Advertising Policy

Please note that The Host Report has financial relationships with some of the merchants listed on the website. The Host Report may be compensated if consumers choose to use the links or codes located throughout the content on this site and generate sales for the said merchant.

As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.

This website is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. We want to help you make personal finance decisions with confidence by providing you with free interactive tools, helpful data points, and by publishing original and objective content.

We work hard to share thorough research and our honest experience with products and brands. Of course, personal finance is personal so one person’s experience may differ from someone else’s, and estimates based on past performance do not guarantee future results. As such, our advice may not apply directly to your individual situation. We are not financial advisors and we recommend you consult with a financial professional before making any serious financial decisions.

We make money from affiliate relationships with companies that we personally believe in. This means that, at no additional cost to you, we may get paid when you click on a link.

This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear), but does not influence our editorial integrity. We do not sell specific rankings on any of our “best of” posts or take money in exchange for a positive review.

At the end of the day, our readers come first and your trust is very important to us. We will always share our sincere opinions, and we are selective when choosing which companies to partner with.

The revenue these partnerships generate gives us the opportunity to pay our great team of writers for their work, as well as continue to improve the website and its content.

Opinions expressed in our articles are solely those of the writer. The information regarding any product was independently collected and was not provided nor reviewed by the company or issuer. The rates, terms and fees presented are accurate at the time of publication, but these change often. We recommend verifying with the source to confirm the most up to date information.

TheHostReport.com is part of an affiliate sales network and various affiliate programs. This means that many of the companies whose products you see listed on this site may pay us referral fees for sending them new users for certain products and services of theirs.

When you click to apply for those services or products using the links that you find on this site, we receive compensation from the affiliate company that issues the product or service. Being a part of affiliate networks and affiliate programs makes it possible to support a team of writers and videographers who help provide the latest news in the short term rental industry and gig economy for our readers.

Opinions presented on this site are those of our team of writers who at times may post their own opinions.

We greatly appreciate it when you choose to use our links to sign up for products and services and we aim to be upfront about which links we receive compensation for. Below are the companies who offer products that we have affiliate links for:

• Amazon

Many of the offers that appear on the website are from short term rental related companies from which The Host Report receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).

If you’re interested in partnering with us, you can email socials@thehostreport.com

1. FTC Compliance Requirement

All contributors to The Host Report's Community Publishing program must comply with the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (16 CFR Part 255).

If you have a material connection to any product, service, or company mentioned in your submitted content, you must provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure of that relationship.

2. Definition of Material Connection

A "material connection" is any relationship between you and a company, product, or service that might affect the credibility of your endorsement or recommendation. Material connections include, but are not limited to:

You own, operate, or have a financial interest in the company or product mentionedYou are employed by, consult for, or have a business relationship with the companyYou received compensation, free products, or other benefits from the companyYou have an affiliate relationship where you earn commissions from salesYou are an investor in the companyYou have a personal or family relationship with someone at the company

3. Disclosure Requirements

If you have a material connection to any product, service, or company mentioned in your Contributor Content, you must provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure.

Placement of Disclosures:

Disclosures must be placed where readers will see them before they engage with the promotional content.For end-of-article CTAs promoting your own business, the disclosure should appear immediately before or within the CTA.For any self-promotional link in the body of the article, the disclosure should appear in the same sentence or immediately adjacent to the link.If your entire article discusses your own product or company, the disclosure should appear at the beginning of the article (for example, in an editor's note or author bio introduction).Disclosures must be clear and unambiguous. Do not use vague terms like "I work with some companies" or "I may have relationships with brands mentioned."Disclosures must not be hidden in a different font, color, or size than the surrounding text.Disclosures must not be buried in footnotes, at the very bottom of the page, or behind "read more" links.

Format of Disclosures:

Use clear, simple language that average readers will understand.Avoid technical jargon, legal disclaimers, or corporate language.Be specific about the nature of your relationship (e.g., "I am the founder," "I work for," "I am an investor in").

Examples of Adequate Disclosures:

"I am the founder and CEO of [Company].""My company, [Company], offers the product discussed in this article.""I work for [Company], which provides [service] to STR operators.""(Disclosure: I am an investor in [Company].)""I received this product for free from [Company] in exchange for this review.""I earn a commission if you purchase through my link to [Company]."

