Influencers, bloggers, and content creators are under increasing pressure to be transparent about their collaborations and revenue models. The “Certified by Influencerregels.com” initiative, launched by the DDMA and the Advertising Code Foundation, seemed like a positive step toward greater transparency. However, upon closer examination, it appears that this certification comes with hidden costs and cumbersome requirements, leading to concerns about its true transparency and effectiveness.
Problematic Implementation
While the goal of promoting transparency is commendable, the practical implementation of this certification is fraught with issues. Content creators are required to manually add extra tags, hashtags, information banners, and comments to every piece of content produced during or after a collaboration. This manual process is not only time-consuming but also unprofessional, potentially impacting the quality and search engine optimization (SEO) of the content.
Lack of Transparency in the Revenue Model
Another significant concern is the lack of clarity regarding the certification’s cost structure. Initially, obtaining the certificate is free until the end of August, after which it costs €50 annually. This crucial information is not prominently displayed on the homepage, information page, or course page, making it easy to overlook. Considering that approximately 1,250 influencers obtained the certificate within the first two months of the website’s launch, this translates to an annual income of at least €62,500 for Influencerregels.com—a figure likely to increase as more influencers seek certification.
Call for Genuine Transparency
Transparency is essential in the influencer and content creation industry, and it should be upheld by all parties involved. If organizations like Influencerregels.com, the DDMA, and the Advertising Code Foundation advocate for openness, they should lead by example. This includes being upfront about their revenue models and the terms associated with their certifications. Only through such honesty can we achieve true clarity and fairness in the sector.
Until these organizations practice the transparency they preach, content creators remain ensnared in a system that misleads them, imposing additional work and unforeseen costs.
Source: Wereldreizigers.nl
