How to Write an Affiliate Disclosure (With FTC-Compliant Templates & Examples)
You found an amazing product you genuinely love. Your readers would benefit from it. And best of all? You can earn a commission when they buy through your link.
But wait. You need to disclose that commission. The FTC requires it.
If you’re thinking, “I’ll just add a tiny disclaimer at the bottom,” think again. The FTC has updated disclosure guidelines, and vague disclaimers don’t cut it anymore. In 2024, FTC affiliate disclosure violations can result in fines up to $43,792 per violation.
The good news? Creating a compliant affiliate disclosure is simple. This guide provides:
Current FTC requirements (2024-2025)
5+ copy-paste templates you can use today
Examples for different content types (blog posts, sidebars, videos)
Common mistakes to avoid
Let’s get you compliant—and transparent with your audience.
FTC Affiliate Disclosure Requirements: What You Need to Know
What the FTC Requires
The Federal Trade Commission is very clear: if you earn money promoting a product, you must disclose it.
Here are the 2024 FTC affiliate disclosure requirements:
1. Disclosure Is Mandatory
- If you receive ANY compensation (commission, free product, sponsorship), you must disclose it
- This applies to all platforms: blogs, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, podcasts, emails
- Even if you’re not a “real influencer,” if you have affiliate links, you must disclose
2. Disclosure Must Be Clear and Conspicuous
- Cannot be hidden in tiny print
- Must be written in simple language (no legal jargon)
- Should stand out visually (bold, different color, separate line)
- Must be easy to notice without scrolling or clicking
3. Disclosure Must Appear BEFORE the Link
- Place disclosure as close to the link as possible
- Placing disclosure only at the bottom of a 3,000-word article is NOT compliant
- If multiple products mentioned, disclose BEFORE each link
4. Use Clear Language Everyone Understands
“I earn a commission if you buy through this link”
“This is an affiliate link”
“I receive compensation for this recommendation”
“Material relationship” (too legal, too vague)
Just a hashtag #ad (not prominent enough on blogs)
5. Repeat Disclosure When Needed
Why FTC Compliance Matters (Beyond Fines)
Yes, fines are scary. But compliance also:
- Builds Trust: Transparent disclosures make readers trust you MORE, not less. Readers appreciate honesty.
- Improves SEO: E-E-A-T signals reward transparency. Google favors trustworthy sites.
- Qualifies You for Better Programs: Mediavine, Raptive, and brand partnerships REQUIRE compliant disclosures.
- Protects Your Income: Networks can deactivate you if disclosures are non-compliant.
Template 1: Simple Blog Post Affiliate Disclosure (Most Common)
Use this for product recommendations within blog post content.
Where to Place It:
Right before the product link, or at the beginning of the product recommendation paragraph.
Template:
text**Affiliate Disclosure:** I earn a small commission if you purchase
through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support Blogger
Prosperity. I only recommend products I genuinely use and believe in.
Example in Context:
“After testing 12 different email marketing platforms, I settled on ConvertKit. It’s intuitive, offers excellent automation, and their customer support is fantastic.
Affiliate Disclosure: I earn a small commission if you purchase through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support Blogger Prosperity. I only recommend products I genuinely use and believe in.
Get started with ConvertKit here → [link]
The platform costs $29/month for beginners…”
Template 2: In-Post Product Recommendation Box
Use this when featuring multiple products in a comparison or roundup post.
Where to Place It:
At the top of the product recommendation section, or directly above the product comparison table.
Template:
text **Transparency Disclosure:** Some links in this post are affiliate
links. I earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no
extra cost to you. I only recommend products I've tested and trust.
Example in Context (for a Roundup Post):
“## Best Email Marketing Platforms for Bloggers in 2024
Transparency Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I’ve tested and trust.
| Platform | Price | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConvertKit | $29/mo | Creators | [Learn More] |
| ActiveCampaign | $15/mo | Automation | [Learn More] |
| Mailchimp | Free-$350/mo | SMBs | [Learn More] |
Template 3: Sidebar Affiliate Widget Disclosure
Use this for sidebar banners, ads, or persistent product recommendations.
Where to Place It:
Inside the sidebar box, ABOVE the product image or link.
