Advertising Disclosure

Last updated: November 25, 2024

At Obsidio, we believe in transparency and honest communication with our audience. This Advertising Disclosure explains our financial relationships, affiliate partnerships, and advertising practices.

We are committed to maintaining your trust by clearly disclosing when content may include advertising, affiliate relationships, or other commercial arrangements. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines for endorsements and testimonials.

Our Commitment to Transparency

We value the trust you place in us and are committed to maintaining transparent relationships with our audience. Our primary goal is to provide valuable coffee education and honest recommendations based on our genuine experience and expertise.

While we may receive compensation for certain recommendations or placements, this does not influence our commitment to providing authentic, useful information. We only recommend products, services, or equipment we have experience with and believe will benefit our students and visitors.

Affiliate Relationships and Partnerships

What Are Affiliate Relationships?

An affiliate relationship means that we may receive a commission when you purchase products or services through certain links on our website. This commission comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our educational programs and content creation.

These links are typically identified with clear disclosure language such as "affiliate link" or similar notices.

Our Affiliate Program Participation

We participate in affiliate programs with select companies in the coffee industry, including:

  • Coffee equipment manufacturers and retailers
  • Specialty coffee roasters and suppliers
  • Online marketplaces that sell coffee-related products
  • Educational platforms and resources

Our Recommendation Standards

Despite receiving compensation through affiliate relationships, we maintain strict standards for recommendations:

  • We only recommend products or services we have personally used and tested
  • Our opinions are always our own and based on genuine experience
  • We disclose both strengths and limitations of recommended products
  • Financial compensation does not determine what we recommend
  • We prioritize educational value and user benefit over commission potential

Commission Structure

When you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may earn a commission ranging from a small percentage to a fixed amount, depending on the specific program and product. This commission is paid by the merchant and does not increase the price you pay.

Sponsored Content and Paid Promotions

Definition of Sponsored Content

Sponsored content refers to material that is created in collaboration with or financially supported by a brand, company, or organization. This may include articles, videos, social media posts, or workshop features that highlight specific products or services.

How We Identify Sponsored Content

All sponsored content on our website and in our communications is clearly labeled with disclosures such as:

  • "Sponsored," "Paid Partnership," or "Advertisement"
  • Clear disclosure statements at the beginning of sponsored content
  • Visual indicators distinguishing sponsored from organic content

Our Editorial Independence

Even when creating sponsored content, we maintain editorial control and integrity:

  • We retain final approval over all sponsored content
  • Our honest opinions and authentic voice remain unchanged
  • We decline sponsorships that conflict with our values or expertise
  • Sponsors do not dictate our educational content or methodology

Brand Partnership Criteria

We are selective about the brands we partner with for sponsored content. Partners must align with our commitment to quality coffee education, ethical business practices, and genuine value for our audience. We will not promote products or services we wouldn't personally use or recommend to friends.

Third-Party Advertising Networks

Display Advertising

We may use third-party advertising networks to display advertisements on our website. These networks may use cookies and similar technologies to serve relevant ads based on your browsing history and interests.

Common advertising networks we may work with include Google AdSense, media buying platforms, and specialty coffee industry advertising partners.

Advertising Personalization

Third-party advertisers may use technologies to collect information about your browsing activity to provide personalized advertisements. This information may include:

  • Pages you visit on our website
  • Links you click
  • Your browsing history on other websites
  • Your demographic information and interests

You can learn more about managing advertising preferences in our Cookie Policy.

Ad Content Standards

While we use third-party advertising networks, we maintain standards for the types of advertisements displayed. We reserve the right to block inappropriate, misleading, or offensive advertising content to protect our audience's experience.

Your Rights and Control Over Advertising

You have control over your advertising experience on our website:

  • Cookie preferences: You can manage cookie settings to control advertising tracking through our Cookie Policy page or browser settings
  • Opt-out options: You can opt out of personalized advertising through industry opt-out tools and privacy settings
  • Ad blockers: You may use browser extensions that block advertisements, though this may affect website functionality
  • Data requests: You can request information about data collected for advertising purposes by contacting us
  • Feedback: We welcome your feedback about advertising experiences on our website

Testimonials and Product Reviews

Authenticity of Testimonials

All testimonials and reviews on our website represent genuine feedback from actual students and participants in our programs. We do not fabricate or materially alter testimonials. Individual results may vary, and past experiences do not guarantee future outcomes.

Product Reviews and Compensation

When we review coffee equipment or products:

  • We disclose if products were provided free of charge for review
  • We disclose if we received compensation for conducting the review
  • Our reviews reflect genuine testing and honest opinions
  • Compensation does not influence our evaluation or conclusions

Changes to This Disclosure

We may update this Advertising Disclosure from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or partnerships. We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page when changes are made.

We encourage you to review this disclosure periodically to stay informed about our advertising relationships and practices.

FTC Compliance

This disclosure is made in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. The FTC requires that we disclose any material connections between us and the brands or products we recommend.

We take these guidelines seriously and strive to maintain transparency in all our commercial relationships. Our goal is to ensure you can make informed decisions based on honest, clearly disclosed information.

Questions About Our Advertising Practices

If you have any questions about our advertising relationships, affiliate partnerships, or disclosure practices, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]

Website: obsidio.world

We are committed to transparency and welcome your questions or concerns about any aspect of our advertising practices.