One of the most common questions I’m asked since the new FTC regulations regarding bloggers came in is around disclosing affiliate links.
As an Australian I’m not directly impacted by the FTC and its regulations so I’ve not really had to change my own approach to disclosure – but I’d be interested to hear a bit of discussion on the topic – particularly around these questions:
- Do you disclose affiliate links on your blog in some way?
- If so – how do you do it (every time you use one, in the bottom of posts, site wide disclosures…. something else)?
- if so – has the FTC regulations impacted what you do?
My personal approach for the last couple of years has been to have a sitewide disclosure rather than a per post one (although here on ProBlogger I have been noting affiliate links in posts more often lately).
What about you – do you disclose affiliate links?
I have a site wide affiliate disclosure page with a link in my footer. However if I am promoting something via a review blog post…I also add the fact that the post includes affiliate links.
I try / like to be open / fair with my visitors.
Andrew
Other than links to Amazon (I think everybody gets that!) I always disclose affiliate links. To my mind it’s the only ethical thing to do.
I also quite often offer a non-affiliate link option
if people prefer to do that.
I want people to know that the info I offer is genuine and there is a danger (certainly with new readers) they wont believe that otherwise.
BTW, the stuff I really despise is affiliate links in Tweets. I immediately unfollow people that do that.
I disclose affiliate link in the post with a simple notation in parentheses. No extensive explanation, although I also have a site disclosure, just simply stated.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see any enforcement of the FTC regulation be aimed not only at business located or incorporated in the US, but at those doing business in the US. Much like other companies doing business in the US that must follow US laws, I expect to see this regulation applied in similar fashion. That’s likely going to mean everyone will need to disclose.
I use a simple site disclosure on my blog:minus the FTC speak:
Public Make The FTC Happy Disclaimer
Yes, some of the things I post will have my affiliate links. If you click on those links and make a purchase I will be paid a commission. This is my business. It’s how I feed my family (and play with the newest gizmo that just came out!).
You can rest assured that anything I recommend will first be read, tried or encountered by me personally. I DO NOT recommend what I do not know and believe in. Money is not THAT important to me.
After that, in my book, my job with affiliate links is done.
I have a privacy policy that explains affiliate links. I usually include something at the bottom of a post that has affiliate links in “plain english”.
I have them in my disclaimer and link to the disclaimer when I think it could confuse the user but do not do that in each post.
Like you I am not affected by the FTC guidelines but I believe in an ethical approach and usually make a light hearted comment about the affiliate link along the lines of “This is an affiliate link, if you click this there’s a chance I may make a few bob to help cover the costs of the blog.”
It is very interesting question!
I often disclose affiliate link in the post that review the product or service. I think, there is no matter if we suggest the one brings value to readers! Maybe top and bottom of the post.
Am I right?
If I post ’em on Twitter usually I’ll end the link with a “(aff)”—it’s much better this way.
I haven’t done anything about the affiliate links to my blog though.
I think it is ethical and necessary to disclose affiliate links in each post where they appear. Plain English in a sentence is enough. The details could be in a site-wide disclosure policy.
The new ruling is a good one. Maybe it will help the “Hey, I make $100,000/day on Twitter” junk that distracts from the good content out there. It will be interesting to see how the FTC enforces it.
I have a disclosure on my sidebar. I use Amazon links so regularly that it just seems ridiculous to note it every time.
I always disclose affiliate links on my blog for transparency and making sure that my earnings are made in a straight, honest and legitimate way.
I thought this issue has been long settled with the “I disclose” movement some years ago?
I am not into affiliates much, but if I post something on Twitter I will use #ad, and I usually put (affiliate link) behind a link on my blog that is an affiliate, more for my readers than the FTC….
I include it in my about page, with something like “This site often promotes affiliate products.”
It is in my disclosure statements.
I put on my blog that I am proud to be an affiliate of the product I am promoting.
On one of my blogs I am thinking of putting up a stick post that states that I am often an affiliate, so I don’t have to post it in every blog post.
I have not been stating it on twitter.
I make it very plain at the beginning of my email series that I will be offering affiliate products. – Then sometimes I put that I am proud to be an affiliate.
I disclose, but I think most people know I wouldn’t have ads on my blog with no financial benefit.
FTC rules didn’t change anything for me.
I’m not really at the affiliate link point yet for my own blog. But I really like it when the blogs I read disclose these links…and in fact this makes me more comfortable clicking them. Good for the blogger and good for the reader.
Great quote from Tim Brownson
“BTW, the stuff I really despise is affiliate links in Tweets. I immediately unfollow people that do that.”
ME TOO!!! There are so many people out there who I think just go to Clickbank, get any old code to some product that they have never even tried and then Tweet about it… really bugs me too Tim!