Template:
xml<div class="affiliate-disclosure-widget">
<p><strong>Affiliate Recommendation:</strong> This is an affiliate
link. I earn a commission if you purchase, at no extra cost to you.</p>
<a href="your-affiliate-link">Product Name →</a>
</div>
Example (CSS Styling):
xml<style>
.affiliate-disclosure-widget {
background-color: #f0f0f0;
border-left: 4px solid #38bdf8;
padding: 12px;
margin-bottom: 16px;
font-size: 13px;
border-radius: 4px;
}
</style>
Visual Result:
A grey box with blue left border containing the disclosure text, appearing above product links in sidebar.
Template 4: Video Disclosure (for Video Content)
Written Disclaimer (Add Below Video Description):
text**Affiliate Disclosure:** I include affiliate links in this video
description. I earn a commission if you purchase through these links
at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use.
[Affiliate Link Here]
Verbal Disclosure (Speak in Video):
“By the way, I do include affiliate links in the description below. If you buy through my link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate it!”
On-Screen Graphic:
Place text overlay during relevant parts of video:
- “Affiliate Links Below”
- “I Earn Commission” (with affiliate disclosure box)
Template 5: Email Newsletter Affiliate Disclosure
For Emails Promoting Affiliate Products:
text**Quick note:** I include affiliate links in my newsletter. If you
purchase through my link, I earn a small commission. This doesn't cost
you anything extra, and it helps support my work creating free
content for you.
Place Where:
- At the top of email (if promoting products)
- Directly before affiliate link (if mentioning product in body)
- In email footer (if you regularly include affiliate links)
Template 6: Sponsorship & Brand Partnership Disclosure
Use this when a brand pays you directly (not commission-based).
Template:
text**Sponsored Content Disclosure:** This post contains a sponsored
recommendation from [Brand Name]. I was compensated for this review.
However, my opinions and experience with the product are my own. I
only promote products I genuinely believe will help my readers.
Example in Context:
“I’m excited to share my favorite writing tool with you today.
Sponsored Content Disclosure: This post contains a sponsored recommendation from Grammarly. I was compensated for this review. However, my opinions and experience with the product are my own. I only promote products I genuinely believe will help my readers.
I’ve used Grammarly for 3+ years because…”
Template 7: Global Affiliate Disclaimer Page
Create a dedicated page (linked from footer) that lists all your affiliate relationships.
Create a “Affiliate Disclosure” Page in WordPress:
text# Affiliate Disclosure
## Our Affiliate Relationships
Blogger Prosperity is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program,
ShareASale, and other affiliate networks. This means I may earn small
commissions if you purchase products through links on this site at no
extra cost to you.
## What We Recommend
I only recommend products and services I genuinely use and believe
will benefit my readers. My affiliate relationships never influence
which products I recommend or the honesty of my reviews.
## Disclosure Placement
Every time I recommend an affiliate product, you'll see clear disclosure
stating I may earn a commission. Disclosures appear:
- Before affiliate links in blog posts
- In product comparison tables
- In video descriptions
- In email newsletters
## How We Choose Affiliate Programs
We partner with:
- **Amazon Associates** - For general product recommendations
- **ConvertKit** - Email marketing platform (uses affiliate)
- **ShareASale** - Various brands and programs
- **Bluehost/SiteGround** - Web hosting services
Thank you for supporting Blogger Prosperity through these affiliate links!
Common Affiliate Disclosure Mistakes to AVOID
Mistake #1: Burying Disclosure at the Bottom
“I’ll just add ‘Affiliate Disclosure’ in tiny print at the page bottom.”
Why this fails: FTC requires disclosure BEFORE the link, where readers will actually see it.
Fix: Place disclosure directly before the affiliate link or product mention.
Mistake #2: Being Too Vague
“This post may contain material relationships…”
Why this fails: Readers don’t understand what “material relationship” means.
Fix: Use simple language: “I earn a commission if you buy through this link.”
Mistake #3: Only Disclosing Once
You mention a product 5 times but only disclose once at the beginning.
Why this fails: Readers may not see the disclosure when they see the link.
Fix: Disclose before EACH product link or at the start of each section featuring that product.
Mistake #4: Using Only Hashtags (#ad, #sponsored)
Blog readers don’t notice hashtags the way Instagram users do.
Why this fails: Hashtags alone aren’t prominent enough for blog posts.
Fix: Use text-based disclosures like “Affiliate Disclosure:” or create a visible box.
Mistake #5: Hiding Disclosure Behind “Read More” Buttons
“Click ‘Read More’ to see my disclosure…”
Why this fails: Most readers won’t click. FTC requires clear upfront disclosure.
Fix: Put disclosure where readers naturally see it without extra clicking.
Mistake #6: Lying About Products You Don’t Use
“I earn commission on this product” while never actually using it.
