Guide To Blog Disclosures and Blog Disclaimers: Legal Must-Haves for Every Blog
Whether you’re reviewing planners, sharing skincare tips, or dishing out digital marketing advice, there’s one often-skipped step that can quietly wreck your blog (and your bank account): ignoring your blog disclosure and blog disclaimer obligations. These are two legal requirements every blogger needs to understand.
Yes, even if you “only have 8 followers.”
Yes, even if “it’s just a side hustle.”
Yes, even if you “thought everyone else was doing the same thing.”
I’m a lawyer who works with online creators, and a blogger and entrepreneur myself, so I’ve seen how these rules play out from both the legal and real-world sides of the screen.
In this quick, plain-English guide, I’ll explain what blog disclosures and blog disclaimers are, how they differ, where they belong, and how to keep your blog safely on the right side of the law, no legal jargon required. I’ll also recommend a professional template to help you get it done right the first time.
Legal Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Read full disclaimers.
What Is a Blog Disclosure? (FTC Rules for Bloggers)
A blog disclosure is a statement that lets your readers know when you have a financial or promotional relationship with a brand or company. This includes:
- Affiliate links (when you earn a commission if someone buys)
- Sponsored posts (when a brand pays you to talk about them)
- Gifted products or services (even without payment)
A clear, well-placed affiliate disclosure is one of the most important legal requirements for bloggers today.
Here’s the part people often overlook:
If you’re paid in money, free products, affiliate commissions, discounts, or favors, and you mention that company or product, you’re legally required to disclose that relationship.
The FTC has sent warning letters to influencers who failed to clearly disclose paid partnerships, regardless of their audience size. They’ve also taken action against bloggers using affiliate links without proper disclosure, reminding everyone that these rules apply across all content formats.
These crackdowns reinforce how important it is to follow FTC guidelines for affiliate marketing and sponsored content.
The moral? If you’re getting anything in return, disclose it, clearly and early.
Disclaimer: The examples in this guide are for informational and educational purposes only and are not legal advice. Whether a specific disclosure is appropriate or sufficient will depend on the content, platform, and context of your post. If you’re unsure about your specific obligations, consider consulting a qualified attorney.
What Does a Blog Disclosure Look Like?
A good affiliate disclosure or sponsored content disclosure should be three things:
- Clear (no jargon, no guesswork)
- Conspicuous (easy to spot; no hiding)
- Immediate (right up front, before any links or product raving begins)
In other words: don’t bury it in your footer, don’t hide it behind “click to expand,” and don’t hope a vague “some links may be affiliate” will magically keep you out of trouble. It won’t.
Blog Disclosure Examples
Here are three examples that keep it clear without killing your voice:
- This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission. Kind of like a tip jar, but for internet opinions.
- Some links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission that goes straight to my website hosting and snack budget.
- This post is sponsored by [Brand]. They paid me to try it, but every word (and gif choice) is my own.
If you’re posting on social media, make sure your disclosure, like #ad or #sponsored, shows up before the reader has to scroll, expand, or squint. Hashtags hiding at the bottom? The FTC says that doesn’t count.
What Is a Blog Disclaimer?
A blog disclaimer is your legal “don’t sue me” safety net.
While disclosures explain your relationships with brands, disclaimers explain the limits of your content: what it is, what it isn’t, and what you’re definitely not on the hook for. Disclaimers are especially important if you’re:
- Giving health, wellness, or fitness advice
- Offering financial or legal insights
- Providing DIY, tech, or parenting content
- Sharing personal results (e.g., “how I made $5K in a month”)
A solid disclaimer helps make it clear that:
- You’re not offering professional advice
- Your content is general info, not one-size-fits-all solutions
- You’re not responsible for what someone does with it
Blog Disclaimer Examples
The information provided on this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this content.
Here are a few more disclaimer examples that stay legally safe while sounding a little more human:
- The content on this blog is for informational purposes only and doesn’t count as legal, medical, or financial advice, no matter how confident I sound.
- I’m not your lawyer, your doctor, your CPA, or your therapist. Please talk to someone with actual credentials before making big decisions.
- Everything here is based on personal experience and general info. Use what’s helpful, ignore what’s not, and run decisions by a professional just in case.
A disclaimer won’t stop someone from trying your advice, misinterpreting your post, or making a wildly risky decision based on something you casually mentioned, but it can help protect you from being legally responsible for any fallout.
