I’m sure you guys have heard that today is the first day that the new FTC regulations calling for complete transparency with advertisers goes into effect for bloggers. It’s kind of a big deal in the industry and is setting a clear set of guidelines for everyone doing business on the web. I saw that Sean Low, a good friend of ours, wrote a really insightful post on the new regulations and referenced an interview that a senior official at the FTC put together. Just wanted to make sure that you guys all took the time to give it a good read.

When these new regulations initially hit the streets, bloggers and analysts went bonkers with it. There were crazy, threatening, scary posts written about it. There were hip hip hoorays heard from around the world. There were little bloggers shaking in their boots and big bloggers frantically trying to figure out how they were going to adapt. For us, it was beyond simple.

The advertisers that we work with, in our Little Black Book, in our Look Book and on our main page, are the best. We wholeheartedly stand behind them. And we have no problem shouting it from the rooftops. It’s kind of like this. As Sean brought up…nearly every esteemed University on the planet not only charges an admission fee, they also charge a tuition. And even though the student is paying, the universities are still picky about who they let in, they still try to maintain the best crop of students that is out there, they still get to decide who stays and who goes. The student in turn, has to work hard, maintain their grades and put forth a solid effort to grow and thrive in their environment. In return they get a beautiful campus, great peers, teachers who are willing to help the student really shine.

That is EXACTLY the way that we run our advertising program. Our advertisers pay us to build a site that is useful, that is beautiful, that showcases their work in the best way possible. Our Little Black Book vendors pay to list with us, and that money goes to making sure that they have a really creative, unique place to exhibit their work. But, they still have to work hard to maintain our relationship. They have to grow and thrive in this industry and continually show us that they are still the best in their field. And since they are all doing that, we are thrilled to publicly call them our official advertisers.

But in an effort to be completely transparent, here is how Style Me Pretty’s Advertising Program works (and why it’s so great, toot toot)…

1. Our Little Black Book is a thoughtfully edited listing of only top quality vendors that offers our readers a worry-free browsing experience while our Very Important Vendors enjoy a showcase in keeping with our firm commitment to quality vs. quantity. More than simply enjoying elite advertising space, our members are a handpicked community of artistic experts. In an industry saturated with long lists of anybody & everybody, our book is thoughtfully designed, produced and edited. Vendors do pay a 6 month flat fee to be listed within our book. That fee never guarantees editorial coverage.

The process to become a Little Black Book member is actually quite extensive. Click here to read more. Not everyone listed is the most well-known in the industry. Some are up-and-comers, some are small mom and pop boutiques. We want to show you that alongside the most brilliant, well-known companies are often equally as talented, one-man shows. By only featuring those vendors that we really love, we feel like we can really speak honestly about them on our blog. If a vendor doesn’t live up to SMP standards, they are pulled and their money is refunded.

2. Our Look book is another highly edited approach to advertising. We’ve chosen our favorite designers and have created a complete showcase of their wares. A window shopping experience for the most discerning buyer. We’ve rounded-up our designers latest collections and through a gorgeous, interactive gallery we’ve given them a really beautiful canvas to showcase their work. We currently feature bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses but are working on launching accessories, jewelry and so much more. Vendors pay a 6 month flat fee to list each collection. We have 2 sales people that work directly with me to figure out who should be invited to be a part of this book.

3. Banner Advertising on Style Me Pretty is run in much the same way that mainstream sites work. We have lots of different, traditional advertising options to fit just about any budget and any style of brand. We are also really happy, and incredibly excited, to help tailor ad packages to particular clients. Our goal is to make the most out of a company’s advertising dollar without cluttering up the site including editorial coverage, giveaways, the works.

On any given day, we set out to inspire brides. That is our forever mantra. Whether a vendor or a company pays us advertising dollars makes no difference when it comes to the content that we put on the front page. We simply want to feature weddings and ideas that give brides that little thrill they get when they see something that is so “them.” So perfect. So, every submission, every real wedding, every DIY project, every product is treated equally. They all go into the same inbox, they all get the same review.

If you ever have any questions about the way that SMP is run, or the way that we make money…ask away! We are REALLY proud of the model that we’ve designed and we are happy to share the knowledge with anyone who is interested!