Just Got a Community Strike for linking to VidIq on Youtube

Boris Qs

Boris Qs

I Love YTtalk
I am just wondering if linking to products is now a violation of the youtube community laws. I recently made a video about the best youtube free keyword tools and linked to the two most popular keyword tools...Tube Buddy and Vid IQ.

After several months of posting that video, I recently got a community strike for the link pointing to Vidiq.

44031

So are links to pointing products no more allowed on youtube? Is it because I used the link shortener? Has anyone experienced this? Let me know

Just sent an appeal and still waiting for a reply if at all there will be any.
 
Crown said:
Where were the links? In the description?
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Below the video description
Crown said:
Were they affiliate links?
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Yes they were affiliate links

Crown said:
If so, they need to be FTC compliant ? (clearly mentioned that you earn a commission from sales next to the link.)
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Ok I have a disclaimer below but didn't know I have to mention about earning a commission from sales next to the link. Thanks for that tip
 
Boris Qs said:
Ok I have a disclaimer below but didn't know I have to mention about earning a commission from sales next to the link. Thanks for that tip
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Yeah the FTC is getting pretty strict about it and their wording is that the affiliate disclaimer needs to be "conspicious" (ie seen before or at the same time an affiliate link is given.) Since the FTC is getting strict, Youtube and many other websites are being very proactive in enforcing it. Amazon recently sent out an email to all their affiliates reminding them about disclosing affiliate links.


Here is the relevant info from the FTC's website:

___________________
I’m an affiliate marketer with links to an online retailer on my website. When people read what I’ve written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn a commission from the retailer. What do I have to disclose? Where should the disclosure be?

If you disclose your relationship to the retailer clearly and conspicuously on your site, readers can decide how much weight to give your endorsement.

In some instances – like when the affiliate link is embedded in your product review – a single disclosure may be adequate. When the review has a clear and conspicuous disclosure of your relationship and the reader can see both the review containing that disclosure and the link at the same time, readers have the information they need. You could say something like, “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.” But if the product review containing the disclosure and the link are separated, readers may not make the connection.

As for where to place a disclosure, the guiding principle is that it has to be clear and conspicuous. The closer it is to your recommendation, the better. Putting disclosures in obscure places – for example, buried on an ABOUT US or GENERAL INFO page, behind a poorly labeled hyperlink or in a “terms of service” agreement – isn’t good enough. Neither is placing it below your review or below the link to the online retailer so readers would have to keep scrolling after they finish reading. Consumers should be able to notice the disclosure easily. They shouldn’t have to hunt for it.
__________________
Source: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/bus...des-what-people-are-asking#affiliateornetwork
 
Hello,

Any update after you submitted the appeal to Youtube?

As per Youtube's own guidlines:

Note: Affiliate content doesn't violate YouTube’s Terms of Use. However, massively posting affiliate content in dedicated accounts may violate our policies around spam. You can learn more about what's allowed in our Spam, deceptive practices & scams policies.


So this sounds like a false positive to me, since your case doesn't sounds like massive aff link posting
 
prady said:
Hello,

Any update after you submitted the appeal to Youtube?

As per Youtube's own guidlines:

Note: Affiliate content doesn't violate YouTube’s Terms of Use. However, massively posting affiliate content in dedicated accounts may violate our policies around spam. You can learn more about what's allowed in our Spam, deceptive practices & scams policies.


So this sounds like a false positive to me, since your case doesn't sounds like massive aff link posting
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I doubt whether youtube even check those appeals because I have heard anything from them.
 
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