All companies must be mindful of compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for influencers and marketers, which require, among other things, that ads and endorsements be clearly identified and substantiated and relationships with influencers that include any exchange of value, monetary or otherwise, be clearly disclosed.

Medical device and pharmaceutical companies, however, bear the additional burden of compliance with the detailed and often complex U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations covering labeling and advertising requirements for drugs and medical devices. Regulatory agencies may hold drug and device firms accountable for statements made by social media influencers that they engage to promote their products. How, then, can these companies take advantage of the many benefits of social media influencers, and particularly microinfluencers, without running afoul of the myriad advertising and promotional regulations and requirements for their products?

Read More: Influencer promo guide: Best practices for drug and device firms

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