How to Legally Use Testimonials

Without Getting Fined (or Flagged)

Amanda Beale
July 19, 2025

Hey ,

You’ve probably seen the “I made $10K in 10 days” testimonials all over the place and maybe you’ve even used one of your own.

But if you’re promoting your services or products using client results, reviews, or screenshots of praise without the right disclosures, you could be out of compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

And yes, it applies even if you’re just posting on Instagram.

Let’s break down what you can do, what you must disclose, and how to stay legally protected while still celebrating client wins.

⚠️ What’s Non-Compliant

According to the FTC, any testimonial, review, or endorsement you use in marketing must meet these three rules:

Truthful & Typical – If a result is extraordinary, you must say so.
Not Misleading – You can’t imply everyone will get the same results.
Properly Disclosed – If someone was compensated in any way (money, gift, discount, early access, etc.), it must be disclosed.
🚫 Examples of risky behavior:

* Sharing a DM from a student saying “This course changed my life!’’ without context

*Posting income results without explaining what typical results are

* Using affiliate testimonials without marking them as #ad or #sponsored

✅ Compliance Tip

Clean up your testimonial game!

🛠️ Action Steps: Fix It Now

Step-by-step or bullet checklist so they can apply the fix today.
(Include links to templates, tools, or your Stan Store if applicable.)

✅ Add a disclosure when a testimonial isn’t typical.
✅ Add a footnote or link to a typical results statement or earnings disclaimer on sales pages.
✅ If someone gave you the review in exchange for anything (even a bonus), say so.
✅ Avoid editing testimonials to sound better than what was said.
✅ When in doubt… disclose more than you think you need to.

📣 Bonus Copy You Can Steal:

“This testimonial reflects the experience of one individual. Results may vary based on effort, business model, and other factors. This is not a guarantee of results.” or

“Results are not guaranteed. These outcomes are unique to the individual.”

📌 Disclaimer

The information provided in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, laws and regulations change, and individual circumstances vary. For advice specific to your business, please consult a qualified professional.

When in doubt, consult a licensed attorney to review your compliance needs.
If you don’t have one, I’m happy to help you get connected, just schedule a quick call.

Thank you for reading.

Keep showing up, protect the business that you are building and share what you learned with a friend !

Until next time💛