To wonder what on earth has happened to Stacey Solomon’s instagram?!

[Dabralor]

Hello.
I will preface this by saying that I do like Stacey, SYLO is a brilliant show.
However. Her instagram has become completely extraordinary recently - it’s constant selling for Amazon. One day it’s random Christmas decs, the next day it’s Oura rings. She was trying to flog a jetwash earlier this week!
She used to do crafty bits and easy recipes and show us lots of pics of her ducks and nice kitchen. But now it’s just incessant flogging of crap!

Each thing she shills seems to follow a certain pattern:

1. here’s a thing she’s doing using an item while chatting. Item is front and centre but never mentioned.
2. shortly after comes an update ‘so many of you are asking….here’s the amazon link
3. she then tells us to keep it in our baskets for reasons, I don’t know.

Last night she was wittering on about making an Amazon storefront to load all her tat onto, whatever that is.

The formula is incessant. She can’t be short of money so why the change in direction and obsession with Amazon, I wonder? Aibu that it never used to be this blatantly sales-y?

Oooh meant to add that northernblondeabroad often posts stuff about this sort of stuff and the implications.

I know an ‘influencer’ and she makes money through Amazon aff links. I couldn’t care less? It doesn’t cost me anything, of course influencers are sales people and their job is essentially to make money. Genuine question but why is everyone so bothered? Sales tactics are as old as time, it’s absolutely nothing new.

I don’t follow any big names on Instagram but the second anyone starts sneaking in the ad affiliates etc it puts me right off them and I unfollow 😅

Yes this is right. Anybody can apply to join the affiliate programme and so I even have friends who are now part of this stupid madness in attaching links to things they’re using in their everyday lives and buying clothing from Amazon too! 😳

I liked Stacy in X Factor but I can’t put my finger on why but she just isn’t as likeable as she was.
However, I do not have an issue with the affiliate marketing. It’s a way for her to make money and of course businesses have moved on from just normal tv adverts - it’s the way the advertising world works now - largely through influencers.

I totally agree. It’s just sales in another form. Like the modern version of the Avon lady knocking on your door.

I am a content creator, and I’m surprised by the outrage at affiliate links. We’re constantly told to diversify our income streams because content creation revenue is very volatile. One simple way to earn a few pennies is through affiliate links. For example, if I’m an expert at skiing, and I spend a lot of time testing gear, and I genuinely love a particular piece of equipment, I’ll share it using an affiliate link. It doesn’t cost the viewer anything (they get my expertise and labor for free!) and the link isn’t there to push a sale, but because I already believe in the product and would link it anyway.

A lot of people consume the huge amount of labor that content creators put in while running ad blockers and avoiding affiliate links altogether. It’s a shame.

I understand the frustration with big, fake online personalities; that’s not what I’m defending. But for many creators, affiliate marketing is just a small commission in exchange for their expertise and information, and it’s unfortunate to deny them even that.

Amazon doesn't pay for clicks. It does, however, pay for anything you buy on your visit from clicking her link; it doesn't have to be the item you clicked to.

It doesn't pay commission on items you buy in subsequent visits, only the same visit you made by clicking her link.

Anyone can sign up as an affiliate. You used to have to have a website, but now I think they accept Instagram and Etsy pages.

Mumsnet's an affiliate - most websites and blogs are.

I follow her because I like to get annoyed on a daily basis. Gives me lots to rant about.

😂😂 Fairy nuff!

Oh those two of the ultra violet teeth, can't bear them, look ridiculous

She'll get money for directing people to Amazon.Amazon know that once people are there, they'll often go down a rabbit hole and end up buying something even if it's nothing to do with the original product. They always want more traffic.

I make money through affiliate marketing, and yes - if you click my link to look at an item I am promoting, I can then earn money of any purchases you make on amazon.

The reason it's seems so heavy on insta at the moment is because its black friday and Christmas coming up - a time when people are shopping and making big baskets, so there is a chance for her to make a lot of commission over the next few months. Amazon also sometimes ups the commission you get over black friday, to encourage you to promote.

