Affiliate links in posts on WF?

by GeroC
22 replies
I have read the rules about no affiliate links in the signature box as well as in posts, But I see them at least once a day. So is the rules different for some warriors?
#affiliate #links #posts
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    No ... that's what the report button is for... at least one of the things it's for.
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    • Profile picture of the author GeroC
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      No ... that's what the report button is for... at least one of the things it's for.
      OK got it thank you.
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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        Double check with the help desk, but I don't recall there being a rule against posting an affiliate link in a reply to a thread.

        For some reason, I was thinking it was ok as long as you disclose that it's an affiliate link. But again...seek clarification from the help desk.
        Signature
        "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
        ~ Zig Ziglar
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        • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

          Double check with the help desk, but I don't recall there being a rule against posting an affiliate link in a reply to a thread.

          For some reason, I was thinking it was ok as long as you disclose that it's an affiliate link. But again...seek clarification from the help desk.
          My understanding was that the rule was in fact the exact opposite. Not allowing affiliate links at all prevents people from posting just to pimp their products. It wouldn't make much sense to ban it from one part of the forum (signatures) and allow it in another (posts) would it ?
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        • Profile picture of the author WillR
          Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

          Double check with the help desk, but I don't recall there being a rule against posting an affiliate link in a reply to a thread.

          For some reason, I was thinking it was ok as long as you disclose that it's an affiliate link. But again...seek clarification from the help desk.
          Nope, I am pretty certain it's no affiliate links whatsoever. When people's recommendations are based on a commission they are going to make it then makes that recommendation questionable and adds no value to the forum.

          Can you also imagine the amount of people who would abuse a rule like that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    This is my understanding of affiliate links in posts:

    Members who don't make a habit of it, and are contributing to an existing thread can post an affiliate link, as long as they:

    1. Disclose it's an affiliate link.

    2. Give a non-affiliate link as well.

    For signature links, there are slightly different rules for different people. Those who wish to lose their signature links may get away with posting affiliate links. Once.



    All the best,
    Michael
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    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      This is my understanding of affiliate links in posts:

      Members who don't make a habit of it, and are contributing to an existing thread can post an affiliate link, as long as they:

      1. Disclose it's an affiliate link.

      2. Give a non-affiliate link as well.

      For signature links, there are slightly different rules for different people. Those who wish to lose their signature links may get away with posting affiliate links. Once.



      All the best,
      Michael
      Michael,

      Maybe we've been around here for too long and we're becoming senile.
      Signature
      "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
      ~ Zig Ziglar
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
        Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

        Michael,

        Maybe we've been around here for too long and we're becoming senile.
        Lance,

        Thank you for saying "becoming", as it implies the possibility that we're not there already.



        ~Michael
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        "Ich bin en fuego!"
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    • Profile picture of the author WillR
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      This is my understanding of affiliate links in posts:

      Members who don't make a habit of it, and are contributing to an existing thread can post an affiliate link, as long as they:

      1. Disclose it's an affiliate link.

      2. Give a non-affiliate link as well.
      I'd love to hear the actual rule on this because I was always under the impression affiliate links are not allowed fullstop -- it only makes sense. Anything else is just encouraging abuse.
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      • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
        Banned
        Originally Posted by WillR View Post

        I'd love to hear the actual rule on this because I was always under the impression affiliate links are not allowed fullstop -- it only makes sense. Anything else is just encouraging abuse.
        I was under the same impression and would be a little taken aback and disenchanted if certain Warriors are allowed to post affiliate links at all, even in limited situations. Then all that whining others spew out about certain Warriors receiving special treatment would suddenly be a little more factual.
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      This is my understanding of affiliate links in posts:

      Members who don't make a habit of it, and are contributing to an existing thread can post an affiliate link, as long as they:

      1. Disclose it's an affiliate link.

      2. Give a non-affiliate link as well.

      For signature links, there are slightly different rules for different people. Those who wish to lose their signature links may get away with posting affiliate links. Once.



      All the best,
      Michael
      ^^^^^^^^^
      This is the correct answer, and as with all the rules, if it is abused, the affiliate link will still be deleted.
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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        It doesn't get abused. Most people don't do it.

        As a matter of fact a lot of people will recommend a link and go out of their way to disclose that it is NOT an affiliate link.

        Others just try to sneak in an affiliate link thinking nobody will notice. Their links usually get nuked rather quickly.

