Creating content? Don’t Forget These Disclaimers.
Disclaimers. All right. So do you have to use one? Like, do you really really have to use a disclaimer on Instagram posts? What's a disclaimer for? What does it do?
Let's talk about disclaimers for online businesses.
So what's a disclaimer? When you see a disclaimer, it feels a lot like common sense, right?
Here's an analogy for you: when you're walking through, let's say Whole Foods. And you see the caution Wet Floor sign in front of what is obviously a wet floor. Yeah, some of it's a little bit of common sense, you know, by being a human being with eyes and exercising your common sense that if you step on a wet floor, you might slip and hurt yourself.
But from Whole Foods perspective, they might be opening themselves up to a lot of legal liability (that means “risk”) if they don't have that sign.
So disclaimers are like that CAUTION, WET FLOOR sign for your content.
Think of it as a notice.
a disclaimer should be conspicuous, not hidden.
And by the way, a disclaimer does nothing for you if people can't see it. That's why the CAUTION, WET FLOOR sign is orange or neon green or yellow with exclamation points, right? It's supposed to be conspicuous, otherwise, it doesn't serve you. It doesn't serve your business.
places you might see or use a disclaimer online
There are a bunch of places where you might see a disclaimer. You might see them:
On an Instagram post.
Where you’re using affiliate links.
On a sponsored post.
On your website.
On testimonials (a “no results guaranteed” type of thing).
and they might be in your contract.
Affiliate link disclaimers
This type of disclaimer puts people on notice that you might get a little cash money if they click on that link. There are a bunch of ways to phrase a an affiliate link disclaimer so that it doesn't sound cheesy or too formal or off brand.
Website disclaimers
Website disclaimers can come in a boatload of different forms. If you're offering medical or legal or professional-like education, a disclaimer would say hey, everything on this website is educational informational; don't make any decisions about your health, legal status, finances without consulting a professional because we are not your medical provider, financial advisor, law firm, right?
If you're selling physical products on your website, a disclaimer might say something about the function of the products or that colors on the screen might look different on the screen than in hand.
Testimonial disclaimers
Technically, this could be on your website, too. It can also be anywhere that you display testimonials like on a sales page. But basically you're saying “results are not guaranteed.” Psst, head over to this post for some copy-and-pastable testimonial disclaimers:
Disclaimers in Coaching Contracts
In coaching contracts, a disclaimer might say something about the limitations of your license and your expertise — what you can and can't do. It's basically covering your hiney if someone has a claim against you.
In contracts that involve the metaphysical, intuitives, or energy work, a disclaimer would cover there being no guarantee in the healing process, and maybe suggesting that they consult with a health care provider, depending on what the engagement is for.
Limitation of Liability Disclaimer
And again, back to covering your hiney: a limitation of liability disclaimer. This can come in a bunch of different forms too. But it basically says:
hey, I’m not liable if XYZ happens. And maybe even if I am liable, I’m only liable up to X amount.
That's essentially a limitation of liability disclaimer.
summary
So we talked through why you might need a disclaimer, what a disclaimer does (that CAUTION WET FLOOR sign for your content), and all the different places you might see a disclaimer.
I hope you found this helpful!