Advertising Disclosure
Quick answer: This advertising disclosure explains how Gabay labels paid content and keeps it separate from our independent guides. We are an independent publisher, not a government body; our guidance is never for sale, and every advertisement, sponsored article and partnership is clearly disclosed. Contact us with any question.
Key takeaways
- What this covers: how we label and separate all paid content on Gabay.
- Standard we follow: the FTC endorsement guidelines.
- Independence: advertising never affects the accuracy of our guides.
- No hidden links: we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links.
- Not official: paid content never appears as official guidance.
Purpose of this disclosure
Gabay helps readers navigate official processes, money and everyday tasks, so it is essential that people can tell our independent guidance apart from anything commercial. This disclosure explains, in plain language, how we handle advertising, sponsored content and partnerships. It applies across the site and sits alongside our how we make money page and our editorial policy.
How we label paid content
Every piece of paid content carries a clear label at the point a reader encounters it:
- Advertisement — for display and placement advertising.
- Sponsored — for brand-supported articles.
- Paid partnership — for ongoing partnerships with commercial elements.
These labels are meant to be obvious, not buried in small print. We follow the FTC endorsement guidelines so that disclosure is clear and hard to miss. The test we apply is simple: an ordinary reader, glancing at the page, should be able to tell at once whether they are looking at our independent guidance or at something a brand has paid for. If a label would only be noticed by someone hunting for it, it is not good enough, and we will fix it. Disclosure that a reader has to work to find is not really disclosure at all.
Independence of our guidance
Our how-to and public-service guides are decided and written by our editorial team against our editorial policy, independently of anyone who pays us. Advertisers and partners have no influence over what a guide concludes, and paying us cannot buy a mention or a favourable verdict. Our guidance is never for sale. Commercial content is kept separate from guidance so the two are never confused.
Affiliate arrangements
If Gabay ever uses affiliate arrangements — where we may earn a commission when a reader acts on a link — we disclose this plainly and it never changes what we recommend. A recommendation is based on merit for the reader, not on whether a commission exists. We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links of any kind.
What we will not accept
We decline paid content that could mislead readers about an official process — anything implying that Gabay is a government agency, that a private service is compulsory, or that an outcome is guaranteed. We do not publish disguised advertising, undisclosed paid links, or placements that exploit people at a vulnerable moment. Where a topic touches money, law or health, we add a note that the content is information only and not professional advice. We are particularly cautious with offers aimed at people mid-way through an official task, because that is exactly when a misleading message can do the most harm. If a proposed placement asks us to imitate an official notice, to obscure that it is paid, or to promise something no publisher can deliver, we will not run it regardless of the fee. Advertisers who share these standards find us straightforward to work with; those looking for a shortcut around disclosure are in the wrong place.
Your part and how to report an issue
We ask readers to treat labelled commercial content for what it is: a paid message, not our independent guidance, and not an official instruction. If you ever find paid content on Gabay that is not clearly labelled, or you are unsure whether something is commercial, please tell us through our contact page or at partners@getgabay.com. We take these reports seriously and will correct anything that falls short.
Why we hold this line
Clear disclosure is not only a legal good practice; on Gabay it is fundamental to what we are for. Our readers often come to us at stressful, consequential moments — sorting an official requirement, weighing a financial decision, working out their rights. At those moments, mistaking a paid message for independent guidance, or a private service for an official one, can cost real time and money. That is why we would rather lose a placement than blur the line. A clearly labelled advertisement that a reader trusts to be an advertisement is worth more, to everyone, than a disguised one that damages the reader’s confidence in the whole site. Disclosure protects the reader first, and in doing so it protects the value every honest advertiser and partner is paying for.
Updates to this disclosure
We may update this disclosure as our formats or the relevant guidance evolve. The current version always lives on this page, and material changes are reflected here rather than announced elsewhere. For the wider picture of our funding, see how we make money; to work with us, see work with us. If anything in this disclosure is unclear or you think we have fallen short of it, please tell us — holding ourselves to it in practice matters more than the words on this page.
Gabay is an independent publisher of plain-language how-to and public-service guides — we are not a government agency or official body, and we are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting for any government. Our guides are written and checked by a named team against a published method; you can read who we are on our about page and exactly how we research and verify on our editorial policy. Every paid or sponsored placement is labelled in line with the FTC endorsement guidelines, kept separate from our guidance, and never presented as official advice. Our guidance is never for sale. This page is information only and is not legal, financial or professional advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does this advertising disclosure cover?
How Gabay labels and separates all paid content — advertising, sponsored content and partnerships — from our independent guides.
How is paid content labelled?
With clear “Advertisement”, “Sponsored” or “Paid partnership” labels, in line with the FTC guidelines.
Can advertisers change your guides?
No. Our guidance is never for sale and advertising never affects the accuracy or conclusions of a guide.
Do you use affiliate links?
Where we ever do, we disclose it plainly and it never changes a recommendation. We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links.
Is Gabay an official government site?
No. We are an independent publisher, not a government body, and paid content never appears as official guidance.
What paid content do you refuse?
Anything misleading about an official process, disguised advertising, undisclosed links, or offers that exploit vulnerable readers.
How do I report an unlabelled advertisement?
Contact us via our contact page or partners@getgabay.com and we will investigate and fix it.
Is this disclosure legal advice?
No. It explains our labelling practices. Our content is information only and not legal, financial or professional advice.