Affiliate Disclosure Examples: Tips and Best Practices

Affiliate disclosure examples are boring legal stuff, right? Wrong. A well-crafted disclosure increases trust, raises conversions, and keeps your store compliant. Imagine missing out on sales just because customers feel duped. Ouch! But that’s not what’s going to happen.

I’m here to share real-world affiliate disclosure examples that fulfill the requirement and ensure your audience feels even more trusted. Let’s dive in!

What is an Affiliate disclosure?

An affiliate link disclosure notifies your audience that the product or service that you are recommending makes you money. You create an Affiliate link and notify your customers. It’s not very exciting, as it’s required legally, but it keeps your promotions ethical and valid with FTC affiliate disclosure guidelines. This protects your credibility and also your business.

A customer reads your blog, clicks on a link, and buys a product. Later, they find out you made money from that sale but never told them. How do you think they’d feel? Probably a little misled, right? That’s exactly why clear affiliate disclosures matter. They help maintain trust, honesty, and credibility with your audience.

So, how do you do it right? Keep it simple, upfront, and easy to understand:

• Be honest. Tell people when you’re earning a commission.
• Put it where they’ll see it at the very top of your post or near all the links.
• Use clear, friendly language.

Think about it this way: A good, well-placed disclosure is about compliance, but also about demonstrating your commitment to being honest with customers. And people who trust you will buy from you much more frequently.

Why do you need Affiliate disclosure?

Imagine this: Your customers are scrolling through a popular travel blog, taking in dreamy descriptions of a “hidden gem” hotel in a city they’ve been dying to visit. The photos are stunning, the reviews glowing, and it’s conveniently linked for easy booking. Jackpot! They click, book, and start packing.

Fast forward to the arrival.

They get out of your cab, luggage in tow, to find. The hotel is a half-finished building. Construction workers are hammering away in the middle of a swamp. The “hidden gem” wasn’t hidden, it was a disaster.

Confused and angry, they understand that the travel blogger was never really endorsing the hotel. They got paid to tout it, and probably never visited the place themselves. Meanwhile, here they are, stuck with a destroyed vacation. The blogger silently deleted the post and moved on to their next recommendation.

This is exactly why affiliate disclosures exist. The FTC affiliate disclosure guidelines aim to protect consumers from shady practices like these by requiring bloggers, influencers, and marketers to be upfront about their financial relationships. It’s about honesty because if someone’s earning money off your trust, you deserve to know.

Reasons to add Affiliate Disclosures

• Legal affiliate disclosure: Compelled by the FTC, GDPR, and many other laws.
• Builds Trust: Transparency builds audience credibility.
• Avoids Penalties: Prevents fines, bans, or legal issues.
• Improves User Experience: Clear disclosures reduce confusion.
• Enhances Brand Reputation: Ethical marketing fosters long-term loyalty.

Where to add Affiliate disclosures?

Depending on how and where they are used, affiliate link disclosures are placed. Here, I have listed the main types:

• Website Affiliate Disclosure: Dedicated page outlining your affiliate relationships
• In-Content Disclosure: Short statement within the blog posts or reviews
• Social Media Disclosure: Using hashtags such as #ad or #affiliate in posts
• Video/Podcast Disclosure: A verbal or on-screen disclaimer within videos or audio content.
• Email Disclosure: Brief note in promotional emails containing affiliate links.

The rule is simple: Make it visible, upfront, and obvious. If your audience has to dig for it, you’re already doing it wrong. Make promoting your affiliate links an easy-to-go process.

1. Top of Blog Posts

• Suitable for Bloggers, content marketers, and review sites.
• Example: “This post contains affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you purchase through them.”
• Con: It will be jarring to the reader’s flow if presented too visibly.

2. Affiliate Links

• Suitable for E-commerce stores, product review sites, and price comparison websites.
• Example: “Buy Now (affiliate link)”
• Con: Will clutter the content if used excessively.

3. In Video Description

• Suitable for YouTubers, TikTokers, and course creators
• Example: “This video contains affiliate links. If you buy, I earn a commission.”
• Con: Viewers might skip reading the description to avoid seeing the disclosure.

4. When Sharing on Social Media

• Suitable for Influencers, Affiliate Marketers, and Brands sharing on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.
• Example: “Check out this product! #ad #affiliate”
• Con: There is not much space for detailed disclosures.

5. Create a Disclosure Page

• Suitable for Websites, e-commerce businesses, and legal compliance.
• Example: “Read our full Affiliate Disclosure here.”
• Con: Users may not actively visit the page, so it shouldn’t be the only disclosure.

