AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE POLICY

(FTC-Compliant Disclosure Statement)

[// GUIDANCE: This disclosure policy template is designed for publishers, bloggers, influencers, and content creators who participate in affiliate marketing programs. It must be prominently displayed on your website/platform and individual disclosures must accompany specific affiliate content. This template incorporates requirements from the FTC Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255).]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. About This Disclosure
2. What Is Affiliate Marketing?
3. Our Affiliate Relationships
4. How We May Earn Compensation
5. Types of Compensation We Receive
6. Our Editorial Policy & Integrity
7. How We Disclose Affiliate Relationships
8. Individual Post Disclosures
9. Platform-Specific Disclosure Examples
10. Product Reviews & Recommendations
11. Your Trust Matters
12. Contact Information
13. Last Updated

1. ABOUT THIS DISCLOSURE

This Affiliate Disclosure Policy explains how [WEBSITE/BUSINESS NAME] ("we," "us," "our," or "[YOUR NAME/BRAND]") may earn money through affiliate relationships when you click on links or purchase products or services we recommend.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Compliance: This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255), which require disclosure of any material connection between an endorser and the seller of a product or service.

Important: We only recommend products and services we genuinely believe in. However, you should know that we may earn a commission when you click on our links or make a purchase through our recommendations.

2. WHAT IS AFFILIATE MARKETING?

Affiliate marketing is a way for content creators and publishers to earn compensation by recommending products or services. Here's how it works:

1. We partner with companies whose products or services we believe may benefit our audience
2. We share links to those products or services in our content
3. When you click on those links and make a purchase (or take another qualifying action), we may receive a commission
4. This commission comes from the company, not from you - you pay the same price whether you use our link or not

Why We Participate: Affiliate partnerships help support our work and allow us to continue creating free content for our audience.

3. OUR AFFILIATE RELATIONSHIPS

We currently participate in affiliate programs with the following companies and networks:

Major Affiliate Networks

☐ Amazon Associates Program - We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

☐ ShareASale - We partner with various merchants through the ShareASale affiliate network.

☐ Commission Junction (CJ) - We work with select brands through CJ Affiliate.

☐ Impact - We partner with brands through the Impact affiliate platform.

☐ Rakuten Advertising - We work with retailers through the Rakuten affiliate network.

☐ Other Networks: [LIST ADDITIONAL NETWORKS]

Direct Brand Partnerships

We also have direct affiliate relationships with:

• [BRAND NAME] - [PRODUCT CATEGORY]
• [BRAND NAME] - [PRODUCT CATEGORY]
• [BRAND NAME] - [PRODUCT CATEGORY]

[// GUIDANCE: List your major affiliate relationships. You don't need to list every single brand, but should identify major partnerships and categories.]

Categories of Products We Recommend

Our affiliate relationships include products and services in the following categories:

☐ [CATEGORY 1] (e.g., Technology & Electronics)
☐ [CATEGORY 2] (e.g., Health & Wellness)
☐ [CATEGORY 3] (e.g., Beauty & Personal Care)
☐ [CATEGORY 4] (e.g., Home & Garden)
☐ [CATEGORY 5] (e.g., Business & Software)

4. HOW WE MAY EARN COMPENSATION

We may earn compensation through affiliate relationships in the following ways:

Commission on Sales

When you purchase a product through our affiliate link, we may receive a percentage of the sale price as a commission. Commission rates vary by product and program.

Cost-Per-Action (CPA)

Some programs pay us when you take a specific action, such as signing up for a free trial, creating an account, or downloading an app.

Cost-Per-Click (CPC)

In some cases, we may earn a small amount when you click on an affiliate link, regardless of whether you make a purchase.

Discount Codes & Promo Codes

When you use our exclusive discount codes, we may receive compensation based on your purchase.

5. TYPES OF COMPENSATION WE RECEIVE

To be fully transparent, here are all the ways we may receive compensation or benefits that could influence our content:

Financial Compensation

☐ Commission payments - Percentage of sales made through our links
☐ Flat-fee payments - Fixed payments for sponsored content or placement
☐ Recurring commissions - Ongoing payments for subscription products
☐ Bonuses - Performance-based bonuses from affiliate programs

Non-Cash Compensation

☐ Free products - Items provided for review or testing
☐ Discounted products - Products purchased at reduced prices
☐ Free services - Access to software, subscriptions, or services
☐ Early access - Preview access to products before public release
☐ Press samples - Products provided by PR teams for coverage

