Affiliate Link Disclosure Examples: Templates You Can Copy

An affiliate link disclosure is a statement that tells your audience you may earn a commission when they click a link or make a purchase through your content. If you participate in any affiliate program, you are legally required to disclose that relationship to your readers, viewers, or followers before they interact with your affiliate links.

This tutorial provides ready-to-use affiliate link disclosure examples for blogs, social media, email newsletters, and video content. Each example meets current FTC requirements. This content is for educational purposes and should not be treated as legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance specific to your situation.

Why Affiliate Link Disclosures Are Legally Required

The legal basis for affiliate disclosures in the United States comes from the Federal Trade Commission Act (Section 5), which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts in commerce. The FTC Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255) provide specific guidance on how material connections between endorsers and sellers must be disclosed.

A "material connection" is any relationship that might affect the credibility of an endorsement. When you earn a commission from recommending a product, that financial incentive is a material connection your audience has a right to know about.

The FTC has taken enforcement action against affiliates and influencers who fail to disclose. Key requirements include:

• Clear and conspicuous: The disclosure must be easy to notice, read, and understand
• Before the link: Readers must see the disclosure before encountering the first affiliate link
• On every piece of content: A single site-wide disclosure page is not sufficient
• Platform-appropriate: The format must work for the specific medium (text, video, audio, social post)

Outside the United States, similar requirements exist under the UK's Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the EU's Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), and Australia's Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The principle is consistent across jurisdictions: audiences must know when content is commercially motivated.

Affiliate Disclosure Examples for Blog Posts

Blog posts are the most common format for affiliate content. Your disclosure should appear at the top of the post, before any affiliate links.

Short inline disclosure

Place this immediately after your introduction or as the first element below the title:

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

This format works well for blogs with a conversational tone. It is direct, uses plain language, and clearly states the financial relationship.

Callout box disclosure

For a more visible approach, use a styled callout or info box at the top of the post:

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally used or thoroughly researched. See my full disclaimer page for details.

The callout format is harder to miss, which strengthens your compliance position. The FTC evaluates whether a disclosure is "conspicuous" based on its placement, size, and contrast with surrounding content.

Contextual in-text disclosure

When a specific product recommendation includes an affiliate link, you can add a contextual disclosure next to the link itself:

I use Notion for project management and recommend it to most small teams. (Full disclosure: this is an affiliate link, and I earn a commission if you sign up.)

This approach works best as a supplement to a general disclosure at the top. It should not be your only disclosure method, but it adds transparency at the point of decision.

Affiliate Disclosure Examples for Social Media

Social media platforms have character limits and different reading patterns. Disclosures must be adapted for each platform while meeting the same legal standard.

Instagram posts

Place the disclosure at the beginning of your caption, not buried among hashtags at the end.

#ad I have been using [Product] for three months and it has genuinely improved my workflow. Link in bio. #affiliate

The FTC has specifically stated that hashtags like #ad and #affiliate are acceptable disclosures on social media, but only when placed where they are easily seen. Burying #ad as the 15th hashtag at the bottom of a caption does not qualify as clear and conspicuous.

Instagram Stories

For Stories that include affiliate links or product tags:

• Use a text overlay that reads "Ad" or "Paid partnership" in a clearly visible font size and color
• Place the overlay near the top of the frame, not in a corner where it might be obscured
• If using a swipe-up or link sticker, the disclosure must appear on the same Story frame as the link

X (Twitter) posts

Loving this new standing desk from [Brand]. If you're in the market, here's my link: [URL] #ad

With character limits, keep the disclosure short but unambiguous. The FTC accepts #ad at the end of a tweet as long as the tweet is short enough that the hashtag is visible without expanding.

YouTube videos

YouTube requires a dual approach:

1. Verbal disclosure: State your affiliate relationship within the first 30 seconds of the video. Example: "Some of the links in the description are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through them."
2. Written disclosure: Include a disclosure in the video description above the fold (before the "Show more" cutoff). Also enable YouTube's built-in paid promotion disclosure feature in the video settings.

TikTok videos

• Use the platform's branded content toggle when available
• Add a text overlay reading "Contains affiliate links" or "#ad" in a readable font
• Include a verbal mention if the video specifically recommends a product with an affiliate link

Affiliate Disclosure Examples for Email Newsletters

Email newsletters are subject to the same FTC disclosure requirements as any other content format. Place your disclosure near the top of the email, before the first affiliate link.

Header disclosure

Note: This email contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.

Disclaimer Generator

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Place this immediately after your greeting or at the top of the email body. It should be visible without scrolling on both desktop and mobile email clients.

Per-link disclosure

For newsletters that mix editorial and affiliate content, mark affiliate links individually:

Here are my top three tools for small business accounting:

1. QuickBooks (affiliate link) - Best for businesses under 50 employees
2. Xero (affiliate link) - Best for international businesses
3. Wave - Best free option for freelancers

The "(affiliate link)" label next to each relevant link provides transparency at the point of action.

Footer disclosure (supplementary only)

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this email are affiliate links. I receive a small commission when you purchase through these links. This does not affect my editorial choices or the price you pay.

A footer disclosure alone is insufficient because many readers will not scroll to the bottom. Always pair a footer disclosure with a header or per-link disclosure.

How to Write Your Own Affiliate Disclosure

If the examples above do not fit your specific format or voice, use these principles to write your own compliant disclosure.

