Overview
In order to better serve our sellers, affiliates, and customers, ClickBank has developed these Product Guidelines to clarify what requirements the products in the listed categories must meet. These category-specific requirements apply to the product itself as well as to the marketing, Pitch Page, and other materials used to promote or represent the product. These are general guidelines only and are intended to supplement the information provided in the ClickBank Client Contract and our Promotional Guidelines.
We at ClickBank value our customers, so we take Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations on advertising very seriously, and require that our products, sellers, and affiliates do too.
Please keep in mind that the goal of these guidelines is to ensure customers have reasonable expectations of what they can accomplish with your product, resulting in a satisfying buying experience and high-quality rates.
ClickBank will take corrective action on sellers not in compliance with our guidelines, which may include declining your product, halting sales on your product, removing you from the Marketplace, or deactivating your account.
Like all ClickBank product guidelines, these requirements do not constitute legal advice or substitute for a client’s independent obligation to comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, and rules regarding products and product promotions. Clients are expected to consult with qualified legal and advertising professionals regarding the content of all promotions.
The following subjects are covered in this article:
Health, Remedy, and Medical Advice Products
Medical Advice Products are products that claim to improve an individual’s medical condition in some way. These products are generally found in ClickBank’s “Health/Remedies” category.
This section covers these topics:
Why is this category high risk?
Medical Advice Products are sometimes associated with exaggerated claims of benefits and performance. Due to their nature, and as a constant quality and compliance review, ClickBank has determined these products come with a high level of risk.
To protect consumers as much as possible, ClickBank requires any seller of affiliate promoting Medical Advice Products to conform to the guidelines described below.
Guidelines
All sellers and affiliates offering or promoting Medical Advice Products must conform to the following guidelines on any and all public-facing Pitch Page(s):
Managing Health Issues: Sellers and affiliates may claim that the product will help manage the customer’s health issues if the condition is not known to be curable.
Pen Names: Sellers may use pen names or characters to promote their product. However, sellers are not permitted to claim their pen name is a licensed doctor or medical professional. The use of the name of a certified physician or medical professional is permitted as long as the person and their practicing license can be substantiated upon request.
References To Support Claims: Sellers and affiliates may claim any “fact” statements made in the promotional material. However, this information is required to have a reference piece to back up that the statement is true.
Incurable Diseases
On a public-facing pitch page that promotes or sells information regarding methods to treat, cure, or otherwise manage an illness, ClickBank uses WebMD as its primary source of information for disease and treatments.
Any reference to a “cure” will be checked against WebMD. Using the word “cure” will only be allowed if WebMD specifically states there is a cure for the disease. Otherwise, if WebMD states “there is no known cure” the word cure will be prohibited and alternatives must be used for the product.
According to WebMD, here are some examples of specific diseases that CANNOT be cured as of Sept 2023:
Infectious causes, such as; Ebola, Polio, Coronavirus, The Common Cold, Influenza
Diabetes, both type I and II
Skin disorders, such as; Vitiligo, Rosacea, and Psoriasis
Cancer
Autoimmune diseases, such as; Lupus Erythematosus
STIs/STDs, such as; HIV/AIDS, herpes, HPV and genital warts.
Asthma
Sensory (Hearing and Vision)
All neurological disorders, such as; Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Tinnitus.
We will no longer be accepting products that claim to treat or cure the examples listed above and any other ailments deemed incurable.
While we recognize that your product offers good health advice related to the specific health condition for which it was designed, the tone of the marketing materials is extremely important in the overall compliance of the product.
Further Claims
For neurological and sensory products, sellers may not claim the product will regain lost memory, vision or hearing. Sellers may claim to have preventative care for these types of ailments but you cannot regain what you've already lost.
For hair loss products, sellers may not claim to regrow hair, but may claim to prevent hair loss.
References to type II diabetes:
Using the following article as a reference point: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-2-diabetes
WebMd states: “There is no known cure for type 2 diabetes. But it can be controlled. And in some cases, it goes into remission.”
ClickBank will not NOT allow “cure” for Type II diabetes. We will allow the following words to be used in sales materials: “reverse”, “control”, “manage” and “diminish.”
Sales copy must reference “type II diabetes” by mentioning it specifically with a ratio of over 50%. For example: for every 10 references to general diabetes, there must be 11 mirroring specific references to "Type II" throughout the copy.
NOTE: Sellers MAY NOT guarantee results of any kind.
