Posting for Pay, by the Rules

Label every paid post so people can see it is an ad.
Find and follow your school’s rule for reporting a deal.
Protect the accounts that carry your name.

A paid post is an ad. The law and your school both care about ads. Getting the rules right protects every deal after this one.

Label it. If a brand pays you for a post, in cash or in product, the post needs a clear label. Use #ad or "paid partnership." Put it where people see it without tapping "more."

Report it. Your school may require you to report each NIL deal, before or after you sign. Find the rule and follow it every time. A missed report can cost more than the deal paid.

Before a paid post goes live

Check	Why
A clear paid label on the post	People have to know it is an ad
The deal is reported, if your school asks	It keeps your eligibility safe
No team logo or uniform unless allowed	Schools can limit their marks in NIL posts
Two-step sign-in on the account	A stolen account can post in your name

A brand sends you free shoes and asks for one post. No cash. What does the post need?

Pick your answer first, then open it.

A clear label that it is paid. Free product is still payment.

✓ Right. You got something of value for the post, so it is an ad. It may also count as income for tax.

Nothing. No money changed hands.

Product is payment. The post is an ad whether the brand sent cash or shoes.

A label only if the shoes cost a lot.

The label is about the deal, not the price. Any payment makes it an ad.

This week

Find your school’s NIL reporting rule. Write down where you report and when. Then turn on two-step sign-in for every account you post from.

Next in NIL Money, Planned: Where NIL Money Comes From →