Influencers are incredibly powerful, but brands need to work with them properly. Image credit: Harrods
This week, the United States' Federal Trade Commission settled its first-ever lawsuit against influencers for not properly disclosing their financial relationship with the product they endorsed.
{"ct":"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","iv":"969d6055ac8b8892f744260032c2f85b","s":"c9ad1989b5478369"}