That was me. Google Instagram advertising rules of disclosure uk & the top link titled An influencers guide to making clear that ads are ads makes for a very interesting read. Money does need to change hands but it’s murky as to whether putting a clients post on stories is classed as an ad. What is classed as an ad are any post where you are advertising your own services. Which means many instagrammers, Sarah included fall foul unless they include #ad preferably at the start of their post. Interestingly any post where a discount is offered eg you will receive 20% discount if you use code Sarah20 as an example is an ad. As with the swipe ups on stories if they involve a click through sale.
- Status
New to Tattle Life? Click "Order Thread by Most Liked Posts" button below to get an idea of what the site is about:
Her behaviour is typical for a narcissist...
The ASA will be able to guide you & advise you with regard to conflict of interest if you are referencing Instagram & if it concerned you as rules pertaining to Instagram are a whole other beast. From what I can see in my own feed so many do not use #ad & unless anyone reports them nothing will happen as Instagram is too for them to monitor. A naughty list does appear to be published by the ASA every Wednesday so if anyone can be bothered Sarah & NBBS plus Toss Tragic can be reported & added to that list purely on the basis they are advertising their own products & services & not using #ad.
I don’t think sharing clients posts needs to be marked as an ad. I shared other businesses all the time, including clients posts. It’s not an ad. I get no financial benefit from doing it.
I'd argue that in the case of Sarah Akwisombe, she told prospective clients that she would amplify their posts via her own channels - helping increase their reach and resultant sales.
As they then signed up and paid for her services, with this as an offering as part of the "package" to them, it's pretty clear cut that this is effectively a service she has charged them for, even if "rolled up" into the pricing, so is therefore paid advertising and should have been marked as such.
I know there were posts from people confirming this - can we remember who it was?
As they then signed up and paid for her services, with this as an offering as part of the "package" to them, it's pretty clear cut that this is effectively a service she has charged them for, even if "rolled up" into the pricing, so is therefore paid advertising and should have been marked as such.
I know there were posts from people confirming this - can we remember who it was?
I think it’s such a fine line. I agree with you because she wasn’t actively touting anything, BUT she was sharing testimonials and customer posts as a way of continually selling courses that she couldn’t deliver on to make the “milli” so could be argued that they should be marked somewhere that their basis was on driving more sign ups.
I agree though, it’s not completely black and white.
It doesn’t look like you do need to disclose when promoting clients, as there’s no direct financial benefit
There’s obviously a relationship benefit to that so I agree that it’s murky. But unless she’s sharing affiliate links for the clients then it’s fine.
Sharing her own products and services is an ad though which can be called out
She can probably be done for the misleading claims, illegal sales tactics and flagged in their covid complaints for taking advantage of people in this crazy time.
The client testimony thing is weird as they clearly believed at the time of posting that they had benefited. I would love to know if they stand by that now, any testimony should be signed off by the client before sharing.
Still find it interesting that if she truly stood by it all why isn’t she still coaching?!
Technically that would qualify according to the ASA as its an agreement to promote. So she would fall foul if she had shared them, which she rarely did
But... she also falls foul on not sharing them as she didn’t meet the description of the product that she lured people in with
She’s damned both ways.
I worked in marketing in a highly regulated environment for a long time so am clued up on the fundamentals of making product claims.
As a marketer you have to have evidence when making claims, or testimonials and you have to follow through on product delivery promises or they will come down on you like a tonne of
Last edited:
Thing is her husband is also a director in the company so he will have to sort this mess out should that happen...
Something is going on..... NBBS have agreed this lady's refund, granted they're making it difficult for her, but looks like she has some good advice how to get round the obstacles the Akwisombes are trying to put in place:
I have never heard of her but I would say no. Can you please let me know the name of her Insta account or website?
it's meandorla.co.uk. Doesn't sit right, does it!
it's in the FAQs for the 15 minue magic course, it's not easy to find.
Why does Anna Butterworth have her head so firmly up SA’s arse?! And why is it ‘awful’ that people want refunds?! twit.
I think someone also identified on a few threads back that she’s someone who still actively champions Sarah too, so she’s a no from me.
she is saying that you can defer on to another course. Well may be able to defer. I guess it’s to stop people time wasting. At lease she actually looks like she sends out proper information about her courses
I think she means it’s awful that we are still waiting, read it back
Martin’s Money saving... Consumer rights 
For all of you that are worried about not getting your money back... this is the law.
For all of you that are worried about not getting your money back... this is the law.
Attachments
Last edited:
Excellent find!
Especially interesting on the Section 75 rights if you've paid by credit card - and if the card company don't refund, you have clear recourse to the ombudsman:
- Status