A common misconception is that a generic note in a YouTube description automatically covers every affiliate recommendation. It does not. To understand how to write an affiliate disclaimer for YouTube, think of it as a clear disclosure of your financial relationship that viewers can notice before they decide whether to trust a recommendation or click a link. Keep it obvious. A disclosure buried below a long list of links, hidden behind the description expansion, or written in vague legal language can be easy to miss.
How to write an affiliate disclaimer for YouTube
Start with the fact that matters: you may receive a commission if someone buys through a link you shared. Use normal words. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission says endorsements with a material connection require clear and conspicuous disclosure, and a commission relationship is the kind of connection viewers should know about. The FTC does not provide one magic sentence that approves every video. Context matters.
A useful affiliate disclosure answers two questions quickly: what relationship do you have with the seller, and what might happen if a viewer uses your link? If there is no extra cost to the buyer, say that only when the affiliate program actually confirms it. Be precise. If you received a free product, payment, a discount, or another benefit for the review, disclose that too, even when there is no affiliate link.
An FTC compliant example for a YouTube video
Here is a plain-language FTC compliant example you can adapt for a video that includes affiliate links:
Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
That wording is short, direct, and understandable. Put it near the relevant links in the description, ideally before the link list rather than after a block of hashtags, credits, or unrelated text. Placement counts. For a recommendation that is a central part of the video, also say a similar disclosure aloud early in the video and show readable on-screen text long enough for a viewer to take it in.
For example, a creator reviewing desk lamps could say: Some links in the description are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission if you buy through them. The on-screen wording can match the spoken statement. Keep it simple. If the lamp was supplied for free, add that fact: The brand sent me this lamp for review, and the link below is an affiliate link.
Where to place the disclosure
One disclosure location is often not enough for a video built around affiliate recommendations. A viewer may watch on a television, skip ahead on a phone, or see a clipped section without opening the description. Make the connection visible. Put the disclosure where the recommendation happens.
- In the video: State the relationship before or at the time you begin recommending the product. Add readable text on screen if the recommendation is visual or spoken.
- Near each group of links: Place the description disclosure immediately above the affiliate links it covers. A label such as affiliate links alone may be less clear than a complete statement.
- In a pinned comment when useful: This can help viewers, but it should support rather than replace a clear in-video and description disclosure.
- In Shorts: Put a clear disclosure in the video itself because descriptions can receive less attention and may not be visible without extra taps.
YouTube may offer paid-promotion tools or labels in its upload process. Use applicable platform tools when they fit your situation. They are not a substitute for your own clear affiliate disclosure, because a platform label may not explain that you earn a commission from purchases through a particular link.
A practical writing process
- List every link, product mention, and brand relationship in the video. Include free samples and sponsored arrangements.
- Identify the benefit you receive. It may be a sales commission, a free item, payment, or a discount.
- Write one direct disclosure for the video and one for the relevant description section. Use the same plain meaning in both places.
- Place the spoken and on-screen disclosure before viewers reach the main recommendation or call to action.
- Review the video on mobile. Check whether the words are audible, readable, and visible without relying on a viewer expanding the description.
Do this before publishing. It takes little time. If you mention several unrelated affiliate categories, label each section so a viewer can tell which links are covered. For instance, put the disclosure above camera links and repeat it above software links if a long description separates those sections.
Wording to avoid
Avoid labels that make viewers guess what you mean, such as affiliate link with no explanation, partnered, or support the channel. Those phrases do not always tell a viewer that you could earn money if they buy. Say the relationship. Also avoid claiming that a product is the best, guaranteed, or right for everyone unless you can support that exact claim and it reflects your honest experience.
Do not copy a disclosure that says no extra cost if the program can alter pricing, add fees, or otherwise change the buyer’s cost. Check the program terms. Rules vary by country, so creators who reach viewers outside the United States should also review applicable advertising-disclosure rules where they operate and where their audience is targeted.
FAQ
Do I need to say the disclosure out loud?
For an affiliate recommendation made in a video, an audible disclosure near the recommendation is a strong practical approach because many viewers may never open the description. Add clear on-screen text too. A description-only notice can be missed.
Can I put one disclaimer at the bottom of every description?
You can include a channel-wide notice, but do not rely on it alone. Put a specific disclosure close to the affiliate links and include one in the video when the video recommends products. Closeness helps viewers understand the connection at the right moment.
Does a free product need disclosure if I have no affiliate link?
Usually, the relevant issue is whether the free product could affect how viewers interpret your endorsement. Say that the brand sent it to you. Be candid. If you were paid or have an affiliate link as well, disclose each relationship clearly.
Can I use the YouTube paid-promotion setting instead?
Use it when YouTube’s current policies call for it, but do not treat it as your only disclosure. The setting does not necessarily communicate the specific commission arrangement tied to your links. Review YouTube’s current official policy and the FTC’s Endorsement Guides and Disclosures 101 before publishing.
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This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Any income examples are illustrative, not typical or guaranteed — results vary widely by effort, time, niche, and platform changes, and we do not guarantee you will earn any income. Always do your own research and consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we’ve researched or genuinely believe in.