Portrayals
In sales materials, any reference to or portrayal by a doctor must be treated as the equivalent of a testimonial. The testimonial must be a positive response from the client that they acknowledge and have indeed received information and permission from an active and licensed medical professional.
Further, the client must confirm they have sufficient information to substantiate any statements made by that medical professional.
Disclaimer
We require that sellers use the following disclaimer on their web pages for products of this type:
The website's content and the product for sale is based upon the author's opinion and is provided solely on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. You should do your own research and confirm the information with other sources when searching for information regarding health issues and always review the information carefully with your professional health care provider before using any of the protocols presented on this website and/or in the product sold here. Neither ClickBank nor the author are engaged in rendering medical or similar professional services or advice via this website or in the product, and the information provided is not intended to replace medical advice offered by a physician or other licensed healthcare provider. You should not construe ClickBank's sale of this product as an endorsement by ClickBank of the views expressed herein, or any warranty or guarantee of any strategy, recommendation, treatment, action, or application of advice made by the author of the product.
Environmental, Green, and Homemade Energy Products
Environmental Products are products that claim to affect the energy or power use in a home or residence. These products are generally sold in ClickBank’s “Green Products” category.
This section covers these topics:
Why is this category high risk?
Environmental Products are sometimes associated with exaggerated claims of benefits and performance. Due to their nature, and as a constant quality and compliance review, ClickBank has determined these products come with a high level of risk.
To protect consumers as much as possible, ClickBank requires any seller of affiliate offering or promoting Environmental Products to conform to the guidelines described below.
Guidelines
All sellers and affiliates offering or promoting Environmental Products must conform to the following guidelines on any and all public-facing Pitch Pages:
Efficiency Claims: Sellers and affiliates may not claim that an Environmental Product has a higher than 90% efficiency.
Free Energy Claims: Sellers and affiliates may not claim that Environmental Products produce “free energy” or make similar claims.
Perpetual Motion Claims: Sellers and affiliates may not claim that Environmental Products generate power through “perpetual motion” or make claims regarding similar power/energy generation methods.
“Take Your House Off the Grid” Claims: Sellers and affiliates may claim that Environmental Products will allow a person to “take his/her house off the grid” only if the seller and affiliate explicitly states how energy is generated AND stored or recovered 24 hours a day.
“Pay Your Energy” Claims: Sellers and affiliates may claim that Environmental Products will allow “power companies to pay you for energy” or make similar claims only if the seller and affiliate clearly and conspicuously disclaims that there are limitations to such paybacks specific to each jurisdiction.
Magnetic Power Claims: Sellers and affiliates may not claim that magnetic power can be a sustainable energy source or that it can be used as a method of powering a home.
Sustainable Energy Source Claims: Sellers and affiliates may not claim that power/energy from the airwaves (e.g., Tesla energy) is a sustainable energy source, that it can be used as a method of powering a home or that it can be used as a method of creating surplus energy for sale.
NOTE: Whether your environmental claims are about the product or the packaging, you'll need competent and reliable scientific evidence to support what you say.
Please also reference the FTC’s Environmental Claims: Summary of the Green Guides.
Scam Verification
ClickBank will use Open4Energy as its guide for determining whether or not a product is considered to be a "scam." Any proposed product found on the Renewable Energy List (linked here) below will NOT be accepted.
Disclaimer
The following disclaimer must be included on the pitch page for all products in this category:
CLICKBANK AND ALL OF ITS AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES (THE “CLICKBANK PARTIES”) DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, AND DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE CLICKBANK PARTIES FURTHER DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES) ARISING OUT OF THE USE, INABILITY TO USE, OR THE RESULTS OF USE OF THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, ANY REFERENCES USED IN THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, OR THE MATERIALS, INFORMATION, OR PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES. PLEASE READ THE CLICKBANK CLIENT CONTRACT AND ALL ACCOMPANYING CLICKBANK POLICIES TO ENSURE YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATIONS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CLICKBANK CLIENT CONTRACT, ALL CLICKBANK POLICIES AND ALL APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Survival & Self Defense Products
Survival & Self Defense products are products meant to aid or train customers in survival in some way. These products are generally found in ClickBank’s “Self-Help” category.
This section covers these topics:
Why is this category high risk?
Survival Products are sometimes associated with exaggerated claims of benefits and performance. Due to their nature, and as a constant quality and compliance review, ClickBank has determined these products come with a high level of risk.
