In 2015, the Federal Trade Commission released their new rules for Disclosure Compliance. These rules are set in place to ensure that readers or viewers of web media (blogs, Youtube videos, etc.) know if the blogger/presenter is sponsored, endorsed, or partnered with a different company. In blog terms, the readers need to know if the blogger is making money by sharing a link or product.
In compliance with the FTC guidelines, please assume the following about links and posts on The Paper Mama site: Any/all of the links on thepapermama.com are affiliate links from which I receive a small compensation from sales of certain items.
What are affiliate links?
Purchases are made on external affiliate company websites: When a reader clicks on an affiliate link located on thepapermama.com to purchase an item, the reader buys the item from the seller directly. Amazon and/or other companies pay The Paper Mama a small commission or other compensation for promoting their website or products through their affiliate program.
Prices are exactly the same for you if your purchase is through an affiliate link or a non-affiliate link. You will not pay more by clicking through to the link.
I use two main types of affiliate programs:
1. Amazon affiliate links:
The Paper Mama blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
If a blogger links to an Amazon product (with a special code for affiliates embedded in the link), and a reader places an item in their “shopping cart” through that link within 24 hours of clicking the link, the blogger gets a small percentage of the sale. Amazon links are not “pay per click.” If you click on the product link and stay around Amazon and purchase something else, however, I will get commission on that sale. Anytime you see a link that looks like http://amzn……. or www.amazon.com/…. it is an Amazon affiliate link.
2. Product affiliate links:
These affiliate links will work in the same way: if you click the link and buy the product, then I get a percentage of the sale or some other type of compensation. Prices are not different if you use these affiliate links. You will not pay more by clicking through to the link. These links are not “pay per click.”
Here’s a list of companies I have an affiliate relationship with:
1. Amazon.com
Sponsored blog content?
I do write sponsored posts and I will disclose clearly if that particular post is sponsored. Even though I do accept sponsored content on my blog, all of my opinions are real and my own.
Sponsored social media posts?
I do write sponsored social media posts and you will know if they are sponsored if I include the hashtag “#ad” or “sponsored”.
Product for review?
On occasion I will accept product in exchange for a review. I will disclose if the product was given to me in exchange for a blog post or social media share.
I know all of this can be very confusing and I hope this disclosure page can help my readers understand more about affiliate links and sponsored content. Thanks!
– Chelsey
