We’re Honest About
How We Make Money
Transparency is core to everything we do. This page explains our affiliate relationships, how they work, and why they will never compromise our editorial honesty.
The Short Version
SoccerBall.Pro uses affiliate links. When you click and buy, we earn a small commission — at absolutely no extra cost to you. Our reviews and rankings are always based on merit, never on who pays us more.
What Is an Affiliate Program?
An affiliate program is a partnership between a content publisher (like SoccerBall.Pro) and a retailer or brand (like Amazon, Soccer.com, or Direct Soccer). Through these programs, we earn a small percentage-based commission when visitors click our links and make a purchase.
Affiliate marketing is one of the most common and transparent ways for independent content websites to generate revenue — it allows us to offer all of our reviews, guides, and buying advice completely free to readers, without paywalls or subscription fees.
💡 Think of it like a referral fee — we refer you to a trusted retailer, and if you buy, they pay us a small thank-you. The product price is identical whether you use our link or go directly.
How Affiliate Links Work — Step by Step
Here’s exactly what happens when you click one of our product links:
You Read a Review
You find our honest review of a soccer ball. We’ve researched, tested, and rated it based on performance, durability, and value.
You Click Our Link
You click our product link. Our link contains a tracking tag that tells the retailer’s system that you came from SoccerBall.Pro.
You Buy (or Not)
You decide whether to purchase the product. There’s no obligation — you’re free to shop around as you normally would.
We Earn a Commission
If you buy, the retailer pays us a small commission — typically 3–10% of the sale price. This comes from the retailer’s margin, not your pocket.
We Fund Our Content
Commissions fund our operations — hosting, research tools, and the time it takes to produce genuinely useful, unbiased content.
Cycle Repeats
We publish more reviews. More readers find better balls at better prices. The whole soccer community benefits — that’s the goal.
Our Affiliate Programs
We are currently enrolled in the following affiliate programs. All commission rates listed are approximate and may vary by product category:
| Program | Products | Approx. Commission | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Associates | Soccer balls, gear, accessories | 3–8% | Active |
| Soccer.com | Match & training balls | 5–10% | Active |
| SoccerPro | Professional & youth balls | 5–8% | Active |
| Adidas Affiliate | Adidas branded balls | 6–12% | Active |
| Nike Affiliate | Nike soccer equipment | 5–10% | Active |
This list may not be exhaustive at all times. New affiliate partnerships are added and sometimes discontinued. When in doubt, assume any product link on our site may be an affiliate link.
Editorial Independence — Our Non-Negotiables
Our credibility depends entirely on your trust. That’s why we maintain strict editorial standards that affiliate income will never override:
We never accept payment for positive reviews. Brands and retailers cannot pay us to feature or positively rate their products. Period.
Rankings are based on merit only. Our “best soccer ball” lists are based on test data, player feedback, value, and performance — not commission rates.
We report flaws honestly. If a ball has a well-known defect, poor durability, or bad value — we say so, even if we earn a commission on it.
Non-affiliate links too. When the best option for our readers isn’t available through an affiliate program, we link to it anyway — unpaid.
Reviews are updated regularly. If a product’s quality changes or better options emerge, we update our recommendations regardless of commission impact.
Want to know more about who we are and how we operate? Visit our About page for the full story.
It Costs You Nothing Extra
We want to be crystal clear about this:
In fact, we often link to the best-priced retailers we can find, and sometimes include discount codes when available — which can actually save you money compared to buying elsewhere.
🎯 Our incentive is to send you to the best product at the best price. Happy readers return, and returning readers trust our links — that’s the only business model that works long-term.
FTC Compliance & Legal Disclosure
In accordance with the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 CFR Part 255), SoccerBall.Pro discloses all material connections to the products and brands we write about.
⚖️ Official FTC Disclosure Statement
SoccerBall.Pro participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means we may receive a commission for purchases made through links on this website, at no additional cost to you.
We are also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
All opinions expressed on this site are our own. Content is not influenced by advertisers, brands, or affiliate commissions.
For complete information about how we handle your data in relation to our affiliate activities, please read our Privacy Policy. For questions about our editorial standards, see our About page.
Have Questions About Our Disclosures?
If you have any questions about our affiliate relationships, want to report a potential conflict of interest, or simply want to understand more about how we operate, please get in touch.
Or use our Contact page and select “Affiliate / Partnership Inquiry” as the topic. We’ll respond within 3–5 business days.
You can also review our Privacy Policy to understand how we handle data collected through affiliate clicks, or visit our About page to learn more about our team and editorial mission.