        And I imagine that if someone went crazy with it (even if they disclosed the affiliate status), they would get contacted by a moderator.
        Signature
        "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
        ~ Zig Ziglar
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

          It doesn't get abused. Most people don't do it.

          As a matter of fact a lot of people will recommend a link and go out of their way to disclose that it is NOT an affiliate link.

          Others just try to sneak in an affiliate link thinking nobody will notice. Their links usually get nuked rather quickly.

          And I imagine that if someone went crazy with it (even if they disclosed the affiliate status), they would get contacted by a moderator.
          Yeah ... I've only seen it done no more than 3 times (that I've seen personally). Paul Myers is the one that I remember providing clarification on this rule, so the rule is as Michael stated it is.
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          • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
            Michael,
            Members who don't make a habit of it, and are contributing to an existing thread can post an affiliate link, as long as they:

            1. Disclose it's an affiliate link.

            2. Give a non-affiliate link as well.
            That was the rule for a long time. Now we just tend to delete any post with an affiliate link in it. As with so many things, leaving any wiggle room attracts the attention of the abusers.

            Joe,
            I was under the same impression and would be a little taken aback and disenchanted if certain Warriors are allowed to post affiliate links at all, even in limited situations. Then all that whining others spew out about certain Warriors receiving special treatment would suddenly be a little more factual.
            Some members DO get away with more than others.

            There are things everyone can do, things no-one can do, and then there's the area where your contribution to the forum and general approach to the other members is a factor. This is normal for communities of any kind.

            The idea that "Them that gives, gets" has been a standing guideline here since the first rules were posted in this forum.

            Simple example: If you post a one-liner in a thread, we know it's not for sig exposure. Even if there are a few of them in a row. If someone brand new starts doing that, those posts are likely to get deleted if reported.

            More complicated example: We get reports about sellers. If you have a long history of doing the right thing and handling disputes responsibly and fairly, we'll cut you some slack and ask more questions. If you're brand new and we get reports, we're going to be a bit more abrupt about the response. And if you have a history of being abusive to customers, or giving people hassles about things, we're more likely to give you time off than to ask questions.

            I think that's entirely appropriate.


            Paul
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            • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
              Banned
              Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

              I think that's entirely appropriate.
              The situations you mentioned I have absolutely no qualms about. Those are the kinds of things that protect the greater good (in the eyes of more than 90% of us at least ). I wouldn't have fit the affiliate thing in the same boat though. Then again, it's not my game to ref and as you stated the rule is that they tend to get deleted now anyways, so no point crying over spilled milk that's still in the carton.
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            • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
              Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

              Michael,That was the rule for a long time. Now we just tend to delete any post with an affiliate link in it. As with so many things, leaving any wiggle room attracts the attention of the abusers.
              So now it's completely forbidden? Thanks a lot spamming @$$bags!

              Just sayin'

              All the best,
              Michael
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              "Ich bin en fuego!"
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              • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                Banned
                Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

                So now it's completely forbidden? Thanks a lot spamming @$!

                Just sayin'

                All the best,
                Michael

                Not surprising. Like I said, I've only seen it "done right" 3 times. I've seen it done wrong a lot more.
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  • Profile picture of the author GeroC
    Thank You for all the feedback. I love this place!! so many people helping others
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  • Profile picture of the author Gerald Arno
    Banned
    I recently contacted Paul Myers to clarify the exact same issue and he told me it's fine to promote affiliate products as long as you are not using the same landing page / squeeze page of the product creator.

    With that being said, you need to come up with your own - unique sales page/landing page to be officially allowed to market affiliate products through your signature.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Gerald,
      I recently contacted Paul Myers to clarify the exact same issue and he told me it's fine to promote affiliate products as long as you are not using the same landing page / squeeze page of the product creator.
      That's in the sig file rules. Has been for a long time.

      You can link to your own site in your signature, even if it's dedicated solely to affiliate offers. You can't do a redirect or use a vendor-supplied template as the landing page. That is treated the same as linking to the vendor's site.

      That is not a judgement on vendors who supply landing page templates for their affiliates. That can be a very smart tactic, if used correctly. It's not allowed here because it encourages people to post excessively and irrelevantly for the sig exposure. That doesn't do them much good in a place like this, but the wasted time and space are still thrown into the hole their nonsense creates.


      Paul
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      Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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  • Profile picture of the author MN Warrior
    Its a rule which I'm ready to agree with. Allowing people to post affiliate links right onto the forum (even if you're disclosing the fact, and writing good content on the post in addition) could be a slippery slope into WF just being a spam forum.
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