Don’t Mess With Disclosure: Bringing Best Practice To Influencer Marketing

In this guest post, Detch Singh, co-founder and CEO of Hypetap, speaks about how to bring best practice to influencer marketing.
Earlier this month, VicHealth revealed an investigation into the use of social media and influencer marketing by alcohol brands, finding that some influencers aren’t properly disclosing sponsored content. This once again brought sections of the influencer marketing industry under scrutiny.
Sadly, it also disproportionately puts the spotlight on poorly run campaigns rather than focusing on the groundbreaking success of the category. What we need to remember is, this is the result of a few bad actors, not the industry as a whole.
Industry guidelines from AANA state that all sponsored posts on social media must be disclosed by the influencer where it’s not clear that the brand has collaborated on the creation of the content. So the conversation here is really around some players not complying with industry guidelines, illustrating a lack of best practice when it comes to disclosure.
Why disclose?
When influencers disclose their content as sponsored, they’re not taking away from the authenticity of the post, they’re adding to it. This is a critical step in ensuring influencer marketing remains transparent and safe for all involved. Brands that aren’t checking this, or working with trusted partners who do, are putting themselves at risk.
For brands and influencers, there is no excuse not to disclose, irrespective of the industry sector. Data from our campaigns shows engagement can be anywhere from 80 to 300 per cent of organic content when the alignment of the influencer has been qualified correctly.
Having worked on influencer campaigns alongside some of Australia’s most prominent alcohol brands, we’ve always insisted on disclosure and brand safety around sponsored content. This ensures all campaigns are compliant with AANA guidelines and the influencers continue having open and transparent lines of communication with their audiences.
If you are a marketer and the influencer you have partnered with does not disclose the sponsorship, your target audience will be able to sniff out the inauthenticity. This will only lead to an array of negative sentiment directed at the influencer and the brand, damaging consumer trust for both parties. Stackla’s data indicating that 86 per cent of consumers find authenticity to be important when deciding what brands they like and support just reinforces this point.
Ultimately, if the influencer is a good organic fit for the product then disclosure won’t have an adverse impact on campaign performance across any metric.
Influencer risk
Influencers risk their relationships with followers when they show a lack of transparency. According to Bazzarvoice 47 per cent of consumers feel tired of inauthentic content published by influencers. As more brands engage in influencer marketing, audiences are increasingly recognising when content is misaligned with an influencer’s personal brand. For influencers, it’s not as simple as acknowledging an ad. It’s about dealing with the increasing lack of trust and scepticism that has emerged in recent times.
Let’s focus on the positives
Unfortunately, poorly run campaigns in influencer marketing get a lot more attention than the ones that are shooting the lights out. If you are a marketer who is looking at running an influencer campaign with an agency or provider, ask about previous campaigns and the results achieved. These are rarely covered in the press, and the focus is regularly drawn to a very few poorly run campaigns.
While the poor behaviour of a small number of half-baked operators should not overshadow the success of a truly impactful sector, it’s disappointing to see campaigns being run without adhering to disclosure guidelines. VicHealth’s investigation is a wake up call for brands to be more aware of their partnerships and policies, ensuring future campaigns are executed in the safest way possible and adhere to industry guidelines.
Disclosure for sponsored content should never be an afterthought. If you’re working with a provider that isn’t demanding disclosure, they’re not doing right by your campaign, your brand or the influencers you’re working with. It may be time to think twice about your partnership together.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Influencer MarketingLatest News

Entries now open for Snapchat Young Lions Australia
The annual search for the very best of Australia’s young media, creative, and marketing professionals has begun, with Cannes Lions Festival representative The Misfits announcing entries are now officially open for the 2021 Snapchat Young Lions Competition. The Young Lions Competition, which is proudly supported by Snapchat and The Trade Disk, gives blossoming media talent […]

Pureprofile Snares Former Kantar Director Of Data Solutions & Sourcing Young Ham
Global data and insights business Pureprofile Limited has today announced three new appointments to the Australian team to support its renewed growth strategy. Young Ham [pictured] joins the team in a global role as head of data, innovation and product, Kate Richards will hold the role of interim head of sales, data & insights ANZ […]

PHD Snares Former Hello Social Strategy Director Joshua Tan As Part Of Content Team Expansion
PHD unveils new-look content team which includes (judging by accompanying press photo) an astonishing beard & man bun.

Coca-Cola Loses Logo In ‘Open To Better’ Campaign
Here's some fun new work from Coke. Sure, it still rots your teeth and makes you fat, but fun nonetheless.

“You Can’t Nazi It!”: Amazon Called Out For Fatal Design Flaw In New Logo
New Amazon logo apparently resembles Hilter's moustache. Particularly after Adolf ate one too many blueberry muffins.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Produces New Creative For International Markets Via Richards Rose
Mitsubishi Australia unveils latest work and wisely decided not to reinstate the truly awful "It's a Mitsi" tagline.

