Effective [effective date] · The Rustic Compass
Material connections
In line with FTC guidance on endorsements and testimonials, we disclose material connections: affiliate commissions, free products or review copies, and any sponsored placement. Sponsored content is labelled as sponsored on the page where it appears.
How and where we disclose
FTC guidance asks for disclosures that are clear, conspicuous and hard to miss. Ours are placed where the recommendation is, in plain English, and are never hidden behind a hover, a pop-up, a collapsed section or a footer link on its own.
- A standing advertising disclosure appears at the top of every page, above the content
- A disclosure appears immediately above any group of recommendations or outbound product links
- A paid-product disclosure appears above everything we sell ourselves
- Commissioned links are labelled in the link text and carry rel="sponsored nofollow"
- Sponsored or gifted content is labelled "Sponsored" or "Gifted" at the top of that content, not at the bottom
- Email, newsletter and social posts carry the disclosure inside the message itself
What counts as a material connection
We treat all of the following as material connections that must be disclosed to you: affiliate or referral commissions, revenue from our own products, free or discounted products and review copies, gifted stays or experiences, paid sponsorships and placements, bonuses or contest entries offered by a brand, and any business or family relationship with a company we mention.
Reviews and rankings
Rankings, "best of" lists and comparisons are based on our own use and research. Payment, commission rate and sponsorship play no part in the order or in the verdict, and no brand gets approval rights over what we write. We disclose when a product was provided free of charge, and we tell you plainly when the free option is good enough.
Endorsers and anyone paid to promote us
If we ever pay, gift or commission anyone — an affiliate, creator, reviewer or employee — to promote The Rustic Compass, we require them to disclose that connection clearly and conspicuously in the same post or video, and we monitor for it. Anyone who will not disclose is removed from the program.
Testimonials and results
Any testimonial published here is a real statement from a real person, used with permission and unedited except for length and spelling. Individual results are not typical and are not a promise. We do not publish invented reviews, invented figures, or purchased ratings.
Earnings and financial claims
We do not guarantee income, savings, or business results. Money and business content on this site is educational information, not financial, tax or legal advice. For advice about your own situation, speak to a qualified professional.
Advertising
Where advertising appears, it is identifiable as advertising. Advertisers do not get editorial control over what we publish.
Reporting a problem
If you believe something on this site is misleading or missing a disclosure, tell us at info@therusticcompass.com and we will correct it.