<b>Compliance basics: the 'free' word problem</b>

<b>Compliance basics: the 'free' word problem</b>

New to the rules side of sweeps? Start with the most common slip.

Many beginners write ads promising something 'free' or 'guaranteed,' then send people to an offer that actually requires the person to sign up, try a product, or complete steps. That gap between the promise and the reality is what gets ads, and accounts, shut down.

The quiet rule behind most compliance is simple: your ad should not promise more than the offer delivers.

Why networks care so much: advertisers get complaints, traffic platforms get complaints, and the easiest fix for them is to ban the affiliate, which is you.

Tiny example. Your offer is a chance to win a gift card by entering a draw.
— Risky ad: 'Claim your free $500 gift card now.' It promises a sure thing.
— Safer ad: 'Enter for a chance to win a $500 gift card.' It tells the truth.

The safer version often converts a little less, but it survives. A high-converting ad that gets banned in two days earns nothing.

Also watch the small print most offers carry: words like 'enter to win' or 'no purchase necessary' usually need to appear. Your network can tell you which.

Next step: read your own ad text out loud. If it sounds like a sure thing when the offer is a chance, soften it before you launch.