The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has some strict guidelines specifying affiliate link disclosure requirements. The article linked within the previous sentence was written by Tricia Meyer, an affiliate industry veteran and friend. She is also an attorney and regularly keeps this article updated. It is probably the best resource for quickly understanding these complex legal disclosure requirements.
For more information, check out the Q&A post by the FTC entitled The FTC's Endorsement Guides. See also the FTC's .com Disclosures (.pdf) for guidance on "how to make effective disclosures in digital advertising."
FTC Compliance Summary
The following general statements do not constitute legal advice. They are, however, intended to address the intent of the FTC's disclosure requirement.
- You must disclose your affiliate relationship wherever and wherever you promote a retailer, service provider, or their products or offers in a way that could yield commission to you.
- This FTC requirement applies to all forms of media including, but not limited to, websites and blogs, videos, email, social media platforms, and even print distribution.
- Plainly put, your disclosure must be sufficiently clear that your audience is able to understand that you could earn commissions if they click your link and/or buy the product or services referenced.
- Finally, if you receive a product or service from a retailer in exchange for your review and/or promotion of it then that "compensation" relationship must be stated within your disclosure.
Some FTC Disclosure Tips
- Place disclosures as close as possible to your endorsement, promotion, claim, etc. but do not use pop-ups or anything that could be blocked or easily "missed" by the reader.
- Make sure your disclosure is clearly visible – that often means "above the fold" so no scrolling is needed to view.
- Use a conversational tone that matches your style. Something like "This post [or video, etc.] contains affiliate links [or coupons if they are trackable]. That means if you purchase something after clicking my link [or using my coupon] I may receive compensation" might work well for you.
- Take this opportunity to thank your readers. Adding something like the following to the end of your disclosure statement may further encourage your readers to trust you: "I value your trust and never recommend anything I do not trust. The compensation earned from affiliate links is how I pay for my blog [or videos, etc.]."
