rel="sponsored"
A link attribute that tells search engines a link was paid for or is part of an advertising arrangement.
Google introduced rel="sponsored" in 2019, alongside rel="ugc", and asks for it on paid links such as those in sponsored articles. Links marked sponsored (or nofollow) don't pass ranking credit, which keeps a paid placement within search guidelines. It doesn't make the link less visible to readers, who still see and can click it.
On a paid placement, sponsored is the honest default. A seller promising unlabelled "dofollow" links on paid posts is asking you to take a risk with your brand.
Related: Nofollow link · Dofollow link · UGC link