An affiliate disclosure is a short, plain statement telling readers that you earn money when they buy through your links, placed where they will see it before they click. That is the whole idea. The hard part is not the wording, it is the placement: a line hidden in the footer does not count, while one sentence above your first link usually does.
This hub explains what to say, where to put it, how to add it in WordPress, and how the rules change from one country to the next, from the US and Britain to India, Canada and Australia. Use the generator below for a first draft, then read the deeper guides linked at the end.
Quick answer
The answer
Tell readers in everyday words, before they reach a link, that you get paid when they buy.Who needs one
Anyone who earns commission, receives free products or is paid to mention something, on any kind of site or channel.Where it goes
Near the top of each post, plus a label beside links that sit far down the page. A footer note alone is not enough.Cost
Free. Writing it takes ten minutes; adding it to an archive of old posts takes an afternoon.The risk
Regulator action, lost trust and closed program accounts when ties are hidden.
What is an affiliate disclosure, and what is it for?
When you recommend a product and earn a cut of the sale, your reader deserves to know. That money could colour your opinion, even if you try hard to stay fair. A disclosure lets the reader weigh your advice with the full picture.
So the purpose of an affiliate disclosure is simple: it removes a hidden reason behind your recommendation. Regulators call that reason a material connection. It covers commission, free products, payment for a post, a job with the brand, or a family tie to the seller.
A good disclosure does three things:
- Names the tie. "I earn a commission" or "The maker sent me this kettle for free".
- Shows up early. The reader sees it before reaching a link or buy button.
- Stays readable. Normal font size, normal contrast, no jargon.
It is not a legal shield you write once and forget. It is a habit you repeat on every post, video and email that carries a paid link.
Draft your affiliate disclosure with the generator
The generator above builds a ready-to-paste note in a few clicks. It is handy when you set up a new site and need the same style of note in several places at once.
- Choose the placement, for example blog post top.
- Pick the relationship. For most new sites this is affiliate commission.
- Enter a site name such as Quiet Gear Lab.
- Pick a tone (plain, friendly or formal).
- Grab the plain text or the HTML version and paste it into your post.
With those choices, a friendly result might read: "Quiet Gear Lab is reader supported. If you buy through a link here, we may earn a small fee at no extra cost to you." The tool also reminds you where that note belongs. It stores nothing, so you can run it as often as you like.
Where to put affiliate disclosure notes on a website
Placement matters more than polish. The test is whether a normal visitor would notice the note before acting on your advice. Here is where each kind of note belongs.
| Spot | What to show | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Top of a post with links | One or two sentences, above the first link | Seen before any click |
| Beside a link far down the page | A short tag such as (paid link) | Readers who skip the intro still see it |
| Product box or buy button | A small line under the button | Sits right where the decision happens |
| Comparison table | A line in the caption or just above | Tables are often read on their own |
| Video | Say it and show it on screen early | Many viewers never open the description |
| A line near the first paid link | Emails get forwarded without context | |
| Footer and policy page | Full explanation of your programs | Backup detail, never the only notice |
On long buying guides with links spread through many sections, repeat a short tag near the later links. It costs you nothing and removes doubt.
How to write an affiliate disclosure statement
You do not need legal language. Regulators care that people understand it, not that it sounds official. Build your statement from three parts:
- The tie: what you get (commission, a free item, a fee).
- The trigger: when you get it (when someone buys through your link).
- The reassurance, if true: the price is the same for the reader, and your opinions are your own.
A simple affiliate disclosure statement template you can adapt: "[Site] earns a commission when you buy through links on this page. The price you pay stays the same, and we only recommend things we have tried."
Only keep the last part if it is true. If you have not tested a product, do not claim you have. For a full library of wording by tone and placement, see our disclosure examples page.
Adding a disclosure in WordPress
If your site runs on WordPress, you have three tidy ways to add the note without retyping it each time.
- Synced pattern. Write the note once in the block editor, save it as a synced pattern, and insert it at the top of each post. Edit the pattern later and every copy updates.
- Theme template. Some block themes let you edit the single post template in the site editor. Add the note above the post content and it appears on every post. Check that it does not show on pages with no links if you prefer.
- A disclosure plugin. A small plugin can insert a line before the content. Before you rely on it, check two things: it appears above the first link, and it shows on mobile, not just desktop.
For links far down the page, type a short label by hand next to the link. No tool can judge where a reader will land.
