DISCLOSURE

I’m aware that blogger and influencer content can often have negative connotations, especially in a time when we need to be careful, considered consumers of everything. Sharing content that creates an income (be that cash payment, gifted items or the potential to earn affiliate commission) should come with a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Blogging is something I’ve done for sixteen years, and I love sharing stories, everyday outfits from my wardrobe, thoughtfully curated edits and life and style inspiration that I think readers will enjoy. My intention has always been to inspire readers in ways that I myself like to be inspired.

I hope you find that here and when it comes to the outfit posts, can also turn to your own wardrobe to recreate some of the looks with your own versions. If you feel you’re lacking a particular style staple I’ve selected and you go ahead and buy it via my blog or Instagram link, please carefully consider your purchase and ensure that it fits with your own personal style. If it does and you love it, then I’ll be grateful for the affiliate commission and happy to have inspired your style too!

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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 a disclosure note under the header image. In simple terms. 

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. I turn down about 80% of the things I’m invited to promote as they’re not relevant to me or to you and I won’t comprise the relationship I’ve built with my readers over the last fourteen plus years. 

If I’m being paid to create content you’ll also see the word AD appear in the title. 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’m not here to deceive you, be 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. If only some of the links in the post are affiliate links, I’ll use * to denote which is which and reference that in the header statement. 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. 

As gifts don’t pay the bills, the majority that I accept are on a zero-obligation basis - i.e. the brand has no control or input as to how it may be featured. Should I accept a gift as “payment” for including some brand directed content, I’ll make this clear in the post. 

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. 

A WORD ON BEAUTY PRODUCTS (GIFTED OR OTHERWISE) 

I’m not a beauty blogger or an industry expert. I am however a midlife woman who LOVES a really good product!  

If you see me mention a product it’s because my user experience is really good - i.e. it makes me feel good or it makes my skin/hair/whatever feel nice. And I like seeing it in on my bathroom shelf too. In all probability, it won’t make me look ten years younger/erase my wrinkles or make my hair look like spun silk - I just enjoy using it and appreciate that it does a decent job. Which is the basis upon which I believe most of us buy our beauty products. 

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. The same applies if you feel I’ve not declared a partnership here or in social media clearly enough. You can email me 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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