When you start adding affiliate links, sponsored content, or even product recommendations to a website, one thing tends to get overlooked: transparency.
I see this a lot on newer WordPress sites. Everything looks fine on the surface—good content, clean layout, basic SEO—but there’s no clear disclosure explaining how the site makes money or handles partnerships. That’s usually not intentional. It’s just something people don’t think about until later.
The problem is that visitors notice this more than you might expect. And from a compliance standpoint, it can also create issues depending on how your site earns revenue.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer / Summary
A disclosure page explains how your website makes money, including affiliate links, sponsored content, or partnerships. You create it by adding a new WordPress page, clearly outlining your relationships, and linking to it from your footer or legal pages so it’s always accessible.
Why This Matters
A disclosure page does two practical things. For example, the FTC disclosure guidelines explain how affiliate and sponsored relationships should be clearly communicated:
- Builds trust with visitors
People are more likely to follow recommendations when they know how you’re compensated. - Keeps your site compliant
Many regions (including the EU and US) require clear disclosure for affiliate and sponsored content.
In most sites I build, the disclosure page is part of a small group of “legal + trust” pages, alongside a privacy policy, terms, and cookie policy. It doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be clear.
Step-by-Step: How to Create a Disclosure Page in WordPress
1. Create a New Page
In your WordPress dashboard:
- Go to Pages → Add New
- Title the page: Disclosure
Keep the title simple. This matches what users expect and is easy to recognize.
2. Write a Clear Disclosure Statement
Your content should explain:
- Whether you use affiliate links
- Whether you publish sponsored content
- Whether you receive free products or compensation
- How that affects (or doesn’t affect) your recommendations
A simple structure that works well:
- Short introduction
- Affiliate disclosure
- Sponsored content disclosure (if applicable)
- Statement about honesty and independence
In my experience, the best disclosure pages are straightforward. Avoid legal-heavy language unless required. The goal is clarity, not complexity.
3. Example Structure (You Can Adapt This)
You don’t need to copy this exactly, but this layout works well:
- Introduction
Explain that your site may earn money through links or partnerships. - Affiliate Links
Mention that you may earn a commission if users click and purchase. - Sponsored Content
Clarify whether posts are paid for or promoted. - Content Integrity
State that opinions are your own and not influenced by compensation.
4. Publish the Page
Once your content is ready:
- Click Publish
- Preview the page to check formatting and readability
Keep paragraphs short and easy to scan. This page should be quick to read.
5. Add the Disclosure Page to Your Footer
This is important.
Most websites place disclosure links in the footer alongside:
- Privacy Policy
- Terms and Conditions
- Cookie Policy
To add it:
- Go to Appearance → Menus
- Edit your footer menu
- Add the Disclosure page
- Save
When I review sites, one of the first things I check is whether these pages are easy to find. If users have to search for them, that’s a problem.
6. Link to It from Relevant Content (Optional but Recommended)
If you use affiliate links inside posts:
- Add a short disclosure near the top of those posts
- Link that text to your full disclosure page
Example:
This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure page for details.
This keeps everything consistent and transparent.
Practical Tips and Observations
- Keep it readable
Most visitors will skim this page. Avoid long blocks of text. - Match your actual setup
Don’t include sections you don’t use yet. If you’re not doing sponsored content, leave it out. - Update it when your site evolves
If you start using new monetization methods, update the page. - Consistency matters
Your disclosure page, privacy policy, and terms should not contradict each other.
In most WordPress setups I work on, this page takes less than 30 minutes to create—but it’s one of those things that improves trust immediately.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Not having a disclosure page at all
This is still very common, especially on affiliate sites.
2. Hiding it somewhere hard to find
If it’s not in your footer or clearly linked, it’s effectively invisible.
3. Being too vague
Statements like “we may earn money” aren’t enough. Be specific about how.
4. Copying generic legal text without understanding it
Templates are fine, but make sure the content actually reflects your site.
5. Forgetting to update it
If your monetization changes, your disclosure should too.
When to Use This vs Alternatives
A disclosure page works best when:
- Your site uses affiliate links
- You publish reviews or recommendations
- You accept sponsored posts
In some cases, you might also need:
- More detailed legal pages (for larger businesses)
- Region-specific compliance text (especially for EU or US regulations)
For most small to medium WordPress sites, a clear disclosure page plus short notices inside posts is enough.
Conclusion
A disclosure page is a simple but important part of building a trustworthy website. It explains how your site operates, supports compliance, and gives visitors confidence in your content.
Once it’s created and linked properly, it becomes a set-and-maintain page—something you update occasionally but rely on constantly.
Etienne Basson works with website systems, SEO-driven site architecture, and technical implementation. He writes practical guides on building, structuring, and optimizing websites for long-term growth.