If you earn money from links or free products, your audience has a right to know. In India, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has guidelines for influencers and creators, and Amazon’s own agreement requires disclosure too. Here is what that means in practice.
Why disclosure matters
Readers trust recommendations more when they know where you stand. Clear disclosure also protects you: brands and platforms increasingly expect it, and the government’s endorsement guidelines for social media influencers say material connections must be disclosed.
What counts as a “material connection”
- Affiliate commissions.
- Free products or services.
- Payment for a post, video or mention.
- Family or business ties with the brand.
How to disclose on a blog
Put a plain sentence at the top of the post, before the first link. For example:
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
A note hidden only in the footer or a separate page is not enough on its own.
How to disclose on social media
- Use a clear label such as #ad, #sponsored, #collab or #affiliate, at the start of the caption where people will see it.
- Use the platform’s paid-partnership tool where it applies.
- In videos, say it out loud and show it on screen, not only in the description.
- Use the same language as the content (Hindi post, Hindi disclosure).
Common mistakes
- Hiding the label among ten other hashtags.
- Using vague words like #thanks or #partner.
- Disclosing only in a “link in bio” page.
This is a simplified summary. Check the current ASCI guidelines for full details.
This guide is part of our holiday series. For the bigger picture, read Beginner Affiliate Marketing Setup for the Holidays.
