The other day I got a great question from Marya of Sales Copywriting about affiliate marketing guilt and I asked her if I could share my answers here.
It’s about making affiliate marketing referrals and experiencing guilt as a result, instead of just using a straight, non-affiliate link.
I think you’ll find this conversation helpful if you yourself experience any affiliate marketing referral guilt.
Question: Affiliate Guilt
“How do you get over affiliate guilt?”
“Every time I try affiliate marketing, I always feel as if I’m doing something sneaky. My *head* tells me that it’s totally ethical, but I also feel like I should be recommending things with no strings attached. (In fact, half the time, I don’t use my affiliate links at all!)
It’s a really weird psychological thing… And I think when one is not comfortable with affiliate marketing, it shows in one’s articles and posts. I’m terribly reserved and British about it – and I wish I could get past that, because I *really* need to make a secondary passive income!
Any thoughts?”
Short Answer: Get Over It 
Don’t Let Affiliate Marketing Referral Guilt Stop You
Angela’s Reply:
That’s not a dumb question AT ALL and I bet there are a lot of people wondering the same thing.
I think you sometimes read the guru marketers and respected marketers say that they’re recommending something and NOT using their affiliate link like there is something wrong with using it. I think that gives affiliates a bad name even though they’re trying to show how credible they are by saying “look I’m telling you something good and I’m not even getting paid for it”.
But I look at it this way: If your potential customers, clients, subscribers, readers etc trust you then they trust you, period. I don’t feel I need to prove my worth by not using an affiliate link. I feel if I run my business ethically and honestly and stress my intentions then my following can decide if they want to believe me or not. It’s kind of out of my hands after that point. I don’t worry if they feel tricked because I clearly am providing a service by saving them the time of researching something for themselves. If they resent the fact that I’m making money from all the work, effort and experience I have then they’re not someone I want to do business with anyway.
How do I recommend you change your mindset about affiliate marketing being unethical? Write yourself up a list of why you think it’s NOT unethical. Here’s something to get you started:
- You are providing a service to the customer by researching and recommending products.
- You are providing a service to the company by connecting them with their idea customers.
- You are honestly and ethically doing your due dilligence in recommending only high quality stuff.
- You accept and openly correct any issues you find with anything you recommend.
- You have specific experience and skills that took you years to develop and in sharing that you are saving your affiliate customers time AND money.
Another thing to remember – you are NOT the same as the sleezy internet marketers who promote crap just for a buck. You are someone with ethics and honesty and over time will develop a following who respects and admires that in you.
I hope that helps 
p.s. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my advice? I’d love to hear all opinions on this topic and if you’re experienced your own affiliate marketing guilt!
On a positive note, the guilt that you feel will keep you honest. LOL!
I think it’s a good think to stop and ask yourself, “Is this really valuable to my readers, or am I just out to make a buck?”
It’s those people who really don’t care what the answer to that question is that I worry about. And I don’t want to be one of them.
So, I’m going to go get my guilt a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa and we’re going to sit here and talk about each of the products I’m going to recommend. Guilt will let me know if I should or not.
.-= Michelle Waters´s last blog ..We’re Having A Small Issue In Geek Land =-.
LOL – that did the trick for me, Angela! Thank you for taking the time to sort this out for me.
.-= Marya Miller´s last blog ..Online Market Research 101: Access My Library =-.
I agree and disagree
I believe you should promote products you own or have used, after all how to you know that they do what they do. in some I will just pomote a promote that is good- I did an article which featyers a shor cut tpying program (allows you to type and short combination of keys and output any text you want- great for customner service, fast same answers.
It doesnt have an affiliate program, but i would have no hair without it! its that good! (i want to make my own and sell it LOL)
.-= Paul – SEO Nut in New Zealand´s last blog ..Rebuilding a website and SEO =-.