FTC Disclosure Requirements for Partners

You must disclose that you earn commission when promoting Heritage Web. Include clear statements, such as "I earn commission from Heritage Web referrals," near your referral links. This is required by FTC law and applies to all content: social media, blogs, emails, and videos.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires affiliate partners to disclose financial relationships when promoting products or services. As a Heritage Web partner earning a 30% commission on referrals, you are required to inform your audience about this compensation. Clear disclosure fosters trust within your community while ensuring compliance with federal regulations that carry significant penalties for non-compliance.

Your disclosure must clearly state that you receive compensation when someone uses your referral link. The relationship between you and Heritage Web must be evident to anyone viewing your promotional content. Generic statements about "partnering" or "collaboration" don't meet legal requirements without mentioning compensation.

Disclosures must be both conspicuous and easily understandable. They cannot be hidden in terms pages, require clicking "more" to see, or be buried in hashtag blocks. Use simple language that your audience will immediately understand. Avoid legal jargon or vague terms that obscure the financial relationship.

Instagram/Facebook: Place disclosure at the start of your caption. Use platform tools like "Paid partnership" tags when available. Include #ad or #heritagewebpartner in visible hashtags. Don't rely solely on bio links or profile disclosures.

LinkedIn: Begin posts with a disclosure statement. Professional audiences expect transparency. Use clear business language about the commission structure.

Twitter/X: Start tweets with "Ad:" or "Sponsored:" when space is limited. Include disclosure even in thread replies containing links.

Add a disclosure box at the beginning of articles containing referral links. Place additional disclosures near link clusters if the article is long. Use formatting (boxes, bold text) to make disclosure stand out. Include disclosure on resource pages, tool lists, and recommendation roundups.

State the affiliate relationship before the first referral link is displayed. Don't rely solely on footer disclosures. Be upfront in subject lines for purely promotional emails. Include disclosure in both HTML and plain text versions.

Verbally disclose the partnership in the video itself. Include written disclosure in the first lines of description. Don't hide disclosure below "Show More" fold. Add text overlay disclosure for short-form videos.

Different countries have similar requirements with varying specifics:

What if I'm promoting to friends who know I'm a partner? FTC requirements apply regardless of audience familiarity. Every promotional message requires disclosure, even in private groups or personal messages that include referral links.

Can I put disclosure in my bio and reference it? No, disclosure must be in the post itself. Bio disclosures are supplementary but don't replace in-post requirements. Users shouldn't have to click elsewhere to find disclosure.

Do I need disclosure if I'm not explicitly recommending Heritage Web? Yes, if you include your referral link. Even neutral mentions with affiliate links require disclosure of the financial relationship.

What about offline promotions at events or meetings? Verbal disclosure is required when promoting in person. If distributing materials with QR codes or links, include written disclosure on the same materials.

How do I disclose in character-limited posts? Start with "Ad:" or "Paid:" to establish a commercial relationship. Follow up with a reply containing fuller disclosure if needed.