Affiliate Link Disclosure: What to Say and Where to Say It
When you earn money if someone buys through your link, the people reading your post should know. Telling them is honest, it builds trust, and in many countries it is also what advertising rules expect.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by country and by platform, and they change. Check the guidance of the advertising regulator where you and your audience live, and the rules of every affiliate program and platform you use.
The idea behind most rules
Regulators in several places ask for the same things: if you have a material connection to a brand, such as payment, commission or free products, tell your audience clearly, close to the recommendation, and in words people understand.
What good disclosure looks like
- Clear: say it in plain words, such as "affiliate link", "ad" or "I earn a commission if you buy".
- Close: put it next to the link or at the start of the post, not only in your profile.
- Hard to miss: not hidden among a pile of hashtags and not in small grey text.
- On every platform and format: in videos, say it out loud and show it on screen; in stories, put it on the story itself.
Wording you can copy
Short (for captions and messages):
Affiliate link: I may earn a commission.
Medium:
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
For video:
"The link below is an affiliate link, so I earn a small commission if you buy."
What a2z.deals does and does not do
The deal card shows visitors which store they are about to open and reminds them to check the final price at checkout. It does not add a disclosure to your post or message. You need to write that yourself, in the post where people read your recommendation.
Checklist
- Every post or message with an affiliate link has a disclosure in it.
- It is near the link and written in plain words.
- Videos disclose in speech and on screen.
- You have read your affiliate program's own disclosure rules.
- Your prices and deadlines are true when you post them.
Related: how to share deals on each platform and running time-limited deals honestly.