In 2015, the Federal Trade Commission released its new rules for Disclosure Compliance. These rules are established to make sure that visitors of web media (blogs, Youtube videos, etc.) know if the author/creator is sponsored, endorsed, or partnered with another brand or company.
In blog terms, the readers should be informed if the blogger is being paid when sharing a link or product.
In compliance with the FTC guidelines, please assume the following about links and posts on this site: Any/all of the links The7thStream.com are affiliate links of which I receive 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 The7thStream.com to purchase an item, the reader buys the item from the seller directly (not from The7thStream.com).
Amazon and/or other companies pay The7thStream.com 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.
Lori Ballen/ The7thStream.com 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. 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.
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 a commission on that sale.
Anytime you see a link that looks like astore.com type link… or amazon.com… it can be assumed that it is an Amazon affiliate link.
2. Product affiliate links.
These affiliate links work the same way: if you click the link and buy the product, then the blogger gets a percentage of the sale or some other type of compensation. Things like e-book bundles, e-courses, and online packages are usually affiliate links, as well. Again, 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”, unless otherwise denoted.
I sometimes benefit financially from a click even when there is no purchase.
3. What about sponsored content?
It’s possible that I will be compensated for a post. I always review products I use and will talk about how I use them. While I use many of the products I write about, I don’t use them all.
Please do your own due diligence when researching products, services, and brands.
