Life in Soft Colors earns money from some of the links in its writing. This page sets out exactly how, in keeping with the Federal Trade Commission guidance on endorsements and testimonials.
The short version
Some outbound links are affiliate links. If you follow one and buy something, the retailer may pay me a small commission. What you pay does not change, and you are never charged more for having arrived through this site.
Where these links appear
Inside articles, where a specific material, tool or shop is named. Every article carrying one shows a disclosure at the top of the page, before the writing rather than buried under it, so you know before you read and not after.
What the commission does not buy
It does not buy a mention, a conclusion, or a position anywhere. Most of what gets named here earns nothing at all, because most of it is a colour, a quality of light, or a branch of eucalyptus in a jar. Where the answer is that you should paint a test patch and wait a week rather than buy anything, the piece says that, and waiting a week pays nothing.
Free products
If a company sends me something at no charge, paint samples included, the piece says so in plain words. Being sent something is not a promise to cover it and never a promise to be kind about it.
Why the disclosure sits at the top
Because a disclosure you find after reading is not really a disclosure. The FTC guidance asks for it to be clear and conspicuous, and the only version of that I can defend is one you cannot miss.
Questions
If a link on this site is not clearly disclosed, that is a mistake and I want to know about it. Write to hello@lifeinsoftcolors.org.