How to disclose sponsorships or affiliate links?

FTC guidelines require clear disclosure of material connections-relationships that might affect the credibility of endorsements or recommendations. If you receive compensation for promoting products (affiliate commissions, sponsored content fees, free products), this must be disclosed clearly. The principle: readers deserve to know when financial incentives influence content.

Disclosure should be clear, prominent, and proximate to the relevant content. \"Clear\" means plain language (\"This email contains affiliate links\"), not legal jargon. \"Prominent\" means visible, not buried in tiny footer text. \"Proximate\" means near the sponsored content, not separated by paragraphs of unrelated material. If the entire email is sponsored, disclose at the top. If only certain links are affiliate links, disclose near those specific links.

Common disclosure formats include: header statements (\"This email is sponsored by...\"), inline disclosure (\"[affiliate link]\" or \"*\" with footnote), and dedicated sections (\"Disclosure: We may earn commission from links in this email\"). The exact wording matters less than the clarity and visibility. Transparent disclosure actually builds trust with sophisticated audiences who understand that content creators need revenue-hiding the relationship feels deceptive when discovered.