Myth check: “Amazon Associates” disclosure alone may not satisfy FTC rules

Myth check: “Amazon Associates” disclosure alone may not satisfy FTC rules

The Amazon Associates label identifies your program relationship; it does not automatically tell readers that you may earn from a purchase. FTC guidance focuses on whether an ordinary reader can notice, understand, and connect the disclosure to the recommendation.

Treat Amazon’s required statement as a baseline, not a complete strategy. Your disclosure should be:
• Clear: say plainly that you may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
• Conspicuous: place it before or beside the relevant recommendation, not only in a footer.
• Connected: make its scope clear when a page mixes affiliate and non-affiliate links.

For reviews, comparison tables, and newsletters, put the disclosure where readers encounter the recommendation. In video, include it in the video itself; a description-only note may be missed. Do not rely on vague labels such as “affiliate link” if the meaning is unclear.

Use the Amazon statement where required, then add a short, plain-English explanation close to the endorsement. The safest test: could a first-time visitor understand the commercial relationship before clicking?