3D Chess Media, LLC operates commercial businesses and digital publishing properties. Some websites within The 3D Chess Media Portfolio may generate revenue through advertising, affiliate marketing, lead generation, sponsorships, research products, client services, subscriptions, partnerships, referrals, data products, or other commercial relationships. We believe readers should be able to understand when a financial relationship may exist. This disclosure explains the general commercial practices that may apply across the 3D Chess Media Portfolio.
Individual properties may maintain additional disclosures specific to their subject matter, business model, or regulatory requirements.
Affiliate Marketing
Some 3D Chess Media properties may participate in affiliate marketing programs. Affiliate marketing means that a portfolio property may receive compensation when a visitor takes a qualifying action after using a link or other referral mechanism on one of our websites. Depending on the relationship, a qualifying action could include:
- Visiting a partner website
- Requesting additional information
- Completing a form
- Starting a trial
- Opening an account
- Purchasing a product
- Purchasing a service
- Subscribing to a platform
- Completing another defined commercial action
The amount and structure of compensation can vary by partner and program. Compensation may include:
- A fixed amount per lead
- A fixed amount per sale
- A percentage of transaction value
- Recurring commissions
- Revenue sharing
- Performance-based compensation
- Other agreed commercial structures
Affiliate Relationships Do Not Cover Every Company We Discuss
A company appearing on one of our websites does not necessarily have a commercial relationship with 3D Chess Media. Likewise, a company may be discussed, compared, ranked, cited, or recommended even when 3D Chess Media receives no compensation from that company. Some companies discussed within portfolio research may participate in affiliate programs. Others may not. A lack of commercial relationship does not automatically exclude a company from research. The existence of a commercial relationship should not automatically guarantee favorable treatment.
Affiliate Compensation and Research Results
Several 3D Chess Media properties publish structured research, comparative analysis, or research based on recommendations generated by AI systems. Where the underlying research records what external AI platforms actually recommended, affiliate compensation should not be used to alter that record. For example, if the observed research shows: Company A was recommended by 6 of 7 AI systems, and Affiliate Partner B was recommended by 2 of 7 AI systems, the existence of an affiliate relationship with Company B should not change: 2 of 7, into: 6 of 7.
Similarly, if a company without a commercial relationship performs strongly in the research, that result should remain visible. The underlying research may therefore produce outcomes that are unfavorable to companies from which a portfolio property earns revenue.
A Commercial Partner Can Lose
A commercial relationship does not guarantee that a company will:
- Rank first
- Receive the highest score
- Appear in every study
- Receive the most AI recommendations
- Receive favorable editorial commentary
- Outperform companies without commercial relationships
- Remain highly ranked over time
Where rankings or comparative results are based on defined research methodologies, the result should follow from the methodology. A company may: rank highly, rank poorly, lose position, fail to qualify, or fail to appear at all, regardless of whether a commercial relationship exists.
A Non-Partner Can Win
The opposite is also true. A company that does not pay 3D Chess Media may outperform a commercial partner. If the underlying research supports that result, it should be reported. Commercial relationships should not require us to hide a stronger competitor simply because that competitor does not generate revenue for the publication.
Advertising
Some portfolio properties may display advertising. Advertising may include:
- Display advertising
- Native advertising
- Sponsored placements
- Newsletter advertising
- Video advertising
- Paid promotional placements
- Other clearly identified paid media
Where advertising is paid for by an advertiser, we intend for that relationship to be reasonably identifiable as advertising, sponsored content, paid placement, or similar commercial material where appropriate. Advertising does not necessarily represent an editorial endorsement of the advertiser.
Sponsored Content
A 3D Chess Media property may publish sponsored content. Sponsored content means that a company or organization has provided compensation or other consideration associated with publication. Sponsored content should be identified as sponsored, paid, or otherwise commercially supported when appropriate. A sponsor may have input regarding the subject matter or factual information about its own business. That does not mean sponsored material should be represented as independent editorial research when it is not.
