Should I admit that links on my money making site are referal links.

anakha6 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 05:45 PM

I was thinking of adding a convincer link 'we want you to succeed because that means we make money too' but I am unsure of how this will go down. Anyone tried this before?

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 06:26 PM

Pretty soon this will become a law through the FTC (affiliate disclosure) so now's a good time to start practicing.

You could say something like "If you've found this site helpful, I'd appreciate it if you purchase [product x] through this link, which earns a commission for yoursite.com.

Now this is assuming you've done a good job pre-selling whatever you're recommending and not just saying a few words about it and "buy now." Otherwise my above statement may not make much sense.

Here's more info about affiliate disclosure...
http://www.copyblogger.com/affiliate...ng-disclosure/

Laura · #3 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 06:38 PM

I hadn't heard about this - good to know. Disclose with confidence! I like that. Thanks, Lisa!

lisa · #4 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 06:40 PM

That's right Bunny! I actually think it will be a good thing for the industry. It's going to force people to think twice about their affiliate business model and be more responsible about what they promote.

Laura · #5 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 06:48 PM

I agree. Those with ethics who are in this for the right reasons won't have any trouble with the regulation. Those who aren't...don't let the door hit you on the way out!

anakha6 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

Pretty soon this will become a law through the FTC (affiliate disclosure)

Will this law be internationally accepted? Because I'm selling my products from England. Not saying I'm a dodgy seller or anything, just wondering.

lisa · #7 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 11:00 PM

Nothing has been passed yet. There are just talks of it right now. But you may have seen another thread where some affiliates are getting dropped in states where there are affiliate taxes. Slowly but surely the government its finding its way into the affiliate marketing game.

anakha6 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

Nothing has been passed yet. There are just talks of it right now. But you may have seen another thread where some affiliates are getting dropped in states where there are affiliate taxes. Slowly but surely the government its finding its way into the affiliate marketing game.

One thing that worries me about this law is that it may lead to a rise in the practice of stealing referal links, where the person who wants to buy the product creates their own referal link and buys it through that instead of yours.

lisa · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anakha6

One thing that worries me about this law is that it may lead to a rise in the practice of stealing referal links, where the person who wants to buy the product creates their own referal link and buys it through that instead of yours.

That's why I like SiteSell's affiliate program. When you join, the person who referred you is tied to your account not just by cookie but by name, address, etc. and it gets logged in the system. So even if they join the affiliate program and then go back and buy form their own affiliate link, the commission still goes to the original person that referred them. I wish more programs would adopt that policy. It's a lot more manual work but it would make affiliates happy.

That's the beauty of running your own inhouse affiliate program instead of using one of the aff. mgmt systems like CJ, ShareASale, Clickbank, etc where it's easier for people to steal commissions.

ssmorgan · #10 (**permalink**) 07-27-2009, 02:41 AM

I know that this is pure speculation, but do you think that the FTC will require to add a disclosure-type of statement by every affiliate link or on every page you are promoting an affiliate link?

Recently, I have been adding a "Disclosure" page that says that some of the links are affiliate links, and I would be making a commission, etc.

anakha6 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-27-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssmorgan

I know that this is pure speculation, but do you think that the FTC will require to add a disclosure-type of statement by every affiliate link or on every page you are promoting an affiliate link?

Recently, I have been adding a "Disclosure" page that says that some of the links are affiliate links, and I would be making a commission, etc.

I've got a nice big ocean between me and the FTC.

They can want what they like.

lisa · #12 (**permalink**) 07-27-2009, 11:29 AM

I wondered that too, Sherif. I am hoping a one-page disclosure linked to every page will suffice but you never know.

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