IonBin

Independent reviews. IonBin has no partnerships with the tools on this page and was not paid for these listings. Our evaluations are our own, based on public documentation and our research. Product names are trademarks of their owners and are used for identification only. How disclosure works.

Question

How should I disclose affiliate links and sponsorships?

Verified Oct 17, 2026 Review by Jan 15, 2027 2 sources
Short answer

Put a plain disclosure right next to the recommendation, in every post or page where it applies, for example 'I earn a commission if you buy through these links.' The FTC's staff guidance says a lone 'affiliate link' label may not be understood, while 'paid link' beside the link should work; a homepage-only notice is not enough.

What it is

This applies to newsletters, reviews, social posts and videos that recommend products you earn from. See affiliate disclosure for the concept. This page covers U.S. FTC guidance only. Other countries have their own rules.

How it works

  1. List every material connection: commissions, free products, payments, employment.
  2. Write the disclosure in plain words near the recommendation. The FTC’s example: “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.”
  3. Match the format: say it in video and audio, show it in text and images.
  4. Repeat it on each post. Don’t rely on bios, footers or a single site-wide page.

Benefits

  • Keeps reader trust.
  • Reduces regulatory risk.
  • IonBin applies the same rule: affiliate links only on clearly labelled pages, never in the wiki.

Limits and risks

  • The Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255) define “clear and conspicuous” as difficult to miss and easily understandable. One of their examples finds that a disclosure only on a profile page isn’t clear and conspicuous.
  • Platform disclosure tools may not be enough on their own, per the FTC.
  • The FTC’s FAQ says to disclose in whatever language the endorsement is made.
  • This page explains concepts. It isn’t legal advice. If you’re unsure about a specific arrangement, ask a lawyer.

Best-fit stacks

Stack 04

Marketing content & social

Research, write, design and publish on-brand content, with the agent handling the first draft of everything.

Agent compatibility

Not tool-specific. See Agent-ready for connector support by tool.

Levels come from each tool's recorded, sourced compatibility. How the levels work.

Sources

  1. FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking · U.S. Federal Trade Commissionofficial accessed Oct 17, 2026
  2. 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising · U.S. Federal Trade Commission (eCFR)official accessed Oct 17, 2026

Practitioner views are restated in our words and labeled as views, not measured results. Product facts come from official sources dated above.

Suggest an edit

IonBin's wiki isn't user-edited. Corrections go to our Directory Curator, who checks them against primary sources before anything changes. Spot something wrong or out of date on “How should I disclose affiliate links and sponsorships?”? Email us with a link to a primary source.

Suggest an edit by email or write to [email protected]