Affiliate Disclosure: Examples, FTC Rules, and Where to Put It
An affiliate disclosure is a short statement telling your audience that you may earn money when they buy through your links. It is required in the US whenever you promote products for a commission, and it needs to sit where people will actually see it, right next to the recommendation.
Most affiliate disclosure problems are not about what the statement says. They are about where it goes. A perfect sentence hidden in a website footer, after a “more” button, or among thirty hashtags does not count. This guide covers what the FTC expects, copy-ready examples for each channel, and where each one should go.
This is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your specific situation, check the FTC’s guidance or talk to a lawyer.
Key takeaways
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Disclose any time you can earn from a recommendation, even if no one has bought anything yet.
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Put the disclosure next to the recommendation, not only on a separate page, in a footer, or in your bio.
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Use plain words. “I earn a commission if you buy through my links” is clear. “Affiliate link” alone may not be.
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In videos, say it and show it. Many viewers never read the caption.
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Platform tools help but do not replace your own disclosure.
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Programs can have their own wording. Amazon Associates requires a specific statement.
What is an affiliate disclosure?
An affiliate disclosure is a clear statement that you have a financial relationship with the brand or retailer you are recommending. In affiliate marketing, that relationship is usually a commission on sales made through your links.
The FTC calls this a “material connection”: a relationship that might affect how people judge your recommendation. Commissions count. So do free products, discounts, gifts, and paid partnerships. If your audience would want to know about it before trusting your opinion, disclose it.
Why do you need an affiliate disclosure?
There are three good reasons.
| Reason | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| It is expected by law | The FTC’s Endorsement Guides say endorsers should disclose material connections clearly and conspicuously |
| Programs require it | Many affiliate programs make disclosure part of their terms, and breaking them can cost you your commissions |
| It builds trust | Readers who learn about a commission later feel misled; readers told upfront usually do not mind |
Disclosure does not hurt honest recommendations. If anything, it signals that you have nothing to hide.
What does the FTC require for affiliate disclosures?
The FTC does not require a specific sentence. It requires that the disclosure is clear and conspicuous: easy to notice, easy to understand, and close to the claim it relates to. Its guidance for endorsers adds several practical points:
| FTC guidance | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| A single disclosure on your home page is not enough | Readers land on individual posts, so disclose on each one |
| The closer the disclosure is to the recommendation, the better | Put it before or right next to the first affiliate link |
| A hyperlinked “disclosure” button is easy to avoid | Write the disclosure out; do not hide it behind a link |
| “Affiliate link” alone may not be understood | Explain that you earn money, or use wording like “paid link” |
| A label like “#ad” at the start of a post is likely effective | Lead with the disclosure; the middle or end of a post is easier to miss |
| In video, disclose in the video itself | Say it out loud and show it on screen, not only in the description |
| Repeat the disclosure in livestreams | Viewers join at different times |
You also cannot claim to have used or liked a product you have not tried. A disclosure does not make a misleading review acceptable.
Affiliate disclosure examples you can copy
Use the shortest version that is still clear for the space you have.
| Where | Example |
|---|---|
| Top of a blog post or review | “This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.” |
| Next to a single link | “Paid link” or “(I earn a commission from this link)” |
| Product roundup | “We test the products we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.” |
| Email newsletter | “Some links in this email are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission if you buy.” |
| Instagram or Facebook caption | “Ad: I earn a commission if you buy through the link in my bio.” |
| TikTok video, spoken | “Quick note: I earn a commission if you buy through my link.” |
| Video on-screen text | “I earn a commission from purchases made through my link” |
| Gifted product | “The brand sent me this for free. I also earn a commission if you buy.” |
| Amazon Associates | “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” |
Avoid vague or coded wording on its own, such as “sp,” “spon,” “collab,” “partner,” or “thanks [brand].” These do not tell people you earn money.
Where should you put an affiliate disclosure?
On websites and blogs
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At the top of each post that contains affiliate links, before the first link.
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Next to individual links or buy buttons in long articles, especially if the top disclosure is far away.
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On a separate disclosure page as well, if you want to explain your policy in more detail. This is an addition, not a replacement.
In emails
Put the disclosure near the top of the email, or right next to the first affiliate link. A line in the footer is easy to miss. Some affiliate programs restrict links in emails, so check their terms first.
On Instagram
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Feed posts and carousels: put the disclosure in the first line of the caption, before the “more” cut-off.
