Commercial standards
Advertising & Affiliate Policy
Commercial relationships should be clear. Editorial judgement must remain independent.
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Editorial independenceClear labelsSponsored contentAffiliate links and product accessReader experience and privacyCurrent commercial servicesCommercial enquiriesITBank’s relationship with readers depends on a clear distinction between editorial judgement and commercial activity. This policy sets the standard for advertising, sponsorship, affiliate links and other material commercial relationships.
Editorial independence
An advertiser or sponsor does not purchase editorial approval, a favorable review, a particular score or protection from legitimate criticism. Commercial discussions must not determine the factual conclusions of editorial work.
Contributors should disclose material relationships connected to a subject. Relevant disclosure must be visible to readers, rather than confined to a general policy page.
Clear labels
Display advertisements must be identifiable as Advertisement. Sponsored or paid editorial-style material must identify its commercial nature and the relevant sponsor. A reader should understand the relationship before relying on the material.
Advertising must not imitate navigation, download buttons or other site controls. We do not ask readers to click an advertisement to support ITBank, and do not permit artificial clicks or impressions.
Sponsored content
A sponsored feature or educational series should state who funded it and any material role the sponsor played in its preparation. Claims still require evidence, and sponsorship does not justify invented quotations, hidden limitations or misleading comparisons.
Where a commercial partner supplies material, its origin and status should be clear. Sponsored content must not be presented as independent reporting.
Affiliate links and product access
An affiliate link may earn the publication a commission following a qualifying action. If such links are introduced, that relationship must be disclosed near the relevant recommendations. A commission does not establish that a product suits every reader.
Product loans, complimentary access, gifts or funded travel relevant to a review should be disclosed. Hands-on tests must be distinguished from documentation-based assessments. Payment and product access must not buy a positive rating.
Reader experience and privacy
Ads should support the publication without obstructing its content or compromising navigation. Advertising is not placed on admin tools, sign-in screens, policy pages, empty categories or search-result pages. Placement dimensions should be reserved before loading to reduce unexpected movement.
Advertising providers and data practices must be described in the Privacy Policy when activated. Applicable consent and choice mechanisms must operate alongside the advertising technology; a written policy alone does not provide them.
Current commercial services
The Google AdSense script is installed for verification and advertising setup. Ad requests are paused while consent and placement settings are completed. Dedicated Google ad units are not yet enabled. Script installation does not establish that advertisements are being served. Google and its partners’ data practices and reader choices are described in our Privacy Policy. Paid sponsorships and affiliate relationships, if introduced, require clear disclosures. This policy does not imply approval by an advertising network or a guarantee of advertising revenue.
Commercial enquiries
Use the verified contact channel on the Contact page to discuss a proposed partnership. Include the organization, intended audience and nature of the proposal. Contact availability is stated there. A commercial enquiry does not create a booking or commitment by the publication.