Examples of Inadequate Disclosures:

"I may have a relationship with some companies mentioned." (too vague)"See disclosures at the bottom of this page." (not conspicuous)A disclosure buried in a footnote or at the very bottom of the pageA disclosure in fine print or a different color/font than the article textA disclosure hidden behind a "read more" or "show more" link"I'm affiliated with [Company]." (ambiguous - what does "affiliated" mean?)

The Host Report reserves the right to add or edit disclosure language to any Contributor Content to ensure compliance with FTC guidelines and our editorial standards.

4. Call-to-Action (CTA) and Link Policy

Contributors may include a maximum of ONE self-promotional link in the body of their article, which must link to their company homepage only.

NOT PERMITTED in the article body:

Links to product pages, service pages, or landing pagesAffiliate links or tracking codesDiscount codes or promotional offersLinks to social media profilesMultiple links to the same company or different pages of the same website

PERMITTED at the end of the article (in your CTA):

At the end of the article, contributors may include a Call-to-Action (CTA) that promotes their business, product, or service, subject to the restrictions outlined in the Community Publishing Guidelines.

The CTA must be brief (2-3 sentences maximum)The CTA may include one link to the contributor's website, product, or signup pageThe CTA may include an invitation to connect on LinkedIn or follow on social mediaThe CTA may include contact information (email, phone)

NOT PERMITTED in the CTA:

Discount codes or time-sensitive offers (e.g., "50% off this week only")Aggressive or unrealistic promises (e.g., "3X your revenue in 30 days!")Multiple competing CTAs or links to different products/servicesAffiliate links or tracking codesFinancial advice, investment offers, or solicitationsLegal, tax, or medical advice

Disclosure Requirement for CTAs:

If your CTA promotes your own business, product, or service, you MUST include a clear FTC disclosure immediately before or within the CTA.

The disclosure must use clear, simple language (see examples in Section 3 above).

Example of a Compliant CTA:

"Disclosure: I am the founder of CleanStay Solutions. We offer professional cleaning services designed specifically for short-term rental properties. If you're looking to streamline your turnover process, visit cleanstaysolutions.com or connect with me on LinkedIn."

Example of a Non-Compliant CTA:

"Want to 3X your revenue in 30 days? Use code SAVE50 for 50% off our revolutionary pricing software at pricingpro.com/special-offer!"

The Host Report reserves the right to edit or remove any CTA or link that it deems overly promotional, misleading, or in violation of our policies.

5. Third-Party Links and Citations

Contributors are encouraged to cite sources and link to authoritative third-party resources, studies, and industry reports to support their claims.

PERMITTED third-party links:

Links to industry research, studies, or reportsLinks to government or regulatory websitesLinks to authoritative news sources or publicationsLinks to tools, calculators, or resources that are genuinely useful to readersLinks to other Host Report articles (if relevant)

These third-party links should use natural anchor text (e.g., "According to a recent study by Airbnb," not "click here for Airbnb study").

The Host Report reserves the right to remove or modify any third-party links that appear to be disguised affiliate links, promotional placements, or otherwise inappropriate.

6. Advertising Displayed with Contributor Content

Contributors acknowledge that The Host Report may display advertisements, sponsor content, or affiliate links alongside their published articles. The Host Report retains full control over all advertising placements and is not required to share advertising revenue with contributors.

Contributors will not be notified of or have approval rights over advertising displayed with their content.

7. Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with these advertising and disclosure requirements may result in:

Rejection of your submissionRemoval or editing of your published articleAddition of disclosure language by The Host Report's editorial teamSuspension or termination from the Community Publishing programLegal liability under FTC regulations (contributors are solely responsible for FTC compliance)

The Host Report reserves the right to take any of these actions at our sole discretion.

8. Questions and Clarifications

If you have questions about whether a disclosure is required or how to properly disclose a material connection, please contact us at submissions@thehostreport.com before submitting your article.

When in doubt, disclose. Over-disclosure is always safer than under-disclosure when it comes to FTC compliance.

Additional Resources:

FTC Endorsement Guides: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-askingFTC Disclosures Guide: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/disclosures-101-social-media-influencers

For questions about this policy, please contact submissions@thehostreport.com

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