To protect consumers as much as possible, ClickBank requires any seller and/or affiliate offering or promoting Survival Products to conform to the guidelines described below.
NOTE: Many of the same items that are covered in the Alternative Energy/Green Product Guidelines pertain to Survival Products, as there is crossover between the two niches.
Guidelines
All sellers and affiliates offering or Promoting Survival Products must conform to the following guidelines:
Pen Name: We require that the seller use a simple pen name disclaimer stating the person or character in the sales pitch is an alias or pen name if he is using a pen name.
Fact Statement Claims: Sellers and affiliates may claim any “fact” statements made in the promotional material. However, this information is required to have a reference piece to verify the truth of the statement.
Upfront Promises to Consumers: Sellers and affiliates must be up front to the customer with what they will be receiving for their purchase. The more detail you can provide the better their expectations will be set which will help you lower customer service issues.
Fear or Panic Products: Products that use promotional tactics to incite fear or panic are not permitted.
Self-defense: Products sold as self-defense are still permitted. However, blatantly violent content that could be misconstrued as encouraging gruesome injury will not be allowed on ClickBank.
Examples of Non-Compliant Language for Self Defense Products:
Scorch your attacker’s eyeballs like a blow torch
Enough power to maim and permanently injure your attacker for life
Disable your attacker’s heart with one move before he tries to slit your throat
Examples of Compliant Language for Self Defense Products:
A jolt from a taser will certainly render your attacker immobilized
When an attacker is touched with the pulsating electric current of this stun gun they will be stopped in their tracks
This self-defense weapon can make your attacker incapable of further aggressive activity
How to avoid being robbed, carjacked, kidnapped, sexually assaulted or worse!
Disclaimer
The following disclaimer must be included on the pitch page for all products in this category:
CLICKBANK AND ALL OF ITS AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES (THE “CLICKBANK PARTIES”) DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, AND DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE CLICKBANK PARTIES FURTHER DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES) ARISING OUT OF THE USE, INABILITY TO USE, OR THE RESULTS OF USE OF THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, ANY REFERENCES USED IN THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, OR THE MATERIALS, INFORMATION, OR PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES. PLEASE READ THE CLICKBANK CLIENT CONTRACT AND ALL ACCOMPANYING CLICKBANK POLICIES TO ENSURE YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATIONS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CLICKBANK CLIENT CONTRACT, ALL CLICKBANK POLICIES AND ALL APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Adult-Oriented Products
There are a number of products on the ClickBank platform that are adult in nature. These products may fall under multiple categories.
ClickBank requires any seller of affiliate offering or promoting Adult-Oriented Products to conform to the guidelines described below.
This section covers these topics:
Guidelines: Public Facing Pitch Page (No Age Verification)
Women’s Breasts: A woman’s breasts may only be shown in photographs of a clinical nature. The areola must be obscured with a black box or circle 2x larger than the areola itself. When the photograph contains 2 (two) people regardless of gender, the woman’s breasts must be covered by clothing or concealed.
Genitalia: Male or female genitals in photographs MUST be covered by clothing.
Anatomical Representations or Cartoons: Cartoons or anatomical representations of male or female genitals may be shown. The image may NOT extend above the chest or below the knees. Cartoons or anatomical representations must be used individually and may NOT be used to demonstrate any particular exercise or sexual act.
Photographs and Videos
Videos or photographs may show two (2) people engaged in touching or massage that remains above the waist or below the knee.
Women’s breasts and genitals must be covered by clothing or concealed in the video. Men’s genitals must also be covered by clothing or concealed in the video.
Videos may NOT imply or suggest that they are showing any explicit sexual acts.
Explanations
Audio and/or video explanations of specific arousal or sexual methods or techniques following the above guidelines are NOT permitted.
Profanity may not be used on public facing Pitch or Thank You pages, as long as it isn’t vulgar or describes a sexual act.
Guidelines: Public Facing Pitch Page (After Age Verification/Restriction and With Appropriate Warning)
Adult-Oriented Products more focused on sexual education material will be required to add proper age verification.
These types of pages may utilize the following relaxed standards:
Women’s Breasts: A woman’s breasts may only be shown in photographs of a clinical nature without the areola being obscured.
Photographs and Videos: up to 6 photographs depicting sexual activity following the above guidelines may be used on the page and is subject to approval.
