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Put a plain-language affiliate disclosure at the very top of your YouTube livestream description, before the links. If you endorse or recommend products during the stream, disclose the affiliate relationship in the stream itself too. For a 24/7 broadcast, repeat the disclosure periodically so people who join later see it; a clear, persistent on-screen notice can help.
What to write in the description
Tell viewers plainly that you may earn a commission if they buy through your links. For example:
Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy through links in this description.
[Affiliate links]
This is an example, not required wording. Use language that accurately describes your arrangement. You can add “The price you pay is not affected by my commission” only if that is true for your affiliate program.
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Put the notice before the first affiliate link, not after a long description or behind a “Show more” expansion. Keep it close to the links and to any product-specific recommendation. The FTC’s 2023 Endorsement Guides FAQ gives “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post” as an example of direct wording. It also advises disclosing the affiliate relationship in both the video and the description near the links. The words “affiliate link” by themselves may not tell viewers that you can be paid when they buy.
Why the description alone is not enough for a live endorsement
A viewer may never open the description, and people can arrive at a continuous livestream at any time. If you make an endorsement during the stream, put the disclosure in the stream rather than relying only on its description. The FTC’s 2019 Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers says a live-stream disclosure should be repeated periodically so viewers who see only part of the stream receive it. Its 2023 Endorsement Guides FAQ also says a continuous, clear and conspicuous disclosure throughout the stream is a cautious option.
The FTC guidance does not prescribe a specific interval. Do not treat a particular number of minutes as a legal safe harbor. Make the notice easy to notice and understand, and repeat it often enough that viewers joining at different times have a reasonable chance to see it. A persistent on-screen disclosure can help with an always-on stream; periodic spoken or visual reminders can supplement it.
Choose placements viewers can actually see
| Placement | What it does | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| At the start of the description, before links | Explains the commission relationship before a viewer clicks through. | Use it for affiliate links in the description, whether or not you also recommend the product on stream. |
| In the livestream itself | Reaches viewers who do not open the description. | When the stream includes an affiliate endorsement, repeat the disclosure periodically; consider keeping a clear notice on screen continuously. |
| YouTube’s paid-promotion declaration | For applicable branded content, YouTube says a label will display on the video. | Use the Studio control for brand-paid or otherwise qualifying branded content, but do not treat the platform label as a replacement for clear wording near affiliate links or other disclosures that apply. |
For an on-screen notice, make the words readable against the video and keep them visible long enough to understand. The notice should identify the financial connection, not merely say “affiliate.” A persistent notice is especially useful when the content loops, but it does not remove the need to make the description disclosure clear and close to the links.
Affiliate commissions and sponsorships are different disclosures
Commission earned through a link
State that you may earn a commission if viewers buy through the link. Place that statement near the links in the description. If you endorse the linked product in the livestream, disclose that relationship in the stream as well, with periodic repetition for late-arriving viewers.
Payment, products, or other value from a brand
YouTube’s Branded Content Policies say creators must declare applicable branded content using the Studio control. YouTube says the declaration displays a label on the video, while the creator remains responsible for clear and prominent disclosure and applicable legal obligations. Use the platform declaration when it applies, and provide any additional plain-language disclosure needed for your relationship and audience. A brand sponsorship declaration and an affiliate commission notice describe different relationships; one should not be assumed to communicate the other.
Check where your YouTube links work
YouTube’s link guidance says URLs in long-form video descriptions and comments are clickable, as are links in live chat and channel descriptions for horizontal livestreams. External clickable links require access to advanced features. In the mobile app’s vertical live feed, live-chat and channel-description URLs are not clickable, according to YouTube’s help documentation.
Clickability is separate from disclosure: an unclickable link can still be an affiliate link, and a clickable link does not make a disclosure adequate. Put the notice where viewers can read it, and do not rely on live chat as the only place for either the link or the disclosure.
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- Write a short, accurate notice naming the possibility of a commission.
- Move it to the beginning of the description, before the first affiliate URL.
- Keep it near related product links and recommendations.
- If you endorse a product live, add an in-stream disclosure and plan periodic reminders; consider a continuously visible notice for a 24/7 broadcast.
- For applicable branded content, use YouTube Studio’s paid-promotion declaration as an additional platform step.
- Check that external links are enabled for your channel’s feature access and consider whether your audience watches horizontal or vertical live video.
- Check the rules that apply where you and your audience are located. The guidance above describes U.S. FTC recommendations and YouTube documentation; legal requirements can vary by jurisdiction.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your 24/7 stream plays uploaded videos, StreamNeo keeps a YouTube channel live from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It does not create or replace your affiliate disclosure, so put your notice in the description and in the stream as appropriate.
- Nothing has to stay running on your home computer or connection.
- Videos stream as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card.
Monthly pricing: $9.99 per month. Learn about StreamNeo or start your free first day.
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