HighLevel Affiliate Disclosures: What the FTC Actually Requires

Most HighLevel affiliates handle disclosure in one of two ways. Some put a line in the footer and hope that counts. Others skip it because they worry that saying "I earn a commission" will scare readers off. Both are risky, and the second worry is mostly unfounded: readers expect you to be paid for a recommendation. What they don't like is finding out later.

This post covers what the FTC expects from affiliates, what HighLevel's own affiliate agreement adds on top and how to disclose on a blog, on YouTube, on social media and in email without making it awkward.

Disclosure: I am an independent entity from HighLevel. I am not an agent or employee of HighLevel and have no authority to make binding contracts or represent HighLevel. I receive referral payments from HighLevel, including through the links in this post. The opinions expressed here are my own and shall not be interpreted as representations, guarantees or statements made by HighLevel. This post is general information, not legal advice.

TLDR

• If you earn commissions from links, the FTC expects you to disclose that "clearly and conspicuously," close to the recommendation.
• "Affiliate link" on its own isn't enough. Plain wording like "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post" is.
• A footer note, an About page or a "Disclosure" link isn't enough on its own.
• On video, say it in the video, not only in the description.
• HighLevel's affiliate agreement adds its own rules: a disclaimer on any site that promotes HighLevel, #ad and #GoHighLevel on social posts and a persistent "Ad" label on YouTube videos.

What Do the FTC Endorsement Guides Say About Affiliates?

The FTC's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255, updated in 2023) cover anyone who recommends a product and has a connection to the company that readers wouldn't expect. Earning a commission is exactly that kind of connection.

The FTC's answers to common questions are direct about affiliates:

• You need to disclose: if you earn commissions from links in your content, disclose that relationship "clearly and conspicuously."
• Plain words work best: the FTC's own example is "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post."
• "Affiliate link" alone isn't enough: the FTC says many people may not understand what it means.
• Closer is better: in the FTC's words, "The closer the disclosure is to your recommendation, the better."
• Hidden doesn't count: a disclosure at the bottom of a page or behind a "Disclosure" or "Legal" link can be missed.

The point isn't to punish affiliates. It's so readers can weigh your recommendation knowing you have a reason to make it.

Where Does the Disclosure Go?

The FTC's Disclosures 101 guide sums it up: "Place it so it's hard to miss." Here's what that means on each channel.

Blog posts and review pages

• Put a short disclosure near the top, before the first affiliate link.
• If a long post has a key recommendation far down the page, a short reminder near that link helps.
• A footer line or About page can add detail, but it doesn't replace the disclosure in the post.

YouTube and other video

• The FTC says the disclosure "should be in the video and not just in the description."
• Say it out loud and show it on screen, early in the video.
• For live streams, the FTC says to repeat it periodically.
• HighLevel's agreement adds a specific rule for YouTube, covered below.

Social media posts

• Put "#ad" or "Ad:" at the start of the post, not buried among hashtags at the end.
• A disclosure in the comments isn't enough, and the FTC warns not to assume a platform's built-in disclosure tool is good enough on its own.
• Use the same language as the post. A disclosure in English on a French post doesn't do the job.

Email newsletters

• Add a short line near the top of any email with affiliate links.
• Keep it in your template so you never forget it.

Wording That Works (and Doesn't Scare Readers)

Good disclosure is short, plain and honest. A few examples:

• "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post."
• "I'm a HighLevel affiliate. If you sign up through my link, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you."
• "Ad: I earn a commission if you start a HighLevel trial through my link."

And a few that don't work on their own:

• "Affiliate link," with no explanation.
• "sp," "spon" or "collab," which the FTC calls vague.
• A "Disclosure" link in the footer.

Readers don't punish honesty. A clear line that says how you get paid, followed by a genuinely useful post, builds more trust than hiding it.

What Does HighLevel's Affiliate Agreement Add?

HighLevel's affiliate agreement requires affiliates to follow the FTC's Endorsement Guides, and it adds rules of its own. They're stricter than many affiliates realize:

• A site disclaimer (section 2(b)): any website that advertises HighLevel must plainly display disclaimer language, not in a link or small font. HighLevel's example says you're an independent entity, not an agent or employee, that you receive referral payments and that your opinions are your own. The disclosure at the top of this post follows that example.
• Social posts (section 2(d)): each post must contain #GoHighLevel and #ad, with #ad in a clear and conspicuous spot before the text of the description and before the "More" button.
• Instagram: each post must use Instagram's "Paid Partnership" tool.
• YouTube: each video must show "Ad," "Advertisement," "Promotion" or "Paid Partnership" in the video itself, clearly readable and persistent throughout the video in the top right corner.
• Results claims (section 2(e)): any results you share must be true, based on your experience and accompanied by: "These were my results based on my experience. Your results may be different. There is no guarantee you will make money."
• No income promises: affiliates can't claim or imply that someone will make money using HighLevel or becoming an affiliate, or call it a business opportunity.

The agreement also bans bidding on HighLevel's brand terms in paid search, which our post on the brand bidding policy covers in detail.

Common Disclosure Mistakes

1. The footer-only disclosure. Readers who land on a post from search never see it.
2. The disclosure after the link. If the first affiliate link comes before the disclosure, the reader has already clicked.
3. Description-only on YouTube. Most viewers never expand the description.
4. Hashtag soup. "#ad" as the twelfth hashtag at the end of a caption is easy to miss.
5. Old posts. Disclosure rules apply to every page that's still live, not only new ones. A quick audit of older posts is worth an afternoon.
6. Income screenshots without context. Sharing commission results without the required disclaimer breaks HighLevel's agreement and can mislead readers.

For more on promoting HighLevel the right way, see our HighLevel affiliate program guide and our tips for promoting HighLevel without a website.

More for HighLevel Affiliates

• The best SaaS affiliate programs with recurring commissions.
• What 10, 25 and 50 HighLevel referrals are worth: last Sunday's post.
• The recurring commission math, on LinkedIn: last week's post on the Agence Vesta page.
• r/highlevelaffiliates: our small community for HighLevel users and affiliates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do HighLevel affiliates need to disclose affiliate links?

Yes. The FTC expects anyone earning commissions from links to disclose it clearly and conspicuously, and HighLevel's affiliate agreement requires affiliates to follow the FTC's Endorsement Guides.

Is writing "affiliate link" enough?

Not on its own. The FTC says many people may not understand it. A plain sentence like "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post" is clearer.

Where should the disclosure go on a blog post?

Near the top, before the first affiliate link. A footer note or a "Disclosure" link can add detail, but it doesn't replace a disclosure in the post itself.

How do I disclose on YouTube?

The FTC says to disclose in the video, not just the description. HighLevel's agreement adds that the word "Ad," "Advertisement," "Promotion" or "Paid Partnership" must appear persistently in the top right of the video.

What does HighLevel require on social media posts?

Each post must contain #GoHighLevel and #ad, with #ad placed clearly before the text of the description and before the "More" button. Instagram posts must also use the Paid Partnership tool.

Can I share my commission results?

Only if they're true and based on your experience, with HighLevel's required disclaimer: "These were my results based on my experience. Your results may be different. There is no guarantee you will make money."