Other Material Connections

☐ Employment - We may have employment relationships with some companies
☐ Investments - We may hold investments in some companies we discuss
☐ Personal relationships - We may have personal relationships with company founders/employees
☐ Advertising relationships - We may accept paid advertising from some companies

6. OUR EDITORIAL POLICY & INTEGRITY

Our Promise to You:

While we may earn compensation through affiliate relationships, we are committed to maintaining editorial integrity:

Independence

• Affiliate relationships do NOT influence our editorial decisions
• We never let compensation affect our opinions or ratings
• We will never recommend a product solely because we earn a commission
• If we don't genuinely believe a product is good, we won't recommend it

Honest Reviews

• All opinions expressed are our own
• We provide honest assessments, including criticism where warranted
• We disclose both pros and cons of products we review
• We update reviews if our opinion changes over time

No Pay-to-Play

• We do not accept payment for positive reviews
• Companies cannot pay for higher ratings
• Affiliate status does not guarantee favorable coverage

Alternative Recommendations

• When possible, we provide non-affiliate alternatives
• We recommend the best product for your needs, even if we don't earn a commission
• We clearly indicate when we don't have an affiliate relationship

Disclosure

• We disclose affiliate relationships in every piece of content containing affiliate links
• We make disclosures clear and conspicuous
• We never hide or obscure our affiliate relationships

7. HOW WE DISCLOSE AFFILIATE RELATIONSHIPS

Per FTC requirements, we disclose our affiliate relationships in multiple ways:

This Policy Page

This comprehensive disclosure policy is accessible from:
- Our website footer
- Our navigation menu
- Every page with affiliate content (via link)

In-Content Disclosures

Every piece of content containing affiliate links includes:
- A disclosure statement at the beginning of the content
- Individual disclosures near specific affiliate links when appropriate

Social Media

On social media platforms, we use:
- "#Ad" or "#Affiliate" in posts with affiliate links
- "#AffiliateLink" for clarity
- Platform disclosure tools when available

Email

Emails containing affiliate links include a disclosure statement.

8. INDIVIDUAL POST DISCLOSURES

In addition to this policy, we include disclosures in our actual content. Here are the disclosure statements we use:

Standard Blog/Website Disclosure

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support our work. See our full [Affiliate Disclosure Policy] for details.

Short Disclosure

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on purchases. [Learn more]

Product Review Disclosure

Disclosure: We received this product for free for review purposes. This post also contains affiliate links. Our opinions are our own and not influenced by the free product or potential commissions.

Comparison/Roundup Disclosure

Affiliate Disclosure: This roundup contains affiliate links to various products. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. We only include products we genuinely recommend, regardless of affiliate status.

Video Disclosure (Verbal)

"This video contains affiliate links in the description. If you purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you."

Sponsored + Affiliate Disclosure

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by [BRAND]. Additionally, some links are affiliate links. We may earn commission on purchases. Despite the sponsorship, all opinions are our own.

9. PLATFORM-SPECIFIC DISCLOSURE EXAMPLES

Instagram

Caption (at the beginning, before "more" cutoff):

Ad #AffiliateLink - I may earn commission if you shop through my links! [Continue with post...]

Stories:

Visible text overlay: "Affiliate Link - I may earn commission"

TikTok

Caption:

Ad #Affiliate - Links in bio! I may earn a commission on purchases.

In-Video:

Verbal disclosure: "Just so you know, I may earn a commission if you buy through my link."

YouTube

Video:

Verbal disclosure at the start: "This video contains affiliate links. If you purchase through the links in the description, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you."

Description:

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some links above are affiliate links. I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Twitter/X

[Product recommendation] #AffiliateLink - I may earn commission on purchases through this link.

Pinterest

Pin Description:

Affiliate link - I may earn commission on purchases. [Description of product]

Blog Post

At the top of the article (above the fold):

Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission. This does not affect our reviews or recommendations. See our [full disclosure policy].

10. PRODUCT REVIEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS

How We Evaluate Products

When reviewing or recommending products, we consider:

☐ Product quality and performance
☐ Value for money
☐ Customer reviews and reputation
☐ Our personal experience (when applicable)
☐ Comparison to alternatives
☐ Suitability for our audience's needs

Disclosure for Different Scenarios

Products We Purchased:

We purchased this product ourselves. This review contains affiliate links.

Free Products Received for Review:

We received this product for free from [BRAND] for review purposes. This post contains affiliate links. Our opinions are our own.

