Deal Curators

How to Disclose Affiliate Links (the FTC Way)

A plain-English guide for Deal Curators creators.

Why you're reading this: when you share a Deal Curators link, you earn a commission if someone buys through it. U.S. law (the FTC Endorsement Guides) says you have to tell your audience about that. It's quick, it builds trust, and it keeps you — and the retailers and networks you work with — out of trouble. This guide shows you exactly how.

This is general education, not legal advice. When in doubt, read the FTC's own guidance (linked at the bottom) or talk to a lawyer.

The one rule: make it clear and conspicuous

Every time you post a link you earn from, add a disclosure that a normal person can't miss and can't misunderstand. That's the whole game. The FTC judges it on four things — think of them as the 4 P's:

  • Proximity — put it right next to the link or recommendation, not off in a corner.
  • Prominence — big and visible enough to actually notice. No tiny gray text.
  • Presentation — plain words your audience understands.
  • Placement — where people will see it before they click, not after.

If your disclosure passes all four, you're compliant. If it's buried, tiny, vague, or after the link, it's not — even if it's technically "there."

What to say

Use plain language that makes the money relationship obvious. Shortest safe options:

  • "Paid link" ✅ (the FTC specifically calls this adequate)
  • "#ad" or "Ad" ✅
  • "I earn a commission from purchases through this link" ✅
  • "Deal Curators / I may earn a commission if you buy through my links — at no extra cost to you" ✅

Heads-up — avoid these: the FTC has said "affiliate link" and "commissionable link" may not be good enough, because a lot of people don't know those mean you get paid. Also avoid vague or clever tags that don't signal payment: "#sp," "#spon," "#collab," "#ambassador," "thanks [brand]," "#partner" on their own. When in doubt, the word "paid" or "#ad" is the safe bet.

Where to put it

  • Right by the link, above the "fold" — where people look before they tap.
  • Not only in your bio, a page footer, a separate "disclosures" page, or behind a "more"/ "…" tab. If someone has to hunt for it, it doesn't count.
  • Don't rely on the platform's built-in label alone (e.g., a "paid partnership" tag or a storefront disclaimer). Those help, but put your own disclosure in the post too.
  • If your content gets re-shared or embedded, the disclosure should travel with it — so keep it in the post itself, not somewhere external.

Quick guide by platform

  • Instagram / TikTok / Reels / Shorts: say it out loud in the video and put it on-screen as large superimposed text, plus start the caption with #ad or "Paid link." A "paid partnership" label alone isn't enough. Don't leave it for the very end or behind "more."
  • YouTube: say it verbally in the video near the recommendation and put it in the description next to the links. Description-only isn't enough — viewers watch without reading.
  • Blog / website: put a clear line right where the link is (e.g., a note above the deal or right before the button), not just a sitewide footer disclaimer.
  • Email newsletter: add a short line near the deal links, e.g., "These are paid links — I earn a commission if you buy." (Your Deal Curators free-tier email also carries its own tag disclosure; this is your disclosure to your readers.)
  • X / Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest: put #ad or "Paid link" at the start of the post, before the link. Don't bury it in a thread reply or a comment.
  • Podcasts / audio / live streams: say it out loud, close to when you mention the product — and repeat it if the stream is long, since people join partway through.

Common mistakes that trip creators up

  • Disclosure only in the bio or a footer. ❌
  • "#ad" at the very bottom of a long caption or behind "more." ❌
  • Using "affiliate link," "#collab," or "#sp" and assuming that covers it. ❌
  • A video with the disclosure only in the text description. ❌
  • Relying solely on the platform's paid-partnership label. ❌
  • Disclosing after the link instead of before it. ❌

10-second checklist before you post

  • Is the disclosure right next to the link?
  • Is it easy to see (not tiny/faint/hidden behind "more")?
  • Does it use a plain word like "paid" or "#ad" (not "affiliate/collab/sp")?
  • Will people see it before they click?
  • On video/audio, did you say it out loud, not just type it?

If every box is checked, you're good. 👍

How Deal Curators helps

When you copy a tagged link in the dashboard, we show a quick reminder to disclose, and our emails carry a disclosure line — but the disclosure to your own audience is your responsibility, on your own posts. Use the wording and placement above and you're covered.

Sources (read the originals)