Commercial policy

Policy edition · July 2026

Advertising and partnerships

Commercial material is identifiable, appropriately labelled and kept outside rating and ranking decisions.

01

Readers should know who paid

The label is placed prominently and remains with the material when it is shared within the website. A partner credit or design treatment does not replace clear commercial identification.

Advertisement
Paid display or supplied creative controlled by an advertiser.
Advertisement Feature
Paid material made to a commercial brief and subject to advertiser approval within that brief.
Partner Content
Funded material published under a named partnership and labelled before the reader enters the work.
02

Editorial boundaries

  • No commercial proposal includes a promise of directory publication, a GEM, Fork or Anchor distinction, Best 100 eligibility, rank or independent coverage.
  • A partner cannot suppress, delay or approve unrelated editorial work.
  • Verification files, unpublished rankings and confidential editorial sources are not commercial deliverables.
  • Factual review is limited to substantiated facts about the partner; editorial conclusions remain with the publication.
  • Commercial material does not imitate the appearance of an independent result page in a way that could mislead.
03

Claims, rights and suitability

Advertisers and partners are responsible for the accuracy, substantiation and legality of their claims and for holding all necessary rights in supplied material. The World’s Best may request evidence, require amendments or decline material.

Particular scrutiny applies to environmental, health, investment, alcohol, competition, price and comparative claims. Acceptance for one market or period does not guarantee acceptance elsewhere or later.

04

Data and measurement

Tracking, lead collection, competitions and audience matching require prior written agreement, an appropriate lawful basis and clear reader information. Optional advertising measurement is subject to cookie choice where consent is required.

Reporting distinguishes measured delivery from estimates and identifies the relevant reporting period.

05

Propose a partnership

Provide the advertiser, intended audience, market, dates, format, claims and any data collection involved. All activity is subject to availability and written terms.