FTC Disclosure Requirements for Affiliates
Learn how to properly disclose your affiliate relationship to comply with Federal Trade Commission guidelines and maintain trust with your audience.
Quick Answer
The FTC requires you to clearly and conspicuously disclose that you earn commission when people use your Heritage Web affiliate links. Disclosures must be obvious, in simple language, and placed before any affiliate links. Use phrases like "I earn commission from Heritage Web signups" or "#ad" on social media. Failure to disclose can result in FTC fines and termination from the Affiliate Program.
Why Disclosure Is Required
Legal Obligation
The FTC's Endorsement Guides require disclosure of "material connections" between endorsers and brands. Your commission earnings are a material connection that could affect how people evaluate your recommendations.
Building Trust
Proper disclosure:
Maintains audience trust
Demonstrates transparency
Protects your reputation
Shows professional integrity
Often increases conversion rates
Program Requirement
Heritage Web's Affiliate Program Terms require FTC compliance. Non-compliance can result in:
Account termination
Commission forfeiture
Legal liability
FTC enforcement action
Key Disclosure Principles
Clear and Conspicuous
Your disclosure must be:
Obvious: Not hidden or buried
Understandable: Plain language, not legalese
Unavoidable: Viewers can't miss it
Timely: Before affiliate links, not after
Simple Language
Effective disclosure examples:
"I earn commission from Heritage Web signups"
"This post contains affiliate links"
"I may receive compensation if you sign up"
"Affiliate link - I get paid if you join"
"Sponsored by Heritage Web" (if applicable)
Placement Requirements
Before the Link: Disclosure comes first
Same Medium: Video disclosure for video, text for text
Every Instance: Each post/page with links needs disclosure
Above the Fold: Visible without scrolling when possible
Platform-Specific Guidelines
Websites and Blogs
Best Practices
Place disclosure at the beginning of posts
Include in sidebar if links throughout site
Add to footer as supplementary (not primary)
Create a disclosure policy page
Example Website Disclosure
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Heritage Web. If you sign up through my links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I genuinely believe will help your business.
Social Media
Include disclosure in post text
Place before any link
Don't rely on platform's "Paid Partnership" tag alone
Use clear language, not just #ad
Include in caption (not just comments)
Place early in caption (before "more" cutoff)
Use both #ad and #affiliate
Stories need disclosure on same frame as link
Twitter/X
Include #ad or #affiliate in tweet
"Affiliate link:" before URL
Don't hide in replies or threads
Each tweet with link needs disclosure
Professional tone but still clear
"Disclosure: Affiliate relationship with Heritage Web"
Include in article text, not just comments
Both posts and articles need disclosure
YouTube
Verbal disclosure in video
Written disclosure in description
Check "includes paid promotion" box
Disclosure before mentioning Heritage Web
Email Marketing
Requirements
Disclosure near first affiliate link
Clear subject line if promotional
CAN-SPAM compliance
Unsubscribe option required
Example Email Disclosure
Note: This email contains affiliate links. As a Heritage Web affiliate, I earn commission when you sign up through my links. This doesn't affect your pricing.
Ineffective Disclosures to Avoid
Too Vague
❌ "Thanks to Heritage Web" (unclear about payment) ❌ "Heritage Web partner" (ambiguous relationship) ❌ "Check out this cool site" (no disclosure)
Hidden or Buried
❌ Disclosure only in terms page ❌ After multiple paragraphs ❌ In tiny footer text ❌ Behind "read more" links
Confusing Terms
❌ "Monetized links" (unclear to average person) ❌ "Referral consideration" (too formal) ❌ Using only #sp without explanation
Wrong Placement
❌ After the affiliate link ❌ Only at end of long post ❌ In separate post/comment ❌ Days after original post
Creating Your Disclosure Policy
Essential Elements
What: Explanation of affiliate relationships
How: How you earn commission
Impact: No extra cost to users
Selection: How you choose what to promote
Contact: How to reach you with questions
Sample Disclosure Policy
Affiliate Disclosure Policy
This site contains affiliate links to Heritage Web. When you click these links and sign up for their services, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
I only recommend Heritage Web because I genuinely believe their platform helps businesses connect with their communities. My opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write positive reviews.
Your support through these links helps me maintain this site and continue providing valuable content. If you have questions about my affiliate relationships, please contact me at [email].
International Considerations
Beyond FTC
Other countries have similar requirements:
UK: ASA (Advertising Standards Authority)
Canada: Competition Bureau
EU: Consumer Protection Cooperation
Australia: ACCC guidelines
Universal Best Practices
Research local requirements
When in doubt, disclose
Use country-appropriate language
Consider multiple jurisdictions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming People Know
Never assume your audience understands:
What affiliate marketing is
That you earn commission
The nature of your relationship
Technical terms or abbreviations
One-Time Disclosure
Not sufficient to disclose once and assume it covers everything:
Each platform needs disclosure
Each post with links needs disclosure
New audience members won't see old disclosures
Regular reminders build trust
Relying on Platform Features
Platform tools aren't enough alone:
Instagram's "Paid Partnership" tag
YouTube's disclosure checkbox
Facebook's branded content tools
Always include your own clear disclosure
Monitoring Compliance
Regular Audits
Review old posts for missing disclosures
Update disclosure language as needed
Check all platforms you use
Document compliance efforts
Team Training
If you have team members:
Train on disclosure requirements
Create disclosure templates
Monitor their posts
Take responsibility for compliance
FAQs
What if I forget to disclose on a post? Edit immediately to add disclosure. If editing isn't possible, delete and repost with proper disclosure or add disclosure in comments noting it should have been in original post.
Do I need to disclose if Heritage Web doesn't pay me for a specific post? If you have an ongoing affiliate relationship and include affiliate links, yes. The relationship itself is material.
Can I use just #ad on social media? While #ad is recognized, clearer language like "affiliate link" or "I earn commission" is better for transparency.
What about verbal recommendations? If sharing your affiliate link verbally or in person, mention you earn commission if they sign up.
Do I need disclosure if I genuinely love Heritage Web? Yes. Your honest opinion doesn't eliminate the need to disclose the financial relationship.
Next Steps
Create your standard disclosure text
Add disclosure to all existing content with affiliate links
Create a disclosure policy page
Set up templates for each platform
Regular compliance checks
Related Articles
Affiliate Program Terms and Conditions
How to Generate Your Unique Referral Link
Customizing Links with UTM Parameters