Forgive me for being a little behind, but I’ve been a little behind most of my life, in more ways than one. Sometimes a BIG behind.
I’m going thru my Feed Demon 2 feed reader, which I love, and I notice Seth Godin’s post from earlier today. It’s called Clarifications and in it he basically said that yes, he knew it was an affiliate link that was in a post he linked to and for those that wasted his and their time emailing him to get over it.
” 2. In response to my post on baby bottles, several readers pointed out that the writer has an Amazon affiliate account. So what? She’s not recommending Amazon, she’s recommending a product sold on Amazon… out of the millions to choose from. Amazon’s affiliate deal is brilliant precisely because it enables you to make strong recommendations without feeling like the commission has anything at all to do with it.
3. And finally, just because I note something on my blog (like a marketing program that might be a little scammy for example), it doesn’t mean I’m recommending it. Just noting it! Your mileage will certainly vary. “
I totally agree. Totally.
Why is everybody so afraid of affiliate links ? If you see something you want, buy it. If you don’t, don’t buy it.
I wonder if Paul Harvey gets email and phone calls every time he talks about products in his radio show ? I’ll bet he doesn’t.
He’s a running dialogue of affiliate products, one after another after another. And everybody loves him and radio stations pay big dollars to syndicte his affiliate spiels.
Do people not think that someone should get paid for suggesting a product ?
Everything you buy, you bought because someone suggested it to you.
Think about it for a minute before you grab the cloak of indignancy and wrap your pure hearts against the evils of someone selling and making a few pennies to do so.
Do you not think the guy in the tire shop gets paid to help you pick out tires ?
Do you not think the lady in the Men’s Department at Kohl’s gets paid to suggest that you buy a light green tie to go with your gray suit ?
Does the young lady that asks me if I want cream and sugar at McDonald’s not get paid ? Is she any less worthy of my undying thanks because she’s not a volunteer ?
Here’s my take - I have more money than time and I have more to do than look for every freakin’ possible upsell and option. Suggest something to me and save me from looking for it and I’ll put you in my prayers.
If all you have to do is look at every link and see if it’s an affiliate link or not … you need a life and more to do.
Don’t even start with the sillyass crap I’ve read about bloggers needing to be transparent.
” We’ll unsubscribe if we even think you’re trying to make money off of us “, you say.
Good. See ya.
Did you sell your TV because they played a commercial ?
Did you take out your radio because of the commercials ?
Did you cancel your newspaper subscription because of ads ?
If so, you need a life and to take a sabbatical from the ‘net for a few weeks. We’ll all live fine without you and the snow white horse you galloped in on.
Where would your paycheck come from if nobody in your organization ever sold anything ?
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m with you Mike. I have no problem hitting the back button when I decide I’m not interested in the offer. Nor do I feel guilty for clicking either because I was genuinely interested in learning more when I clicked. If they paid someone for me to do that then they got a little more brand awareness with me for their money.
Oh, and I’m glad you got your bandwidth issues straightened out. Talk about a good problem!
Mike – I totally agree! Who really cares. I do not know anyone that affilates for my products UNLESS they believe in them.
PS – Hey Chris!
- Mike
Hey Chris – I left the house at 6 AM this morning to help my brother move into his new house.
He had to rebuild after losing his house in a tornado last November, 11 months ago.
I came back to find my blog down. Bad day for my blog – good day for my bro.
My readership is up 51.65% so far this month, with 3 1/2 days to go and 12 hours of downtime.
I feel fortunate and tired !
Tired from the moving and fortunate that you and Michael are agreeing with me.
Seems that we’re in the majority and those that cry about aff links are a vocal minority.
Thanks to you and Michael for the votes of confidence.
You? A big behind??? Okay, there was that one time…
Very good point about Paul Harvey. People just need to quit freakin’ over every little thing. At some point they have to put down the mouse and slowly step away from it.
Put down the mouse ? And keep all their fantabulous wisdom hidden from mankind ? Not a mousin’ chance !
Amen to that. We were recently discussing this issue over at “Successful Blog”. Most people seemed to think that using affiliate links put their credibility at risk. Representing the minority, I countered that if your readers’ trust is based upon your having no income, then you’ve got a bigger problem than a few affiliate links.
Hey Chris,
Did you not take the Bloggers Vow of Poverty ?
That’s one of the requirements, apparently.
Needless to say, I’m not a blogger, just a Sales Guru who writes a blog, tho’ not very well !
What a great post – and even greater comments!!
“…if your readers’ trust is based upon your having no income, then you’ve got a bigger problem than a few affiliate links.”
I’ve been on the pro-affiliate side well before being a blogger, and even I was wow-ed by this sentence!
NICE JOB!!!
Thanks Wendy .. we try harder … like Avis.
Can anyone recommend me affiliate programs where you can use text links?
I need to know of all the affiliate programs out there where you can use text links and that pay per click.
thanks in advance….