Advertising Disclosure

Our Commitment to Transparency

At Stonebridge, we believe in maintaining complete transparency about any advertising, affiliate relationships, or sponsored content on our website. This Advertising Disclosure explains how we may earn revenue and ensures you understand when content may be influenced by commercial relationships.

We are committed to providing honest, unbiased information and maintaining your trust. Any advertising or affiliate relationships we maintain do not compromise the integrity of our advice or the quality of our services.

This disclosure complies with the requirements of the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and follows guidance from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Affiliate Relationships

Affiliate Programme Participation

Stonebridge may participate in affiliate marketing programmes with select partners. When you click on certain links on our website and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. This means:

• Some links on our website may be affiliate links that generate commission
• We earn a percentage of sales when you purchase through these links
• There is no additional cost to you when using affiliate links
• Your purchase price remains the same whether you use our link or not

Commission-Based Link Explanations

When we include affiliate links on our website:

• We clearly identify affiliate links where possible and appropriate
• Commission rates vary depending on the product, service, and partner
• We typically earn between 5% and 15% of qualifying purchases
• Some programmes offer flat-rate commissions instead of percentages
• Commission structures may include bonuses for meeting performance targets

Product Recommendation Policies

Our commitment to you:

• We only recommend products and services we believe may be valuable to you
• Our recommendations are based on research, experience, and professional judgement
• Affiliate relationships do not influence our professional consulting advice
• We maintain editorial independence in all content creation
• We disclose affiliate relationships clearly when recommending products

Financial Relationship Transparency

We maintain transparency about all financial relationships:

• Affiliate partnerships are disclosed on relevant pages and content
• We do not accept payment to influence our consulting recommendations
• Professional advice remains independent of any affiliate relationships
• We regularly review affiliate partnerships to ensure they align with our values

Sponsored Content

Identification of Paid Content

When we publish sponsored or paid content:

• All sponsored content is clearly labeled as "Sponsored," "Advertisement," or "Paid Partnership"
• Disclosures appear prominently at the beginning of sponsored content
• Visual distinctions help readers identify sponsored material
• We maintain clear separation between editorial and sponsored content

Sponsored Post Labeling Policies

Our labeling practices include:

• Conspicuous placement of sponsorship disclosures
• Clear language that average readers can understand
• Disclosures that remain visible throughout the content
• Compliance with ASA and CMA guidelines on sponsored content

Brand Partnership Disclosures

When we partner with brands:

• We disclose the nature and extent of the partnership
• We maintain editorial control over partnership content
• Partners do not dictate our opinions or recommendations
• We only partner with brands that align with our values and standards

Content Authenticity Guarantees

We guarantee that:

• All opinions expressed are our own, even in sponsored content
• We do not make false or misleading claims about products or services
• Sponsored content reflects genuine assessment and professional judgement
• We decline sponsorship opportunities that conflict with our values

Third-Party Advertising

Display Advertising Networks Used

We may use third-party advertising networks to display advertisements on our website:

• Google AdSense and Display Network
• Other reputable advertising platforms
• Direct advertising partnerships with select brands

These networks may serve advertisements based on your interests and browsing behaviour.

Behavioural Targeting Disclosure

Advertising networks may use behavioural targeting:

• Advertisements may be tailored based on your browsing history
• Third-party advertisers collect data about your online activities
• This data is used to serve more relevant advertisements
• You can opt out of behavioural advertising through various means

Cookie Usage for Advertising

Advertising networks use cookies to:

• Track advertisement performance and engagement
• Deliver personalised advertising content
• Measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns
• Prevent the same advertisement from being shown repeatedly

For more information about cookies, please see our Cookie Policy.

Ad Personalisation Practices

Personalised advertising practices include:

• Serving advertisements based on your interests and demographics
• Using contextual information from the page you're viewing
• Retargeting visitors who have previously interacted with our site
• Frequency capping to limit how often you see the same advertisement

User Rights and Controls

Ad Preference Management Options

You have control over the advertisements you see:

• Adjust your advertising preferences through ad network settings
• Use Google's Ad Settings to control personalised advertising
• Access third-party opt-out platforms for additional control
• Manage cookie preferences through our Cookie Policy page

Opt-Out Procedures

To opt out of personalised advertising:

• Visit the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page
• Use the Digital Advertising Alliance's consumer choice tools
• Adjust browser settings to block advertising cookies
• Install browser extensions that limit advertising tracking
• Configure your device settings to limit ad tracking

Data Collection for Advertising Purposes

Information collected for advertising may include:

• Device information and browser type
• IP address and general location
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Interaction with advertisements
• Demographic and interest information (where available)

Rights Under Privacy Regulations

Under UK GDPR and privacy regulations, you have the right to:

• Access information about how your data is used for advertising
• Object to the processing of your data for advertising purposes
• Request deletion of data collected for advertising
• Withdraw consent for advertising cookies at any time

Important Considerations

Independence of Professional Advice

It's important to understand that:

• Our professional consulting services remain independent of advertising relationships
• Affiliate commissions do not influence the advice we provide to clients
• We maintain strict separation between commercial relationships and client recommendations
• Client interests always take priority over commercial considerations

Review and Update Policy

We regularly review our advertising relationships and disclosure practices to ensure they remain transparent and appropriate. This disclosure may be updated to reflect new partnerships or changes in advertising practices.

Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about our advertising practices or any specific relationship, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're committed to maintaining transparency and addressing any concerns you may have.