242. The Affiliate Marketing Mistake That Could Get You Sued

On Your Terms®

Affiliate marketing can be a great way to earn extra income for sharing things you already use and love—but there’s a legal twist that too many online entrepreneurs are overlooking. Whether you’re a coach, creator, or content-loving business owner, you need to know how to share affiliate links and sponsored content without landing yourself in hot water.

This episode is your crash course in the actual legal rules you’ve probably never been taught about affiliate disclosures—and the mistakes that have already led to lawsuits against influencers (even if they thought they were doing it right).

So if you’ve ever wondered, “Wait, am I allowed to post this?”—tune in! Because I’m sharing exactly what the law says and how to stay protected while creating a new revenue stream.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

• Why affiliate marketing and sponsored content are NOT the Wild West anymore
• What the recent Alo Yoga and Revolve lawsuits mean for creators like you
• The one legal mistake that most creators are making—and how to fix it
• What “material connection” means (yes, even free stuff counts!)
• How to properly disclose affiliate links in newsletters, videos, and stories
• Why a tiny “#ad” buried at the bottom of a post won’t cut it
• What the FTC says about international creators targeting US audiences
• Sam’s simple “obvious + hard to miss” formula for disclosures that keep you compliant

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up for my free weekly email Sam’s Sidebar
• Order my book, When I Start My Business, I’ll Be Happy: A Practical No-BS Guide to Successful Online Entrepreneurship
• Join my free legal workshop: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/oyt-workshop

CONNECT:

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• On Your Terms® on Instagram

DISCLAIMER

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Do you feel lost thinking about how to legally protect your online business? Head to mylegalworkshop.com to sign-up for immediate access to my free 1-hour legal workshop, 5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow your Online Business.

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