Many bloggers use affiliate disclosures in a variety of ways. Some include them in the footer of every page or post, others put them on a separate disclosure page, and some make them part of their privacy policies.

The best affiliate disclosures are clear and conspicuous. To meet the FTC guidelines, they must be clearly visible for readers.

Clear and Conspicuous

An affiliate disclosure is a disclaimer that tells your audience that you may receive compensation for products or services that they purchase through links on your website. It must be clearly and conspicuously displayed, according to FTC guidelines. Disclosures should also be easy to read and avoid the use of vague or ambiguous language.

Disclosures are crucial to building trust with your audience. They allow readers to feel comfortable purchasing from you and can help you grow your business. It is important to note that even if you have an excellent reputation, transparency is essential to building trust with your audience.

This affiliate disclosure from Making Sense of Cents ticks all the boxes, starting with its clear and concise language. It also makes the disclosure visible by placing it right under the title of a post or page, which is easy to see for visitors. It also doesn’t use any industry jargon and includes a link to learn more about the site’s affiliate policy.

Simple and Straightforward

If you can, try to keep your affiliate disclosures as simple and straightforward as possible. This will help your readers better understand them and make it easier for you to comply with the FTC guidelines. You should also avoid using specific terms that are only familiar to a niche audience. Instead, it’s best to use trigger words that will immediately alert your reader that you may receive compensation from a particular link or product.

A good rule of thumb is that if a significant portion of your audience doesn’t notice your affiliate disclaimer, it’s not visible enough. This means that you shouldn’t hide it within your privacy policy, in a difficult-to-find location, or in some other way that’s hard to notice.

You should add your disclosure to every page of your website that contains affiliate links or a paid endorsement. It should also appear on the pages that contain reviews or recommendations of products and services. The Wirecutter, for example, lists its disclosure near the top of every page and article, displaying it in a large font that’s easy to see. The site also includes a “Learn More” button that directs readers to a full disclosure page, which helps explain their affiliate relationships.

Concise and Informative

As affiliate marketers, we must always be mindful of the FTC’s digital advertising guidelines. It’s imperative that we disclose the use of our affiliate links in a way that is clear and concise. A disclosure that is long and located on its own page can deter readers from taking action or clicking on our affiliate link.

A disclosure should appear in close proximity to the affiliate link, meaning that it is easy for a reader to notice. It should also be short and avoid using complicated or fancy industry jargon.

Dan Flying Solo puts his affiliate disclosure at the very beginning of his blog post, which is a great way to catch a reader’s attention. It’s very easy to spot and clearly appears before any of his affiliate links.

Another great way to get your reader’s attention is to include your affiliate disclosure within your Privacy Policy. This makes it easy for your audience to read and understand, as well as gives them a clear idea of what you do with their personal information.

Easy to Find

Affiliate disclosures help to build trust with your audience and can lead to more sales in the long run. This is especially important for bloggers who may have a significant amount of sway over their audience’s buying decisions.

Disclosures should be easy to find and displayed on all pages that contain affiliate links. They should also be clearly written in a font size that is readable by the average person and not obscured by other elements on the page. They should also be clearly labeled as “Affiliate Disclosure.”

The WireCutter displays their affiliate disclaimer at the top of every post that contains an affiliate link. While this might be over the top for most blogs, it shows that they value their readership and are willing to go the extra mile to protect their business. In addition, their disclosures are clear and concise, avoiding niche jargon and using trigger words like commission or compensation that the general public would be likely to recognize.