I think i was not completely clear. I meant I bought a (similar) product for myself and make a video about it. Then I only put affiliate links with disclosure in the description. In the video I just use the product (no review) and only in the description I put the affiliate links. How about that?
I dived into the rules and I believe they tell that where a call to action is made, there must be the disclosure about the relationship between you and a company (Amazon for example). So if you trigger viewers to buy something in the video, the disclosure must also be in the video. But if you don't trigger viewers in the video to buy something, but only use a product, the affiliate links with disclosure can only be in the description.
Hi. I was on a deep-sea fishing trip all weekend, so that is why the delay in response.
The thing that you must understand is that there are three sets of rules that you must comply with. There is YouTube's Terms of Service. There is requirements of your Affiliate (Amazon.com) program. There are the requirements of the Federal Trade Commission. So, it is not just one set of rules at play here. So, let me address each one individually.
1. YouTube's rules.
YouTube does not really provide clear guidance on this subject, other than to say that any product links must be related to the video. So, if you are building a storage shed, and using a hammer to drive nails, and you place a link to the hammer in the description of the video, you are in line with this guideline, because the hammer is related to the video, even though the video is not about the hammer. Placing a link to a Carribean cruise or a diamond ring would not be related to the video, unless of course, you mentioned a Caribbean cruise you went on in the video, or used the diamond ring to cut a pane of glass in the video.
2. Amazon.com's Affiliate program requires that you place a disclaimer anywhere you use affiliate links. Other affiliate programs have similar requirements. This disclaimer must place at a minimum on your Youtube About Me page, but it is highly recommended that you place it in the description area of each video in which you use affiliate links.
3. The FTC strictly requires that anyone participating in any form of online marketing expressly make it clear that they are receiving compensation for a product, even if it is just receiving the product itself of free. This is the one you really need to fear, because making a mistake here, could result in life-altering legal by the FTC action against you. It is much better to err on the side of being too safe in this regard.
Let me say it this way. You cannot be TOO safe or take TOO many precautions, but you certainly can not take enough. I have given you the five ways to make sure you are safe. While not all are required in all cases, only you can decide when and where to draw that line. Be honest with yourself and always err on the side of being too safe and you will be fine.