Affiliate & Sponsored Content Disclosure
Last updated: May 26, 2026
This page describes how VTScout discloses any post or page that involves compensation — whether through affiliate links, sponsored content, or other paid placements. It exists to comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s endorsement guides and to make our practices explicit.
Affiliate links
An affiliate link is a link that pays VTScout a commission if a reader clicks it and completes a qualifying purchase. As of the most-recent review of this policy, VTScout does not use affiliate links in editorial articles. If we add them in the future, every article containing affiliate links will carry an explicit disclosure block: “This article contains affiliate links. VTScout may earn a commission on purchases made through these links. The commission does not affect our editorial decisions.”
Sponsored content
Sponsored content is content paid for by an advertiser to appear on the site. VTScout sponsored content is:
- Visibly labeled as “Sponsored” — with a colored badge near the headline and the byline area.
- Excluded from the main news feed — sponsored posts do not appear in the homepage news stream, category archives, the newsletter, or original-reporting indexes.
- Editorially independent — advertisers do not review or influence our reporting. The Ethics Policy applies in full.
- Distinct in design — sponsored content uses a different visual treatment from editorial articles.
If you encounter a piece of content on VTScout that you believe is sponsored but is not clearly labeled, email [email protected]. We fix labeling errors promptly.
Advertising on the site
VTScout displays advertising via Google AdSense and similar networks. Ads are clearly separated from editorial content, are not curated by our newsroom, and do not influence our reporting. See our Privacy Policy for the cookie and tracking practices involved in advertising.
Gifts, travel, and discounts
Per our Ethics Policy, VTScout does not accept gifts, travel, meals, lodging, event tickets, or other items of value from anyone we cover. If a press kit or product review unit is sent unsolicited, it is returned, donated, or destroyed — never used for personal benefit.
Press trips and conferences
VTScout does not accept comped travel or accommodations to attend industry events. We pay our own way or do not attend.
Questions
For questions about our disclosure practices, contact [email protected].