Affiliate Compliance & Risk Checker

Comprehensive checklist to ensure your affiliate marketing follows FTC guidelines, platform rules, and legal requirements. Avoid account bans and legal issues.

WARNING: Affiliate accounts get banned daily for compliance violations. This checklist identifies the silent killers that most marketers overlook. Complete it before launching any campaign.
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FTC Disclosure Requirements
Federal Trade Commission guidelines for affiliate marketing
Do you clearly disclose affiliate relationships before any affiliate links or recommendations? Critical
Why this matters
FTC Requirement: Disclosures must be "clear and conspicuous" and placed BEFORE affiliate links or recommendations.

Best Practice: Use phrases like "Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links" at the beginning of content.
How to fix this
  • 1Add a disclosure sentence at the very top of every blog post or page containing affiliate links, e.g. "This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you."
  • 2Install a disclosure plugin (e.g. WP Affiliate Disclosure) to auto-insert it sitewide.
  • 3Audit existing content and add disclosures retroactively to all affected posts.
Are your disclosures visible without needing to scroll ("above the fold") on all devices? Critical
Why this matters
FTC Requirement: Disclosures must be easily noticeable. Burying them at the bottom of a page or in a footer violates guidelines.

Best Practice: Test on mobile devices. The disclosure should be visible without scrolling on both desktop and mobile.
How to fix this
  • 1Move your disclosure to the very first paragraph of your content, before any product mentions or links.
  • 2Test on a mobile device — if you must scroll before seeing it, it needs to move higher.
  • 3Consider using a sticky disclosure bar at the top of the page for guaranteed visibility.
Do you use clear language like "affiliate link," "commission," or "sponsored" instead of vague terms?
Why this matters
FTC Requirement: Terms must be understandable to the average consumer. "Partner link" or "collab" may not be sufficient.

Best Practice: Use unambiguous language. "This is an affiliate link" or "I earn a commission from purchases" are clear.
How to fix this
  • 1Replace vague terms like "partner link" or "collab" with explicit language: "affiliate link" or "I earn a commission."
  • 2Review all posts and update disclosure wording to use unambiguous language.
  • 3On social media, use #ad or #sponsored — these are FTC-accepted terms.
Do you disclose affiliate relationships in social media posts (including Instagram stories, TikTok videos)? Critical
Why this matters
FTC Requirement: Social media posts require clear disclosures. Hashtags like #ad or #sponsored must be prominently displayed.

Best Practice: Place disclosure hashtags at the beginning of captions, not buried among other hashtags at the end.
How to fix this
  • 1Add #ad or #sponsored at the START of your captions — not buried in a sea of hashtags at the end.
  • 2For Instagram Stories/Reels, use the built-in "Paid Partnership" label and also verbally disclose in the video.
  • 3Go back and edit existing posts to add proper disclosures before they attract FTC attention.
Platform-Specific Rules
Google, Meta, TikTok, and other platform policies
Does your website have clear Privacy Policy and Terms of Service pages? Critical
Why this matters
Platform Requirement: Google and Meta require these pages for monetization. Missing them can get accounts banned.

Best Practice: Create comprehensive policies using a generator like TermsFeed or Iubenda, then link in footer.
How to fix this
  • 1Use a free generator like TermsFeed or Iubenda to create a Privacy Policy tailored to your site.
  • 2Create a Terms of Service page covering disclaimers, affiliate relationships, and user conduct.
  • 3Link both pages in your site footer — this is where Google and platforms expect to find them.
Do you avoid "black hat" SEO tactics (keyword stuffing, hidden text, cloaking)?
Why this matters
Google Policy: These tactics violate Webmaster Guidelines and can lead to manual penalties or de-indexing.

Best Practice: Focus on creating quality content for users, not search engines. Use SEO best practices, not tricks.
How to fix this
  • 1Audit your site with Google Search Console for manual actions — fix flagged issues immediately.
  • 2Remove or rewrite keyword-stuffed content to read naturally for humans, not bots.
  • 3Remove any hidden text (white text on white background, text behind images, etc.).
Do you comply with each platform's affiliate link policies (Facebook requires cloaking, TikTok bans certain links)?
Why this matters
Platform Differences:
  • Facebook: Requires link cloaking for affiliate links
  • TikTok: Bans direct affiliate links in bio (use Linktree-type solutions)
  • Pinterest: Has specific disclosure requirements for affiliate content
How to fix this
  • 1For Facebook: Use a link cloaking tool (Pretty Links, ThirstyAffiliates) before posting affiliate URLs.
  • 2For TikTok: Replace direct affiliate links with a Linktree or Beacons page in your bio.
  • 3Read the terms of each platform you use — bookmark their affiliate/creator policies and check for updates quarterly.
Do you avoid making unrealistic income claims ("Make $10,000/month with this method")? Critical
Why this matters
Platform Policy: Facebook and Google ban "get rich quick" schemes and unrealistic income claims.

