---
title: "New Research Shows #Ad Doesn't Ruin Your Influencer Content"
description: "New research released by Harvard Business Review indicates brands and influencers who use #ad in their content are not hurting content performance."
image: https://blog.carusele.com/hubfs/The%20Spin%2099%20V1.png
---

s

[![](https://blog.carusele.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Carusele%20logo%20%C2%AE%20logo%20Color%20(2)-1.png?width=504&height=360&name=Carusele%20logo%20%C2%AE%20logo%20Color%20(2)-1.png)](https://carusele.com/)

- [Home](https://carusele.com/)
- [Our Method](https://carusele.com/influencer-marketing-method/)
- [Our Work](https://carusele.com/influencer-marketing-campaigns/)
- [Blog](https://blog.carusele.com/)
- [Resources](https://carusele.com/influencer-marketing-resources/)
- [Contact Us](https://carusele.com/contact-us/)

#### **Subscribe to The Spin!**

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the influencer marketing space with our bi-weekly newsletter, The Spin.

## Sep 05 New Research Shows #Ad Doesn't Ruin Your Influencer Content

- <http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.carusele.com/new-research-shows-ad-doesnt-ruin-your-influencer-content&text=New%20Research%20Shows%20#Ad%20Doesn't%20Ruin%20Your%20Influencer%20Content>
- <https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.carusele.com/new-research-shows-ad-doesnt-ruin-your-influencer-content>
- <https://www.tumblr.com/share?v=3&u=https://blog.carusele.com/new-research-shows-ad-doesnt-ruin-your-influencer-content&t=New%20Research%20Shows%20#Ad%20Doesn't%20Ruin%20Your%20Influencer%20Content>

New research was released last month from [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2019/08/do-influencers-need-to-tell-audiences-theyre-getting-paid) that indicates brands and influencers who use [#ad in their content](https://blog.carusele.com/influencers-dont-comply-ftc-social-media-guidelines) are not hurting the performance of their content.

<iframe class="hs-responsive-embed-target-iframe" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" xml="lang" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IUtmUDAZ5y0" width="560" height="315" allowfullscreen data-service="youtube"></iframe>

 

The research, based on multiple surveys taken over the course of 2015-2018, asked participants how influencer disclosures affected consumers attitude, trust, and purchase intent. The results, shown below, conclude that the gap that once existed has closed to the point where having a disclosure or not makes no statistical difference on whether people are likely to buy or not. 

[![Harvard Business Review Results](https://blog.carusele.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HBR.png?width=900&name=HBR.png)](https://hbr.org/2019/08/do-influencers-need-to-tell-audiences-theyre-getting-paid)

In fact, in some cases it may prove to be an asset, that the influencer has the credibility to have a true brand partnership and therefore they get listened to more than people who don't.

What we have found running [hundreds of these programs](https://carusele.com/influencer-marketing-campaigns/) is that really good content elevates above #ad or #sponsored. Poor performing content may be pushed down further with the disclosure, but that high performing content that you need to really rely on for the success of your influencer campaigns is not damaged by #ad.

So, by staying in compliance with the FTC this could potentially show an increased likelihood of people wanting to buy based off of sponsored content. It's a good reason to continue your disclosures in your influencer marketing campaigns. And if you're not up to speed on the [FTC guidelines](https://blog.carusele.com/4-ways-you-think-youre-ftc-compliant-but-not), download our complimentary cheat sheet below to keep your brand safe.

 

- <http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.carusele.com/new-research-shows-ad-doesnt-ruin-your-influencer-content&text=New%20Research%20Shows%20#Ad%20Doesn't%20Ruin%20Your%20Influencer%20Content>
- <https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.carusele.com/new-research-shows-ad-doesnt-ruin-your-influencer-content>
- <https://www.tumblr.com/share?v=3&u=https://blog.carusele.com/new-research-shows-ad-doesnt-ruin-your-influencer-content&t=New%20Research%20Shows%20#Ad%20Doesn't%20Ruin%20Your%20Influencer%20Content>

##### North Carolina

4000 Centregreen Way, Suite 150  
Cary, NC 27513  
Phone: [919-653-3334](tel:919-653-3334)

##### Michigan

280 Daines Street, #200   
Birmingham, MI 48009  
Phone: [919-653-2345](tel:919-653-2345)

© Copyright 2026 Carusele, LLC. All rights reserved. | [Privacy Policy](https://carusele.com/privacy-policy/)

- [a](https://www.pinterest.com/carusele/)
- [a](https://twitter.com/carusele)
- [a](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carusele/603583863080956)
- [a](https://instagram.com/carusele)
- [a](https://www.linkedin.com/company/6399253?trk=tyah&trkInfo=idx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1425920863298%2Ctas%3Acarusele)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Jim Tobin",
    "url" : "https://blog.carusele.com/author/jim-tobin"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2019-09-05T14:17:47.835Z",
  "datePublished" : "2019-09-05T14:17:47.000Z",
  "headline" : "New Research Shows #Ad Doesn't Ruin Your Influencer Content",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.carusele.com/hubfs/The%20Spin%2099%20V1.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.carusele.com/new-research-shows-ad-doesnt-ruin-your-influencer-content",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.carusele.com/hubfs/Carusele%20logo%20%C2%AE%20logo%20Color%20(2)-1.png"
    },
    "name" : "Carusele"
  }
}
```