last updated
What affiliate links are
Some links on Tinkernotes are affiliate links — links that pay me a commission if you click through and end up signing up for the product. The price you pay is identical either way; the commission comes out of the vendor's marketing budget.
UK advertising rules (under the ASA's CAP Code and broader CMA guidance on hidden ads) require clear, upfront disclosure of these relationships. This page is the canonical record, alongside the inline notes on individual reviews.
Programs currently in use
| Program | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kinsta | One-off referral commission + lifetime recurring share | UK pricing reviewed in the Kinsta UK review. |
| Hostinger | One-off commission on first paid plan signup | UK pricing reviewed in the Hostinger UK review. |
| SiteGround | One-off commission on first paid plan signup | No review published yet. |
This table is updated whenever I join or leave a program.
Programs I've declined or won't join
This section is here to be filled in honestly over time. I'll list programs I've declined, and the reason for each, as those decisions get made — usually because the underlying product isn't something I'd recommend to a client, or because the program structure incentivises behaviour I don't want to engage in.
As of the last-updated date above, no programs have been formally declined yet.
How affiliate relationships affect editorial
They don't. The methodology page sets out the verification process for every review and calculator. The principles specifically related to affiliate links:
- The verdict in a review is reached before any affiliate link is added to the page.
- Where the best product in a category isn't one I have an affiliate relationship with, the review still names it as the best — and links to the vendor without an affiliate tag.
- Where two products are genuinely close, the review says so plainly. I don't push readers toward the higher-commission one.
- A review never recommends a product I haven't used personally or wouldn't put on a real client site.
If a verdict ever appears to contradict the affiliate list above, please flag it — hello@tinkernotes.io. Corrections are made publicly.
How to spot an affiliate link
Affiliate links on Tinkernotes:
-
Carry
rel="sponsored"in the underlying HTML, for clarity to search engines and assistive technology - Appear inside reviews, comparison pieces, and calculators — never inside news, opinion, or field-note articles
- Are always to products I'd recommend to a paying client
Where an article doesn't qualify for affiliate links (most field notes, opinion pieces, and anything covering a product I don't recommend), no affiliate links appear at all.
Questions
For anything about how this works, or to raise a concern, hello@tinkernotes.io.