Taboola Lays Out Plans To Go Public
Taboola lays out plans to go public. And by that it apparently means the stock market, not the local park's lavatories.

Selena Gomez Fronts Latest PUMA Campaign
B&T has no idea what Selena Gomez actually does, however, it appears to have made her incredibly rich doing it.

Australian Open Tops YouGov Sport’s UK Australia 2021 Rankings
A list of Australia's most popluar sports are in and once again it's little joy for hotdog eating or the manure toss.

TV Interview Goes Awry After Viewers Spot Menacing Dildo
In this woman's defence, it may just be a scented candle. Admittedly one that bares remarkable similarities to a dildo.

The Three Must-Haves For Your Data Strategy
Here are the three must-haves for your data strategy. A fourth could possibly include the value of legumes in your diet.

Third-Party Data Sales Spike 109% For Lotame In APAC
Lotame has today announced 109 per cent growth in third-party data sales in the APAC region from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020. Across the APAC region, India saw 555 per cent growth, followed by Malaysia at 190 per cent and Taiwan at 178 per cent growth. Subsequently, Australia saw 43 per cent growth and New Zealand […]

28% Of Display Advertising Spend Goes To Ad Tech Services: ACCC Inquiry
Some 28% of display ad spend goes to the ad tech giants. Which explains the excellent sandwiches at their conferences.

Nielsen: Top 10 Media Owners Reach Over Half Of The Australian Population Each Month
Study finds top 10 media owners reach over 50% of the Aussie population. Other 50% looking for car spot at Westfields.

Dr Elaine Stead Wins $280k Damages In Defamation Suit Against The AFR’s Joe Aston
Long-running defamation case comes to an end. Barristers just happy to take those silly wigs off in this stifling heat.

Tim Robards Stars As Tim Tam Genie In New Arnott’s Campaign Via The Neighbourhood
The Tim Tam is undoubtedly Australia's culinary gift to the world alongside the pavlova & the throwdown beer receptacle.

McCann Sydney Snares Lucy Gavan For Senior Strategist Role
McCann Sydney inter-office UNO tournament takes sinister new twist with arrivel of new senior strategist.

VCCP Sydney Adds Tilly Treloar, Nathan Pashley & Heath Sims
B&T's editor does not like press photos of people not wearing socks. He's a stickler for neutralising foot odours.

Dentsu’s Ad Spend Report Forecasts 5.9% Growth In Australia In 2021
2021's starting to look good for ad spends. It's not looking good for overseas travel or people with a fear of needles.

David Pullinger, Former JC Decaux Sales Director, Appointed QMS Media GM
JC Decaux's David Pullinger jumps to rival QMS amid apparent awkward silences at the staff leaving party.

Stan Officially Announces Pricing For Stan Sport
Stan Sport will cost you $10 a month. Which is the same price as three avocados sans the monounsaturated fatty acids.

Facebook Introduces New Measures To Stop The Spread Of Holocaust Misinformation
Facebook looking to block Holocaust deniers. Still seems open to Flat Earthers and Elvis spotting, however.

Busting Six Of The Biggest Ad Tech Myths
Here, six of ad tech's biggest myths get expertly busted. There was a seventh, but it turned out to possibly be true.

Droga5 London Rolls Out New International Visual Identity For CUPRA
Droga5 London is arguably the hottest agency in the world right now. Not that anyone's booking Cannes tickets just yet.

Shutterstock Acquires 3D Marketplace TurboSquid
Shutterstock has acquired 3D marketplace TurboSquid. Read all the news here, admittedly in boring old 2D.

Are Media Appoints Melissa Mason As Digital Editor For ELLE & Marie Claire
Melissa Mason seriously considering putting an accent over the á following Elle & marie claire appointment.

M&C Saatchi’s Timothy Ng: “To Those Who’ve Thought About It”
M&C Saatchi's Timothy Ng muses on his career in advertising. It's a bit Nietschke, with a spot of Goethe thrown in.

WPP Named In Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index For Third Year In A Row
WPP named in gender-equality index for third year running as internal fight erupts over where to hang the certificate.

Australian Road Safety Foundation Utilises Geo-Targeting Technology To Protect Kids In School
The Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) has teamed up with Spotify and some of Queensland’s leading musicians in a national first that will geotarget drivers within school zones. The Slow Down Songs campaign, which is being piloted in Queensland, will work to keep kids safe within school zones by dramatically slowing down songs and serving […]

Florida Financial Officer ‘Offers’ To Host Olympics With “Bonkers” Pitch
Florida says if Tokyo don't want the Games, they'll take it. Hopefully our own Dubbo might make similar overtures.