Explanations: Audio and/or video explanations of specific arousal or sexual methods or techniques following the above guidelines are permitted.
Product Content
Adult oriented products are subject to some additional requirements including:
Photographs and Videos: All Images and videos will be evaluated based on the same guidelines as the public facing Pitch and Thank You pages. If the product is sexual education in nature, ClickBank requires that all explicit material be behind a login.
Profanity: We will permit clients to use terms in the product that would currently be found on our profanity list.
Harm to Others: We will not allow clients to provide information or guidance that would in any way harm others.
Disclaimer
The following disclaimer must be included on their Pitch and Thank You Pages for all products in this category:
WARNING: This site contains sexually oriented adult material intended for individuals 18 years of age or older. If you are under 18 years old, you are not permitted to use this site for any reason. You must be of legal age required by the state or province you are in to purchase our products. It is your responsibility to know whether you are legally able to purchase our products.
Internet Marketing Products
Internet Marketing products, also known as online marketing or digital marketing, are products that claim to teach or train customers in specific niches throughout the industry. These products are generally found in ClickBank’s “E-Business & E-Marketing” category.
This section covers these topics:
Why is this category high risk?
Internet Marketing products are sometimes associated with exaggerated claims of benefits and performance. Due to their nature, and as a constant quality and compliance review, ClickBank has determined these products come with a high level of risk.
ClickBank requires that sales pages make reasonable attempts to reflect the actual or typical effort required to achieve typical results. Salesmanship is encouraged, but do not over-embellish; it's generally unreasonable to assume that someone with little or no experience in Internet marketing can achieve a 6-figure income with an hour or less of effort per day.
Sales pages, particularly in the Internet marketing/make money online niche, must be clear and descriptive about what techniques or tactics the product teaches, or utilizes to achieve results for the customer.
Please also reference our Promotional Guidelines for additional information.
Guidelines
Statements that infer that the product is significantly easier to use than it really is (for example, “get rich quick formulas”, “one push button to make money” or “three simple steps will provide you income") are prohibited.
"Blind offers," which are defined as sales pitches that make promises about what the customer can earn or achieve without any specific details about how the product accomplishes these claims.
Earning claims and statements of a product’s performance or quality must be capable of substantiation—that is they must be real examples based on actual experiences, in accordance with FTC Law, deceptive earnings claims are prohibited.
Sellers may not claim that the customer will, can, or imagine making a specific or range of income by simply following a few techniques outlined in the guide. It is more reasonable to assume that with attention, effort, and spare time, the average person with little or no Internet marketing experience can achieve a supplemental income.
Sellers must understand that if the FTC, private litigant or other agency asks for substantiation, the seller must have proof to back up any claim made in the marketing material.
Please also reference the article FTC Puts Businesses on Notice that False Money-Making Claims Could Lead to Big Penalties for more information.
Product Content
Internet Marketing products are subject to some additional requirements including:
There must be a clear path through the members area / to the product, with directions for the consumer.
Consumers should not be able to easily get the information in the product for free
Displaying numerous advertisements in the members area that require additional purchasing to complete the system is prohibited.
Stating that something is “Done for You” or “Turnkey Systems”, but simply directs the consumers away from the member’s area to a free service online and/or requires additional purchasing is prohibited.
Product(s) must be of high quality, professional and compliant. Having non-compliant content will be taken into account when reviewing the product. For example; email swipes, banner ads, images, and other marketing material. Per the FTC, a company may be liable for providing deceptive marketing materials for others to use.
Disclaimer
The following disclaimer must be included on their Pitch and Thank You Pages for all products in this category:
EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT THIS PRODUCT AND IT'S POTENTIAL. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL EARN ANY MONEY USING THE TECHNIQUES AND IDEAS IN THESE MATERIALS. THE STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS MADE ARE EXAMPLES OF THE SUCCESS THE AUTHOR HAS HAD IN USING THE TECHNIQUES OUTLINED IN THE PRODUCT THEY ARE SELLING. EXAMPLES IN THESE MATERIALS ARE NOT TO BE INTERPRETED AS A PROMISE OR GUARANTEE OF EARNINGS. EARNING POTENTIAL IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE PERSON USING THE PRODUCT, IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES.
Additional Resources & Related Articles
KNOWLEDGEBASE: Promotional Guidelines
KNOWLEDGE BASE: Sell Physical Products
KNOWLEDGE BASE: Creating Your First Product