Affiliate & Advertising Disclosure – Tips Clear
Last updated: 17 May 2025
1. Why We Disclose
Tips Clear is reader-supported. We accept advertising and participate in affiliate-marketing programs so we can keep most of our journalism free. U.S., EU and Indian regulations—as well as Google Search/Discover policies—require clear disclosure whenever money changes hands. Our aim is to make those relationships obvious at a glance while preserving 100 % editorial independence. Federal Trade CommissionGoogle HelpEuropean Commission
2. The Revenue Streams We Use
| Format | How It Works | How We Label It |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate links | When you click a product link marked “Affiliate” and make a qualifying purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are unaffected. | Inline notice: “We may earn a commission when you buy via links on our site.” |
| Programmatic display ads (Google AdSense, Amazon Ads, Media.net) | Ads are served dynamically based on page context, your location or prior browsing—with your explicit consent in the EEA/UK. | Bordered ad boxes labelled Advertisement + AdChoices icon |
| Sponsored content / advertorials | A partner pays a flat fee to place content that they help create and approve. Editorial retains final vetting for accuracy and reader relevance. | Header banner: Sponsored by [Brand] |
| Review samples & press loans | Brands sometimes send products, software licences or event tickets. Accepting a sample never guarantees positive coverage or inclusion. All review units must be returned or donated after testing unless impractical (e.g., installed plumbing). | Footnote: “Sample provided by manufacturer for testing; opinions are Tips Clear’s own.” |
3. Our Wall Between Editorial & Commerce
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No pay-for-play rankings. The newsroom decides which products to test, what to recommend, and which stories to cover—before any monetisation team adds links or ads.
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Hands-on reviews. For gear and software, we require first-hand testing plus a documented rubric (performance, usability, value, sustainability).
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Blind verdicts. Review editors write conclusions before affiliate links are inserted.
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Separate reporting lines. Commerce/ads staff report to a Revenue Director; journalists report to the Managing Editor.
4. Regulatory & Platform Compliance
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FTC Endorsement Guides (June 2023 update) – material connections must be “clear, conspicuous, and unavoidable,” whether on web or social. Federal Trade CommissionFederal Register
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EU Digital Services Act (in force 17 Feb 2024) – users in the EU must see the name of the advertiser and a “why am I seeing this ad?” explanation. Our CMP sends that data to AdSense’s adTransparency API. European CommissionAdMonsters
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Google AdSense Program Policies – prohibits mislabelled ads and deceptive ad placements; we keep display ads visually distinct and under five per page on mobile. Google Help
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India ASCI Guidelines – influencer or endorsement content is tagged #Ad or #Sponsored across all channels.
5. How You Can Spot Commercial Content Quickly
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Affiliate Shield Icon – next to outbound retail links on desktop; tap or hover for a tool-tip explaining commissions.
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Boxed Ad Units – grey outline + “Advertisement” heading.
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Top-of-Post Banner – blue ribbon stating “Sponsored Content” when a partner helps create the piece.
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Chrome’s AdChoices ℹ️ – appears in the corner of interest-based ads; click to adjust targeting.
If you ever notice an unlabeled ad or link that seems commercial, please email ethics@tipsclear.com so we can fix it within 24 hours.
6. What We Don’t Do
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Sell or rent your personal data to advertisers.
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Let sponsors preview or edit independent news coverage.
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Accept payment for do-follow backlinks (all sponsored/affiliate links use
rel="sponsored"per Google guidance). -
Run pop-ups that obscure core content (violates Google’s “intrusive interstitials” policy).
7. Reader Impact & Choice
| Your Region | Your Options |
|---|---|
| EEA / UK | CMP pops up on first visit; you can toggle Personalised Ads and Affiliate Tracking separately. |
| California | Use the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link in the footer to opt out of cross-context behavioural ads. |
| All locations | Browser privacy tools (uBlock, Brave Shields) will not break essential content; only ads and affiliate pixels. |
Rejecting cookies may reduce ad relevance but will not block access to Tips Clear articles.
8. Updates to This Disclosure
We revise this page when revenue models or regulations change. Material changes trigger a 14-day banner on the homepage and re-consent through our CMP.
Last major change: Included DSA transparency paragraph (17 May 2025).
9. Contact
Commerce & Partnerships: partnerships@tipsclear.com
Editorial Ethics Hotline: ethics@tipsclear.com (or +91-44-4000-1234)
Postal: Tips Clear Media LLP, 22 Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thoraipakkam, Chennai 600097, India
By remaining transparent about every commercial link and ad you encounter, we aim to help you make confident decisions—while sustaining the high-quality journalism you expect from Tips Clear.