A practical rule
Tell the reader before the compensated click.
A useful disclosure names the relationship, explains the possible payment, and appears where the reader can notice it without opening a footer, hovering, or decoding an abbreviation.
A short disclosure for an article
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you buy after clicking one, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Place it before the first affiliate recommendation or call to action. Do not weaken it with vague phrases such as “support us” when the commercial mechanism is a commission.
A comparison-page version
How this page is funded: We may earn a commission from marked links. Commission availability is not a scoring factor, and a product does not rank higher because it pays us. Prices and terms can change; confirm the vendor's live checkout.
This version explains both the payment and the editorial boundary. It does not prove independence by itself; your methodology and inclusion of relevant non-paying alternatives must support the claim.
A disclosure beside an interactive result
About this result: The recommendation is calculated from the answers shown above. The vendor link may earn us a commission. It is not a revenue, savings, or performance guarantee.
A calculator or chooser should disclose the decision logic and distinguish arithmetic from a forecast. If an affiliate payout influences the result, saying it does not would be deceptive; remove that influence or state it.
A social-post pattern
Ad / affiliate link: I may earn a commission if you buy through this link. [Then state the actual recommendation and its evidence.]
Put the disclosure in the post itself where it appears with the endorsement. A profile-page notice, hidden “more” section, or later comment is easy to miss. For Korean-language commercial content, use clear Korean advertising language near the beginning rather than an ambiguous English abbreviation.
Documentation is not experience
Use an evidence label whenever the nature of the proof could change the reader's interpretation:
- Vendor-documented: the provider published the price, limit, or feature.
- Calculated: the output follows a displayed formula and entered assumptions.
- Tested: you ran a named workflow and state the date and relevant conditions.
Evidence note: This guide compares vendor-published plan details checked August 19, 2026. It is not presented as a hands-on deliverability or usability test.
The link attribute is additional—not visible—disclosure
Google asks publishers to qualify paid or affiliate links with rel="sponsored". That machine-readable attribute belongs on the compensated link, while the plain-language disclosure belongs in visible content. StackFit Atlas routes monetized links through one component so the attribute cannot be forgotten page by page.
Five failure modes to remove
- A footer-only policy while the recommendation appears at the top.
- “Partner” or “collab” without saying that money or another material benefit may be received.
- White text, tiny type, low contrast, or a disclosure hidden behind an interaction.
- A fake hands-on review built from vendor copy or another publisher's screenshots.
- Applying the disclosure to one page while monetized buttons appear elsewhere without it.
Disclosure does not cure a false claim. Verify prices, avoid guaranteed-outcome language, disclose material limitations, and correct content when primary sources change.
Frequently asked questions
Is an affiliate disclosure in the footer enough?
Usually not as the only notice. Put a short, plain-language disclosure where a reader will see it before or near the affiliate recommendation or link. A detailed policy can explain the relationship further.
Can I write “may contain affiliate links”?
Specific language is clearer when a page actually contains compensated links. Say that you may earn a commission if the reader buys or signs up through marked links and that this does not add to their price.
Does rel="sponsored" replace a visible disclosure?
No. The relationship attribute helps search engines understand the link. It does not tell a human reader about your financial relationship. Use both where applicable.
Do I need to disclose a free product or discount?
Material benefits can include more than cash. If a benefit could affect how readers evaluate the recommendation, disclose it clearly and close to the endorsement. Check the rules that apply to your audience and platform.
Can I claim I tested a product after reading its documentation?
No. Label vendor-documented facts as documentation. Describe a hands-on test only when you actually ran the named workflow and can state its date and conditions.
Primary sources checked
- FTC Endorsement Guides FAQ ↗
- Google guidance for qualifying outbound links ↗
- Korea Fair Trade Commission recommendation and endorsement guidance ↗
Pricing changes. Recheck the vendor’s checkout before buying.