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Reels: add a readable on-screen disclosure and say it if you are speaking.
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Stories: place text on the story itself, near the link sticker.
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Paid partnership label: use it when it applies, but still add your own disclosure.
On TikTok
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In the video: show an on-screen disclosure early and say it if you are talking.
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In the caption: repeat it at the start.
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TikTok’s commercial content disclosure setting: TikTok asks creators to turn it on for any post that promotes a brand, product, or service, including when you receive money or benefits for it.
If you sell through TikTok Shop, the shoppable video rules add more requirements on top of disclosure. Our tiktok shop video guide covers them.
On Facebook
Put a clear disclosure at the start of the post. For videos, Reels, and Stories, add on-screen text and say it aloud. In live videos, disclose at the start and again when you return to the product or link.
What does not count as a disclosure
| Placement | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Only in your bio or profile | People see the post without visiting your profile |
| Only on an “About” or “Disclosure” page | Readers of individual posts may never see it |
| Only in the footer | Easy to miss and far from the recommendation |
| After the “more” cut-off in a caption | Many people never expand the caption |
| Buried in a long block of hashtags | Easy to overlook |
| Only in a video description | Viewers watch the video, not the description |
Do AI-generated and faceless videos need disclosure?
Yes. The disclosure rules apply to every creator, whether you show your face or not, and whether a person or an AI presenter delivers the message. AI content adds one more layer: platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook ask creators to label realistic AI-generated content.
There is also a hard line. The FTC’s rule on fake reviews and testimonials, in effect since October 2024, bans testimonials that misrepresent who gave them, including AI-generated ones. An AI presenter can explain a product’s features, but it cannot share a “personal” experience it never had. The same honesty standard applies to virtual personas; see our guide to the ai influencer for how disclosure works there.
Common affiliate disclosure mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Disclosing only once on the home page | Disclose on every post, video, and email with affiliate links |
| Waiting until the end of the video | Disclose early, in the first few seconds |
| Using “affiliate link” with no explanation | Say plainly that you earn money from purchases |
| Relying only on platform labels | Add your own spoken or written disclosure too |
| Skipping disclosure because nobody bought yet | Disclose anyway; the relationship exists from the start |
| Reviewing a product you never used | Only share experiences you actually had |
| Forgetting gifted products | Disclose free products as well as commissions |
Make disclosures part of your content workflow
The simplest way to never miss a disclosure is to build it into the way you create content. Write a short standard line for each channel and add it to every post before it is scheduled.
LayerProof helps you plan, create, and schedule posts to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok from one Calendar, so you can review each caption and confirm the disclosure is in the first line before it goes live. If you create promotional posts with Matte, our ai social media post generator, add your disclosure line to the caption before scheduling. Plans start at $5 a month. Write your standard disclosure lines and get started today.
For creators running paid creator campaigns, our guide to ugc ads covers disclosure and usage rights for sponsored content.
Affiliate disclosure FAQ
What is an affiliate disclosure?
It is a statement telling your audience that you may earn a commission or other benefit when they buy through your links. It should be clear, easy to see, and placed near the recommendation.
Is an affiliate disclosure required by law?
In the US, the FTC expects endorsers to disclose material connections, including affiliate commissions, clearly and conspicuously. Many affiliate programs also require it in their terms.
What should an affiliate disclosure say?
Keep it simple and specific, for example: “I earn a commission if you buy through my links.” Avoid vague terms like “collab” or “partner” on their own.
Where should I put my affiliate disclosure?
Before or right next to your first affiliate link, at the start of captions, and inside videos, both spoken and on screen. A disclosure page or footer can be an addition, but not the only disclosure.
Is “#ad” enough for affiliate links?
The FTC says a label like “#ad” at the start of a post is likely effective. Some creators add a short line explaining the commission to make it even clearer.
What disclosure does Amazon Associates require?
Amazon’s Associates Program Operating Agreement requires the statement “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases” to appear clearly and prominently. You still need FTC-style disclosure near your recommendations.
Do I need a disclosure if I haven’t made any sales?
Yes. The relationship exists as soon as you can earn from the link, whether or not anyone has bought yet.
References
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FTC’s Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking, Federal Trade Commission, last updated July 15, 2025
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Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers, Federal Trade Commission, November 2019
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FTC Announces Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials, Federal Trade Commission, August 14, 2024
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Associates Program Operating Agreement, Amazon Associates
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About the content disclosure setting for creators, TikTok Business Help Center