Key takeaways
- Blog: one clear sentence above the first affiliate link, in the body text.
- Email: above the first link in the email body, not the footer.
- Video: say it early in the audio and show on-screen text when links are mentioned.
- Clear and conspicuous means noticeable, understandable, unavoidable, and not contradicted [1].
- Mark paid links rel="sponsored" as a separate search-engine signal [3]; it does not replace the FTC disclosure.
- YouTube's paid-promotion label is a platform requirement [2]; add your own spoken/on-screen disclosure.
A quick trust note (for readers wary of affiliate shills)
Clear ftc affiliate disclosure examples show when links earn commissions and signal a reviewer has nothing to hide. This site may earn commissions from links; see the disclosure page for details. The FTC’s endorsement guides say disclosures should be clear and conspicuous [1]. The linked disclosure page lists active programs with dates.
FTC affiliate disclosure examples: placement and wording at a glance
| Format | Where to place the disclosure | Wording example |
|---|---|---|
| Blog | Above the first affiliate link, in body text | "Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you." |
| In the email body, above the first link | "The links in this email are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission; the price is the same for you." | |
| Video | Spoken early in the video + on-screen text near link mentions | Spoken: "Before we start — the links in the description are affiliate links, so I earn a commission if you buy through them." On screen: "Affiliate links below — I earn a commission, no extra cost to you." |
| Social caption | At the start of the caption, before the "more" fold | "Paid link: I earn a commission if you buy through this. Full disclosure at /affiliate-disclosure." |
The clear-and-conspicuous test (four parts)
Under 16 CFR 255.0(f), "clear and conspicuous" means a disclosure is difficult to miss and easily understandable by ordinary consumers [1]. Four practical demands flow from that definition.
1. Noticeable — Size, contrast, location, and duration on screen must make it stand out [1]. A small grey line in the footer fails this test. 2. Understandable — It must make sense to ordinary consumers, including any targeted group [1]. Everyday words like "commission" beat legal jargon. 3. Unavoidable — In interactive media, the disclosure should be unavoidable — the FTC's example is a disclosure hidden behind a "more" link [1]. Put it in the main flow, not behind a link. 4. Not contradicted — Nothing else in the communication should suggest you were not compensated [1]. If you say "no ads, no sponsors" while using affiliate links, you've contradicted yourself.
| Test | What it looks like when you get it right |
|---|---|
| Noticeable | Full-size body text in the intro, above the first link |
| Understandable | Everyday words: "I earn a commission if you buy through this link" |
| Unavoidable | Visible without clicking a "more" link or opening a separate page |
| Not contradicted | Nothing later suggests you were not compensated |
These four demands work together; a disclosure can be noticeable but not understandable, or understandable but hidden behind a click. Check all four.
Blog disclosure examples
Place this above the first affiliate link in the body of the post — a placement designed to help make the disclosure unavoidable [1] — rather than only in the sidebar, footer, or a separate disclosure page.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That commission never changes what I recommend.
Two things make it work: plain words, and placement near the first link. Keep a dated disclosure page as a reference — see our affiliate disclosure page.
Weak versions, and the fix:
| Weak version | Why it falls short [1] | Stronger version |
|---|---|---|
| The words "affiliate link" under the button, nothing else | Names the mechanism but never says you are paid, easy to miss | "If you buy through this link I earn a commission — here's how that works." |
| Disclosure only on your /disclosure page | A reader arriving from search may never open it; not unavoidable | The same sentence at the top of every post with links; the page stays as a reference |
| Small grey line in the footer | Fails size, contrast, and location | Body text, bold or boxed, in the intro |
| "No ads, no sponsors, just my honest picks" above commission links | Contradicts the disclosure | Delete it, or replace with what is actually true |
Where to repeat it: - Directly before a comparison table. - In the intro of a "best of" list. - On your disclosure page itself, dated, listing programs. - In the caption of an image or video that contains an affiliate link.
For example, if you promote a hosting plan for a one-time commission, that compensation is a material connection readers should know about [1]. Even if the price doesn't change for the reader, the fact that you earn money creates a potential conflict of interest — and that's exactly what the disclosure addresses.
