Affiliate Disclosure
Transparency is fundamental to our mission. Here’s exactly how our affiliate relationships work and how we maintain editorial independence.
🏛️ FTC Compliance Statement
In accordance with FTC guidelines: We participate in affiliate marketing programs and may receive compensation when you purchase products through links on our website. This disclosure is made in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
📋 Quick Summary
💰 We Earn Commissions
When you buy through our links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you
🔒 Editorial Independence
Our recommendations are never influenced by affiliate relationships
✅ Honest Reviews
We only recommend products we’ve personally tested and believe provide value
1. What Are Affiliate Links?
Affiliate marketing is a common practice where websites earn commissions by promoting products they believe in. Here’s how it works:
🔗 How Affiliate Links Work
- You click a link to a software product from our website
- A tracking cookie is placed in your browser (completely harmless)
- You make a purchase from that company (at the same price you’d pay anyway)
- We receive a commission from the software company (typically 10-30% of the sale)
- You pay nothing extra – the commission comes from the company’s marketing budget
Identifying Affiliate Links
We make it easy to identify affiliate relationships:
- Clear Disclosure: Each article with affiliate links includes a disclosure statement
- Consistent Labeling: We use phrases like “affiliate link,” “we may earn a commission,” or “paid link”
- Visual Indicators: Some affiliate links may include special styling or icons
- No Hidden Links: We never disguise affiliate relationships or use deceptive practices
2. Our Affiliate Relationships
We participate in affiliate programs with various software companies and platforms. Here are the main categories:
📧 Email Marketing Tools
- ConvertKit (affiliate partner)
- Mailchimp (affiliate partner)
- ActiveCampaign (affiliate partner)
- GetResponse (affiliate partner)
🌐 Web Hosting & Tools
- SiteGround (affiliate partner)
- WP Engine (affiliate partner)
- Kinsta (affiliate partner)
- Various WordPress plugins
🤖 AI & Automation
- Zapier (affiliate partner)
- AI writing tools
- Automation platforms
- Productivity software
💼 Business Software
- CRM platforms
- Project management tools
- Accounting software
- Analytics platforms
Note: This list is not exhaustive and our affiliate relationships change over time as we discover new tools and evaluate existing partnerships. We always disclose specific relationships in relevant content.
3. Commission Structure Transparency
We believe in complete transparency about how we earn from affiliate relationships:
Typical Commission Rates
📧 Email Tools
20-30% recurring commission
🌐 Hosting
$50-200 per signup
💼 SaaS Tools
10-25% recurring commission
📚 Courses
30-50% one-time commission
What You Pay vs. What We Earn
💡 Important: You Never Pay Extra
- Same Price: You pay exactly the same price whether you use our link or not
- Company’s Marketing Budget: Commissions come from the software company’s advertising budget
- Often Better Deals: We sometimes negotiate exclusive discounts for our readers
- No Hidden Fees: There are never additional charges for using affiliate links
4. Editorial Independence Statement
🔒 Our Independence Commitment
“We maintain complete editorial independence. Our reviews, recommendations, and rankings are never influenced by affiliate relationships or potential commissions. We recommend products based solely on their merit and value to our readers.”
— Editorial Policy
How We Maintain Independence
- Testing First, Partnerships Second: We test and form opinions about products before seeking affiliate relationships
- Honest Negative Reviews: We publish negative reviews even for products we have affiliate relationships with
- Best Product Wins: We recommend the best solution for your needs, regardless of commission rates
- Regular Re-evaluation: We continuously reassess our recommendations as products evolve
- Reader-First Approach: Your success with our recommendations is more valuable than short-term commissions
5. How Our Recommendations Are Made
Our recommendation process is thorough, objective, and designed to serve your best interests:
🔍 Research & Discovery
We research tools based on reader questions, industry trends, and our own business needs
🧪 Hands-On Testing
We personally use each tool for at least 30 days in real business scenarios
📊 Comprehensive Analysis
We evaluate features, pricing, support quality, integrations, and user experience
✍️ Honest Review
We write detailed, honest reviews highlighting both strengths and weaknesses
🤝 Affiliate Consideration
Only after forming our opinion do we explore potential affiliate partnerships
🔄 Ongoing Updates
We regularly re-test and update our recommendations as products evolve
Our Testing Criteria
- Ease of Use: How quickly can a non-technical user get started?
- Feature Set: Does it solve the problems it claims to solve?
- Value for Money: Is the pricing fair for the features provided?
- Customer Support: How responsive and helpful is their support team?
- Reliability: Does it work consistently without bugs or downtime?
- Scalability: Can it grow with your business needs?
- Integration: How well does it work with other business tools?
6. Non-Affiliate Recommendations
Not all our recommendations include affiliate relationships. We frequently recommend:
✅ Products We Recommend Without Earning Commissions
- Free Tools: Open-source software and free services that provide genuine value
- Direct Purchase Only: Companies that don’t offer affiliate programs
- Enterprise Solutions: High-end tools that require direct sales processes
- Competitor Analysis: When explaining why we don’t recommend certain popular tools
- Educational Content: Tutorials and guides that don’t involve product sales
This mix of affiliate and non-affiliate recommendations demonstrates our commitment to providing the best advice regardless of financial incentives.
7. Your Rights and Choices
You Have Complete Control
- Use Our Links: Support our free content by purchasing through our affiliate links
- Go Direct: Visit company websites directly if you prefer not to use affiliate links
- Price Compare: Always compare prices and features across multiple sources
- Ask Questions: Contact us if you’re unsure about any recommendation
- Provide Feedback: Let us know about your experiences with recommended products
Cookie and Tracking Control
- Browser Settings: Disable cookies in your browser to prevent affiliate tracking
- Private Browsing: Use incognito/private mode to avoid cookies entirely
- Ad Blockers: Many ad blockers also block affiliate tracking
- Direct URLs: Search for companies directly to bypass our tracking
8. Questions About Our Affiliate Relationships
We believe transparency builds trust. If you have any questions about our affiliate relationships or recommendations, we’re here to help:
📧 General Questions
hello@example.com
Questions about our recommendations
💰 Affiliate Inquiries
partnerships@example.com
For companies interested in partnerships
⚖️ Legal/Compliance
legal@example.com
FTC compliance and legal matters
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you only recommend products you have affiliate relationships with?
A: No, we frequently recommend products and services where we have no affiliate relationship. Our goal is to recommend the best solution for your needs, regardless of commission potential.
Q: How much do you earn from affiliate commissions?
A: Affiliate commissions vary by product and typically range from 10-50% of the sale price. We’re happy to disclose specific rates for any product upon request.
Q: What if I’m not satisfied with a product you recommended?
A: Contact the company’s support team first, as they handle refunds and support. If you have concerns about our recommendation process, please let us know so we can improve.
Q: Do you accept payment for positive reviews?
A: Never. We maintain strict editorial independence. Companies cannot pay us for positive reviews or specific rankings. Any sponsored content is clearly labeled as such.
🤝 Our Commitment to You
Affiliate marketing helps us provide free, high-quality content while maintaining complete editorial independence. Your trust is more valuable than any commission.
📋 Our Promises to You
- Always Disclose: We’ll always clearly identify affiliate relationships
- Test Everything: We personally use every product we recommend
- Stay Independent: Our opinions are never influenced by potential commissions
- Regular Updates: We keep our recommendations current as products evolve
- Answer Questions: We’re available to clarify any aspect of our recommendations
- Continuous Improvement: We constantly refine our review process based on feedback
“We’re successful only when our recommendations help you build a better business. That’s why we prioritize your success over short-term commissions.”