Cheers,
Luke
I’m disturbed that many, many people still don’t disclose affiliate links.
I lose respect and confidence for information creators and marketers who don’t disclose affiliate links. It’s not hard to do.
I’ve just started a project lately, but I’ve opted to include a sitewide note as well as mark individual links separately at the end of each blog post. I don’t do that with image ads or AdSense as these are already labelled.
For the benefit of a newbie to the blogosphere, could someone post a link to an explanation of the FTC rules and an explanation as to what “disclosing affiliate links” means? My appreciation in advance.
I have not started an affiliate program for web. I just wanted to add readers and capture their as much, maybe one day I will start this program.
Yeah, I disclose affiliate links. Basically put it next to the link in parenthesis or disclose it at the end of the post. I don’t promote things too often but when I do, definitely don’t want any issues with big brother.
I was pretty upfront about my “material connections” before the FTC rules went into effect. The biggest grief I have had regarding disclosure came from someone who did not like how I was reviewing his book, and those of his friends; he accused me giving bad reviews because of my organizational membership; in all honesty, they were just bad books in my opinion. Organizational membership is not covered by the FTC rules (or at least, not that I am aware of), but I did end up doing a tongue-in-cheek disclosure statement on one of my blogs to mock the whole situation.
What do people feel about the plug-in that allows a roll-over/popover box stating that it is an affiliate link?
I’ve seen some people using this as well.
Good advice. I site wide disclosure statement is a lot easier to implement than placing a footnote next to every affiliate link on your site.
Nope and nope – not aside to links, not in posts, nor in any disclaimer. Although I might upgrade my disclaimer in next few weeks, I’m not planning to advertise the fact I’m earning money :). For me it should be obvious for people.
Yes, I disclose that I use affiliate links in a page called Full Disclosure. I explain that not all affiliate links will be identified as such, too.
I agree with Nathan that it should be obvious to people, but, I’d rather (a) not get into trouble with the FTC at some point and (b) be really upfront with my readers. Maybe it’ll encourage them to become affiliates and also make money, and if I launch an affiliate program in the future I want them to see that it can work.
Thanks!
FTC or no FTC I think it is common sense to disclose and be 100% transparent ….
Would you refer a product or a service to your parents and friends without saying I’m getting paid at the same time.
I think hiding is never a good idea….. It is good for a quick buck here and there but to build a long term business it is the worst move possible.
I do it at the bottom of the post. I’ve been thinking about a blanket notice. Maybe something on the sidebar. I do state it on my disclosure page.
I thought people knew a link may be an affiliate. It wasn’t until I start researching blogging that I realized that so many don’t.
* If major part of the whole blog post is an affiliate ad/link, then I mention it in the tweet.
* I don’t have a site wide disclosure page but have it in the works.
* I mention the affiliate link in the blog post, usually in a section called “shameless affiliate link” or something like that. LOL.
Yes, I do declare the affiliate links on my blog. I do with with a “Disclosure Policy” page, which says that links to books that I recommend, if you buy from the links, I will get a commission. The FTC hasn’t really impacted me, because I was already doing it anyways, as it’s good to be upfront. I think it would get pretty annoying to declare an affiliate link every single time there is one.
Nope I don’t. It does not apply to me. I’m not a US citizen. So like you I have no need to think about it. But can understand that there must be some frustration and a lot of questions regarding the subject by US readers
I don’t think you should have to disclose your affiliate links at ProBlogger. Just stick to the site wide notice.
I just have a site wide notice on sites I run and that’s it and I don’t disclose in post because it would just mean less money made because people are afraid of affiliate links for some reason.
I do a site-wide disclaimer. I don’t think the disclosure has any impact whatsoever on how seriously people take my opinions, so it’s a moot point anyway.
I have only just started using affiliates in a serious way, though currently I keep affiliates in my sidebar only. I have a site-wide disclaimer, even though I’m in NZ and the FTC doesn’t directly affect me. I think it’s important to be upfront about the use of Affiliate Links, because many of my readers wouldn’t know what affiliates are, and I want them to understand what they’re clicking on.
I have a sitewide disclosure with a link in my footer. That’s pretty much the only place I mention that I have affiliate links. In my opinion, this nanny state hand-holding junk is going a little too far so I make a humorous mockery of it in my disclosure.
On each of my blogs, I have site wide disclosures. However, there are times, when conducting a review on an item that I feel an added disclosure statement may be needed. Better safe…
Last October I removed a lot of old postings from my blog. One of the reasons was due to the new FTC Rules on endorsement of products. Yesterday I found the FTC videos and posted on my site to show what actually FTC asks for the disclosure.
http://www.atanone.net/is-the-ftc-planning-to-sue-bloggers/
Since the feedback I found from the Forum was that, my blog covered too wide topic and I was also inspired by what you described in 31DBBB, I’ve decided to create a new blog with a focus on Wellness. I think I will put a sidewide disclaimer in my sidebar and if it’s needed, I will add a short note in the posting. After all, if you watch the videos, FTC only want a simple disclosure from blogger.
