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Style and beauty

Affiliate links

61 replies

claptomania · 08/02/2016 19:39

I've noticed recently that a lot of S&B links are affiliate links. For the untechy basically that means that someone is earning a small amount of commission on sales made via that link. So either individual posters are doing that, or Mumsnet is converting links that forum users post to monetise the site. Anyone know which it is?

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DonkeyOaty · 08/02/2016 19:41

I am really sorry to be thick - can you link to a recent thread with an example within, please.

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claptomania · 08/02/2016 19:48

The second link in this post for tonight for example, shows on my phone as redirecting via 'awin1' (which is affiliate window I think). The poster could've got the full link from anywhere online, so it's not necessarily the posters' benefiting - but either way someone is making a a small commission. Only have patchy knowledge on this topic, but I am interested in finding out the answer!

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claptomania · 08/02/2016 19:48

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2566745-For-going-out-with-skirts-and-also-with-skinny-jeans-which-of-these-or-rather-cheaper-alternative-to-Sam-Edelman-Petty

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KanyesVest · 08/02/2016 19:54

I've no idea about thus stuff, but would it be worth posting in site stuff for a tech view on it?

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OneofTHOSEWomen · 08/02/2016 19:56

I think mumsnet benefit from those.

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FrustratedFrugal · 08/02/2016 19:58

I'm also interested in this. I often add links to my posts, but I don't do affiliate links. Very interested in hearing though whether my links are somehow used in that way.

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DonkeyOaty · 08/02/2016 20:02

I still don't understand

Let's see what Tech says.

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claptomania · 08/02/2016 20:05

There's another one in this thread - "I bought this dress" www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2566764-Im-suddenly-a-size-14-with-an-overhang-and-have-no-idea-what-to-wear-Please-help
I'll post on the techy thread - thanks Vest - wasn't aware of that.

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AveEldon · 08/02/2016 20:05

I think it's mumsnet

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claptomania · 08/02/2016 20:07

If it's MN profiting then I don't think most site users know that. And if it's individual posters profiting (by 'recommending' things) - isn't that rather against the ethos?

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OneofTHOSEWomen · 08/02/2016 20:16

I'm not even sure individual posters could use affiliate links in thier posts, how would they do it? They/we have no control over the website unless we hack into it
It is probably mumsnet, I suppose it's one of the ways in which they can generate cash without filling the entire page with annoying ads.

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YetAnotherHelenMumsnet · 08/02/2016 20:31

Hello there,
Thanks for raising this, we have flagged it to the relevant person at HQ and you should hear from them shortly.

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claptomania · 08/02/2016 20:35

one - actually there's no need to do anything other than adding a bit to the end of the destination URL. e.g. www. exampleshop . com / product / mypastedaffiliateID

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OneofTHOSEWomen · 08/02/2016 20:48

Sorry am thinking about go.redirecting skim links

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seefeld · 08/02/2016 20:52

How about I post an unaffiliated link to Amazon and you see if it comes up as an affiliate link when you click on it:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004UOIAZ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?qid=1454961038&sr=8-14&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=sam%20edelman%20shoes%20women&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 If it does it's Mumsnet

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LadyPriggsbottom · 08/02/2016 21:31

I've just clicked on one of my own links and got directed through 'awin'. The link I had posted was from going straight to the John Lewis site and copying and pasting the web address from there. If I am profiting from my 'recommendation' then it's news to me!

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jasmine1979 · 08/02/2016 22:30

I'm interested in this as well. I noticed a while ago that there was one poster who frequently posted links to the Next site. Always with affiliate links.

I was wondering (and I'm probably totally wrong here!) if it happens when the poster has previously clicked on an affiliate link to the site the are linking to. For example, I remember reading that if you click on a link from a blog/youtube etc through to a shop, then it doesn't matter if you don't buy that specific item or even if you purchase from them straight away. That shop will then give the blogger a commission on anything you purchase from that site for up to 30 days.

I don't generally have a problem with affiliate links, but only if they are clearly marked and stated that is what they are before you click on them. Sometimes there is a slight sneakiness behind them which I strongly dislike.

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jasmine1979 · 08/02/2016 22:31

seefeld - That amazon link comes up fine for me. Not an affiliate link.

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claptomania · 08/02/2016 23:39

Let's see what response MNHQ come back with. Interested in their policy.

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ProjectGainsborough · 09/02/2016 07:02

Interested in this. Surely it would be MN as they host the site?

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LadyPriggsbottom · 09/02/2016 07:56

Hmmmmm I did click on an ad for John Lewis at the bottom of the S&B page the other day... Has that done it?? How weird. Don't like.

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LadyPriggsbottom · 09/02/2016 08:12

I wouldn't actually mind if MN were making a profit - they have to make money somehow I guess and I don't want a page full of ads all the time. It's weird to think some random person might be totting up points every time I post a link because I happened to once click on an ad (is that right? I'm not techy - can you tell? )

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QueenC · 09/02/2016 08:27

I link a lot of stuff and I can assure you that I do not benefit. Will be interested in the answer also.

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Trills · 09/02/2016 08:30

If MN were automatically getting the affiliate revenue from any link to a major retailer that was posted on their site, that would be FINE by me.

I'm unlikely to click on any of their ads, and I use their site for free.

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BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 09/02/2016 09:34

This is very interesting.

I think all links posted by anyone redirect through somewhere before going to the actual external site (sometimes it hangs a bit, which is when you notice). I imagine this is just MN saying "someone followed this link from our site" so it's recorded, rather than anything dodgy to do with commission.

HOWEVER.

I see a particular poster pop up from time to time who does post affiliate (RewardStyle) links disguised as bit.ly links. They namechange every few posts, but I know it is the same poster because they also always post links to a particular blog. You have to have a fairly successful blog to be accepted to use RS, so I think it must be the blogger's mum or something, lol. I have reported them several times and even sometimes do a name search on them. (Easily done when seeing a mention of that blog raises red flags!) I think it's really unethical and dishonest, especially when a lot of people don't know that these links can earn commission for these people up to 30 days after someone clicks on them if that person buys anything from that site. Fine on blogs with disclosure (a whole other discussion entirely, ha!) but on MN? No. Gives me the rage.

I honestly think these posters should be banned MNHQ.

ps. Sorry for wall of text but I think everyone should know how bad this is.