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Different Approaches to Handling Affiliate Links on Your Blog?

by x3xsolxdierx3x
3 replies
For years, it seems like the trend, whether on blogs or websites, has been to cloak affiliate links and not mention them to readers. As the internet evolves, though, it appears like people are becoming more and more canny to the fact that affiliate links are being used, and that people are essentially monetizing their blogs with them.

How have YOU handled affiliate links on your blog? I have begun to see a new breed of bloggers, that are extremely transparent with everything from their affiliations, to their earnings and expenses. Has anyone done any test/studies/experiment based on whether or not people are more inclined to purchase through your affiliate link IF you tell them what you are doing? Do you think alot of people would just go elsewhere if you tell them, or, just type in the URL, rather than click your affiliate link?

Thoughts? Your approach?
#affiliate #approaches #blog #handling #links
  • Profile picture of the author affilcrazy
    Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

    extremely transparent with everything from their affiliations, to their earnings and expenses.
    I can't say that I have personally run any tests, per se, but I too have become far more aware of this practice.

    From my personal point of view, I believe it does a lot to build trust between an affiliate and a potential client. I have actually purchased a few Clickbank products through a blog owner's affiliate link (rather than my own) because of their honesty (OK, maybe that's not strictly true - mainly because they are offering some form of bonus should you buy through their affiliate link).

    However, with that said, this level of "transparency" has definitely endeared me to a blog owner. I often believe, rightly or wrongly, that if the blog post is a product review, by being upfront about their affiliation their review is likely to be a far more honest one!

    Cheers
    Partha
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    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by affilcrazy View Post

      I can't say that I have personally run any tests, per se, but I too have become far more aware of this practice.

      From my personal point of view, I believe it does a lot to build trust between an affiliate and a potential client. I have actually purchased a few Clickbank products through a blog owner's affiliate link (rather than my own) because of their honesty (OK, maybe that's not strictly true - mainly because they are offering some form of bonus should you buy through their affiliate link).

      However, with that said, this level of "transparency" has definitely endeared me to a blog owner. I often believe, rightly or wrongly, that if the blog post is a product review, by being upfront about their affiliation their review is likely to be a far more honest one!

      Cheers
      Partha
      This is certainly an interesting evolution of both blogs, as well as the general online atmosphere. Transparency 'appears' to become a very viable and sustainable longterm approach to business. Where people once hid things like earnings and expenses, one would 'think' that displaying all this information for the world to see would be a bit boastful or prideful....instead, it seems to be having an inverse effect....drawing certain bloggers even closer to their audiences by developing a relationship, founded on mutual trust and respect, that stands for a very long time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

    I have begun to see a new breed of bloggers, that are extremely transparent with everything from their affiliations, to their earnings and expenses.
    Well, insofar as transparency with the links is concerned, a lot of it is probably due to FTC regulations and not necessarily a "new breed" of bloggers.
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