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Reviews, sponsorship, & Collaboration Policy

Thanks for your interest in working with Mackey Tech!

Whether you’re a hardware manufacturer, software developer, or technology company, I believe the best collaborations are built on transparency, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to providing value.

My viewers trust that the products and services featured on my channel are there for a reason—not because someone paid for a favorable opinion.

This page outlines how I approach reviews, sponsorships, product samples, and other brand collaborations so expectations are clear from the beginning. When there’s a genuine fit, I’m happy to explore opportunities that align with my content, workflow, and audience.

How Video Topics Are Selected

All video topics are chosen by me based on my interests, audience relevance, production schedule, current trends, and whether the subject provides meaningful educational value.

Receiving a product does not guarantee that it will appear in a video. I only feature products or services that reasonably fit within the Mackey Tech audience and the subjects I regularly cover, including homelabs, networking, Linux, NAS devices, self-hosting, smart-home technology, privacy, and related consumer technology.

I may decline or discontinue coverage when a product:

When practical, I may contact the company to clarify an issue or allow an opportunity to provide troubleshooting assistance or a replacement product. However, I am not obligated to delay publication, repeat testing indefinitely, or omit missues discovered during normal use.

Reviews Are Not Sponsored

I do not accept payment in exchange for a product review. When I review a product, it is because I believe it may be useful in my workflow or homelab and that evaluating it would provide value to my viewers. The resulting content reflects my genuine experience—not a contract, required talking points, or a predetermined conclusion.

Providing a product does not purchase coverage, guarantee publication, guarantee a positive review, or provide editorial approval.

Sponsorship and Editorial Control

I may accept paid sponsorships that are clearly disclosed and relevant to my audience.

I maintain full editorial control over all Mackey Tech content. This includes the topic, testing process, structure, presentation, conclusions, title, thumbnail, and final publication decision.

I do not accept:

A brand may review specific factual claims, such as technical specifications, pricing, product names, or availability. Any feedback must be limited to correcting objective inaccuracies and may not be used to influence the tone, conclusion, or overall opinion of the content.

Sponsored integration

Sponsored integrations are clearly disclosed advertising segments placed within independently produced videos.

These segments are generally limited to a clearly defined portion of the video and are written and presented in my own voice and style. A sponsor may review its specific integration segment for factual accuracy and compliance with previously agreed-upon messaging.

The sponsor does not control or approve the surrounding video, its topic, conclusions, title, thumbnail, or editorial content.

Whenever possible, integrations will be relevant to the subject of the video and appropriate for the Mackey Tech audience.

Dedicated Sponsored Content

On occasion, I may produce dedicated sponsored content such as a tutorial, product demonstration, event feature, or clearly identified promotional video.

Dedicated sponsored content involves monetary compensation and will be prominently disclosed.

Although the sponsor may verify objective product information, I retain control over how the content is written, presented, and produced. Sponsorship does not permit a brand to require misleading claims, conceal limitations, or present paid content as an independent review.

A dedicated sponsored video is not the same as an independent product review.

Creative Independence

I do not pursue collaborations that impose unnecessary creative restrictions, including rigid requirements regarding video length, structure, title, thumbnail, or presentation.

The format and length of a video are determined by what best serves the topic and the viewer—not by external requirements.

The primary exception is a sponsored integration, where a clearly defined portion of a video may be reserved for a sponsor message. Even then, the segment must remain consistent with my voice, audience, and content standards.

Product Samples, Loaners, and Gifted Products

Products provided by a company may fall into one of the following categories:

The source of a product will be disclosed when it is featured. Unless agreed upon beforehand, brands are responsible for arranging and paying for the return of loaned products.

Products sent without prior approval may not be reviewed, featured, returned, or acknowledged. Brands should not send unsolicited products without first confirming interest and shipping arrangements.

Gifted products do not guarantee coverage and do not create any editorial obligation.

Affiliate Links

Some video descriptions, articles, or resource pages may contain affiliate links. If a viewer purchases through one of these links, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to the viewer.

Affiliate relationships are disclosed and do not guarantee positive coverage. My opinions are based on my actual experience with the product or service.

YouTube Advertising

YouTube may display advertisements before, during, or after my videos through the YouTube Partner Program.

These advertisements are selected and delivered by Google. I generally do not control which specific companies or products appear, and the presence of an advertisement does not imply that I endorse or have a relationship with that advertiser.

Travel and Event Coverage

A company may offer to cover reasonable travel, lodging, or event-related expenses so I can attend a trade show, media event, product launch, or similar event.

Assistance with travel expenses does not guarantee coverage or provide the company with editorial control. Any resulting content remains at my sole discretion.

When travel or event access is provided by a company, that relationship will be disclosed when relevant. Paid event coverage will be treated and disclosed as sponsored content.

Communication & Production Timelines

Clear communication and realistic expectations are essential.

Production timelines are based on actual testing and are not built around rushed deadlines. Some products require extended use, troubleshooting, updates, integration into an existing environment, or testing under multiple conditions before responsible conclusions can be reached.

Timely communication is especially important when working across different time zones. Delayed responses, missing information, shipping issues, or changing requirements may affect the production schedule.

I do not guarantee a specific publication date unless one has been explicitly agreed upon in writing.

I do not provide complete editorial drafts or unfinished videos for approval. Once production is complete, I do not make changes based on subjective feedback or dissatisfaction with an honest conclusion.

Disclosures and FTC Compliance

All paid sponsorships, gifted products, affiliate relationships, travel assistance, and other material connections are disclosed in accordance with applicable FTC guidelines and YouTube policies.

I will not work with brands that request hidden sponsorships, misleading statements, undisclosed compensation, fabricated testimonials, or any other arrangement that compromises transparency.

My Responsibility

At the end of the day, my primary responsibility is to my audience. Any collaboration must respect their trust, my editorial independence, and the integrity of the Mackey Tech channel. When those values are aligned, a brand partnership can be beneficial for everyone involved. When they are not aligned, the collaboration is simply not a good fit—and that’s okay!

To get in touch, please complete my Contact Form.

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