Essential elements

Every affiliate disclosure must communicate three things:

1. The relationship exists: You have a financial arrangement with the company or affiliate network
2. You benefit financially: You earn a commission, fee, or other compensation when the audience takes action
3. The audience is not disadvantaged: The cost to the reader is the same whether they use your link or not (if that is true, state it; if the link provides a discount, explain that instead)

Language guidelines

• Use plain language. "Affiliate link" is widely understood, but adding "I earn a commission" makes it explicit.
• Avoid vague terms. "This post is sponsored" is not the same as an affiliate disclosure. Sponsorships and affiliate relationships are different material connections.
• Do not use "disclaimer" as a euphemism to minimize the relationship. "This post may contain affiliate links" is weaker than "This post contains affiliate links, and I earn a commission on purchases."
• Keep it short. Two to three sentences is sufficient for most formats.

What to avoid

• Disclosures hidden in expandable sections, popups, or separate pages that require a click
• Disclosures in a font size smaller than the surrounding text
• Disclosures in a color that blends with the background
• Using only platform-native features (like YouTube's paid promotion tag) without an additional verbal or written disclosure
• Assuming your audience knows you use affiliate links because "everyone does it"

Setting Up a Dedicated Affiliate Disclosure Page

While a standalone disclosure page is not a substitute for per-content disclosures, having one is still a best practice. It serves as a central reference that your individual disclosures can link to for additional detail.

What to include on your disclosure page

1. General statement: Explain that your site participates in affiliate programs and that you may earn commissions from links in your content
2. Specific programs: Name the affiliate programs you participate in. At minimum, Amazon Associates requires you to state: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases"
3. Editorial policy: Explain how affiliate relationships do or do not affect your editorial choices. If you only recommend products you have used, say so.
4. How it works: A brief, plain-language explanation of how affiliate links work for readers who may not be familiar with the concept
5. Contact information: How readers can reach you with questions

A disclaimer generator can help you create a disclosure page that covers your affiliate relationships alongside other necessary legal disclaimers for your site.

Where to link your disclosure page

• Site footer (persistent across all pages)
• About page
• Individual blog posts (linked from the per-post disclosure)
• Social media bios (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube About section)

FTC Enforcement and Penalties

The FTC has actively enforced disclosure requirements in affiliate marketing. Understanding the enforcement landscape helps frame why proper disclosures matter beyond legal compliance.

Notable enforcement actions

The FTC has sent hundreds of warning letters to influencers and affiliates since its Endorsement Guides were updated. In several cases, the FTC pursued formal complaints against companies and individuals who systematically failed to disclose material connections.

Penalties for FTC Act violations can include:

• Civil penalties: Up to $50,120 per violation (adjusted annually for inflation)
• Consent orders: Legally binding agreements requiring specific changes to disclosure practices, monitored by the FTC for years
• Disgorgement: Returning profits earned through deceptive practices
• Reputational damage: FTC enforcement actions are public record

Who is liable?

Both the affiliate and the brand can be held liable for inadequate disclosures. If you run an affiliate program, you are responsible for monitoring your affiliates' compliance. If you are an affiliate, the brand's failure to require disclosures does not protect you from FTC action.

Affiliate Disclosures and Your Website's Legal Pages

Your affiliate disclosure is one piece of a broader set of legal documents your website should have. These documents work together to create a complete compliance picture.

• Privacy policy: If you use affiliate tracking cookies or pixels, your privacy policy must disclose this data collection. Affiliate networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, and CJ Affiliate all use cookies to track referrals.
• Disclaimer page: Your affiliate disclosure often lives on or links to your general disclaimer page, which covers limitations of liability, accuracy of information, and professional advice caveats.
• Cookie policy: Affiliate tracking cookies must be disclosed in your cookie policy and managed through your consent banner. This is especially important if you have visitors from the EU, where the ePrivacy Directive (Article 5(3)) requires consent before setting non-essential cookies, including affiliate tracking cookies.
• Terms of service: If you run a website where users submit content that might contain affiliate links, your terms should address affiliate link policies.

Keeping these documents current and accurate is a compliance task that grows with your site. Tools like TermsBox can scan your website and generate legal documents that reflect your actual data collection practices, including tracking technologies used by affiliate programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an affiliate disclosure legally required?

Yes, in the United States. The FTC Act (Section 5) prohibits deceptive practices in advertising, and the FTC Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255) require clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections between endorsers and advertisers. This includes affiliate relationships where you earn a commission for recommending products. Failure to disclose can result in FTC enforcement action against both the affiliate and the brand.

Where should I place my affiliate disclosure on a blog post?

Place your affiliate disclosure at the top of the blog post, before any affiliate links appear. The FTC requires disclosures to be clear and conspicuous, meaning visitors must see the disclosure before encountering the first affiliate link. A disclosure buried in the footer or only on a separate page does not meet this standard. The safest approach is a short statement immediately after the post introduction or as a visible callout box near the top of the content.

Do I need an affiliate disclosure on social media posts?

Yes. Every social media post that contains affiliate links or promotes products through an affiliate relationship must include a disclosure. The FTC requires disclosures on every piece of content, not just blog posts. On platforms like Instagram, use hashtags like #ad or #affiliate at the beginning of the caption, not buried among other hashtags. On YouTube, use both the platform's paid promotion feature and a verbal disclosure within the video.

Can I just link to a separate disclosure page instead of disclosing on each post?

No. The FTC has specifically stated that linking to a separate disclosure page is not sufficient on its own. While having a dedicated affiliate disclosure page is a good practice, each piece of content containing affiliate links must also include its own disclosure. The disclosure must appear before the affiliate links and be noticeable without requiring the reader to click away to another page.