The Golden Rule: Always make it clear to your audience before they click. Transparency builds trust and keeps your website clear with FTC affiliate disclosure guidelines.

Top Examples of Affiliate Disclosures

It is very important to have the right affiliate disclosure example to maintain trust and transparency with your audience. Here I have listed a few top Affiliate Disclosure examples that convey affiliate relationships while being simple and compliant.

• TechRadar.Pro
• The Prepared
• Cryptovantage
• Muck Rack
• The Shop Files
• The Wirecutter
• Engadget

1. TechRadar Pro

You’re reading an in-depth review on Engadget, trying to decide if that new gadget is worth your money. Right at the top, even before you scroll a little bit, you will see this clear and confident statement:

“Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission.”

It’s more than just a simple affiliate disclosure example, it’s a trust signal. Engadget reinforces its credibility by explaining its long history, links to a dedicated page that details its review process, and even references affiliate partnership disclosure in its privacy policy.

What Store Owners Can Learn

If you’re using affiliate links, follow TechRadar’s lead:

• Make your disclosure easy to find: Place it above the fold.
• Keep it simple: A one-liner like, “We may earn a commission on purchases.” works.
• Offer more details if needed: A link to a full disclosure page builds trust.

Transparency strengthens relationships. TechRadar’s approach proves that.

Potential Drawback of this Affiliate Disclosure Example:

While TechRadar’s affiliate disclosure example is visible above the fold, some readers might skim past it without noticing. Since it’s brief, users who want more context may not click the “Learn more” link, leading to potential confusion about how affiliate commissions work.

2. The Prepared

Imagine this: You are far into an article on The Prepared, learning about how to survive a natural disaster or maybe a zombie apocalypse. As you scroll, you note a simple message that is almost reassuring:

“When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. But never will it change your price or what we chose.”

This is an excellent affiliate disclosure example because it feels natural and trustworthy. The Prepared knows their audience who question everything. Instead of a cold, legalistic disclaimer, they use a warm, conversational tone that reassures readers that recommendations are unbiased.

What Store Owners Can Learn

• Speak your audience’s language: A disclosure doesn’t have to sound robotic. Keep it natural.
• Reassure readers: Emphasize that commissions don’t affect pricing or product choices.
• Build trust: A simple, honest disclosure makes customers more likely to support you.

Transparency + Authenticity = A Winning Combination.

Potential Drawback of this Affiliate Disclosure Example:

While the conversational tone works well for The Prepared’s audience, it might come across as too informal or unclear for others. The phrase “never will it change your price” may not be specific enough for some readers, leading to potential confusion about affiliate commissions and their impact.

3. Cryptovantage

Let’s be honest, crypto is confusing. Even the experts sometimes pretend they’ve got it all figured out. That’s why trust is everything in this space, and CryptoVantage gets its affiliate disclosure example just right.

At the top of their buying guides, you’ll see a clear disclaimer. No fine print, no hidden messages, just a straightforward note letting you know they may earn commissions. They link to a full disclosure page that explains their affiliate relationships in detail.

What Store Owners Can Learn

• Easy to find: CryptoVantage places theirs high up, so there’s no mystery.
• Be clear and transparent: Tell readers exactly how affiliate links work.
• Give as much detail as needed: A dedicated disclosure page builds credibility.

In an industry built on skepticism, CryptoVantage shows that clarity and honesty go a long way.

Potential Drawback of this Affiliate Disclosure Example:

While CryptoVantage’s upfront and clear affiliate disclosure is great for transparency, it could overwhelm new visitors who aren’t expecting such directness. Some readers might feel that too much detail at the top detracts from the content, making the disclosure feel too in-your-face.

4. Muck Rack

You’re reading a great story on Muck Rack, fully engaged in the story. And then, all the way down at the bottom of the page, you finally see the affiliate disclosure example:

“When you buy something using the retail links in our stories.”

And the placement? Not great. It’s easy to overlook. But the language? Brilliant. Where Muck Rack has succeeded is turning what could be a transactional disclosure into the latest page of a beautiful scrolling narrative. You’re not just clicking a link- you’re funding the content that kept you on its page.

What Store owners can learn

• Think about phrasing: Consider the phrasing less and more natural.
• Highlight the value of your content: Position it as a way for readers to support your work.
• Make it easy to find: Unlike Muck Rack, consider placing your disclosure higher up.

A good affiliate disclosure example blends transparency with engagement and Muck Rack does just that.

Potential Drawback of this Affiliate Disclosure Example:

While Muck Rack’s affiliate disclosure example is creatively worded, its placement at the bottom of the page makes it easy to overlook. Readers who are engrossed in the content may miss the disclosure altogether, reducing its effectiveness in maintaining transparency.

