Subscribe
Notify of
guest

106 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

Catso Mann
Catso Mann (@guest_378015)
March 27, 2017 20:45

This blog is great, so keep on keepin’ on!

Daniel
Daniel (@guest_377805)
March 27, 2017 15:50

I feel like you shouldn’t be talking to the banks at all.. you don’t want them to be aware of this site so the less attention the better.. most of them will hate that you exist so lets keep it quiet. But the affiliate links are fine if it’s the only option.. I’m sure no one will be bothered that you make a little $ from it as long as you disclose it as you’ve done here.

Edddy
Edddy (@guest_377653)
March 27, 2017 12:26

I vote “NO” on affiliate links !! I’m interested in seeing what you have come up with as a solution. Maybe offering some sort of bonus for those who find non-affiliate links as previously mentioned?.

Chris
Chris (@guest_377605)
March 27, 2017 10:37

You already have the reputation of being THE most unbiased / Customer centric $ blog out there… So if you used Affiliate links simply because you had too – AND they didnt exist otherwise – i can’t imagine anyone else would get pissed. That being said, I understand the burden of having your content castrated… Perhaps you can use
‘implied language’ – and let people in the comments ‘clarify’ things for people? That would keep you ‘legally’ within their ToS i beleive….

Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon (@guest_376519)
March 25, 2017 01:51

I see downsides to affiliate links. If you post one, then a better public offer comes along that you aren’t aware of, it can change a potential reader’s perception of the integrity of the site, even if you later change a post to show the better public offer.

The doubt would be “did they change it because it was better, or because they got found out?”

On the other hand, some deals simply aren’t available without an affiliate link (like that Discover one we discussed) and I can see not wanting to send your readers to another site because the deal simply wouldn’t be available otherwise.

Trust is hard to get and easy to lose and you really don’t have an easy decision here.

I think I would push the bank to provide a better deal for the readers in lieu of paying a referral fee. That way you could use an affiliate link, but having no vested interest you can stay impartial and above the fray.

Maybe you could offer a hefty finder’s fee to anyone who can find a better non-affiliate link if your best current offer has to be an affiliate link. That might show you’re trying to take some of the profit motive out of it and bolster your case for impartiality.

Marie
Marie (@guest_375701)
March 23, 2017 18:46

I think affiliates links are traps ! You don’t want anyone to have control on what you post ! “Doctor of Credit” is “Doctor of Credit” no-one else ! Stay strong ! And thanks for ALL !

Grant
Grant (@guest_373802)
March 20, 2017 20:29

Will, I’m sure someone mentioned this earlier, but what if you set up a separate company where all the affiliate commissions go into and then donate all that money to charity? You can pick a few charities or ask your readers which charities they recommend. Seems like a win for the readers (we get more bank account bonuses) and needy charities (they get money).

If a bank doesn’t like what you said about their bonus, you can remove the affiliate link and maybe list the banks email address so we can complain to them. Just a few ideas.

Ian
Ian (@guest_374003)
March 21, 2017 03:23

Maybe setup a subsidiary blog site, so that the content their would satisfy the affiliates likings, you get affiliate $, and we get the best deal (as long as it really is the best out). I’m just worried that the affiliate programs could send you remove requests of the old posts here that they do not like.

Mike
Mike (@guest_373766)
March 20, 2017 19:31

Why not post about the deal, mentioning that this offer is only available via affiliate link, but without including any actual link? Let the reader decide which affiliate link to use from other sites that he/she finds themselves.

Eduardo Baez
Eduardo Baez (@guest_373719)
March 20, 2017 18:24

I don’t care if you make some money from affiliate links. I don’t care how much money you make either. It’s not my business. You deserve that money for all the time you have been serving this blog community. As long as you provide all available offers stating the main facts about them, our job is to make our own judgement.

Brandon
Brandon (@guest_373695)
March 20, 2017 18:02

I love the integrity of this site, but I would go a step beyond the “only using affiliate links when no other option exists” and say you should use your own affiliate links always, unless another better offer is available, and then use that link in those cases. I love this site, and I want you guys to make a few bucks so this great content keeps coming.