Why this fails: FTC requires you to be a genuine user. Fake reviews are illegal and damage trust.
Fix: Only promote products you genuinely use and believe in.
WordPress Plugins to Automate Disclosures
Option 1: ThirstyAffiliates (Recommended)
What it does: Automatically manages affiliate links and can add disclosure warnings.
Price: Free version available, Pro ($47-97/year)
Setup:
- Install and activate ThirstyAffiliates
- Go to Settings → General
- Enable “Disclosure Warning”
- Customize disclosure text
- Links automatically show disclosure on hover
Option 2: Inline Related Posts + Disclosure
What it does: Displays related posts with affiliate disclosure.
Best for: Recommending other blog posts and products.
Option 3: Manual (Best Control)
Create custom CSS styling for disclosure boxes so they stand out, then copy-paste before affiliate links.
Step-by-Step: How to Add Disclosures to Existing Posts
Step 1: Audit Your Current Posts
- Go through recent posts with affiliate links
- Check if disclosures are present and compliant
- Create a spreadsheet: Post Title | Has Disclosure | Placement | FTC-Compliant
Step 2: Create Your Standard Disclosure Format
- Choose ONE style you’ll use consistently
- Use Template 1 or 2 (most popular for bloggers)
- Copy to a text editor for quick copy-pasting
Step 3: Edit Posts with Missing Disclosures
- Open WordPress post editor
- Place cursor directly BEFORE the affiliate link
- Paste your disclosure template
- Customize if needed
- Update post
Step 4: Update Sidebar & Widgets
- Go to Appearance → Widgets
- Edit any product recommendation widgets
- Add disclosure template above product link
- Save changes
Step 5: Update Footer & Navigation
- Go to Appearance → Menus
- Create or edit footer menu
- Add “Affiliate Disclosure” page link to footer
What About Amazon Associates Links?
Amazon Associates disclosures follow the same FTC rules:
Template for Amazon:
text**Affiliate Disclosure:** As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small
commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This
helps support Blogger Prosperity.
Key Points:
- Must disclose before EACH Amazon link
- Cannot hide behind “I’m in Amazon Associates” (readers need to see disclosure at product mention)
- Cannot use ONLY hashtags on blogs
Legal Safety: Creating a Compliance Checklist
Save this checklist and review it monthly:
☐ Every affiliate link has disclosure before it
☐ Disclosures appear in clear, simple language
☐ No vague terms like “material relationship”
☐ Disclosures are visible (bold, boxed, or highlighted)
☐ I only promote products I genuinely use
☐ Video descriptions include affiliate disclosures
☐ Email newsletters disclose affiliate relationships
☐ Sidebar widgets have affiliate disclosures
☐ Dedicated affiliate disclosure page exists
☐ Affiliate disclosure page is linked in footer
FAQ: Affiliate Disclosure Questions
Q: If I’m not making money on a product yet, do I need to disclose?
A: If you have an affiliate link (even if no one’s clicked it), yes. The potential for compensation means you must disclose.
Q: Can I use the same disclosure for all products?
A: Yes, but customize slightly based on context. Template 1 works across most situations.
Q: What if I forget to disclose?
A: Immediately go back and add it. The FTC is more lenient with small publishers that fix violations quickly. The problem occurs with persistent, intentional non-compliance.
Q: Do I need an affiliate disclosure page separate from individual post disclosures?
A: Individual post disclosures are required. A separate page is recommended but not required by FTC. It shows professionalism and helps readers understand all your affiliate relationships.
Q: If a brand sends me a free product without asking for a review, do I need to disclose?
A: Yes. If there’s any “material connection” (free product, sponsorship, commission), disclosure is required.
Q: Can I use emojis or symbols instead of text?
A: Emojis alone aren’t enough. Use clear text. You CAN use emojis to help draw attention (like the 📌 icon in templates), but the text disclosure must be present.
Next Steps
- Choose your affiliate disclosure template from this post
- Audit your current posts for missing disclosures
- Add disclosures to all posts with affiliate links
- Update your sidebar widgets if any promote products
- Create a dedicated Affiliate Disclosure page (linked in footer)
- Check back quarterly to ensure compliance
Your readers will appreciate your transparency, and you’ll sleep better knowing you’re compliant.
Ready to write your Privacy Policy and Terms of Use? Read: Privacy Policy vs Terms of Use next.
Once your disclosure is in place, the next step is managing affiliate links properly so your tracking and compliance stay organized as you grow.
