Advertising Disclosure

How Affiliate Programs Work

Affiliate marketing allows us to earn a commission when you purchase products through our referral links. Here's what you should know:

• No Extra Cost: You pay the same price whether you use our link or go directly to the seller
• Commission Structure: We receive a percentage of the sale when purchases are made through our links
• Tracking: Cookies are used to track referrals and attribute commissions to our affiliate account
• Product Selection: We only recommend products and services we believe provide value to speedrunners

Types of Affiliate Partnerships

We may participate in affiliate programs for:

• Gaming equipment (controllers, capture cards, monitors)
• Streaming software and services
• Training tools and timing software
• Game purchases and digital platforms
• Web hosting and technical services

Sponsored Content Identification

From time to time, we may publish sponsored content or partner with brands. All sponsored content is clearly labeled with one of the following disclosures:

• "Sponsored Post" or "Sponsored Content"
• "In partnership with [Brand Name]"
• "This post is sponsored by [Brand Name]"
• "Paid promotion" or "Advertisement"

These labels appear prominently at the beginning of any sponsored content so you can easily identify paid partnerships.

Brand Partnership Criteria

We carefully evaluate potential brand partnerships based on:

• Relevance to speedrunning and competitive gaming
• Product quality and reputation in the gaming community
• Alignment with our values and community standards
• Potential value to our audience
• Ethical business practices of the partner

Display Advertising

We may use third-party advertising networks to display ads on our website. These networks include:

• Google AdSense and Google Ad Manager
• Other reputable advertising platforms serving relevant ads

These advertising partners use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activity and display targeted advertisements.

Behavioral Targeting and Personalization

Third-party advertising networks may use the following for ad targeting:

• Cookies and Tracking: Small files stored on your device to track browsing behavior
• Interest-Based Advertising: Ads tailored to your interests based on browsing history
• Remarketing: Showing ads to people who previously visited our website
• Demographic Targeting: Ads based on general demographic information

Ad Preference Management

You have several options to control the advertising you see:

• Cookie Settings: Manage advertising cookies through our Cookie Policy page
• Browser Settings: Block third-party cookies in your browser preferences
• Ad Network Opt-Out: Use opt-out tools provided by advertising networks
• Do Not Track: Enable "Do Not Track" signals in your browser

Opt-Out Procedures

To opt out of personalized advertising:

• Visit Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out Page
• Visit Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out Page
• Adjust your Google Ad Settings for personalized ads
• Use browser extensions that block advertising trackers

Please note that opting out of personalized advertising does not mean you will see fewer ads, but the ads you see may be less relevant to your interests.