If your blog has multiple posts with affiliate links, consider a reusable disclosure snippet you paste at the top of each post. That keeps wording consistent and saves time.
Email disclosure examples
Same standard applies: clear and conspicuous, in a place the reader cannot miss [1]. Put the line above the first affiliate link in the body, not the footer.
Heads up: the links in this email are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission — the price you pay is the same.
Broadcast versus welcome sequence: As a rule of thumb, repeat the disclosure anywhere a reader can act on a link, including later emails in a sequence. Assess each email under the clear-and-conspicuous standard in [1]. A reader who opens your fifth email should still see the same transparency.
Also check how the email renders on a mobile device; a disclosure in tiny text under a header image may fail the noticeable test.
Where email disclosure goes wrong: - Only in the footer, below the signature and unsubscribe line. - As part of a header image — image-blocked clients and screen readers lose it entirely. - In email one of a five-email sequence, then quietly dropped for the rest.
Email also brings platform policies; see Can You Put Affiliate Links in Emails? for program rules.
Video and YouTube disclosure examples
Video gives you two channels, so use both. The Guides say a disclosure made through visual means should appear in the visual portion, one made through audible means should appear in the audible portion, and doing both at once is more likely to be clear and conspicuous [1].
Say it, early:
Quick note before we start: the links in the description are affiliate links, so I earn a commission if you buy through them — it doesn't cost you extra.
Show it, too: Put the same sentence on screen early and again near link mentions. Avoid small light text, competing graphics, or a few-second flash [1]. A viewer who skips the intro should still catch the on-screen text when you mention a product. If the background footage is busy, use a high-contrast text bar or semi-transparent background to keep the words readable.
YouTube tickbox is not the whole job: YouTube requires the paid promotion button for branded content [2]. You and your partners are responsible for complying with legal requirements [2]. The paid-promotion label does appear to viewers at the start of the video [2], but it is a platform notice; add your own spoken and on-screen disclosure for the FTC layer. Don't rely on the tickbox alone — it tells YouTube, but a viewer may not connect it to your specific link at the moment of purchase.
Copy-and-paste wording for each format
- Blog, short:
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you buy through them. - Blog, with reasoning:
Disclosure: some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. My full disclosure page is at /affiliate-disclosure. - Blog, for review roundups:
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. Where I have not tested a product myself, I say so; I only claim testing or review copies when true. - Email:
The links in this email are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission; the price is the same for you. - Video, spoken:
Before we start — the links in the description are affiliate links, so I earn a commission if you buy through them. - Video, on screen:
Affiliate links below — I earn a commission, no extra cost to you. - Social caption:
Paid link: I earn a commission if you buy through this. Full disclosure at /affiliate-disclosure.
On social platforms, put the line at the start of the caption so it is visible without tapping "more" [1]. A collapsed caption hides everything after the first line, so don't bury it there.
Pre-publish checklist and already published?
| Check | It passes when… |
|---|---|
| Position | Disclosure appears above the first affiliate link on the page, in the email, or on screen |
| Prominence | Same body font size, strong contrast, not grey-on-grey |
| Plain language tip | Use words like "commission", "paid", or "affiliate" to be clear |
| Best practice for video | When both spoken and on-screen elements exist, include disclosure in both |
| No contradiction | Nothing later claims or implies you were not compensated |
| Phone rendering | Checked on a small screen; FTC examples consider phone rendering [1] |
The 30-second version: 1. Read only the opening lines. Would a skimmer still spot the disclosure? 2. Click your first affiliate link. Did the sentence appear before it? 3. Open the page on your phone and repeat step one. 4. Skim for anything that contradicts the disclosure and delete it.
Already published? Don't panic. Update live content: 1. Blog post: Add a clear sentence above the first affiliate link now. Mark link with rel="sponsored". While the post is open, run it through the helpful-content page audit for affiliate sites. 2. Email: As a best practice, include a clear and conspicuous disclosure before readers can act; placing it above the first link can help achieve that [1]. 3. Video: Add on-screen text overlay and spoken disclosure if you can re-upload; if not, add a disclosure in the description and pinned comment as a supplement, but best to eventually add the spoken and on-screen parts. 4. Disclosure page: Update or create one, date it, list active programs.
