How to Disclose Affiliate Links Without Losing Trust

Disclosing affiliate links means telling viewers, in plain words before the link, that you may earn money if they buy through it. In the United States the FTC expects this, and most platforms require it too. The notice is short, so there is no reason to skip it.

Trust is the asset you cannot rebuild once it breaks. A viewer who feels tricked into a sale rarely comes back, and one angry comment can follow a video for years. A single honest line prevents all of that.

The rule is simple to remember: say what changes hands before anyone clicks. You do not need a paragraph, just a sentence a normal person would understand.

What a clear disclosure looks like

A disclosure works when it appears before the link, uses simple words, and cannot be missed. Something like: some links here are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That sentence does the job.

Burying the phrase below twenty other links, or hiding it in tiny text, defeats the purpose. If a reasonable viewer scrolling past would not notice it, it is not a disclosure. Put it where the eyes already land.

Say it before the link, not after the sale.

Where the notice goes

• In the description: place the line above the affiliate links, not at the very bottom.
• On screen: a brief text overlay when you mention the product keeps the record clear.
• In pinned comments: repeat the line when you drop a link in the comments.
• On a blog or site: a short note near the top of any page with affiliate links.
• In a video: a spoken sentence when the recommendation is the point of the segment.

Plain words beat legal fog

Some creators copy dense legal wording that no viewer understands. That protects nobody. Use the words people actually say: I earn a commission if you buy through this link. Short and clear beats long and vague every time.

You do not need a lawyer to write it, though you should follow your platform rules and local law. The goal is that a viewer knows money changes hands before they click. Meet that bar and you have done your part.

Disclosure is not a weakness

Some creators fear that mentioning money kills sales. In practice the opposite happens. Viewers expect creators to earn, and honesty reads as confidence. The videos that hide the relationship are the ones that lose trust when it comes out.

Treat the line as part of the recommendation, not an apology. You spent time testing the product and earned the right to earn from it. Say so plainly and move on to why the product is worth buying.

A clear notice also protects you if a video goes viral years later. The record shows you disclosed from day one, and no one can accuse you of hiding the relationship after the fact.

Key takeaways

• Disclose affiliate links before the link, in plain words viewers understand.
• Put the notice where eyes land, not buried at the bottom of a description.
• Say it on screen or in the video when the recommendation is the main point.
• Honest disclosure builds trust and rarely costs a sale.