The best examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing in 2025

Real-world examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing

Let’s skip theory and start with real examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing that you can actually use. Then we’ll unpack why they work.

Short, above-the-fold promo email disclaimer

This style works for flash sales or single-offer campaigns where the entire email is about an affiliate product.

Affiliate disclosure: Some of the links in this email are affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I use myself or genuinely believe will help you.

Why this is one of the best examples:

• It’s at the top of the email, before any links.
• It uses plain language (“I may earn a commission”).
• It explains the relationship and the impact on the reader (“no extra cost to you”).

This example of an affiliate disclaimer is especially useful for solo creators and small businesses that send frequent promo blasts.

In-line disclaimer for mixed-content newsletters

When your newsletter mixes editorial content with a few affiliate links, you can use a short in-line disclosure near the first affiliate link, plus a fuller version in the footer.

In the body text:

I’ve been testing the new FocusPro timer (affiliate link), and it’s helped me cut my screen time by 30%.

Then, near the bottom:

Affiliate disclaimer: This email contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the newsletter at no additional cost to you.

These two pieces together are strong examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing because they:

• Flag the affiliate relationship right where the link appears.
• Reinforce the disclosure again in a persistent, easy-to-find location.

Long-form welcome sequence disclaimer

If your welcome sequence includes tool recommendations, this longer version sets expectations from day one.

Affiliate & sponsorship disclosure
From time to time, I recommend tools, apps, and services I personally use. Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through them. I’ll always tell you when a link is an affiliate link, and I won’t recommend something just because it pays a commission.

Why this belongs in the list of best examples:

• It covers both affiliate links and sponsorships, which often appear together.
• It promises ongoing transparency (“I’ll always tell you when…”), which builds trust.
• It’s written in a conversational tone that matches most welcome sequences.

Transactional + marketing hybrid disclaimer

Many SaaS and e‑commerce brands now blend transactional updates with marketing content. If you drop affiliate links into these hybrid emails, you need a disclosure that doesn’t confuse the transactional part.

Notice about affiliate links: This message includes both account updates and optional product recommendations. Some recommendation links are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy through them. Your account pricing and services are not affected by these links.

This example of an affiliate disclaimer:

• Clearly separates transactional content from marketing content.
• Reassures customers that their core service is unaffected.
• Works well for B2B tools, marketplaces, or partner ecosystems.

“Tool stack” or resource email disclaimer

If you send a periodic “here’s my full tech stack” email, you’re often including a lot of affiliate links. You need a very obvious disclosure.

Affiliate disclosure – please read: Many of the tools listed below are affiliate partners. That means if you sign up or buy through my links, I may earn a commission. I only include tools I’d recommend without an affiliate program, and you’re free to go directly to the provider’s site if you prefer.

This is one of the best examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing when:

• The email is basically a resource library.
• You want to be extra transparent about the commercial angle.
• You expect the email to be forwarded or saved.

Footer disclaimer for recurring campaigns

If you run evergreen sequences or weekly newsletters with frequent affiliate mentions, you should use a standing footer disclaimer.

Affiliate disclosure: Our emails sometimes include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through those links, we may receive a commission. We aim to recommend products and services that we believe offer real value to our readers.

This example of a footer disclaimer:

• Provides ongoing notice for readers who open at different points in the sequence.
• Works across multiple campaigns without constant editing.
• Can be paired with shorter, in-line notes on specific links.

Short mobile-first disclaimer for SMS-style emails

More marketers are sending ultra-short, SMS-style emails that are mostly a subject line, one line of copy, and a button. You still need a disclosure, but it has to be compact.

Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link. If you buy, I may earn a commission.

This minimalist line is one of the clearest examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing optimized for small screens. It’s short enough to fit above the button without crowding the content.

Brand-safe corporate disclaimer for partner programs

Larger companies often need a more formal tone when they run affiliate or partner promotions through email.

Affiliate relationship disclosure: Some products and services referenced in this email are offered through our affiliate partners. When you purchase through the links we provide, [Company Name] may receive compensation. We select partners based on their alignment with our quality standards and customer needs.

This example of an affiliate disclaimer:

• Fits neatly into corporate legal and compliance workflows.
• Emphasizes partner selection standards, which reassures enterprise buyers.
• Can be reused across multiple departments and campaigns.

How these examples align with FTC guidance

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States continues to update and enforce its endorsement and testimonial rules. In 2023, the FTC released updated Endorsement Guides and related materials that directly affect email marketing and affiliate disclosures.

Key points that shape good examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing:

• Clear and conspicuous: Disclosures must be hard to miss and easy to understand. Hiding them in tiny footer text or behind a link like “legal info” is risky.
• Proximity to the link or claim: The closer the disclosure is to the affiliate link or recommendation, the better.
• Plain language: Legalese is discouraged. The FTC favors simple language like “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this email.”
• No contradictions: You can’t say “this isn’t an ad” and then disclose an affiliate relationship.

