Comments on: Disclosing Affiliate Links on Blogs [POLL RESULTS]

By: Renee Michaels

Renee Michaels — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:03:46 +0000

Even thought I post in my privacy policy that I don’t stock the merchandise, I receive questions about items. As you say Dave, it is strange that somehow the notion that affiliate marketers are supposed to specify how they earn money is supposed to be revealed to their customers.

Commission Junction requires you to have a privacy policy that indicates that third party cookies are being used and at one point, I even heard the absurdity (not from CJ of course) that webmasters should inform their readers how to disable cookies. Does anyone have an idea where this originated?

By: Dave C.

Dave C. — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:40:30 +0000

Just realized I got linked to here. Thanks for that and I’m hoping that my paraphrased quote makes sense. Essentially, this is the only environment I’ve ever seen where people that are trying to make money have to profess that to their customers as if it’s not a forgone conclusion.

By: Renee Michaels

Renee Michaels — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:28:45 +0000

I think it depends on the type of blog you have. If you’re doing internet related stuff, your readers are savvy to aff links. But if your blog is consumer oriented, you’re just going to confuse them with issues that aren’t important to this market. I think that less is more in this case.

By: Brenda Carter

Brenda Carter — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:55:53 +0000

I have been rethinking my position on affiliate links within the last week or so. I still don’t think I will be disclosing them, but I’m not going to give the site I’m talking about a link at all if I don’t recommend them.

If a reader is that interested to the point where they are going to click, why shouldn’t the blogger get the benefit of a commission? To be honest, I think I’m less inclined to click if the blogger discloses the link; it looks like a shameless plug then.

By: Tomaz Mencinger

Tomaz Mencinger — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:09:02 +0000

Thanks for the mention Darren and great work compiling all these stats together!

It sure gives all of us different perspectives on affiliate links and how to approach this topic.

By: TeamTutorials

TeamTutorials — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:46:59 +0000

I just assume that when I see somebody recommending a product or service that they will be getting some kind of kickback. It could be affiliate links, pay per post, or just some free samples. If you are putting all the time into your site, you deserve to be rewarded. If somebody clicks through and affiliate link it is still up to them to decide if they want to purchase the product. If they decide it is a quality product, why shouldn’t I get a kick back? Non-disclosure FTW!

By: Max Powers at http://ConsumerFight.com

Max Powers at http://ConsumerFight.com — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:25:48 +0000

I’m like Thomas above, HTML redirect. In my situation, anyone can obviously see it’s a plain and simple advertisement. There is no need or reason to disclose anything.

What difference does it make if I receive money if they buy something? Would it change their decision?

If my affiliate link did not look like an obvious advertisement, that might change my mind.

By: Blog Opinion

Blog Opinion — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:03:26 +0000

I use tinyurl to hide affiliate link. So when users visit the actual link, it will creates a cookie and better chance for conversion.

By: Mike Panic

Mike Panic — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 18:26:55 +0000

Why bother disclosing them. Your average reader doesn’t know what an affiliate program is anyway – unless you are blogging to that target reader, i.e. a blog about making money or a blog about affiliates.

Nearly everyone who I know who has asked me if I make money online asks me how, I tell them through affiliate links and cost per click campaigns. No one to this date has said, “well duh, that’s how people make money online, tell me how.” Nearly every one I’ve had to explain that if I link to something on Amazon and you buy it, i get a % of the sale.

Your average reader doesn’t understand nor should they need to know what an affiliate is or if you are profiting off your site or not.

By: Thomas Sinfield

Thomas Sinfield — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:46:22 +0000

I think people expect your links to be affiliates, I just use a html redirect – if people want to get around it and use their own affiliate link they can.

By: Michael Woo

Michael Woo — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:44:43 +0000

Hmm.. I disclose it. But then again, sometimes psychologically people tend to remove your referral or rather browse to the opp and skipping your link.

I think that it’s fair to refer someone for their hardwork.. I do use referral links that the person has embedded into the article..

By: Amit

Amit — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:23:40 +0000

@ Sangesh – If you read my comment, it always depends on the niche, if you run a website targetting kids, 99.99% kids won know that the link is not a affiliate link.

By: JMorris

JMorris — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:37:21 +0000

If I had to pick a classification, it would be “Sometimes Do and Sometimes Don’t”. I don’t hide affiliate links, but I don’t go out of my way to disclose a link as an affiliate link.

My thinking is go to the major media sites. How are they listing products they are reviewing/promoting? Are they telling you that they are getting a kickback? No. However, they don’t hide the tracking link either.

By: CompuWorld

CompuWorld — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:21:57 +0000

unfortunately I couldn’t vote for this one.

I do not hide them. If people think that I do not deserve to earn from there click than it is there opinion and I respect them. I have setup my blog to share the best information and I cannot fool my readers. If they think my content is good than they will help me earn some money side by side.

By: Sangesh

Sangesh — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:19:21 +0000

Actually there is no point to hide the affiliate links. The ones who really wants to know the source of the links is going to know is by whatever means and the ones who do not want to know no matter what is not going to be bothered.

So, I don’t have any problem is disclosing my affiliate links.

By: Amit

Amit — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:11:18 +0000

Thats a almost equally resulted poll with each option getting similar amount of votes. Though i would personally sometimes hide the affiliate links and some times disclose because it all depends on the website, niche and kind of visitors you get.