Sponsored Post
A sponsored post is social or blog content a creator is paid to publish promoting a brand, which must be clearly disclosed as an ad under FTC and comparable rules.
Sponsored posts are the most common unit of influencer marketing: a creator receives payment, product, or commission to feature a brand in a post, video, or article aimed at their audience.
Because the creator has a material connection to the brand, disclosure is legally required — labels like #ad, 'paid partnership', or an affiliate disclosure must be clear and hard to miss. Sponsored posts often carry a tracked link or promo code so the brand can measure the sales they generate.
See also
- Brand Deal
A brand deal is a paid agreement between a brand and a creator to promote the brand's product, defined by deliverables, usage rights, exclusivity, timing, and a fee or commission.
- Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a strategy in which brands partner with creators who have engaged social audiences to promote products, paying through flat fees, free product, affiliate commissions, or a combination.
- FTC Disclosure
An FTC disclosure is the clear, conspicuous statement a US creator or affiliate must make when they have a material connection to a brand — such as being paid or earning a commission — so audiences know the content is an ad or endorsement.
- UGC (User-Generated Content)
User-generated content (UGC) is content — photos, videos, reviews, and posts — created by customers or creators rather than the brand itself, valued in marketing because it feels authentic and trustworthy.
- Rate Card
A rate card is a creator's published pricing sheet listing what they charge for each type of deliverable — an Instagram Reel, a YouTube integration, a story, or a bundle — used as a starting point for brand-deal negotiations.
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