Need help with the links themselves? Our guide on adding affiliate links to your site covers rel attributes and a tag builder.
Your affiliate disclosure page: useful, but never alone
A separate policy page is good practice. It is where you list the programs you belong to, explain how you choose products, and say how you handle free samples. Link to it in the footer and in every short note.
What it cannot do is replace the short note on each post. Most readers never open a policy page. Regulators in the US and UK both say a notice tucked away on a separate page or at the bottom of a post can be missed.
A sound affiliate disclosure policy page usually covers:
- Which kinds of programs you join (retailers, software makers, travel sites).
- That links may earn you money and the price stays the same.
- How you test or research products.
- How you treat free products and sponsored posts.
- How readers can contact you with questions.
Disclosure rules country by country
The core idea is the same everywhere: if you are paid, say so clearly. The details and the regulator change by country.
| Country | Regulator | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FTC | Disclose material connections clearly and conspicuously under the Endorsement Guides |
| United Kingdom | ASA and CMA | Affiliate content must be obviously identifiable as marketing, with an upfront label like Ad |
| India | ASCI | Labels like Ad or Affiliate that readers spot at once |
| Canada | Competition Bureau | Misleading advertising law applies to undisclosed paid endorsements |
| Australia | ACCC | Consumer law covers hidden commercial ties in reviews and posts |
For the US, the FTC endorsements hub has the official guidance. In the UK, read the ASA advice on affiliate marketing. In India, start at ASCI. For affiliate disclosure in Canada or Australia, check the Competition Bureau or ACCC website for current guidance. A breakdown of the US rules sits on our FTC disclosure rules page.
Weak notes and how to fix them
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Only in the footer | Add a line in every post, ahead of its first link |
| Grey text in tiny font | Use body text size and normal contrast |
| "Some links could be affiliate links" | Say you earn money if they buy |
| Hidden behind a "Disclosure" link | Show the words themselves, then link for detail |
| Shown on desktop, hidden on mobile | Test every layout on a phone |
| Free product never mentioned | Name the gift as well as any commission |
| Video note only in the description | Say it out loud and put it on screen |
Hosting review sites and software comparison sites are not exempt. A "best hosting" list full of referral links needs the same note as a kitchen blog.
Every guide in the disclosures section
Each page below takes one angle on disclosure. Start with the rules if you want the why, or jump to the examples if you just need wording.
| Topic | Guide | Read it when |
|---|---|---|
| Rules | FTC disclosure rules | You want to know what US guidance actually says and how other countries compare |
| Wording | Disclosure examples and generator | You need ready-to-copy lines for posts, tables, videos and emails |
| Marketplace program | Amazon affiliate disclosure | You promote products through a large online marketplace that requires its own fixed sentence |
| Links | Affiliate links and SEO | You want to tag links correctly for search engines |
| Reviews | Product review website | You plan honest reviews that readers and regulators trust |
Affiliate disclosure best practices checklist
- The note names the tie in plain words: commission, free product or payment.
- It appears before the first affiliate link on every post.
- Long posts repeat a short label near later links.
- Tables and product boxes carry their own small line.
- Videos say it and show it near the start.
- Emails and social posts carry the note in the first lines.
- A full policy page exists and is linked from the footer.
- Free products and sponsored posts are named separately from commission.
- You check placement on a phone after every theme change.
Questions people ask
What is the purpose of an affiliate disclosure?
It tells readers you have a financial reason to recommend something, so they can judge your advice fairly. It also keeps you in line with consumer protection rules and most program terms.
Do I need an affiliate disclosure if I am not in the US?
Usually yes. Regulators in Britain, India, Canada and Australia all expect paid ties to be clear, and US guidance can reach you too if American readers are likely to see your pages. A plain note before your links covers the shared idea behind all of them.
Is a WordPress affiliate disclosure plugin enough?
It helps, but check its output. The note must sit above the first link and show on phones. You still need hand-written labels beside links far down long posts.
Where should I put an affiliate disclosure on my blog?
At the top of each post that carries paid links, before the first link. Add short labels near distant links and a full policy page linked from the footer.
Will a disclosure lower my click rate?
Owners who test it rarely see a real drop, because readers already expect review sites to earn money. Hidden ties, once noticed, cost far more trust than an honest line ever does.
Is an affiliated business arrangement disclosure the same thing?
No. That phrase, and searches for a government affiliate disclosure, come from property lending and public contracting paperwork. A website only needs the reader-facing note described on this page.