Can You Use Affiliate Links in PDFs or Courses? (Here’s What You Need to Know)
Sharing your affiliate links in a freebie or digital course you’ve created seems like a smart way to boost your income passively. But is it actually allowed?
The short answer is, it depends.
Just because you can technically put an affiliate link in a PDF or course doesn’t mean you’re allowed to under the affiliate program’s rules.
Every program has its own terms and conditions that unfortunately many creators overlook or never even read.
This can be a costly mistake.
Failing to follow a program’s specific rules, could result in:
- Lost commissions
- Getting kicked out of the program
After signing up to an affiliate program and checking the box to agree to the program’s terms, it can be hard to find the terms again.
Most affiliate terms are hidden deep in your dashboard (or welcome email) and the terms don’t specifically say “PDFs” or “courses” directly when talking about how you can share/promote your links, which can make it confusing. This post will walk you through:
- What to look for in the terms
- Where to find them on platforms like Impact, ShareASale, and ThriveCart
- How to ask an affiliate manager if you’re unsure
What Including Affiliate Links in PDFs or Courses Actually Means
Including affiliate links in digital products lets you get paid for recommending tools you already believe in. But what does that look like in practice?
Let’s break it down by format (I used AI to help create this table):
| Format | What It Is | Real Examples | Affiliate Link Placement |
| PDFs | Downloadable files like lead magnets, eBooks, or guides | A checklist of tools, “resources” appendix, or tutorial guide | Embedded hyperlinks in text or buttons |
| Courses | Free or paid digital trainings (hosted or downloadable) | A “Tech Stack” lesson in a course, a slide deck, or module PDF | Within lessons, downloadable materials, or bonus sections |
The Benefits Of Using Affiliate Links This Way:
- You’re already teaching about tools or resources — linking is natural.
- PDFs and courses often have higher trust, making clicks more likely.
- It creates a passive income stream from content you’ve already made.
But here’s the catch: just because you can include an affiliate link in these formats, doesn’t mean your affiliate program allows it. And that’s where a lot of creators run into trouble.
Can You Legally Use Affiliate Links in PDFs or Courses?
Technically, yes—you can legally put an affiliate link into a PDF or course.
But here’s the problem: Legal and allowed by the affiliate program are two different things.
Affiliate programs have their own terms and conditions. When you sign up, you agree to follow them—even if you didn’t read them. And if you break those rules, you could:
- Forfeit your commissions
- Get removed from the program
- Lose your affiliate account entirely
That’s why you must check the affiliate terms before using links in your digital products.
Here’s what to look for in the terms:
- Prohibited Promotion Methods Some programs ban links in what they might just refer to as “offline materials”, “gated content”, email, or downloadable files. If “PDFs,” “ebooks,” or “courses” are mentioned, read that part carefully.
- Traffic Sources or Link Placement Restrictions Look for mentions of email, PDFs, or non-website traffic. Some programs only allow links on a live website or blog post.
- Disclosure Requirements Programs may require specific language. For example, Amazon’s affiliate program has a mandatory disclosure statement you must use.
- Cloaking Rules You may not be allowed to use shortened or “pretty” links. Amazon, for instance, forbids cloaking affiliate links at all.
Not every program spells things out clearly. Some use vague language like “offline use prohibited” or “no email marketing.” That’s why it’s important to know how to locate and read the actual terms.
How to Find the Terms & Conditions of an Affiliate Program
Many affiliate programs don’t think much about making their terms easily accessible—especially after you’ve been accepted into their program. Here’s how to locate them on the most popular platforms:
Impact
Impact has a clean dashboard, but the terms are tucked away inside each brand’s profile.
How to find them:
- Log into your Impact dashboard.
- Go to the “Brands” tab and select the program you’re promoting.
- Click on the brand name to open its details.
- Click the “…” and select “View And Manage Contract”
ShareASale
ShareASale puts merchant terms in a slightly hidden spot.