When to check current rules and ask a professional
This is general education, not legal advice. The Guides set general principles with illustrative examples; whether a particular endorsement is deceptive depends on the specific facts [1].
Three habits keep you current: 1. Date your disclosure page. Program terms and platform policies change. 2. Go back to the official pages before you launch a new format. For US rules, read 16 CFR Part 255 [1]; for a platform, its help page, such as YouTube's branded content article [2]. 3. Ask a qualified professional if you are promoting anything regulated (health, finance, supplements), running paid ads, or operating outside the US.
If you run ads or promote regulated products, professional review can be cheaper than a consent order.
Related guides
- Amazon Associates Rules Beginners Break Most Often
- How to Write an Honest Product Review When You Have Not Bought the Product
- rel="sponsored", nofollow and Link Cloaking
- Can You Put Affiliate Links in Emails? Program Rules and CAN-SPAM Basics
Related guides: Amazon Associates Rules Beginners Break Most Often; How to Write an Honest Product Review When You Have Not Bought the Product; rel="sponsored", nofollow and Link Cloaking; Can You Put Affiliate Links in Emails? Program Rules and CAN-SPAM Basics.
Get the disclosure right before the links go live
Our free affiliate marketing checklist walks through disclosure, link markup and the rest of a first launch, one item at a time — no countdown timers, no surprise upsell at the end.
Frequently asked questions
Is a disclosure at the bottom of a blog post enough?
Usually not. The FTC's Guides say that in interactive media the disclosure should be unavoidable, and their examples include disclosures people could easily miss or only see after a click [1]. If your first affiliate link appears long before the footer, a reader can act on it without ever reading your sentence. Put the disclosure above the first link, and keep a fuller disclosure page as a reference.
What are the FTC guidelines for how to disclose brand relationships?
They sit in 16 CFR Part 255, the Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising [1]. They set principles and examples rather than fixed wording, so how they apply depends on your facts [1].
What are some examples of disclosures?
Three short ones: “Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you buy through them.” “The links in this email are affiliate links — I earn a commission, and the price is the same for you.” “Before we start: the links in the description are affiliate links, so I earn a commission if you buy through them.” Each names the relationship and compensation in plain words and sits where the reader meets the link, which is what the clear-and-conspicuous standard asks for [1].
Does my disclosure need to be in the same language as my content?
Yes, in practice. One FTC example involves an ad microtargeted at people who could not understand English; the Guides say the adequacy of the disclosure is judged from the perspective of the targeted individuals and that it must be in the same language as the ad [1]. The same logic covers any audience with particular needs — “ordinary consumers” includes members of the group you are targeting [1].
Do I still need YouTube's paid promotion box if I disclose in the video?
They are separate steps. YouTube says that if you feature branded content, sponsorships, endorsements or other commercial relationships, you must tell YouTube by selecting the paid promotion button, which adds a label at the beginning of the video [2]. YouTube also says you are responsible for meeting applicable legal requirements and points creators to the FTC [2]. Do both, and read YouTube's Branded Content Policy for your specific video.
How long should a disclosure stay on screen in a video?
There's no exact number of seconds in the Guides, but the clear-and-conspicuous standard requires the disclosure to be noticeable and readable [1]. If it flashes for only a second or two, a viewer may miss it. A good rule of thumb is to keep the on-screen text visible long enough for someone to read it twice — but the real test is whether an ordinary viewer would actually see and understand it.
Sources
- eCFR :: 16 CFR Part 255 -- Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (source page, retrieved 2026-10-29)
- Add branded content restrictions & disclosure labels - Computer - YouTube Help (source page, retrieved 2026-10-20)
- Qualify Outbound Links for SEO | Google Search Central | Documentation | Google for Developers (source page, retrieved 2026-10-29)
This guide is general education, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and program terms change; check the linked official pages for the current version and ask a qualified professional about your situation. How we write: editorial policy. This page has no affiliate links.
