FTC Compliance & Disclosure Rules for ReelShort Affiliates (Stay Safe, Get Paid)

If you're going to promote ReelShort and collect commissions, disclosure isn't a nice-to-have — it's the difference between a sustainable affiliate business and a banned account (or a letter from a regulator). The good news: ReelShort *wants* you to be transparent, because transparent affiliates build trust and trust drives installs. This guide breaks down exactly what to say, where to say it, and what will get you in trouble.

If you haven't claimed your authorized ReelShort invitation code yet, grab that first — everything below assumes you're promoting under a real, tracked link.

Why disclosure isn't optional

Two forces make disclosure mandatory:

1. The law. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires anyone who earns a commission from a recommendation to clearly disclose that relationship. The FTC's endorsement guides apply to social posts, YouTube videos, blogs, and emails alike. You can read the official guidance at ftc.gov. Other markets have equivalents (the UK's ASA, Canada's Competition Bureau, Australia's ACCC) — the principle is the same everywhere: don't deceive the viewer about whether you're paid.
2. The platforms + ReelShort. TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook each have their own "paid partnership" / "paid promotion" labeling tools, and ReelShort's affiliate terms prohibit deceptive promotion. Get caught hiding your affiliation and you risk both the platform *and* the affiliate program cutting you off — and forfeiting unpaid commissions.

Disclosure isn't a tax on your earnings. It's what keeps the whole machine paying you. Transparent creators out-earn sneaky ones over time because audiences stick around.

The one rule that covers everything

Every disclosure decision comes down to three words: clear, conspicuous, upfront.

• Clear — use plain language a 12-year-old understands. "I earn a commission" beats "material connection disclosed pursuant to 16 CFR."
• Conspicuous — it must be seen *without* extra clicks. Not buried in a link, not in eggshell-grey 8px font, not only on a separate "legal" page.
• Upfront — say it before or at the moment of the recommendation, not in the last 3 seconds or the comments.

If a viewer could watch your content and *not realize* you're paid, your disclosure failed.

Where to put your disclosure

Map it to every surface you publish on:

• In-video / on-screen — a verbal + on-screen label in the first 5 seconds ("This is a sponsored ReelShort promo"). Don't rely on audio alone; many watch muted.
• Caption (first two lines) — put it where it's visible without "more". Example: "I'm a ReelShort affiliate — I earn if you sign up via my link 👇".
• Bio / Link-in-bio — "Affiliate links may earn me a commission" in your TikTok/IG bio and on your bridge page. See our bridge page guide for where this lives.
• Blog & review posts — a short disclosure at the top of any post that links to ReelShort, plus contextual links to your authorized ReelShort invitation code.
• Email — one line in your footer or near the CTA. Our email sequence playbook shows the structure.

Per-platform disclosure playbook

Each platform has a native label — use it *and* write it in plain words.

TikTok

• Flip on the "Paid partnership" tag when you have a branded relationship (it sits above your username).
• Put "Affiliate / I earn commission" in the caption's first line.
• Say it out loud in the video: "Heads up — I'm a ReelShort partner, link's in bio."

YouTube

• Use the "Contains paid promotion" checkbox in video details.
• Pin a comment: "I'm a ReelShort affiliate; if you join through my link I may earn."
• In the description, disclose near the top, not at the bottom under 14 links.

Instagram (Reels + Stories)

• Add the "Paid partnership with ReelShort" label via Branded Content.
• Reels caption: "Affiliate link 👇 I earn if you join."
• Stories: use the sticker/text label *and* say it; stickers get tapped away, text stays.

Facebook

• Use the "Paid partnership" tag on Reels and posts.
• Page posts should state "We may earn a commission" in the first sentence.

The full per-platform tactics (hooks, posting cadence, link placement) live in our four-platform promotion hub.

What will get you banned or fined

Avoid these like the plague:

• Hidden affiliation — promoting without any disclosure because you think it converts better. It doesn't, long-term, and it's the #1 thing enforcers target.
• Fake reviews / fabricated screenshots — don't Photoshop earnings or invent testimonials. Our case study is real; yours should be too.
• Brand-keyword ad bidding — running Google/Meta ads on "ReelShort" or "ReelShort promo code" to intercept their brand traffic violates most affiliate terms.
• Fake or cloned accounts — creating look-alike "ReelShort official" profiles to harvest links. Instant ban, possible legal action.
• "Unofficial" scare copy — implying ReelShort is a scam to then "rescue" viewers with your link. Dishonest and against platform policy.

Respect ReelShort's promotion rules and you'll stay in good standing.

ReelShort's own affiliate rules you must respect

Beyond disclosure, ReelShort's program has hard lines:

• Promote only through your unique tracked link — never scrape or repost someone else's.
• Don't imply you're ReelShort *employees*. You're an independent licensed promoter of ReelShort, not staff.
• Sub-affiliate recruiting must be transparent too — explain the 2-tier system honestly; don't promise guaranteed income.
• Keep payout math real — our commission calculator shows what's actually achievable.

Copy-paste disclosure templates

Drop these straight into your content:

• Caption: "I'm a ReelShort affiliate — if you join through my link I may earn a commission. Cost to you: $0."
• Video open: "Quick note: this is a sponsored ReelShort promo, but I only share dramas I'd actually watch."
• Bio: "Affiliate links on this page may earn me a commission at no extra cost to you."
• Blog top: "Disclosure: Drama Affiliate Program is a ReelShort affiliate. Some links are tracked; we may earn if you sign up — it never costs you more."
• Email: "You're getting this because you asked about promoting short dramas. We're a ReelShort affiliate and may earn from sign-ups."

Need the wording localized for non-English markets? Translate the *meaning*, keep the honesty.

Your next move

Compliance is the floor, not the ceiling. Once your disclosures are airtight, the real game is volume and attribution — see how to wire up UTM tracking and scale to $10K/month.

Ready to promote the right way? Email partner@shortdramapartner.com for your authorized ReelShort invitation code and join a network that does disclosure *and* earnings by the book.