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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11An affiliate promotes another company’s product or service and may earn a commission when someone buys through a referral. The term describes the participant in that commercial relationship; an affiliate link is a link used to refer a potential buyer.
How affiliate marketing works
A basic affiliate-marketing arrangement can involve three roles:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Merchant: The business that owns or sells the product or service.
- Affiliate network: An intermediary that connects merchants with marketers.
- Affiliate marketer: A person or publisher who promotes the merchant’s offering.
A publisher may place a tracked referral link in an article or other content. A reader can follow it and make a purchase; depending on the arrangement, the affiliate may then receive a commission. The Federal Trade Commission’s infographic explains that parties behind an online ad may be paid and that clicking can involve tracking (FTC: How Affiliate Marketing Works).
Not every program uses the same tracking method, payment trigger, or contract terms. The word “affiliate” identifies the marketer’s role, but does not by itself tell you how a particular program attributes a sale or calculates payment.
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Who benefits—and what is not guaranteed
For merchants
Affiliates give a merchant another route to promote its products or services and reach an audience through a publisher’s content.
For publishers
A qualifying referral may generate commission income. It is a possible way to monetize content, not a promise of earnings: whether readers click or buy depends on the audience, offering, and other factors, and the FTC sources do not establish typical earnings or conversion rates.
For readers
A recommendation can help readers assess an offering, but a publisher’s financial connection to the seller is relevant context. A disclosure helps readers understand that connection; it does not prove that the recommendation is impartial or that the product’s claims are accurate.
What affiliate publishers should disclose in the United States
Under the FTC’s US guidance, publishers should disclose their relationship with a retailer clearly and conspicuously, close to the recommendation. The FTC gives this example: “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.” It advises: “The closer the disclosure is to your recommendation, the better.” (FTC’s Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking)
Placement matters. If a review and its purchase link are separated, readers may not realize the disclosure applies to the link. The FTC cautions that the words “affiliate link” alone may not tell consumers that the publisher gets paid, and a “buy now” button is not an adequate disclosure.
For social-media endorsements, FTC guidance says to disclose financial, employment, personal, or family relationships with a brand. A financial connection can include something of value—such as a free or discounted product or a perk—received when mentioning the product. The FTC’s Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers covers these relationships.
This section describes US FTC guidance, not the rules of every country or every platform’s current interface. Separately, the FTC says advertising claims should be truthful, not deceptive or unfair, and supported by evidence (FTC: Advertising and Marketing). Disclosing a commission does not make an unsupported claim acceptable.
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What readers should look for
- A clear statement that the publisher may earn a commission or has another relevant connection to the seller.
- The disclosure near the recommendation or endorsement it applies to, rather than only somewhere distant from it.
- Product claims that are supported and not misleading; a disclosure is context about the relationship, not evidence for the claims.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