Best Practice: If sharing earnings, include disclaimers like "Results not typical" and provide context about effort required.
How to fix this
  • 1Remove or rewrite any posts making specific income promises or "guaranteed results" claims.
  • 2If showcasing real earnings, always add "Results not typical. Individual results vary based on effort, experience, and market conditions."
  • 3Replace income-focused hooks with value-focused messaging: what will they learn, not what will they earn.
Email Marketing Compliance
CAN-SPAM (US) and GDPR (Europe) requirements
Do you include a clear unsubscribe link in every marketing email? Critical
Why this matters
CAN-SPAM Requirement: Every commercial email must include a clear, working unsubscribe mechanism.

Best Practice: The unsubscribe link should be easy to find and process requests within 10 business days.
How to fix this
  • 1Enable the unsubscribe footer in your email platform (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, etc.) — most have this built in.
  • 2Test the unsubscribe link yourself to confirm it works and immediately removes the contact.
  • 3Do not send further emails after an unsubscribe request — honour it within 10 business days as required by CAN-SPAM.
Do you use accurate "From" names and subject lines (no misleading information)?
Why this matters
CAN-SPAM Requirement: The "From" name and subject line must accurately reflect the email's content.

Best Practice: Avoid "Re:" or "Fwd:" in subject lines if not actually a reply/forward. Use your brand name in "From" field.
How to fix this
  • 1Remove any fake "Re:" or "Fwd:" prefixes from subject lines that are not genuine replies.
  • 2Update your "From" name in your email platform to your actual brand or real name.
  • 3Ensure subject lines accurately preview the email content — no bait-and-switch messaging.
Do you have permission to email your subscribers (opt-in, not purchased lists)? Critical
Why this matters
GDPR/CAN-SPAM: Both require consent for commercial emails. Purchased lists violate regulations.

Best Practice: Use double opt-in to ensure genuine consent. Keep records of when and how consent was obtained.
How to fix this
  • 1Stop sending to any purchased or scraped email lists immediately — delete them from your platform.
  • 2Enable double opt-in on all signup forms so you have verifiable consent records.
  • 3Build your list organically using lead magnets, landing pages, and content upgrades.
Do you include your physical mailing address in emails (P.O. Box acceptable)?
Why this matters
CAN-SPAM Requirement: Commercial emails must include a valid physical postal address.

Best Practice: A P.O. Box is acceptable if you don't want to use your home address. Virtual addresses may not comply.
How to fix this
  • 1Add a physical mailing address to your email footer — a P.O. Box from your local post office works and keeps your home address private.
  • 2Update your email template in your platform so the address appears automatically on every send.
  • 3Note: virtual/registered agent addresses may not satisfy CAN-SPAM — a real postal address is safest.
Website & Content Risks
Common issues that trigger manual reviews and bans
Do you avoid excessive pop-ups, interstitials, or "content locking" that prevent access?
Why this matters
Google Policy: Intrusive interstitials that block content can harm user experience and affect rankings.

Best Practice: Use non-intrusive opt-in forms. Avoid pop-ups that cover main content immediately on page load.
How to fix this
  • 1Remove any full-screen pop-ups that appear immediately on page load — delay them by at least 5 seconds or trigger on exit-intent instead.
  • 2Replace content-locking gates with above-the-fold opt-in boxes or inline forms that don't block reading.
  • 3Test with Google's PageSpeed Insights to check if intrusive interstitials are flagged.
Is your site mobile-friendly with fast loading speeds?
Why this matters
Google Ranking Factor: Mobile-friendliness and page speed affect rankings and user experience.

Best Practice: Test with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test and PageSpeed Insights. Aim for sub-3 second load times.
How to fix this
  • 1Run your site through Google PageSpeed Insights (pagespeed.web.dev) and fix the highest-impact issues first.
  • 2Compress images using WebP format and lazy-load anything below the fold.
  • 3Switch to a mobile-responsive theme or use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to identify layout issues.
Do you have original content (not just copied from other sites or AI-generated without editing)?
Why this matters
Google E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness. Copied or low-quality AI content violates guidelines.

Best Practice: Create original content or substantially edit AI-generated content. Add personal experience and insights.
How to fix this
  • 1Run suspect pages through Copyscape or Originality.AI to identify copied or thin AI content.
  • 2Substantially rewrite flagged content: add your own experience, examples, images, and original analysis.
  • 3Add author bios with credentials to your posts to signal E-E-A-T to Google.
Do you avoid "thin affiliate" pages (pages with little content besides affiliate links)?
Why this matters
Google Manual Action: Thin affiliate pages with little original content often receive manual penalties.

Best Practice: Add substantial value: detailed reviews, comparisons, tutorials, or personal experience before affiliate links.
How to fix this
  • 1Audit pages with high affiliate link density — aim for at least 300–500 words of original content surrounding each link cluster.
  • 2Transform thin pages into proper reviews: add pros/cons, who it's for, real-world use cases, and comparison tables.
  • 3Consider consolidating several thin pages into one comprehensive comparison guide instead.
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Complete Checklist
Answer all questions to see your compliance score

Results Breakdown

FTC Compliance Pending
Platform Rules Pending
Email Compliance Pending
Website & Content Pending