that gifts are sent on a pre-agreed basis. This means the brand isn’t wasting their budget and between us, we’re not creating unnecessary waste within the environment. If I’m sent something to try and I don’t like it - it won’t make it anywhere here or on social media. If this turns out to be the case and it’s of significant value then I’ll offer to return it - if not I’ll pass it on to a friend who might like it. 

All gifts in any instance are declared in blog posts, Instagram feed posts and in Stories frames. 

If it’s something that was gifted as part of a previous paid for collaboration and it’s making a recent reappearance, I’ll tell you. The CMA guidelines state that anything gifted in the last year time is considered a relevant time frame for declaration so those are the timelines that I work with. 

Events, Press Trips, Free Travel or Accommodation 

If I attend any of the above and write about it here on the blog or over on Instagram, I’ll declare it in clear and simple terms and the word AD will be included as per regulatory requirements. 

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I believe that these guidelines and rules make bloggers and content creators more transparent than some of the mainstream media, so I’m happy to abide by them.  

If you have any questions about any of this, please drop me an email at:  amanda@simplystartliving.com.

FURTHER INFORMATION 

Guidelines from the CMA around blogging and social media endorsements

The ASA Influencer’s Guide To Making Clear What Is An Ad

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