5. The Shop Files

You land on The Shop Files, ready to dive into tools and tips for running your store. Before you do, though, you see a friendly message right at the top:

“Heads up! This page does contain affiliate links, but I only recommend tools I have personally vetted.”

It’s short, informal, and gets right to the point, exactly what a good affiliate disclosure example should be. Just a plain, honest note, I use these products, and if you buy them, I’ll make a small commission.

What Store owners can learn

• Make it friendly and accessible: “Heads up” sounds more natural than a generic disclaimer.
• Keep it short and clear: Tell readers there are affiliate links and move on.
• Build trust: Reassuring readers that you’ve personally vetted products strengthens credibility.

Transparency doesn’t have to be boring and The Shop Files proves that.

Potential Drawback of this Affiliate Disclosure Example:

While The Shop Files’ informal tone works well for many readers, it might not resonate with audiences who prefer a more formal or professional approach. The casual “Heads up!” could come across as too laid-back, potentially making the disclosure feel less authoritative or trustworthy to certain visitors.

6. The Wirecutter

You’re on Wirecutter, reading about the best products, through rigorous testing by experts. Right at the top, you see a very simple yet powerful message:

“Wirecutter is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.”

It’s simple, no-frills, and reads more like a badge of trust than a disclaimer. Even though Wirecutter is owned by The New York Times, they keep it clear and reader-focused, just like The Shop Files.

What Store Owners Can Learn

• Make it reader-friendly: “Reader-supported” feels natural and transparent affiliate disclosure.
• Keep it concise: A single sentence is all it takes to disclose affiliate links.
• Own your business model: Framing commissions as support makes it feel less like an ad, and more like a value exchange.

Honesty builds trust, and Wirecutter nails it.

Potential Drawback of this Affiliate Disclosure Example:

While Wirecutter’s affiliate disclosure is clear and concise, it could leave some readers questioning how much they might earn from purchases. The phrase “may earn an affiliate commission” is vague, and some visitors may want more details about the exact relationship before clicking.

7. Engadget

You’re reading an in-depth review on Engadget, trying to decide if that new gadget is worth your money. Right at the top, even before you scroll a little bit, you will see this clear and confident statement:

“Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission.”

It’s more than just a simple affiliate disclosure example, it’s a trust signal. Engadget reinforces its credibility by explaining its long history, links to a dedicated page that details its review process, and even references affiliate partnership disclosure in its privacy policy.

What Store Owners Can Learn

• Put your disclosure upfront: Engadget places it at the top, so there’s no confusion.
• Highlight why you’re trustworthy: A brief backstory strengthens credibility.
• Provide complete transparency: A page that details affiliate relationships helps build trust.

In terms of affiliate disclosures, Engadget shows once and for all that honesty and transparency always win.

Potential Drawback of this Affiliate Disclosure Example:

While Engadget’s detailed affiliate disclosure builds trust, it may be a bit too long for readers who prefer brevity. The additional information about their history and review process might distract from the core message, making it feel overwhelming to those just looking for a quick disclosure.

The Right Way vs The Wrong Way

Wrong Way: The Hidden Disclaimer

Picture this: you’ve just read a blog post or blog affiliate disclosure that gave you useful advice, and at the very bottom of the page, there’s a sentence saying, “This page contains affiliate links.” You barely noticed it, and it feels almost like an afterthought.

Why It’s Wrong:

This kind of affiliate disclosure example feels sneaky. Readers don’t have the chance to engage with the fact that there’s an affiliate link before clicking. Worse, it could come across as if you’re trying to slip past the affiliate disclosure rules. Readers might feel misled when they find out later and no one likes that.

The Correct Way:

Now, picture the same blog post, but this time, the disclosure is right there, near the top or within the first paragraph:
“Heads up! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. But don’t worry, it doesn’t affect the price you pay!”
That feels more upfront, doesn’t it? Your readers can see it right away. It’s clear and honest. An affiliate disclosure example like this builds trust immediately and shows that you have nothing to hide.

Conclusion

In this blog, you have learned what is an affiliate disclosure, the need, where to add, and tips from various affiliate disclosure examples. These can help you build trust among your customers. Rely on transparency so that your customers feel good as they are informed about the affiliate links present.

Further Reading

• How to Create an Affiliate Program in Your Shopify Store
• 9 Types of Affiliate Commission Models in Affiliate Marketing
• 14 Best Shopify Affiliate Program
• Shopify Affiliate Marketing – Complete Guide for 2025