Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk

Back to thread
Original poster

Hello MNHQ - a question about automatic links please?

6 replies

rhondajean · 02/10/2012 22:52

Seems that quite a few of us are now having names of online shops come up as automatic links.

Eg(and fingers crossed these work!

Argos
Next
Marks and spencers
Wilkes
Toys r us

Can you confirm if this is a new addition to MN or are we all infected with something nasty?

Thankoo! Grin

Go to post
MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 02/10/2012 23:40

Yes these links are meant and it is a revenue thing. We've had skimlinks on the site for a bit in the form of an auto affiliate thing when people type in links. We make a decent amount of revenue from it - not loads but enough to pay for one of our servers and it seems reasonably unobtrusive. They've recently suggested we try linking to shop mentions too. I'm not quite sure how they choose them - think it's just who they have in their client list.

We hope it's not too intrusive - and that it might actually be mildly useful. We would certainly never do those pop up auto message links attached to keywords that you see on some sites and have turned those down a few times.

In any case do not be alarmed, your device hasn't gone doolally. And it won't be skimlinks making the site run slow - more likely server capacity. Will try to get to the bottom of it tomorrow.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 02/10/2012 23:46

Never!

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 03/10/2012 00:21

@tribpot

I agree, Naoko. And I also don't like the implied endorsement (one of the major concerns expressed on the Fool). Nor the fact it has been introduced without warning.

Given the performance of MN's servers, I'm not convinced it is generating a decent amount - although the implication is the performance would be even worse without the revenue it brings in.

Really, you think it implies endorsement because it turns it into a link? That's interesting, never would have thought of that but certainly will mull it over.

And whilst I don't have the actual numbers to hand our performance in terms of site speed ranks quite favourably with google averages (though clearly our servers do get a bit creaky now and then - usually to do with a bug tbh).

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 03/10/2012 15:27

Afternoon. Thanks for all your comments on this (rofl at brassieres).

Just to add to Justine's post last night, we're aware that the linking is a bit random. Am not quite sure of the algorithm/mechanics but I know we were keen for there not to be any 'inappropriate' links. We'll keep an eye and see if we can adjust anything.

It's a good point many of you make about the automatic links being the same colour as links you actually make on purpose. We can have a think about that but, at the moment, we're tending to think it's much less obtrusive having them the same colour. Wouldn't two colours (potentially) within a post be a bit much?

As ever, we're grateful for all your posts. We'll keep reviewing how this is going.

MNHQ

OliviaPeaceAndLoveMumsnet · 04/10/2012 00:25

Sorry
Been flurrying about this evening. Not much to add at the moment it being the middle of the night and all, but just wanted to say thanks for the feedback, do keep it coming.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 04/10/2012 11:22

Hello. Just to let you know that Justine has posted this morning about this here.

But, in essence, we're going to take these links off for a while now and have a re-think about it. Thanks for all your input.

Watch this thread for updates

Tap "Watch" to get all the latest updates

End of posts

There are no more MNHQ posts on this thread

Back to thread