Sponsored Research
3D Chess Media, LLM Authority Index, CiteWorks Studio, or another portfolio property may accept funding for research projects. A sponsor may help fund: Data collection, Survey costs, Research production, Analysis, Data visualization, Publication, Distribution, and Technical development. Sponsored research can still be useful research. The important issue is transparency. Where sponsorship is material to understanding the research, the sponsor should be disclosed.
What Sponsorship Does Not Purchase
Unless a specific project explicitly states otherwise, sponsorship should not purchase:
- A predetermined conclusion
- A guaranteed ranking
- Additional AI recommendation votes
- Removal of unfavorable observations
- Manipulation of underlying research data
- Preferential treatment within a defined research methodology
- Guaranteed positive editorial coverage
A research project should remain capable of producing findings that are inconvenient to the sponsor. If the outcome is predetermined, it should not be presented as independent research.
Lead Generation
Some 3D Chess Media properties may generate leads for companies. In a lead-generation arrangement, 3D Chess Media or a portfolio property may receive compensation when a visitor:
- Requests a quote
- Requests a consultation
- Requests additional information
- Submits contact information
- Connects with a service provider
- Completes another qualifying action
The receiving company may then contact the visitor regarding its products or services, subject to the information provided at the time of submission and applicable law. Where appropriate, forms should identify who may receive the information or explain the nature of the referral.
Referral Relationships
3D Chess Media may also enter into referral relationships with businesses that provide services outside our own capabilities. Under a referral arrangement, 3D Chess Media may receive compensation when a company we introduce becomes a customer of the receiving business. Similarly, 3D Chess Media may compensate another organization when that organization introduces a new customer to one of our businesses. Referral relationships may involve areas such as: Software development, Technology, Marketing, Research, Publishing, Consulting, Professional services, and Business services.
A referral relationship does not mean that every relevant opportunity must be referred to that partner. 3D Chess Media generally prefers referral relationships that are voluntary and non-exclusive.
CiteWorks Studio
CiteWorks Studio is a commercial AI search strategy and implementation business operated within The 3D Chess Media Portfolio. Companies may pay CiteWorks Studio for services involving areas such as:
- Generative Engine Optimization
- Answer Engine Optimization
- AI Search Optimization
- Citation architecture
- AI visibility strategy
- Competitive research
- Entity clarity
- Content architecture
- Technical SEO
- Authority development
- Related consulting and implementation
CiteWorks Studio may therefore have commercial relationships with companies that also appear in research conducted by other 3D Chess Media properties. Where that relationship is material to interpreting the research, it should be disclosed.
LLM Authority Index
LLM Authority Index develops commercial AI search research, measurement, benchmarking, competitive intelligence, and related products. Revenue may come from activities such as:
- Subscription services
- AI visibility dashboards
- Custom research
- Competitive reports
- Data products
- Research services
- Benchmarking
- Enterprise engagements
- Licensing
- Partnerships
- Sponsored research
LLM Authority Index may study markets in which its customers operate. Being a customer should not provide additional recommendation credit within structured research. Likewise, a company should not need to purchase services from LLM Authority Index to appear in an open market study.
Related 3D Chess Media Businesses May Appear in Research
Because 3D Chess Media operates both research and commercial businesses, related properties may occasionally appear within research concerning markets in which they participate. For example: CiteWorks Studio could appear in research concerning AI search agencies., and LLM Authority Index could appear in research concerning AI visibility platforms or measurement tools.. That creates a potential conflict of interest. Our preferred approach is not to pretend the relationship does not exist. It is to: Preserve the underlying research., Report the result accurately., and Disclose the relationship..
A related company should be allowed to perform poorly when the research produces a poor result. It should also be allowed to perform strongly when the observed data supports that result.
