Affiliate Disclosure for Link in Bio Pages: What to Say and Where

“Link in bio!” with a commission link behind it is an everyday part of creator income, and it raises a question many people answer badly. Disclosing affiliate links in your bio isn’t about adding a tiny note somewhere, but about telling people you may earn money at the point where they’re deciding whether to trust your recommendation. This guide draws mainly on US guidance from the FTC. It’s general information, not legal advice.

Disclose where people decide

The principle behind the FTC’s approach is simple: people should know about your financial relationship when they read your recommendation, rather than after they’ve acted on it.

The FTC’s Endorsement Guides FAQ says it plainly: “The closer the disclosure is to your recommendation, the better.” It also notes that disclosure on your home page alone may not be enough, because people can reach an individual recommendation directly.

It also says the FTC’s guidance “doesn’t provide a safe harbor”, meaning that no form of words guarantees that you’re compliant. So aim for clarity, rather than the minimum.

Where disclosure belongs

In the post

If you recommend a product in a Reel or a post and tell people the link’s in your bio, the post is where they’re being persuaded. So disclose there, not just on your page.

Practical points:

• Put it early in the caption, before the “more” cut-off, so that people see it.
• Say it out loud or show it on screen in a video.
• For YouTube, the FTC’s FAQ says to disclose in the video as well as in the description.

On your page

Your page is where they’re about to tap. So disclose there too, close to the links.

A blanket note hidden at the bottom of the page isn’t a good idea. A short line above the relevant links, or right beside them, is much better.

Why “affiliate link” alone falls short

Many creators assume that “affiliate link” is enough. The FTC’s FAQ raises doubts about that: some people may not understand what it means. It’s also skeptical of vague labels. It says “buy now” isn’t adequate, and that a phrase like “commissionable link” probably isn’t clear.

Hashtags such as #aff or #affiliate have the same weakness, particularly when they’re hidden among other hashtags. Plain English is safer.

Words that are clear

The FTC’s FAQ offers this example: “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.” It also says that “Paid link”, right next to a link, should be adequate.

Here’s how to apply that.

Use the language your audience uses. If you’re posting in Hindi, disclose in Hindi as well. A disclosure people can’t understand doesn’t do much good.

Placing it on a bio page

Here’s a layout that works in BioFlow, using a Text block for the disclosure and Link blocks for the recommendations.

1. Header: “Camera gear I use”
2. Text: “I earn a commission on purchases made through these links. It doesn’t change what you pay.” (Only say the second sentence if it’s true.)
3. Link: Travel tripod
4. Link: Beginner lens
5. Header: “Other links”
6. Link: My free editing guide

Grouping your affiliate links under a header means that the disclosure sits right beside them, and it doesn’t apply to non-affiliate links. You can also add “Paid link” in a button’s description for extra clarity.

BioFlow doesn’t add disclosures for you, so it’s up to you to write and place them. It also doesn’t check whether your wording is compliant. There’s more on layout in our guide on link in bio for affiliate marketers.

Disclosures matter in DMs too. If you send affiliate links through automation, add the disclosure there, as explained in comment-to-DM for affiliate links. You can also see affiliate link delivery tools if you’re comparing options.

Outside the US

The FTC’s rules are US rules, but they’re not the only ones.

• India: Rules from consumer authorities also cover endorsements, including those on social media. Check the current guidance from the Central Consumer Protection Authority and the Advertising Standards Council of India.
• UK: The ASA and CMA publish guidance on influencer advertising.
• EU: Rules vary by country.

We couldn’t verify every country’s current wording while writing this, so check the current guidance for where you and your audience are. Where your audience is based may matter as much as where you are. Plain, close-to-the-recommendation wording is a sensible default everywhere, but local rules might require specific words, such as a label for advertising.

Program rules

Affiliate programmes have their own terms, separate from the law. They may specify:

• The exact wording you must use.
• Where their links can and can’t go, such as in emails or DMs.
• Whether you can shorten or cloak links.
• Whether you can use their logos.
• What you can say about prices.

Amazon’s programme, for example, requires a specific statement, so read its current terms. Breaking programme rules can get your account closed and your commission withheld, so read the terms before you add a link to your page. It’s not enough to assume that the rules are the same for every programme.

A pre-publish check

Before you publish a recommendation, go through this list.

• ☐ Does the post itself disclose the relationship, near the start?
• ☐ Is the disclosure spoken or shown in videos, not just written in the caption?
• ☐ Does my page disclose near the affiliate links?
• ☐ Would someone who doesn’t know the word “affiliate” understand it?
• ☐ Are my non-affiliate links clearly separate?
• ☐ Have I checked the affiliate programme’s required wording?
• ☐ Is my recommendation honest, based on real use?
• ☐ Have I said anything about results I can’t back up?
• ☐ Do my free products and brand deals get the same treatment?

Monetising can bring in other questions too, and our guide on monetising your page covers the wider picture.

The same logic applies if a page collects leads, as we discuss in link in bio lead generation. Being open about what you’ll do with people’s information builds the same kind of trust. There’s more for creators on CommentLink if you’re building this out as a business.

FAQ

Do I have to disclose affiliate links in my bio?

If US rules apply to you, the FTC’s guidance says you should clearly disclose your relationship to the retailer. That includes recommendations that send people to your bio. Other countries have similar rules. Disclose in the post, and also next to the links on your page. This is general information, so get legal advice if you’re unsure.

Is “#affiliate” enough?

It’s risky. The FTC’s FAQ says “affiliate link” alone may not be understood, and a hashtag buried in a caption is easy to miss. Plain wording is safer: “I get a commission if you buy through my link.” Put it where people will see it, before they tap the link.

Where should it go on my page?

As close to the affiliate links as you can, such as in a text line directly above them, or “Paid link” right beside a button. The FTC’s FAQ says that the closer the disclosure is to the recommendation, the better, and a single note elsewhere isn’t enough. Group affiliate links together to keep things clear.

Add one line today

Open your page and look at your commission links. If there’s no plain-language note right above them, write one now. You can add a disclosure text block in BioFlow in under a minute, then do the same in your next caption.