Thanks Darren for bring us this topic.
Darren, I have a site-wide disclosure. If I were ever offered a free copy of something, I would also disclose that if/when I wrote about it. I have tried to make my disclosure something positive which reveals some of my attitudes towards my readers and business. Here’s what my disclosure says:
“The FTC, which has completely ignored serious schemes which defraud consumers for the past eight years, has now decided to investigate and go after individual bloggers who have the nerve to try to make some money from the sites they spend hours and hours making useful to the public. Any of us who use affiliate marketing and suchlike are now open to FTC interference. This is similar to the IRS going after the minimum-wage earner who mows a few lawns while ignoring the Mark Rich and Bernie Madoff types. In other words, completely ridiculous. So, here’s my big fat disclaimer:
“Big Fat Disclaimer
” If you click on a link that leads to Amazon.com and actually buy a book, DVD, or whatever, I’ll make a few pennies. If you click on a link from an advertisement and actually buy something, I’ll make a few pennies. If I have a link within some text that takes you to a site that sells something and you buy from them, I’ll make a few pennies. I will only use that type of text link when I have personally bought the product or used the service and honestly feel I can recommend it.
“If you hire me to write copy for you, install your WordPress blog, or host your website, I’ll make more than a few pennies, and you’ll be helping me in my goal of creating a location-independent income stream to finance my new life overseas.
“If you have any questions about the advertising policy of this site, please feel free to contact me.
When I guest post on here I generally disclose an affiliate link. This is moreso due to people accusing me of ripping you off rather than adhering to a rule that doesn’t apply to me as an Australian.
I no longer use affiliate links on my own blog. On the new business site I’m launching, I’ll disclose it as a sitewide thing and also mention it in the FAQ.
Personally I don’t disclose them. However, I think that commercial blogs should, personal should not.
I’ll be moving affiliate links to a links page and disclosing there.
Especially Amazon links, because they pay so little, I’d hate to clutter up an article with (aff) or something like it.
Instead I’ll send Amazon and other affiliate links to another internal page before disclosing and linking out.
I hope it serves double duty to keep readers around and to be clear and honest.
No even I don’t disclose it.. Though I added it into my Privacy policy page…
I’ve included a disclosure with my website about affiliate links. Having post disclosure is distracting to readers and many people understand that some links are affiliates. I’ll review my site policy if readers complain.
I think if you try and mask your affiliate links, you are not being honest with your readers and trying to make a few bucks as some readers wouldn’t even know. As far as they are concerned, they might think its still your site. Kinda of like the 600 people who thought Facebook was ReadWriteWeb when people went to their site on the phrase “Facebook Login”
If you show your affiliate links, you are being honest with your readers, and would probably be respected by your readers more.
First I always consider the ethics of my actions from the perspective of what they really are, regardless of whether anyone can see them. I.e: what is done privately should be right.
I am an Australian so the FTC does not affect me directly, however I think doing the right thing is more important than avoiding it due to one’s geographical location.
I have a special disclosure page on my website. On my Twitter profile I use some of the valuable Bio ‘real estate’ to alert people to http://www.mydisclosure.info, which is a domain I specially registered. This redirects to my website disclosure page.
I do click on other people’s affiliate links. To me the spirit of something is important. If the information is helpful to me then why not? And it is nice to help another person, who may have put a lot of effort into finding something of use and telling others about it. Why should I benefit from their efforts and put nothing back?That said, I avoid ‘spammy’ affiliates and like to help ‘genuine’ types.
At times I do Tweet affiliate links, however they are not common and I focus on providing value and interest.
To me, the FTC requirements are a good thing and something I embrace in spirit.
The idea behind this is to discourage deceptive marketing, But a person should have the the right to use a script to control their affiliate links to avoid getting get screwed over at a later date (if company shuts down or stops paying you). Let’s hope the FTC doesn’t abuse their power.
Link from the FTC pdf
http://ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005endorsementguidesfnnotice.pdf
Do salesmen dislose that they’re salesmen? I think not. If the FTC is going to enforce bloggers for trying to make a sale, they might as well shut down the rest of the corporate world.
It’s absolutely insulting of the FTC to be prejutice against sales online, whereas thousands of people get “sold” by Associates working in electronic stores and car dealerships.
In simpler terms…. This is not good for the online business world.
I write a one sentence disclosure when I refer to an affiliate’s product in a post.
Rita blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide