Advertising Disclosure

Last updated: December 15, 2024

Our Commitment to Transparency

At Daily Steep, we believe in being completely transparent about how we generate revenue and any financial relationships that might influence the content we present. This disclosure explains our advertising practices and helps you understand how we maintain our service.

We are committed to providing honest, helpful information about tea while maintaining full transparency about any commercial relationships that support our business.

Affiliate Relationships

What Are Affiliate Programs?

Daily Steep participates in select affiliate programs. This means that when you click on certain links on our website and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the seller at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support our ability to provide quality content and services.

How We Use Affiliate Links

We may include affiliate links for:

  • Tea accessories and brewing equipment we recommend
  • Books or resources about tea that we find valuable
  • Related products that enhance the tea experience
  • Partner services that align with our values

Important: We only recommend products we genuinely believe are worthwhile. Our recommendations are based on quality and usefulness, not commission rates.

Our Recommendation Standards

When we recommend products or services:

  • We personally evaluate them before making recommendations
  • We prioritize quality and user experience over commission potential
  • We clearly disclose when links are affiliated
  • We maintain editorial independence in our content decisions
  • We would recommend these products regardless of affiliate relationships

Financial Transparency

The commissions we earn through affiliate programs:

  • Do not increase the price you pay for products
  • Help offset the costs of maintaining our website and services
  • Support our ability to provide free educational content
  • Allow us to continue serving the tea community

Sponsored Content

Identifying Sponsored Content

From time to time, we may feature sponsored content or paid promotions. When this occurs:

  • All sponsored content will be clearly labeled as "Sponsored," "Paid Partnership," or similar disclosure
  • We maintain editorial control over all content on our website
  • Sponsors do not dictate our opinions or recommendations
  • We only work with brands that align with our values and quality standards

Brand Partnerships

We occasionally partner with tea suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and related businesses. These partnerships may involve:

  • Product samples for evaluation and review
  • Sponsored features or promotional content
  • Collaborative educational initiatives
  • Affiliate arrangements for products we recommend

All such partnerships are disclosed, and our honest opinions are never compromised.

Content Authenticity Guarantee

Whether content is sponsored or not:

  • We maintain full editorial independence
  • Our reviews and recommendations reflect genuine experiences
  • We do not accept payment for positive reviews
  • Critical feedback is provided when warranted
  • User benefit always comes before commercial considerations

Third-Party Advertising

Display Advertising

We may display advertisements from third-party advertising networks on our website. These advertisements:

  • Are clearly distinguishable from our regular content
  • May be targeted based on your browsing behavior
  • Are served by reputable advertising platforms
  • Do not represent Daily Steep endorsements unless explicitly stated

Behavioral Targeting

Third-party advertisers may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Show you relevant advertisements based on your interests
  • Measure advertising effectiveness
  • Track ad impressions and interactions
  • Personalize your advertising experience

You can manage these preferences through our Cookie Policy settings or your browser controls.

Advertising Standards

We maintain standards for third-party advertising:

  • Ads must be appropriate and family-friendly
  • No misleading or deceptive advertising
  • Advertisements do not interfere with site functionality
  • We reserve the right to block inappropriate ads

Your Rights and Controls

Opting Out of Personalized Ads

You have control over advertising:

  • Visit our Cookie Policy page to manage advertising preferences
  • Use browser settings to block third-party cookies
  • Install ad-blocking browser extensions
  • Opt out through industry opt-out tools like NAI or DAA

Data Collection for Advertising

Information collected for advertising purposes may include:

  • Pages visited on our website
  • Time spent on different pages
  • Links clicked
  • General location and device information
  • Browsing patterns across websites

For details on data collection practices, please see our Privacy Policy.

Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about our advertising practices or specific advertisements on our website, please contact us. We're committed to addressing your concerns promptly and maintaining transparency in all our commercial relationships.

Compliance with FTC Guidelines

Daily Steep complies with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines regarding endorsements, testimonials, and advertising disclosures. This means:

  • We clearly and conspicuously disclose material connections with advertisers
  • All claims and testimonials are substantiated and truthful
  • Sponsored content is properly labeled and distinguished
  • Affiliate relationships are disclosed before purchase decisions
  • We do not make misleading or deceptive statements

We regularly review our advertising practices to ensure continued compliance with applicable regulations and industry best practices.