Are affiliate links OK?

[Denise - Your Organisers]

Hi

I have a question. Is it acceptable for someone to post a recommendation such as a resource recommendation which links to the site they are recommending where that link is actually a hoplink - ie they are an affiliate for that site and the link contains their affiliate ID so they get paid if anyone buys from the site they have recommended?

____________________
Denise - Your Organisers

[VAF Admin]

Hi Denise, good question, thanks for asking! You originally posted your question as a follow-up to this thread Post reporting feature - help keep the community spam free! but we went ahead and made it it's own entry because it is a really good question.

We review links on the forums from time to time and have left a number of members' affiliate links active in some posts for a few reasons - as long as the member is genuinely recommending a product or service and aren't apparently spamming the forums, or posting the link solely for the purpose of 'selling' something in order to gain affiliate dollars, it's fine. We've deleted or adjusted a number of links for the opposite of the same reasons.

Does that help answer your question? If not, feel free to post back and let us know how we can help clarify.

Thanks again for asking!

[Denise - Your Organisers]

Hi - yes it does. But I do think that if someone is an affiliate they have a vested interest in recommending a product.

My personal preference would be for the fact that they are an affilliate to be displayed next to the link.

____________________
Denise - Your Organisers

[VAF Admin]

Most affiliate links are pretty obvious, if you mouse over the link you'll see an ID tag of some kind. And most posts that are made strictly to promote an affiliate account are pretty obvious too. If you come across one, feel free to report it - we'll take a look and if we agree that it's not an appropriate use of forum space we'll edit accordingly.

We use affiliate links ourselves, in forum book and some product reviews specifically - because they help pay for the ever-increasing cost of the server.

It's not been much of an issue on the site so we've never seen a need to address it with a rule or requirement. I think in the nearly two years we've been online we've 'adjusted' MAYBE ten links, total. Not something worth worrying much about, ultimately.

[Write Associate]

Just to play devil's advocate, why does it matter if someone uses an affiliate link? A simple recommendation doesn't force anyone to buy something...it simply points them in the direction to get more information about a useful product or service. If someone happens to make a profit from referring others to useful products, where's the harm...?

[Denise - Your Organisers]

I don't think there is anything 'wrong' with affiliate links - I just think that a recommendation carries more weight if it is from someone who has nothing to gain from recommending it - otherwise surely it's an advertisement

____________________

Denise - Your Organisers

[Prime Admin Solutions]

I don't think there is anything 'wrong' with affiliate links - I just think that a recommendation carries more weight if it is from someone who has nothing to gain from recommending it - otherwise surely it's an advertisement

____________________

Denise - Your Organisers

Not really Denise, I have a link to my web hosting company and I am an affiliate for them. I have no hesitation recommending them and if I make a few dollars when someone uses their service, I don't think it's a big deal.

For me the credibility issue arises when people add affiliate links for products and services they don't and won't use. To me that is wrong.

[Ivy Freelance]

I don't mind affiliate links at all. I think most people become affiliates because they are happy with a product or service - which makes it quite a good recommendation in my eyes. Credibility is a big thing in business and on the internet, so I can't see too many people backing things that might tarnish that credibility.

Besides if I'm interested, I always research it out anyway. If I buy, I am quite happy to go through the affiliate link of whoever brought it to my attention.

Deb