Guide
FTC Disclosure Examples for Affiliate Video Scripts (2026)
Copy-paste FTC disclosure examples for TikTok Shop, Amazon Associates, YouTube Shorts, and sponsored content. Includes timing rules, placement rules, and what doesn't work.
Published August 14, 2026 · BanProof Team
The two rules everything else follows from
FTC disclosure for affiliate content has two non-negotiable requirements. Everything else is application of these two rules to specific platforms and contexts:
- Disclose the material connection. Any time you have a financial interest in a product you're recommending — a commission, a payment, a gift — that relationship must be disclosed to viewers.
- The disclosure must be clear and conspicuous. It must be in a location viewers will see before they act on the recommendation, in a format and size they can actually read, and not contradicted anywhere else in the content.
TikTok Shop affiliate: example disclosures
Use these in the first 20 seconds of your video, spoken aloud or as an on-screen text overlay.
"Quick disclosure — I'm a TikTok Shop affiliate and earn a commission on purchases made through my link, at no extra cost to you."
"#TikTokShopAffiliate | I earn from purchases"
"I do earn a small commission if you grab this through my link — just being upfront about that."
"[In caption only: #ad #affiliate] — no on-screen or spoken disclosure in video"
For short-form video, disclosure in the video itself is required — caption-only is insufficient.
"#skincare #beauty #tiktokfashion #outfitoftheday #style #ad #haul"
'#ad' buried within a string of hashtags does not meet the 'clear and conspicuous' standard.
Amazon Associates: example disclosures
Amazon requires specific wording that identifies you as an Amazon Associate.
"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."
"Heads up — I'm an Amazon affiliate. If you buy through my link I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you."
"Amazon affiliate link | I earn from purchases"
"This contains affiliate links."
Amazon's Operating Agreement specifically requires you to identify yourself as an Amazon Associate. Generic 'affiliate links' language is not sufficient.
Sponsored content: example disclosures
Direct brand payment (not just commissions) triggers stricter requirements. Both platforms and FTC want the brand named.
"This video is paid for by [Brand Name]. I was compensated to create this content."
"[Brand Name] sponsored this video — they paid me to feature their product, and here's my honest take."
"This is a sponsored post."
FTC guidance for sponsored content requires naming the sponsoring brand. 'Sponsored' without the brand name fails to communicate the full material connection.
"[60 seconds of enthusiastic review] ... Oh and I should mention, this is a paid partnership with [Brand]."
FTC requires disclosure before the recommendation, not after. End-of-video disclosures are routinely found non-compliant.
When you have both affiliate links AND brand payment
Some brand deals include both a direct payment and a commission structure. Both relationships must be disclosed. You can combine them:
"This video is sponsored by [Brand Name] — they paid me to feature this product. I'm also a [Platform] affiliate and earn a commission on purchases through my link."
If that's too long for the opening of a short video, a clear on-screen text overlay combining both relationships works alongside a briefer spoken mention.
Disclosure timing: the actual rule
FTC says disclosure must happen "before the endorsement." In practice:
- For a 60-second video — disclose by second 20, ideally second 10.
- For a 30-second Short — disclose in the first 10 seconds, or it's too late.
- For live streams — disclose verbally at the start and repeat every ~20 minutes when promoting affiliate products.
- For a multi-part series — disclose in each episode that contains a recommendation, not just the first one.
BanProof's script audit checks disclosure timing — it flags when the disclosure appears structurally too late in a script, even if the word "#ad" is present somewhere. This catches the category of violation that most creators don't realize they're committing.
See also: Full FTC disclosure requirements guide · Platform-by-platform disclosure rules · YouTube Shorts affiliate compliance
Frequently asked questions
What is the exact wording the FTC requires for affiliate disclosure?
The FTC doesn't mandate specific wording, but requires the disclosure to be 'clear and conspicuous' and communicate the material connection. Standard compliant phrases: 'This is an affiliate link — I earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you,' 'Paid partnership with [Brand],' or '#ad' clearly visible in the video. Vague terms like 'Collab' or 'Partner' without context are not sufficient.
Does the FTC disclosure need to be at the start of the video?
Yes, for all practical purposes. FTC guidance says disclosure must appear 'before the endorsement' — before you've made a recommendation. In a 60-second product video, disclosing in the final 10 seconds is non-compliant because the recommendation has already been made. Best practice: disclose in the first 15–20 seconds.
Is '#ad' sufficient as a TikTok or YouTube disclosure?
'#ad' alone is generally considered compliant for affiliate and sponsored content when it's clearly visible as its own standalone hashtag in the caption or on-screen. However, '#ad' buried within a long string of hashtags does not meet the 'clear and conspicuous' standard. On-screen text in the video is safer than caption-only for short-form video.
Do I need a different disclosure for sponsored content vs. affiliate links?
Yes. Sponsored content (direct payment from a brand) requires disclosure of the paid relationship: 'Paid partnership with [Brand]' or 'I was paid to feature this product.' Affiliate disclosure (commission on sales) requires disclosure of the financial interest: 'I earn a commission if you buy through my link.' Both are required under FTC guidelines; neither substitutes for the other when both apply.
What if I genuinely love the product and also happen to have an affiliate link?
The material connection still exists and must be disclosed. FTC rules apply regardless of whether you personally enjoy the product. The statement 'I genuinely love this — and yes, I earn a commission if you buy through my link, at no extra cost to you' is both honest and compliant. 'Not sponsored, I just love it' while running an affiliate link is a direct FTC violation.