Do I legally need an affiliate disclosure?

Yes. In the United States the FTC requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections (16 CFR Part 255). The UK ASA and CMA require the same, and EU consumer law treats undisclosed affiliate content as a misleading commercial practice.

Where should the disclosure appear?

The FTC standard is "clear and conspicuous" — close to the affiliate link, above the fold, before the reader has to click anything. A footer-only disclosure is not enough. Use the short version inline near the link and the long version on a dedicated disclosure page.

Is one disclosure enough for all my affiliate networks?

A single disclosure can cover multiple networks if it names them. Amazon Associates additionally requires you to use their specific disclosure language on any site that participates in their program.

Free Tool

Affiliate Disclosure Generator

Generate FTC, ASA (UK), and EU-compliant affiliate disclosure text in seconds. Pick your jurisdiction, tone, and networks — copy the result straight into your post, video description, or newsletter.

FTC 16 CFR 255

UK ASA / CMA

EU UCPD

Your details

Site / brand name

Affiliate networks you use

Quick add:

Jurisdiction

Tone

Placement

Add "at no additional cost to you"

Mention tracking cookies (recommended for EU/UK)

Short version

Inline, next to your affiliate link

This post contains affiliate links. This site may earn a commission from qualifying purchases via affiliate, at no additional cost to you.

Long version

For your disclosure page or footer

This site uses affiliate links. This post contains affiliate links to products and services. If you click one of these links and make a purchase, This site may earn a commission from affiliate. These commissions do not increase the price you pay. Affiliate relationships do not influence which products are recommended. This disclosure is provided in accordance with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255 endorsement guidelines.

HTML snippet

Paste directly into your CMS

<p><strong>Affiliate disclosure.</strong> This post contains affiliate links to products and services. If you click one of these links and make a purchase, This site may earn a commission from affiliate. These commissions do not increase the price you pay. Affiliate relationships do not influence which products are recommended. This disclosure is provided in accordance with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255 endorsement guidelines.</p>

What makes an affiliate disclosure compliant?

1. Clear and conspicuous

The FTC's standard is that a reader should not have to scroll, hover, click, or hunt to find your disclosure. Place it close to the affiliate link, in the same font size as surrounding body text, not buried in a footer.

2. Plain language

"Affiliate link", "commission", and "earn" are the words regulators look for. Avoid jargon like "monetized link" or vague phrases like "supporting the site" — they have failed enforcement reviews.

3. Platform-appropriate

On video, say it out loud and superimpose text in the first 30 seconds. On social, include #ad or #affiliate at the start of the caption — not buried in a wall of hashtags. In email, include the disclosure above the first affiliate link, not just the footer.

4. Amazon-specific requirement

Amazon Associates requires that you state, on any site participating in the program, that you "earn from qualifying purchases." The disclosures generated here include language that satisfies this when Amazon Associates is selected as a network.

This tool generates template language for convenience. It is not legal advice. For specific compliance questions, consult a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction.

While you're disclosing — are your links earning everywhere?

A US-only Amazon tag earns nothing from UK, German, or Japanese readers. Geo Smart Links routes each visitor to their local store automatically.