One missed #ad is a regulator's example, not yours. Make compliance a step that can't be skipped.
Phase 1: Define the standard per platform
— Instagram/TikTok: paid partnership label ON + '#ad' in the first line, not buried in hashtags
— YouTube: verbal disclosure in first 30 seconds + 'includes paid promotion' box checked + written line in description
— Blog: disclosure above the first affiliate link, not in the footer
Phase 2: Bake it into the brief
The disclosure requirement is a line item in the partner brief, with the exact wording. Don't leave it to interpretation.
Phase 3: Verify before payment
— Screenshot the live post showing the label
— Confirm disclosure is visible without 'see more' expansion
— If disclosure is missing → post is non-compliant → payment holds until fixed
Definition of done: every paid post has a saved screenshot proving disclosure, filed against the deal. No screenshot, no payout. The proof is the gate.
Creator Playbook
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Disclosure compliance as a process, not a vibe
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