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Etiquette question about linking

by brians34
7 replies
  • SEO
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I have bought many programs and spent way too much money on this and that trying to get myself inspired to begin IM.

I have finally decided to quit sitting on my duff and just get started with a blog. I'm going to be in training mode for a while trying to learn WordPress. Once I get a few posts going and learn a little, I will post my blog name and ask for comments.

This is the etiquette question. I was going to have a special page for links to those that help me along the way, but would it be inappropriate to use affiliate links in that section where possible?
#etiquette #linking #question
  • Profile picture of the author Jammy
    hell yes, that's how you are going to make your money

    You can use an affiliate link cloaker so it doesn't look spammy.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author purplecone
    As long as you let your visitors know they are affiliate links, it should be ok. I usually put affiliate links, let visitors know that they are affiliate links, and then tell them that if they prefer not to click on links that will give me a few cents, they are welcome to Google the information. Sometimes, I will even give the non-affiliate link just below the affiliate link.

    Being transparent with your readers is not just courteous, it is the law.

    Linda
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    • Profile picture of the author brians34
      Originally Posted by purplecone View Post

      As long as you let your visitors know they are affiliate links, it should be ok. I usually put affiliate links, let visitors know that they are affiliate links, and then tell them that if they prefer not to click on links that will give me a few cents, they are welcome to Google the information. Sometimes, I will even give the non-affiliate link just below the affiliate link.

      Being transparent with your readers is not just courteous, it is the law.

      Linda

      So it's illegal to post an affiliate link without notating that it is an affiliate link? Do you have to put (affiliate link) by each one or can there be a blanket page stating that affiliate links are used in the blog?
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  • Profile picture of the author atwellpub
    We've a similiar thread going on here: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ffiliates.html

    Brian I really do not believe that there is any law American or EU that says it's illegate to mask links. Unless one popped up today that I don't know about. Bring your attention to URL shortner services. They are link masking services that do not disclose their destination.

    This link goes to disney.com
    Code:
    http://goo.gl/r5Pl
    and again no law was broken.

    A disclaimer may in some cases be helpful and in somecases not be helpful. It does sound courtious if you believe your readers will care. It may even, in those circumstances, improve your clickthrough rate. And in others a disclaimer may decrease it.

    But there is no legal obligation.

    @Linda My apologies for taking the case the other way.
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    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Originally Posted by atwellpub View Post

      We've a similiar thread going on here: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ffiliates.html

      Brian I really do not believe that there is any law American or EU that says it's illegate to mask links. Unless one popped up today that I don't know about. Bring your attention to URL shortner services. They are link masking services that do not disclose their destination.

      This link goes to disney.com
      Code:
      http://goo.gl/r5Pl
      and again no law was broken.

      A disclaimer may in some cases be helpful and in somecases not be helpful. It does sound courtious if you believe your readers will care. It may even, in those circumstances, improve your clickthrough rate. And in others a disclaimer may decrease it.

      But there is no legal obligation.

      @Linda My apologies for taking the case the other way.
      Hi atwellpub,

      Apparently, the U.S. Federal Trade commission disagrees with your opinion. But hey, they only enforce the law, so who cares what they think?

      Under the revised Guides, advertisements that feature a consumer and convey his or her experience with a product or service as typical when that is not the case will be required to clearly disclose the results that consumers can generally expect. In contrast to the 1980 version of the Guides - which allowed advertisers to describe unusual results in a testimonial as long as they included a disclaimer such as "results not typical" - the revised Guides no longer contain this safe harbor.

      The revised Guides also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that "material connections" (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers - connections that consumers would not expect - must be disclosed. These examples address what constitutes an endorsement when the message is conveyed by bloggers or other "word-of-mouth" marketers. The revised Guides specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service. Likewise, if a company refers in an advertisement to the findings of a research organization that conducted research sponsored by the company, the advertisement must disclose the connection between the advertiser and the research organization. And a paid endorsement - like any other advertisement - is deceptive if it makes false or misleading claims.
      Source: FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials
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  • Profile picture of the author atwellpub
    It doesn't seem to be an enforced rule though. In my scope of experience I do not see others doing this and in my scope of practice I do not do this.

    Don't you find it funny that a another person can write "Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service." and it be so? Although the honor given to the mandate does seems not much, by myself or by the practitioners of the industry.

    After studying casestudies over at abtests.com I've just only recently come to understand the importances of small consmetic things that make large differences in the realm of converting. Telling people in a disclaimer that you benefit from promotion may cheapen the review of the product by interrupting the sales psychology with the interjection of a whole new sentiment.

    Maybe the honor can be placed in superfine print and stashed away in a corner somewhere out of the way of the psychological sales funnel... but then a regulator will see what honor is paid and state that it must go directly above the buynow now button, or even better must be inserted into the link's title attribute... I'm just joking there but the joke has serious sentiments in it.

    This law was not designed to tell you and I what to do, I believe. I believe that this law was drawn up to target a malicious practice that was causing much trouble in the industry, such as false testimonials threatening to degrade the commerce experience. But not for honest bloggers or practice of masking affiliate links. This industry is just a side casualty and I don't believe the subject of the thread will ever be pressured by legal force or forces.

    Highlighting this law brings in mind the oncomming new EU law requiring EU sites to gain visitors permission to store and read cookies. People have tested the default recommended system for doing this (which is a splash screen of some sorts) and the test site only converted 11% of the traffic past the splash screen. The example shows how silly regulation threatens to injure commerce.

    But if one loves the law so much by all means honor it and by your support it might become a celebrated norm. I know I will if someone threatens me, but I do not bow to this specific one morally or fear the consequences (yet) of it's enforcers. So as always do what you will and think is right.

    In my opinion how I craft a promotion is not anyone's business but my own and wheather or not I stand to benefit by my promotional voice can easily be deferred by a semi lit eye.

    Playing in this economy, it should be assumed that as an advertising voice I would receive compensation, or not, depending on the availablity of an affiliate program and my will to monetize my own passion.

    Rant = Disparage on a law. But thank you dburk for correcting me and my apologies go out again to Ms. Purplecone for saying there was no law. Cheers,
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