Affiliate Disclosure
Transparency is our foundation. Here’s everything you need to know about how TrendTested earns commissions and maintains editorial independence.
Last Updated: January 6, 2026
Our Commitment to Transparency
At TrendTested, we believe in complete honesty about our business model. This disclosure explains how we earn money through affiliate partnerships and, more importantly, how we maintain our editorial independence to ensure our reviews remain unbiased and trustworthy.
We want you to understand exactly how affiliate marketing works, what it means for you as a reader, and the strict ethical standards we follow to maintain your trust.
What Are Affiliate Links?
Affiliate links are special URLs that allow retailers to track which website referred a customer to them. When you click an affiliate link on TrendTested and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission from the retailer at no additional cost to you.
Important: You never pay more when you use our affiliate links. The price you see is the same price you would pay if you navigated to the retailer’s website directly. The commission comes from the retailer’s marketing budget, not your wallet.
How Affiliate Links Work
- You Click: When you click an affiliate link on our site, a small tracking cookie is placed in your browser
- You Shop: You browse the retailer’s website and decide whether to make a purchase
- You Purchase: If you complete a purchase within the cookie window (usually 24 hours), the retailer knows you came from TrendTested
- We Earn: The retailer pays us a small percentage of the sale (typically 2-10% depending on the product category)
- Your Price Stays the Same: You pay the exact same price you would have paid without using our link
Amazon Associates Program
TrendTested 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.com.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through our affiliate links. This means when you click a product link on our site and purchase that product (or any other products) on Amazon within 24 hours, we may receive a commission.
Our Amazon Affiliate Tag
Our Amazon Associate tag is: trendtested-20
This tag appears in the URL when you click our Amazon links, allowing Amazon to track purchases back to our site. We disclose this to maintain full transparency about our affiliate relationships.
Commission Rates
Amazon’s commission rates vary by product category and typically range from 1% to 10% of the purchase price. Some examples:
- Home & Kitchen: 4.5% commission
- Toys & Games: 3% commission
- Kitchen Gadgets: 4.5% commission
- Sports & Outdoors: 3% commission
- Beauty & Personal Care: 10% commission
These rates are subject to change by Amazon and represent typical ranges. The actual commission we earn depends on the product category and Amazon’s current commission structure.
Other Affiliate Programs
While Amazon Associates is our primary affiliate program, we may also participate in other affiliate networks and direct merchant programs, including but not limited to:
- Commission Junction (CJ): Network connecting publishers with various brands
- ShareASale: Affiliate network with diverse merchant partners
- Rakuten Advertising: Global affiliate marketing network
- Direct Merchant Programs: Partnerships directly with specific brands and retailers
When we link to products through these programs, the same principles apply: we earn a commission if you make a purchase, but you never pay more than the standard retail price.
Our Editorial Independence
This is the most important section of our disclosure. While we earn commissions from affiliate links, our editorial decisions are never influenced by potential earnings. Here’s how we maintain independence:
Product Selection Criteria
- Consumer Value First: We review products based on their usefulness, quality, and value to consumers—not commission rates
- Trend-Based Selection: Our product selection is driven by trending items, viral products, and consumer interest—not affiliate opportunities
- Honest Assessment: We provide genuine opinions about products, including negative feedback when warranted
- No Cherry-Picking: We don’t avoid reviewing products just because they have low or no commission rates
- Quality Over Commission: A product with a 10% commission rate doesn’t get preferential treatment over a better product with a 2% commission rate
Review Standards
- Real Research: Our reviews are based on thorough research, actual product testing where possible, user reviews, and expert opinions
- Balanced Perspective: We highlight both pros and cons of every product we review
- No Guaranteed Positive Reviews: Affiliate partnerships do not guarantee positive coverage
- Critical When Necessary: We’re not afraid to criticize products that don’t meet expectations, regardless of commission potential
- Regular Updates: We update reviews when products change or new information becomes available
What We Don’t Do
- No Paid Reviews: We never accept payment from brands or manufacturers for positive reviews
- No Editorial Control: Brands cannot purchase the right to dictate our review content or conclusions
- No Deceptive Practices: We don’t hide negative information to protect commission income
- No Misleading Claims: We don’t exaggerate product benefits to drive sales
- No Fake Recommendations: Every product we recommend is something we genuinely believe provides value
Sponsored Content vs. Affiliate Content
It’s important to understand the difference between affiliate content and sponsored content, as they represent very different business relationships:
Affiliate Content (What We Do)
- Editorial Independence: We choose what products to review based on our own criteria
- Honest Opinions: We provide our genuine assessment, positive or negative
- Commission-Based: We only earn money if you choose to make a purchase
- No Direct Payment: Brands don’t pay us to feature their products
- Reader-Focused: Content serves your interests, not advertisers’
Sponsored Content (What We May Do in the Future)
While we currently focus exclusively on affiliate content, we may consider sponsored partnerships in the future. If we do, they will always be:
- Clearly Labeled: Sponsored posts will be prominently marked as “Sponsored,” “Paid Partnership,” or “Advertisement”
- Selective: We’ll only partner with brands that align with our values and audience interests
- Still Honest: Even in sponsored content, we maintain editorial integrity and honest opinions
- Transparent: The nature of the business relationship will always be disclosed upfront
FTC Compliance
TrendTested complies with the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. Specifically:
- Material Connection Disclosure: We disclose our affiliate relationships and the potential to earn commissions
- Clear and Conspicuous: Our disclosures are placed where readers can easily see and understand them
- Proximity to Claims: We disclose affiliate relationships near relevant product links and recommendations
- Plain Language: We use clear, straightforward language to explain our affiliate relationships
- No Deceptive Practices: We don’t hide, minimize, or obfuscate our affiliate relationships
The FTC requires transparency about material connections between publishers and advertisers. We take this responsibility seriously and strive to exceed the minimum disclosure requirements.