You can read the FTC’s own guidance here:

• FTC Endorsement Guides overview: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking
• Advertising and marketing basics: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/advertising-marketing

When you look back at the best examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing above, you’ll see they all:

• Use straightforward wording about commissions or compensation.
• Appear before or near the first affiliate link, or at least in a prominent footer.
• Avoid confusing or minimizing language.

2024–2025 trends shaping affiliate disclaimers in email

Email marketing in 2024–2025 looks different than it did even a few years ago, and that changes how you should think about examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing.

Short-form and mobile-heavy reading

Most subscribers now skim emails on their phones. That means:

• Long blocks of legal text get ignored.
• Disclosures need to be short, scannable, and near the call to action.

This is why the mobile-first example above works: it prioritizes clarity over length.

Creator-led newsletters and “personal brands”

Creators and solo operators often blend personal stories with product recommendations. That makes disclosure even more important, because readers may not realize there’s a commercial relationship.

Good real examples:

• Using parenthetical notes like “(yep, that’s an affiliate link)” right after a link.
• Adding a friendly line in the footer: “Affiliate links help keep this newsletter free.”

Global audiences and mixed regulations

If you’re sending to subscribers in the US, EU, UK, and beyond, you’re dealing with overlapping rules. While the FTC governs US practice, other regulators have similar expectations around transparency.

A safe approach is to:

• Follow the FTC guidance as a baseline.
• Use plain language disclosures that would make sense to a reader in any country.

Harvard Law School’s publications on advertising and consumer protection are useful context for understanding the broader landscape: https://hls.harvard.edu/library/research-guide/advertising-law

How to adapt these examples to your email strategy

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You can take the best examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing and tweak them for:

• Tone: Match your brand voice. A fintech startup may choose something more formal; a fitness influencer can be more conversational.
• Placement: For high-intent promo emails, put the disclosure right under the headline. For recurring newsletters, use an in-line note plus a footer.
• Frequency: If every email has affiliate links, use a standing footer and repeat shorter notes near the first link.

A practical workflow:

• Draft a default footer disclaimer (like the recurring campaigns example).
• Create a short in-line phrase you can drop next to any affiliate link, such as “(affiliate link).”
• For big launches or heavy affiliate promos, add a bold disclosure box at the top.

By building a small library of your own examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing, you can keep your team consistent and reduce legal review time.

FAQ: examples and best practices for email affiliate disclaimers

What are some simple examples of affiliate disclaimer language I can paste into my emails?

Here are a few quick, copy‑and‑paste options:

• “This email contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”
• “Some links in this email are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you click and buy.”
• “Affiliate disclosure: I only recommend products I’d use myself, and some of the links in this email are affiliate links.”

These are all straightforward examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing that most subscribers can understand instantly.

Do I need an affiliate disclaimer in every email?

If an email contains any affiliate links or compensated recommendations, you should include a disclosure in that email. Relying on a disclosure in a previous email, on your website, or in your terms and conditions is risky. The FTC expects disclosures to appear where the endorsement happens.

Is a single footer note enough, or should I put the disclaimer at the top?

A footer note is better than nothing, but the best examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing usually combine:

• A short, clear disclosure near the first affiliate link or recommendation.
• A consistent footer disclosure for readers who scroll quickly.

For heavy promotional emails, placing the disclosure near the top is safer and more transparent.

Can I just link to a separate disclosure page instead of putting it in the email?

You shouldn’t rely solely on a link like “Disclosure” or “Legal” that forces readers to click away to understand the relationship. The FTC has indicated that disclosures should be visible without extra clicks. You can still maintain a longer policy page on your site, but include a short, plain-language example of an affiliate disclaimer directly in the email itself.

Do I have to use the word “affiliate” in the disclaimer?

Not necessarily, but you do need to explain the relationship clearly. For many readers, “affiliate link” is now familiar, so using it can help. You can also say things like:

• “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this email.”
• “We may receive compensation when you buy through our links.”

As long as the average subscriber understands that you may be paid if they buy, you’re in the right territory.

Where can I learn more about legal guidance on affiliate disclosures?

For more detail on the legal backdrop behind these examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing, review:

• FTC Endorsement Guides FAQ: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking
• General FTC advertising guidance: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/advertising-marketing
• Harvard Law School library guide on advertising law: https://hls.harvard.edu/library/research-guide/advertising-law

These resources provide the policy context; the examples in this article translate that guidance into email‑ready language.

Well-written affiliate disclaimers don’t have to scare subscribers away. The best examples of affiliate disclaimer examples for email marketing are short, honest, and consistent. They tell people what’s going on, respect their intelligence, and protect the business at the same time. If you treat disclosure as part of your brand voice instead of a legal afterthought, your audience will usually respect you more, not less.