How to find them:
- Log in to your ShareASale account.
- From the top menu, click “Merchants” → “Merchant Status.”
- Find the program in your list and click the merchant’s name.
- On their profile page, look for a tab that says “Terms & Conditions”
ThriveCart (Self-Hosted Programs)
With ThriveCart, you’re usually dealing directly with individual product creators.
How to check their terms (if they had them when you signed up):
- Log into your affiliate dashboard
- Click on “View Products” for the creator whose affiliate program you are a part of – if like me you are in several.
- Click into any product by clicking the “View” button
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for a button that says “Information on Data Usage”
- If you see “Product terms and conditions” Those are the affiliate program’s terms
If no terms are listed anywhere, it’s best to email the seller and ask directly: “Can I include your affiliate link in a lead magnet or course PDF?”. You should be able to use the “contact the vendor” tab to reach them.
What to Do If You Can’t Find the Terms in the Affiliate Dashboard
If you’re not seeing the terms right away when you log into your dashboard, here’s how to track them down.
Check your inbox
Start by searching your email for the welcome message from the program. Keywords like “affiliate terms,” “agreement,” “contract,” or “rules” can help you locate the original link or attachment, if one was sent.
Ask the Affiliate Manager directly if it’s not obvious
If you still can’t locate the terms, email the affiliate manager or product creator. You can say:
“Hi, I wanted to double-check: Do you have terms and conditions I should follow for promoting this product? I’m especially curious if it’s okay to use affiliate links in a PDF or digital course.”
Asking shows you’re taking compliance seriously—and protects your commissions.
How to Stay Compliant When Using Affiliate Links in PDFs or Courses
Even if your affiliate program allows you to share your links in your offline or gated content you create, you’re still legally required by the FTC to disclose that relationship clearly. Here’s how to keep it compliant:
Include a clear disclosure before someone clicks a link.
Your audience must know before clicking that you could earn money from their purchase. Use plain, upfront language like:
“This document/course/resource contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive a commission—at no extra cost to you.”
Avoid vague phrases like “some links may be affiliate links.” That’s not clear or specific enough. If your grandma couldn’t understand your disclosure, you’re not being clear enough.
Disclose in every file and format.
A website disclosure doesn’t cover your PDFs, eBooks, or course materials. You need to disclose inside each piece of content where links appear.
Real-World Example: Google Docs with Tabs
Let’s say you create a resource library using Google Docs and organize it using document tabs (using something like Google Docs’ table of contents. You include affiliate links in multiple sections or tabs.
You can’t just put the disclosure in Tab 1 or on a separate “disclaimer” tab. If someone can access affiliate links directly in Tab 3, they might never see the disclosure.
To comply, you need to:
- Add the disclosure at the top of each tab or section with affiliate links
- Or repeat it above every affiliate link
Don’t cloak links unless allowed
Some programs don’t allow shortened or “pretty” links—Amazon is the best-known example. Always check the terms before using tools like Pretty Links or Bitly.
Link to your full policy.
If you have a disclosures legal page, it’s smart to include a link for extra transparency:“See my full disclosure here: [your link]”
Bottom Line
Sharing your affiliate links in PDFs, eBooks, or courses you create can be a great way to earn passive income—but only if you follow the rules of your affiliate programs and disclose properly.
Here’s a quick recap:
- It’s not about legality—it’s about the affiliate program’s rules. Always read the terms before including links in downloadable or offline content.
- Terms may not always be easy to find. Check your welcome email, dashboard, and contract. If it’s still unclear, ask the affiliate manager directly.
- Disclosures are required. You must clearly let your audience know—before they click—that you could earn a commission. Do this in every format where affiliate links appear.
- Don’t assume one disclosure covers all formats. Just because your blog has a disclosure doesn’t mean your PDFs or course materials are covered.
When in doubt? Ask. Being proactive shows integrity and keeps your affiliate income safe.