How Affiliate Income Supports TrendTested
We believe in transparency about our business model. Here’s how affiliate income supports our operations:
What Affiliate Commissions Fund
- Content Creation: Research, writing, and updating product reviews and articles
- Product Testing: Purchasing and testing products for hands-on reviews
- Website Operations: Hosting, maintenance, and technical improvements
- Research Tools: Subscriptions to data sources, analytics platforms, and research tools
- Quality Content: Time and resources to create comprehensive, helpful guides
Affiliate commissions allow us to provide free, high-quality content to our readers. Without this revenue model, we would need to implement paywalls, display intrusive advertising, or cease operations entirely.
Your Support Matters
When you use our affiliate links to make purchases, you’re supporting independent consumer journalism. You’re helping us:
- Continue providing free, honest product reviews
- Invest more time in thorough research and testing
- Expand our coverage to more product categories
- Maintain editorial independence from brand influence
- Create helpful guides and comparison articles
Remember: using our affiliate links costs you nothing extra, but it makes a significant difference in our ability to keep TrendTested running.
Product Samples and Gifted Items
From time to time, brands may send us free product samples for review consideration. When this occurs:
- Clear Disclosure: We always disclose when a product was received for free
- No Obligation: Receiving a free sample creates no obligation to provide positive coverage
- Same Standards: Gifted products are reviewed with the same critical eye as products we purchase
- No Guaranteed Coverage: Receiving a free product doesn’t guarantee we’ll review it at all
- Honest Assessment: We provide the same honest, balanced reviews regardless of how we obtained the product
Currently, the vast majority of products we review are selected independently based on trending topics and consumer interest, not brand partnerships or product samples.
Your Rights and Choices
As a reader of TrendTested, you have complete control over whether to use our affiliate links:
- Optional Support: Using our affiliate links is entirely optional—you can navigate to retailers directly if you prefer
- No Obligation: You’re never obligated to purchase anything through our links
- Shop Anywhere: You can use our reviews for research and purchase products wherever you like
- Clear Identification: Our affiliate links are product links that lead to retailers—they’re easy to identify and avoid if you choose
- Free Content: All our content remains free regardless of whether you use our affiliate links
We’re grateful for your support when you choose to use our affiliate links, but we respect your right to make purchasing decisions that work best for you.
Price and Availability
While we make every effort to provide accurate information, please note:
- Prices Change: Product prices on retailer websites may differ from what we show, as prices fluctuate frequently
- Availability Varies: Product availability can change without notice
- Retailer Responsibility: The retailer, not TrendTested, is responsible for pricing, availability, shipping, and customer service
- No Price Control: We have no control over product pricing or retailer policies
- Check Before Buying: Always verify current prices and availability on the retailer’s website before making a purchase
Updates to This Disclosure
We may update this Affiliate Disclosure from time to time to reflect changes in our affiliate partnerships, business practices, or legal requirements. When we make changes:
- We will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page
- Significant changes will be announced on our site
- Your continued use of TrendTested after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated disclosure
- We encourage you to review this disclosure periodically
Questions About Our Affiliate Practices?
We’re committed to transparency and welcome questions about our affiliate relationships and business practices.
If you have questions about this disclosure, our affiliate partnerships, or how we maintain editorial independence, please contact us:
- Email: hello@trendtested.com
- Subject Line: “Affiliate Disclosure Question”
We respond to all inquiries within 48 hours and are happy to provide additional clarity about our business practices.
Thank You for Your Trust
Your trust is our most valuable asset. We promise to maintain the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and editorial independence in everything we do.
When you use our affiliate links, you’re supporting independent product journalism while paying the exact same prices you’d pay anyway. That’s a win-win we can all feel good about.
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