Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Skimlinks on Talk

462 replies

AmyGMumsnet · 03/02/2017 18:54

Hi folks,

Some of you might have spotted a few more links in discussions across the site - this is because we're testing out a programme called Skimlinks, which auto-converts some of your brand mentions into links.

This makes it easier for you to have a look at products that other MNers happen to mention on the boards, and, if you decide to make a purchase from one of these links, Mumsnet benefits from a small commission.

Thanks all - let us know if you experience any issues that you think might be related.

MNHQ

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
BeyondUnderthinking · 14/02/2017 15:24

What's wrong with the middle one?!

BeyondUnderthinking · 14/02/2017 15:24

Argos Argos Argos www.argos.co.uk Argos

just playing with it!! Grin

SoupDragon · 14/02/2017 15:23

Oh the irony of the phrase "car parts" turning into s link in your post.... :o

TBH, I think this might reduce the time I spend posting on MN. I think the random links are awful.

MNHQ
KateMumsnet · 14/02/2017 15:23
Grin

Mentions of car parts will, however, continue to link to car parts sites...

MNHQ
KateMumsnet · 14/02/2017 15:21

Hi folks

Thanks for all your comments - here's a quick update on where we're at.

We've made sure that Skimwords won't appear in sensitive topics, and as requested they're now displaying in a lighter blue, to distinguish them from links posted by other MNers.

We've also adjusted the density at which Skimwords works, so there should be fewer instances of phrases like 'fuel pump' linking to car parts sites.

Thanks again for all your feedback - as Justine said up thread, we're going to give this a bit of time to bed in and then take another look. It may be, as with previous changes on MN, that this takes a bit of getting used to, but feels less intrusive over time.

Thanks all

MNHQ

PickAChew · 14/02/2017 14:55

I noticed the words mobile phone linking to the provider that's alleged to be rather lax with its tax, in another thread.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/02/2017 14:08

The stupid thing is that it doesn't pick Currys up

As far as I know the way it works is that you pay them to match a certain phrase to a certain website. So Curry's doesnt show up because they haven't paid for it to. This could be unwise because eg Argos could pay for a Curry's link to point at their site.

If someone was smart they would buy the phrase AIBU to point at a gin site, or "judgey pants" to point at M&S Grin

The links won't necessarily point at something relevant, it all depends what has been paid for.

Sparklingbrook · 14/02/2017 13:40

The stupid thing is that it doesn't pick Currys up. Confused

BeyondUnderthinking · 14/02/2017 13:28

Ah weird - it wasn't showing when I posted my second comment, but now it is.

If it were a truly smart link it would know my iPad is on contract with EE Grin

Sparklingbrook · 14/02/2017 13:21

It has done it Beyond- wants me to buy one from Currys apparently.

BeyondUnderthinking · 14/02/2017 13:18

Not today though, apparently

BeyondUnderthinking · 14/02/2017 13:17

I saw iPad do it yesterday...

Sparklingbrook · 14/02/2017 13:14

Nope. Just motoring. Confused Grin

Sparklingbrook · 14/02/2017 13:13
Grin

I am your woman if you need any motoring stuff by the looks. Does it work with household stuff?

Sink plunger
Monkey wrench
Lumphammer
Hacksaw

SoupDragon · 14/02/2017 12:18

LOLOL - I thought you meant actually linked to death :o

Sparklingbrook · 14/02/2017 11:56

Oh blimey now my above post has been skim linked to death. Shock

Sparklingbrook · 14/02/2017 11:55

I have just seen fuel pumps. This linked to an ebay selling page of car parts. Enough of the madness.

SoupDragon · 14/02/2017 11:10

Linking company names is one thing, linking random words so they link to a shop is rubbish.

I've just seen angle g rinder convert to a link to e bay on another thread. This is ridiculously intrusive.

CherrySkull · 13/02/2017 20:38

why on earth would you use something that mimics spyware?

i just did a scan on my computer because of these skimlinks things, thinking i'd picked something up.

Please drop them, its ridiculous!

herewecomeawassailing · 13/02/2017 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PossumInAPearTree · 13/02/2017 18:42

It's not just companies now, I wrote camper van earlier and it turned it into a link!

SeriousSteve · 13/02/2017 17:27

Ok, that wasn't helpful.

Just need to assign a new CSS class and colour.
Can exclude database entries - such as specific forums in the config for Skim.

SeriousSteve · 13/02/2017 17:21

It's literally five mins work!

MNHQ
KateMumsnet · 13/02/2017 17:05

Hello folks - it looks as though it will be possible to have Skimwords links appear in a different colour to regular links, and to exclude them from sensitive topics as well.

It's going to take a little time but we'll get started on the work tomorrow and keep you updated on progress.

Thanks all

MNHQ

MNHQ
KateMumsnet · 13/02/2017 14:17

Herewecomeawassailing, here's an example of the kind of native content that Justine talks about in the article.