Not sure what to include or how to word it all correctly? I’ve created a plug-and-play Disclosures & Disclaimers Template designed specifically for bloggers. It covers affiliate disclosures, sponsored content statements, liability disclaimers, and more, all in FTC-compliant, reader-friendly language. You can grab it in the BLG Legal Template Store.
Where to Put Blog Disclosures
Once your disclosure is written, placement is everything. It doesn’t matter how well you worded it if no one ever sees it.
To meet legal expectations (and keep your readers’ trust), your disclosures should be:
- Visible before any affiliate links or product endorsements
- Easy to understand without clicking away
- Consistently placed wherever sponsored or affiliate content appears
1. In-Post Disclosures
If a blog post contains affiliate links, gifted products, or paid partnerships, you must include a disclosure within the post itself. No exceptions. The disclosure should appear:
- Near the top of the post, before any links or recommendations
- In a font and style that matches your content; not grayed out or hidden in fine print
- On every single post that includes a material connection, even if you’ve said it elsewhere
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Don’t rely on a blanket statement buried in your footer or sidebar. The FTC has made it clear: context matters, and disclosures must be tied directly to the content in question.
2. Your Disclosures & Disclaimers Page
While every qualifying post needs its own disclosure, your blog should also have a dedicated “Disclosures and Disclaimers” page that outlines your overall approach to transparency.
This page should be:
- Easy to find. Link to it in your footer, main menu, or about page
- Written in clear, friendly language
- Comprehensive enough to include your affiliate disclosure, sponsored content policy, and legal disclaimers
Many bloggers link to this page site-wide (especially in the footer) so it’s always accessible, regardless of the post someone lands on.
Note: If you’re also active on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, blog placement alone won’t cover you. For platform-specific best practices, check out my guide to influencer social media disclosures.
Where to Put Blog Disclaimers
Disclaimers don’t promote transparency, they protect you from liability. That means they need to be visible enough to matter if your content is ever misunderstood as professional advice.
You need to include your blog disclaimer in at least two places:
1. Your Disclosures & Disclaimers Page
This is the home base for your full disclaimer, the legal language that explains:
- You’re not offering professional advice
- Your content is informational, not personalized guidance
- You’re not liable for what readers do with the information
This page should be linked in your footer, just like your privacy policy and terms and conditions of use.
2. Inside Relevant Blog Posts
If you’re writing about topics where someone might reasonably think you’re giving expert advice (think legal tips, health routines, financial opinions, or even parenting hacks) it’s smart to include a brief in-post disclaimer as well.
Examples:
- A short note at the top of a post clarifying that your budgeting strategy is based on personal experience, not financial advice
- A one-liner in a health-related post stating that you’re not a doctor or medical professional
- A disclaimer in a DIY project noting that readers should take safety precautions and follow manufacturer instructions
You don’t need to restate your full legal disclaimer in every post, but a quick, well-placed note goes a long way in managing expectations and risk.
3. In Your Footer
And if your entire site involves information that could be construed as professional advice, consider a disclaimer in your footer that will appear on every page.
Curious how disclaimers work on Instagram or YouTube? I’ve covered that in my guide to social media disclaimers.
Why This Really Matters (And Not Just for Big Influencers)
Let’s be real. Most bloggers think they’re under the radar. But the FTC doesn’t care if you’re pulling in six figures or six bucks; the rules apply equally.
Failing to include proper blog disclosures can lead to:
- Hefty fines (yes, five figures is common)
- Public warning letters (which never look good on your brand)
- Loss of affiliate accounts (some programs will boot you instantly)
- Legal action from your readers or companies
And when it comes to blog disclaimers? Without one, you’re leaving yourself wide open to lawsuits from people who claim they were misled by your blog. Even if they’re wrong, you’ll still need to pay a lawyer to prove it.
Blog Smarter: Be Transparent, Be Protected
Blogging is about connection, creativity, and (if you play your cards right) cash flow. But to build a blog that lasts, and keeps you out of legal hot water, you need to cover your bases.
Blog disclosures show you’re trustworthy.
Blog disclaimers protect you from liability.
And a dedicated Disclosures & Disclaimers page ties it all together in one neat, professional package.
Don’t wait for a scary letter or a brand to cut ties before you take this seriously. Set it up now, and keep blogging with confidence.
And if you’re not sure where to start? My Disclosures & Disclaimers Template takes the guesswork out of it. No legal degree required. Just copy, paste, customize, and you’re good to go. Find it in the BLG Legal Template Store.
