How to Use Affiliate Links on Medium (Without Getting Kicked off the Platform)
You don’t need to worry if you know how to stick to the rules.

The other day, I got an email from a new writer asking me about the use and misuse of affiliate marketing on Medium.
Affiliate marketing = means you link to a product or service you love and use. If someone buys this product or service through your affiliate link you earn a commission.
It’s simple.
Yet on Medium, you can get kicked off the platform when misusing affiliate links.
In the email, this new writer shared the example of a blogger who shared on YouTube that he was banned for using too many affiliate links in his posts.
So let’s take a closer look:
- You’re allowed to use affiliate links as long as you disclose them, e.g. with the abbreviation “aff” or saying “I’ll earn a small commission when you click the link and sign up for (x)”.
- What matters is that the piece you publish is primarily delivering value for the reader and isn’t focused on the affiliate click/sale.
For Boost numbers and publication editors, it’s easy to spot whether a writer is using an affiliate link because it genuinely fits and makes sense or if the piece is written to place an affiliate link.
No worries.
I often see more experienced and seasoned writers use affiliate links to their products or services or from third parties.
I’m not a fan of affiliate marketing but I know you can earn some good money with it.
My tip: if you love a tool, such as an email service provider ConvertKit or the design tool Canva, you can become a referrer or Canvasaddor and earn if you refer someone.
Now you know how to include affiliate links that pay off and bring people off the platform without penalty.