Advertising & affiliate disclosure
This page explains how we label commercial content on CourseSignal. It is written for a UK audience with CAP / ASA expectations in mind: if a page is an advert or contains affiliate links, we say so clearly — upfront, in plain language.
Principles
- Disclosure near the top (before or immediately after the intro), visible without scrolling on mobile if possible.
- Disclosure again near primary CTAs (affiliate buttons / “Buy” links).
- Prefer “Advert” / “#Ad” / “This page contains affiliate links” over vague “partner” language alone.
- Do not hide disclosures in footers, tooltips, or same colour as background. Footers may reinforce; they are not a substitute.
- If a page is wholly promotional for our own paid product, we label it as an advert / promotional page.
Affiliate comparison / content pages
Default top-of-page wording:
#Ad — Advertisement / affiliate disclosure
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That does not change our editorial checklist, but it is a commercial relationship — treat recommendations accordingly. Always verify pricing and features on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Near CTA buttons:
#Ad — Affiliate link. Commission possible. Confirm current plan details with the provider.
Footer reinforcement (not a substitute for top disclosure):
Advertising notice: Pages on this site may contain affiliate links (#Ad). Commissions help fund the content. We are not employed by the vendors named unless stated.
Our own digital product pages
Top-of-page wording for SKU sales pages:
Advert — This is a promotional page for our own paid digital product.
You are being invited to buy a downloadable checklist / guide. There is no free trial implied unless stated. If this page also mentions third-party tools with affiliate links, those are separately marked #Ad.
Near buy CTAs:
Advert — Paid digital download. Instant access after payment. Refund policy: as stated at checkout.
What we do not do
- Soften disclosure into “some links may support us” without saying advert/affiliate.
- Put the only disclosure below the fold or after the CTA.
- Claim “unbiased” while running undisclosed affiliate CTAs.
- Invent testimonials, awards, or “ASA approved” badges.
- Publish commission percentages to consumers.
These are operational templates for CourseSignal. Final legal/compliance sign-off sits with the site owner before go-live.