Commercial and affiliate policy

What an affiliate link means

An affiliate link can earn a publisher a commission when a reader takes a qualifying action, such as making a purchase. A link to a manufacturer or research source should not be treated as evidence of an affiliate relationship.

This policy sets the standards for commercial content on Vrulum. It does not announce any retailer partnership, commission arrangement or product testing programme.

How commercial links should be labelled

• A page with affiliate links must explain the actual commission arrangement before its first commercial link. Use a definite statement that reflects the arrangement, rather than an ambiguous disclosure.
• Individual commercial links must be clearly labelled, for example “Ad: affiliate link”.
• When an entire article promotes affiliate products, its title and teaser must identify it as advertising before readers click. Mixed editorial pages must identify each advertising section and link before engagement.
• Commercial links must include rel="sponsored" so search engines can distinguish paid relationships from editorial citations.
• Sponsored content must identify the sponsor and the nature of the relationship near the start of the page.
• Links must not imply a discount, stock availability or price advantage unless that statement has been checked and dated.

What buying guidance should tell you

A recommendation should explain the intended use, the alternatives considered, the limitations and who the product may not suit. It should distinguish hands-on testing from research based on published sources. We must not claim to have tested a product when we have not.

Commercial interest must not change a claim’s evidence label or remove a material caveat. Commission should not determine a recommendation. Waiting, repairing or buying nothing should remain valid outcomes.

Research is not a product endorsement

Technology profiles describe research and maturity. Comparisons show individual trade-offs. Speculative product concepts describe possible future applications. None of these, on its own, establishes that a particular product is available, suitable or worth buying.

Use the guides and buying checklist to structure your questions. Read the editorial methodology to understand how evidence is labelled.

Standards behind this policy

Our disclosure standard follows ASA and CAP affiliate marketing guidance. Link qualification follows Google Search guidance on paid links. A policy does not replace clear labels where readers encounter advertising.

Raise a concern

If a commercial relationship is unclear, a product claim lacks evidence or a link is misleading, please contact us. For factual errors, see our corrections process.