Affiliate Disclosure

Effective Date: February 1, 2023

At The Business Hack, transparency is one of our core values, and we are committed to maintaining the trust of our readers and users. This Affiliate Disclosure provides information regarding the relationships we have with third-party companies, products, and services that are promoted through our Website. This disclosure is made in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines in the United States and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) guidelines in the United Kingdom, both of which require full transparency regarding sponsored content, affiliate links, and partnerships.

1. What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing where a business rewards affiliates (like The Business Hack) for generating traffic or sales through referrals. This typically happens through the inclusion of affiliate links within content such as blog posts, product reviews, or recommendations.

When you click on an affiliate link and purchase a product or service from a third-party site, we may receive a commission or other compensation. The price you pay for the product or service remains the same—there is no additional cost to you as a result of clicking on an affiliate link.

2. The Nature of Our Affiliate Relationships

The Business Hack participates in several affiliate marketing programs with companies and brands that align with our mission to provide value-driven resources for online businesses and entrepreneurs. These partnerships may include, but are not limited to:

  • Amazon Associates (USA and UK)

  • CJ Affiliate (Global)

  • Rakuten Marketing (Global)

  • Other relevant affiliate networks and individual brands.

These affiliate programs and third-party sites are separate from The Business Hack, and we have no control over their privacy policies, terms of service, or business practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit through affiliate links to understand how your personal data may be collected and used by these companies.

3. How Affiliate Links Are Used on Our Website

Affiliate links are embedded in a variety of content formats, including:

  • Product Reviews and Recommendations: When we recommend a product or service, we may include affiliate links within the review. Our goal is to provide honest, useful reviews to help our users make informed decisions.

  • Tutorials and How-To Guides: We may include affiliate links to tools, software, or services that we recommend using in specific tutorials.

  • Blog Posts: Affiliate links may be used in our blog content where relevant. For example, we may link to a product or service that we believe offers value to our audience.

  • Banners and Display Ads: Some display ads on our Website may contain affiliate tracking links that allow advertisers to compensate us for clicks or sales.

We strive to disclose affiliate relationships transparently. You will find disclosures at the beginning or within the body of any content containing affiliate links. Disclosures typically include statements such as:

  • “This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”

  • “As an affiliate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.”

4. Our Affiliate Selection Process

We only participate in affiliate programs for products or services that we believe provide value to our readers. Before recommending any product or service, we thoroughly review it to ensure it aligns with our standards. We prioritize:

  • Relevance: We only promote products and services that are relevant to our core audience—entrepreneurs, small business owners, and online marketers.

  • Quality: We aim to recommend products and services that meet high standards of quality, usability, and customer satisfaction.

  • Ethics: We strive to work with companies that demonstrate ethical business practices and are in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

While we strive to ensure that all products and services recommended on our Website meet our high standards, we cannot guarantee the quality or performance of third-party products. Any concerns regarding the performance, customer service, or warranties for products purchased via affiliate links should be directed to the product’s manufacturer or service provider.

5. Compensation and How It Affects Content

The compensation we receive through affiliate marketing helps support the ongoing operation of The Business Hack. This includes the creation of free educational content, resources, and tools designed to help our readers succeed in business. However, compensation does not influence the integrity of our content.

  • Unbiased Reviews: Our reviews and recommendations are based on thorough research, and we aim to provide honest opinions, whether or not we earn a commission from the products or services discussed.

  • Full Disclosure: We always disclose when affiliate links are present to ensure that our readers are aware of the potential financial relationship between The Business Hack and third-party brands.

We do not allow advertisers or affiliates to dictate the content of our Website. Our editorial independence is a key principle, and our goal is to provide value-driven content that serves the best interests of our audience.

6. FTC Compliance (USA)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that all online publishers disclose any material connections they have with brands or products they recommend, which includes affiliate links. Material connections are defined as relationships where the publisher receives financial compensation (e.g., commission, cash payment, or free product) for recommending a product or service.

To comply with the FTC’s Endorsement Guides, The Business Hack:

  • Clearly discloses all affiliate relationships in content that contains affiliate links.

  • Ensures that all disclosures are made in a way that is easy to see and understand, typically placed at the beginning of a blog post, review, or near an affiliate link within the content.

  • Does not make false claims or guarantees about products or services being promoted through affiliate links.

7. ASA Compliance (UK)

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK also requires that affiliate marketing practices are transparent and fair to consumers. This includes making sure that affiliate links are clearly marked and that sponsored content is properly disclosed.

To comply with ASA guidelines, The Business Hack:

  • Ensures that all affiliate links are properly disclosed, using language that is clear and transparent.

  • Adheres to the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP Code), ensuring that all advertising and affiliate practices are honest, accurate, and not misleading.

  • Follows the ASA's guidance on influencers and affiliate marketers, making sure our affiliate marketing content is marked appropriately to meet UK advertising standards.

8. Third-Party Affiliate Networks and Tracking

Affiliate links on our Website are tracked using cookies or similar tracking technologies, which allow the affiliate network to recognize when a user clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase. These tracking mechanisms are used to ensure that we are credited for the sale.

Important Notes:

  • Cookies: When you click on an affiliate link, a cookie is placed on your device, which helps track your purchase. These cookies usually have an expiration period (e.g., 30 days), meaning that if you return to the merchant’s site within that period and complete a purchase, we may still earn a commission.

  • Data Collection: While affiliate cookies help us track commissions, we do not collect or have access to personal information that is gathered by third-party affiliate networks. Please review the privacy policies of third-party affiliates to understand how your data is used.

9. Your Responsibility

It is your responsibility to conduct your own due diligence before purchasing products or services based on any recommendations or affiliate links found on our Website. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, all purchases made through affiliate links are subject to the third-party merchant’s terms, policies, and conditions.

We are not responsible for any issues that arise from third-party purchases, including but not limited to:

  • Product defects or malfunctions

  • Billing issues or disputes

  • Delivery problems

  • Customer service complaints

All concerns regarding these matters should be directed to the third-party retailer or manufacturer from whom the product or service was purchased.

10. Changes to Our Affiliate Disclosure

The Business Hack reserves the right to update or modify this Affiliate Disclosure at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and we encourage users to review this disclosure periodically to stay informed about our affiliate relationships.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Affiliate Disclosure, please feel free to contact us at:

The Business Hack
Merril Lynch Building
101 Hudson St, 21st Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07302
United States
Email: info@thebusinesshack.com
Phone: (+1866) 957-7239