Products We Haven't Personally Tested:

Note: We have not personally tested this product. This recommendation is based on research, specifications, and customer reviews. Affiliate link.

Products from Competitors:

We review products from various brands, including those who may be competitors. Affiliate relationships do not influence our comparisons or recommendations.

11. YOUR TRUST MATTERS

We understand that trust is essential. Here's our commitment to you:

Transparency

• We will always disclose when we have a financial interest
• We will never hide affiliate relationships
• We will be honest about our experiences

Your Choice

• You are never obligated to use our affiliate links
• You can usually find the same products elsewhere
• We appreciate when you support us through our links, but we understand if you prefer not to

No Extra Cost to You

• Using our affiliate links typically costs you nothing extra
• You pay the same price as if you went directly to the retailer
• Sometimes our links include discounts or special offers

Contact Us

• If you have questions about a product or our relationship with a brand, please ask
• We're happy to clarify any disclosure concerns

12. CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions about this Affiliate Disclosure Policy or our affiliate relationships, please contact us:

Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]

Mailing Address:
[YOUR NAME OR BUSINESS NAME]
[ADDRESS LINE 1]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]

Website Contact Form: [URL]

13. LEGAL REFERENCES

This Affiliate Disclosure Policy is provided in compliance with:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Endorsement Guides - 16 CFR Part 255
• FTC's "Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers"
• FTC's Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

For more information on FTC requirements:
- FTC Endorsement Guides: ftc.gov/endorsements
- FTC Influencer Disclosures: ftc.gov/influencers

14. LAST UPDATED

This Affiliate Disclosure Policy was last updated on: [DATE]

We may update this policy from time to time. Please check back periodically for changes.

APPENDIX A: DISCLOSURE TEMPLATES FOR COPY/PASTE USE

Short Disclosures

For Social Media:

Ad #Affiliate - I may earn a commission

AffiliateLink - Commission earned on purchases

For Blog Posts (Top of Article):
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. [Full disclosure]
For Email:
Note: This email contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

Longer Disclosures

For Product Reviews:
DISCLOSURE: This review contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we truly believe in. See our full Affiliate Disclosure Policy for more details.
For Gift/PR Products:
DISCLOSURE: [BRAND] provided this product for free for review purposes. We also use affiliate links throughout this post. All opinions expressed are our own and are not influenced by the free product or potential affiliate commissions.
For Comparison Posts:
DISCLOSURE: This comparison includes affiliate links to various products and brands. We may earn commissions on qualifying purchases. Our recommendations are based on genuine evaluation and are not influenced by commission rates. Some listed products have no affiliate relationship with us.

Video Script Disclosures

Opening:
"Before we get started, I want to let you know that this video contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through those links in the description, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support this channel, and I really appreciate it. Now, let's get into it..."
Mid-Video:
"Quick reminder - links in the description are affiliate links."
Closing:
"If you found this helpful and decide to purchase, using the affiliate links in the description helps support future videos."

APPENDIX B: CHECKLIST FOR FTC-COMPLIANT DISCLOSURES

Before publishing content with affiliate links, verify:

☐ Disclosure is present in the content
☐ Disclosure is at the BEGINNING (not hidden at the end)
☐ Disclosure is VISIBLE without clicking "more" or scrolling
☐ Disclosure is in PLAIN LANGUAGE (not legal jargon)
☐ Disclosure uses clear terms (#Ad, #Affiliate, "affiliate link")
☐ Disclosure is NOT buried in hashtags
☐ For video: VERBAL disclosure is included
☐ For video: VISUAL disclosure is included (on-screen text)
☐ Disclosure is in the SAME LANGUAGE as the content
☐ Link to full disclosure policy is working

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

☐ Hiding disclosure at the end of captions
☐ Using vague terms like "#sp" or "thanks [brand]"
☐ Putting disclosure only in bio/profile
☐ Making disclosure too small to read
☐ Failing to disclose in video content (only in description)
☐ Burying disclosure among 30 other hashtags
☐ Assuming one disclosure covers all posts

[// GUIDANCE:
1. Customize this policy for your specific affiliate relationships
2. Publish prominently on your website (footer link, dedicated page)
3. Update the "Last Updated" date whenever you make changes
4. Use the individual disclosures from Appendix A in your actual content
5. Review FTC guidelines periodically as they may change
6. This policy alone is not sufficient - you must also include in-content disclosures
7. Consult with an attorney for your specific situation]