MEDIA GUIDELINES Online Selling and Marketing
For the safety of girls, GSUSA has provided guidance with regards to online selling for Girl Scout Product Programs. Girls may only use the Internet to market the Girl Scout Cookie Program and Fall Product Program to Friends and Family (for clarity, “friends and family” are people whom the girl or her family personally know).
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a girl-led program and online marketing and sales efforts should always be led by a girl while also being supervised by her caregiver. Friends and family of a girl participating in the Cookie Program must not market or share a girl’s contact information, sales links, or sales information on public-facing online sites. They also should not share their sales links with any news outlets (this includes online and traditional news media, such as radio, television, or magazines). We know customers will ask about cookies in community forums and Facebook Groups. Please only share the Cookie Locator publicly! (You may also privately connect them to your girl’s Digital Cookie page.) For safety purposes and other reasons, online marketing activities, especially those conducted through social media platforms, should always be done through accounts set to “private.” Should any online marketing activities be identified as in violation of guidance, GSUSA and the council reserve the right to intervene and request removal or remove the post. Caregivers, girls, and volunteers should contact and collaborate with council and GSUSA in advance on any national news media opportunities, and should contact council for guidance on any local news media opportunities. The only approved platform for accepting Girl Scout Cookie money online is Digital Cookie. You may not use any additional online payment platforms.
We All Represent Girl Scouts! Social media is a wonderful tool! It allows us to connect with others and promote our amazing entrepreneurship program. Please keep posts positive. We all represent the Girl Scout Movement and Cookie Program to the public. If you have a concern, there are plenty of people ready to support you (Area Cookie Managers, the Cookie Advisory Team, and Staff).
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News Media Guidelines Girl Scouts have so many wow-worthy stories to share—and the Cookie Program is one of the most popular! We love when the media showcases troops’ Gift of Caring projects, or girl-led adventures funded by the Cookie Sale. Please keep in mind that any troop that speaks to the media is representing the entire Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona council, as well as GSUSA. If you are approached by the local media, whether for an online, print, radio, or television outlet, please contact the Cookie Team for guidance. Please do not approach the media independently of council. If you have a fantastic story to share, let us know, and we can help you and your girls spread the news!