I can't get mad at her for doing it - it's how she makes money. If you don't like it, unfollow her.

Otger SM platforms have this too. For example if you buy from a TikTok shop then they get a cut and there is a “commission paid” logo on the bottom left of the screen so you know.

I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all. You could argue that it’s never been easier for non celebrities to join in this income stream too - they just need to spend time creating followings and videos of great stuff from Amazon and other online shops.

Pretty sure all of them are doing the affiliate thing. Jack Monroe did extremely well out of it for years.

Why?

it has been around for a good 15-20 years. It’s not exactly new.

It costs nothing extra to the end user.

Nearly every website you click on does the same. So that “style” article on a newspaper website? Affiliate marketing. Recipe sites that link to the exact tool they’ve used? Affiliate marketing. “how to” YouTube video with a link to the items they used? Affiliate marketing. Etc

somebody asked about about sites like Amazon paying per click. This isn’t unheard of but Amazon is CPA not CPC so commission is paid per acquisition (sale) not per click.

Amazon cookie length is indeed 24 hours but a lot of retailers pay commission for up to 90 days. And yes, it’s on anything in your basket.

Stacy has ramped up her Amazon marketing because a) she just attended some kind of conference they put on for influencers which she did show on her stories, and b) it’s Black Friday - the most lucrative time of year. You’ll probably notice she dials it down a bit next week 🤣

If people see something she’s advertising and are influenced to buy it, why go to the trouble of screenshotting and then running through google images etc to stop her getting the commission? I don’t like her at all (super mum/smoking in pregnancies 🙄) but it’s petty not to just click her link if she’s shown something you want isn’t it? It costs you nothing.

I suppose at the end of the day It’s her job to sell things. All the other bits are just like an ongoing advert.

My issue isn’t really with SS as I don’t follow her. It’s more the influencers who bang on about certain clothing brands pretending they’re “obsessed” with them (get tons for free) Matalan , Mint Velvet, F&F etc who then flog them on their Vinted accounts or Preloved IG accounts 5 mins later. They talk about Tesco etc but it’s really all about their Chanel or Demellier bags!

Wasn't aware of this at all. Thanks for the info. Will be wary of clicking on the links from now on. It all feels so sneaky and underhand!

Advertisers can pay for digital display advertising banners, which drive clicks, or pay influencers to drive clicks.

Influencers drive more clicks.

I don’t mind it. It’s naive of anyone to think that Stacey Solomon is just out there creating videos to entertain us. She’s making money. It’s her job. We are all buying from Amazon at Christmas anyway, let’s face it. Not that bothered if I can bung a few pence her way while I do it. I’m buying it anyway, and influencers are far less annoying that those bloody Google ads that follow you around the internet forever. At least Stacey shows us her ducks too.

I totally understand that, they wouldn’t be seen dead in a Primark PJ set!

I'm just curious: a lot of retailers pay commission for up to 90 days. What happens if/when you click somebody else's link during that time? Does each new cookie wipe the previous one out, is there some incredibly complicated sharing system, or what?

I'm sure that, when I had a website, my Amazon links only paid commission on purchases made during that specific visit. It was more than a few years ago, and I've had a lot of new terms notices since then (I don't read them). I just don't see how they could guarantee 24 hours of attachment, let alone 3 months 😕

It takes seconds to look something up on (eg) Amazon, and then at least I haven’t added to the IG algorithm which would no doubt send me even more posts selling the same crap if I clicked the link.

I agree, her content has totally changed. It's clear she's become massively wealthy over the last couple of years and everything about her has changed.

I also note she doesn't share much candid content anymore but I'm guessing she's not allowed because of her reality show.

Presenting a different perspective: I click on as many links from Mumsnet as possible, and sometimes even buy stuff! I also click on links posted elsewhere by my friends - though, tbh, most of them link to arcane designers & artists from whom I'm never going to buy much.

I mean, why make an effort to save Amazon, Next or M&S money? If they have to pay a couple of quid to someone I support, great! I was going to buy the stuff anyway and it costs me the same either way.