Do you have issue with affiliate marketing? I’m curious how you really feel about it – as a person who reads blogs does it offend you when bloggers use affiliate links? Do you feel guilty using them yourself?
Please join this conversation by commenting below and let me know!
Here’s my take on affiliate marketing:
I don’t really understand the debate about affiliate marketing being unethical or inappropriate or what. I just don’t get it.
I mean to me an affiliate is simply a salesperson for the company. And affiliate marketing is so much more passive. Meaning there isn’t a pushy guy in my face telling me to buy something. In general affiliate marketers give useful information in exchange for a commission – I see absolutely nothing wrong with that as an affiliate marketer or as someone being marketed too.
To me as a buyer if I’m paying $70 for a product do I care if all of it goes to company X versus it being split between company X and affiliate X – I don’t see why it should bother me?
Also – in most cases I WANT an affiliate to get a commission. If I’m reading your blog and you give me some useful info that can help my business I’m happy if you get paid for it without ME having to pay you – so I’ll ASK you for your affiliate link!
I get that some affiliate marketers are unethical and they recommend crap for a buck but I would like to think that my market (and your market and everybody’s market!) is smart enough to pick out the scammers from the legitimate marketers. Scammers are lazy. Real affiliate marketers are not.
I am an affiliate marketer and proud to be so. I represent some of the top companies in internet services and I get paid to tell you about them – I see no problem or shame or issue with that. I hope you don’t either and can see how affiliate marketing is not something to do in the shadows – be loud and proud and let your market make the choice!
By the way – I have to say it allows annoys me to no end when marketers say something like “And that’s NOT an affiliate link” — To me that propels the thinking that actually using an affiliate link is a bad thing – UG!
What do you think?
ps. If you’re wondering what affiliate marketing is then check out this beginner’s guide:
Guide to Affiliate Marketing
I love affiliate marketing! No problem at all with it, in fact I do the same thing and make sure to ask if someone has a link before I go direct to the company. It is a smart and ethical way to make a living.
Twitter: AngelaWills
says:
Thanks for the reply Angie! Totally agree on it being smart and ethical. I’m not one to promote anything I don’t believe in and don’t believe my customers or clients can use. I think there’s the difference in us ethical affiliate marketers and those who promote crap just to make as much money as they can. There’s definitely a difference between unethical marketing and an unethical marketer.
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