In 2015, the Federal Trade Commission released its new rules for Disclosure Compliance. These rules are set in place to ensure that readers or viewers of web media (blogs, YouTube videos, etc.) know if the blogger/presenter is sponsored, endorsed, or partnered with a different company. In blog terms, the readers need to know if the blogger is making money by 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 on On the Cobblestone Road are affiliate links of which I receive a small compensation from sales.
What are affiliate links?
Purchases are made on external affiliate company websites: When a reader clicks on an affiliate link located on On the Cobblestone Road to purchase an item, the reader buys the item from the seller directly (not from On the Cobblestone Road). Amazon and/or other companies pay On the Cobblestone Road 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
On the Cobblestone Road 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 its affiliate links.
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.
2. Share-A-Sale 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. Companies such as CrateJoy have partnered with me through the Share-A-Sale affiliate network. Again, I want to emphasize that prices are not different if you use these affiliate links. You will NOT pay more by clicking through the link.
Other: Google AdSense
On the Cobblestone Road is also part of the Google AdSense program. These types of ads are sponsored by Google and are pay-per-click (PPC) rather than affiliate links. If you click on a Google ad, the blogger automatically earns a small commission, even if you don’t make a purchase.
Please note that On the Cobblestone Road has very limited control over these ads. The blogger can decide where these ads show up, but the content is determined by Google.
What about sponsored content?
I do not write sponsored posts. I want to bring you real, unbiased information. However, if a post is sponsored by a company and it is a paid sponsorship, I will disclose this clearly at the beginning of the post.