The 3D Chess Media Portfolio
Other portfolio properties may generate revenue through different commercial models. These properties currently include:
- Aging In Place Index
- Credit Consensus Index
- Life Insurance Consensus Index
- Mortgage Consensus Index
- Home Services Consensus Index
- Business Software Consensus Index
- Home Improvement Consensus Index
- Moving Consensus Index
- Hosting Consensus Index
Each market may require a different commercial structure. For example, one property may rely primarily on affiliate relationships while another may use lead generation or direct advertising. The applicable website should provide more specific disclosure where appropriate.
Financial and YMYL Topics
Some 3D Chess Media properties cover financial products or other topics where purchasing decisions can have significant consequences. These may include properties such as: Credit Consensus Index, Life Insurance Consensus Index, and Mortgage Consensus Index. Commercial compensation should not be interpreted as individualized financial, legal, insurance, tax, investment, or credit advice. Readers should review the specific disclaimers and policies on the relevant property. Where professional advice is appropriate, readers should consult a qualified professional who understands their individual circumstances.
Human Review and Commercial Relationships
Some 3D Chess Media properties may use human reviewers or subject-matter experts. A reviewer may have: Professional experience, Business interests, Industry relationships, Ownership interests, and Commercial relationships. relevant to the subject being reviewed. Where those relationships create a material potential conflict, the relevant property should disclose them. Human review should not be used to rewrite an underlying research record merely to improve the position of a commercial partner.
AI Recommendation Research
Some portfolio properties study what AI systems recommend for defined questions. These studies may analyze systems such as: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Copilot, Grok, and Other AI or AI-search platforms. When a study records AI-generated recommendations, those recommendations originate from the systems tested. They should not be interpreted as recommendations personally created by 3D Chess Media unless a publication explicitly states otherwise. Likewise, the existence of an affiliate relationship should not be interpreted as creating an additional AI recommendation.
AI Consensus Is Not Commercial Endorsement
If several AI platforms recommend the same company, a portfolio property may describe that result as AI consensus or cross-platform agreement. That does not necessarily mean:
- 3D Chess Media independently endorses the company
- The company is objectively best for every consumer
- The AI systems represent independent expert opinions
- The result will remain the same in the future
- A commercial relationship exists
The research should be interpreted according to the methodology and limitations published with the study.
Prices and Offers Can Change
Where our websites discuss:
- Pricing
- Discounts
- Promotions
- Product availability
- Interest rates
- Insurance premiums
- Software prices
- Service costs
- Fees
- Other commercial terms
That information may change. A merchant, lender, insurer, software provider, service company, or other third party controls its own current terms. Readers should verify important pricing and contractual information directly with the provider before making a decision.
We Do Not Control Third-Party Websites
Our websites may link to third-party websites. 3D Chess Media does not control those websites. A third-party site may:
- Change its content
- Change its pricing
- Change its privacy practices
- Change its products
- Remove an offer
- Change eligibility requirements
- Change its terms
A link from one of our properties should not be interpreted as a guarantee regarding the accuracy, security, availability, or practices of the destination website.
Compensation Can Change
Commercial relationships evolve. A company that compensates a 3D Chess Media property today may not do so in the future. A company with no current commercial relationship may become a partner later. Compensation terms can also change. For that reason, the existence or absence of a commercial relationship at one point in time should not be assumed to remain permanent.
Our General Principle
3D Chess Media is a commercial business. We intend to make money from the businesses and digital assets we build. We do not believe earning revenue is inconsistent with producing useful research or publishing useful information. The important issue is whether commercial interests are hidden or allowed to silently rewrite the research. Our preferred principle is: Disclose the relationship. Preserve the underlying result. Let readers decide what weight to give both.
Questions About a Commercial Relationship
If you have a question concerning: An affiliate relationship, Advertising, Sponsorship, A referral arrangement, A research sponsor, A related company, A material commercial relationship, and A disclosure on one of our properties. please contact us.
3D Chess Media, LLC
Email Valerie@3DChessMedia.com
Telephone 949-309-0024
Related Policies
For additional information, please review: