Disclosure and Endorsement Guidelines

Effective Date: January 1, 2023
Last Updated: August 1, 2024

1. Introduction

At ThePositiveReview.com, we prioritize transparency, integrity, and trust in all our content. Our mission is to provide expert-driven business reviews, industry insights, and product comparisons to help our audience make informed decisions.

To maintain ethical standards and comply with United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, European Union GDPR regulations, and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) laws, we have established this Disclosure and Endorsement Policy.

This policy applies to:
✔ Affiliate partnerships and sponsored content
✔ Product and service endorsements
✔ Social media promotions and paid collaborations

By using ThePositiveReview.com, you acknowledge that some of our content may be monetized through affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and advertising partnerships.

2. Affiliate Links & Commission-Based Endorsements

We participate in affiliate programs, which means that when you click on certain links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

✔ How Affiliate Links Work:

  • Affiliate links contain tracking parameters, but they do not impact product pricing or influence our reviews.
  • When a visitor clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase, we may receive a commission from the vendor.

✔ FTC Compliance:

  • As required by FTC’s Endorsement Guidelines (16 CFR Part 255), all articles containing affiliate links include a clear disclosure at the beginning of the content.
  • Example Disclosure:
    "This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. However, our reviews remain independent and unbiased."

✔ Affiliate Programs We Participate In:

  • Amazon Associates
  • Awin (Affiliate Window)
  • CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction)
  • ShareASale
  • Rakuten Marketing
  • Other tech-related affiliate programs

3. Sponsored Content & Paid Promotions

Some brands may pay us to feature their products or services through sponsored posts, collaborations, or advertisements.

✔ How Sponsored Content Works:

  • If a company pays us to promote its product/service, the content will be clearly labeled as "Sponsored Content".
  • Sponsored reviews are evaluated independently, and our editorial integrity is not compromised.
  • We do not accept sponsorships that require us to provide dishonest or misleading endorsements.

✔ Disclosure Statement for Sponsored Content:

  • Example: "This article is sponsored by [Company Name]. However, all opinions expressed are our own."

✔ Social Media Sponsored Content:

  • Posts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube that involve paid collaborations will include the hashtags #Ad or #Sponsored to comply with FTC guidelines.

✔ What We Will Not Endorse:

  • Unverified claims (e.g., "Get rich quick" schemes, misleading health supplements).
  • Products that lack credibility or have been flagged for deceptive marketing practices.

4. Product Reviews & Unbiased Recommendations

✔ Editorial Independence:

  • We conduct independent research and base our reviews on real user experiences, expert analysis, and industry benchmarks.
  • Even when a product has an affiliate partnership, we do not allow commissions to influence our recommendations.
  • Our comparison methodology considers features, pricing, customer reviews, and market reputation.

✔ No Pay-for-Review Scheme:

  • We do not accept payment for positive reviews.
  • Companies cannot pay to remove negative feedback or alter our editorial conclusions.

✔ Use of AI & Data-Driven Reviews:

  • Some of our product recommendations are data-driven, using AI tools to analyze thousands of reviews.
  • We always fact-check AI-generated insights to ensure accuracy and credibility.

5. Compliance with Legal & Advertising Standards

We comply with the following global disclosure and endorsement regulations:

5.1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines (USA)

✔ Full Disclosure Required: Every sponsored post, affiliate link, or paid endorsement must include clear, conspicuous disclosure.
✔ No Deceptive Practices: We cannot misrepresent a product, service, or brand for financial gain.
✔ Truth-in-Advertising Rule: All claims must be fact-checked and verifiable.

5.2. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU)

✔ User Consent: We do not track user behavior for affiliate marketing purposes without explicit consent.
✔ Right to Opt-Out: Users can request the removal of their data related to personalized ads.

5.3. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

✔ Users in California have the right to:

  • Opt-out of targeted advertising
  • Request deletion of personal data collected for marketing purposes

5.4. CNIL Compliance (France)

✔ Affiliate marketing and sponsorship tracking must be disclosed in all digital content.
✔ Consumers must be informed how their data is collected and used.

6. Social Media Disclosures & Influencer Partnerships

As part of our global outreach strategy, we collaborate with influencers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders on social media.

✔ Transparency in Paid Social Media Partnerships:

  • Influencer collaborations must include hashtags such as #Ad, #Sponsored, or #Partnership.
  • Sponsored social media posts must clearly state the partnership in the first few lines of the caption.

✔ Endorsement Ethics on Social Platforms:

  • Influencers working with us must use our products/services before endorsing them.
  • False or exaggerated claims are not allowed under our endorsement agreements.

7. User Trust & How You Can Verify Our Endorsements

We encourage our readers to fact-check our recommendations and conduct independent research before making purchasing decisions.

✔ Check for the Disclosure Label: Every sponsored post or affiliate-linked article has a visible disclaimer at the beginning.
✔ Contact Us for Clarifications: If you suspect an undisclosed partnership on our site, email us at info@thepositivereview.com.
✔ Report Misleading Ads or Promotions: We take feedback seriously and will remove any content that violates our ethical advertising standards.

8. Contact Information for Disclosure-Related Inquiries

If you have questions or concerns about our disclosure practices, please reach out to:

📍 Service Address:
1330 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10019

📧 Email: info@thepositivereview.com

📞 Contact Person: Ben Chaudes

9. Conclusion & Final Commitment to Transparency

At ThePositiveReview.com, our goal is to inform, educate, and empower our audience without compromising on integrity and transparency.

We are committed to:
✔ Full transparency in affiliate marketing & sponsored content
✔ Honest reviews, free from financial bias
✔ Compliance with global advertising and consumer protection laws

This policy will be regularly updated to reflect new FTC, GDPR, CCPA, and CNIL regulations.