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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:
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12
tribpot · 18/02/2017 09:05

Are they definitely skimlinks rather than links added by users? For example Hemi mentions meditation above and that has been skimlinked.

SalemSaberhagen · 18/02/2017 09:20

I'm assuming it's a skimlink in your post? Still blue for me! And shotgun, it seems!

Skimlinks on Talk
FormerlyFrikadela01 · 18/02/2017 09:20

I see they're now invading the mobile site. The links look the same.colour as user inserted links. I've clicked on a few thinking people were linking to actual things and they weren't.
Bad move mumsnet, it really is distracting and annoying when random words become links.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 18/02/2017 09:22

SalemSaberhagen (awesome nn by the way)

I think on the mobile site all the links are the same colour. They certainly look that way to me.

BIWI · 18/02/2017 09:55

Install Ad Blocker Plus and they will disappear.

Sorry MNHQ but these are way too much and too intrusive.

I'd far rather be able to pay you for an ad-free and skim link-free site.

BeyondUnderthinking · 18/02/2017 10:05

I will say btw mnhq, that I did used to sometimes click regular adverts as I know you need the revenue. The skimlinks have become so annoying though that I have now installed ad blocker, so now I can't click the (now non-existent) regular ads either.

That might be worth considering when weighing up how profitable they are.

tribpot · 18/02/2017 10:06

Yes, the word meditation is being skimlinked, whereas here is a link I have inserted myself to the Skimlinks website so that we may better understand that we are 'comtent' providers, that is commerce-related content.

BIWI although Ad Block will make the links disappear it doesn't stop them being added to your posts. There is a form of opt-out but from the Ts&Cs of Skimlinks:

If you opt-out of Skimlinks cookies, Skimlinks will still operate on pages that Users visit, and still create monetizable links in content if the Publisher has chosen to install Skimlinks on its website. We just won’t optimise these links based on User preferences and behaviours, nor will we associate the websites Users visit and shop from to a specific cookie.

olderthanyouthink · 18/02/2017 10:08

salem on my phone yes, they are normal link blue

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 18/02/2017 10:11

Beyond likewise.

DancingHouse · 18/02/2017 10:19

This can't be easy for readers with dyslexia. Different colour fonts changing mid sentence is quite a challenge and then when posters then break up a word like As da to try to avoid the link, it makes it even harder.

It is easy to distinguish when a link is intentional in a post most users bring attention to it by writing in this link here - ...... Not so easy when the link just appears mid sentence.

For anyone who has reading difficulties this is more than just a spammy annoyance, it's making the Mumsnet inaccessible.

Chippednailvarnishing · 18/02/2017 11:21

Just typed in Sainsbury's on another thread and it converted to a link.

TheLivingAsheth · 18/02/2017 12:22

I know people moan about change. But honestly MNHQ these links are really annoying. I just clicked on one thinking it would provide more info about what a poster was talking about (have you seen this urban dictionary entry, or something) and it linked to a book on Amazon instead. It was not at all obvious the poster had not linked themselves.

I think the links are tacky and ugly, but I can live with that - it's when they waste my time I get annoyed.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/02/2017 12:46

YY MNHQ - please change the colour in the mobile site so we can ignore differentiate, or preferably ditch the skimlinks altogether and have some other form of advertising. They really are shitty, I think it's worse because they are actually within the posts - perhaps go back to banner add between posts, or allow folk to pay to access an as free version of the site.

  • Any links that may appear in this post were not me so don't click them...
TheLivingAsheth · 18/02/2017 12:48

Yeah, neither of those links in my previous post were mine, you can see the confusion

BIWI · 18/02/2017 12:54

@tribpot - so do you mean that although I can't see any of the links now, on this thread, that if I type one, e.g. Sainsbury's, that the links will be visible for anyone else reading my post?

That's shit. I don't want to have my posts linking to other websites unless I have chosen to do that.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/02/2017 12:56

BIWI That's correct, adblocker means you don't see the links, but to me it looks like you linked to S ainsburys in your post.

  • Any links that may appear in this post were not me so don't click them...
tribpot · 18/02/2017 13:16

BIWI yes, that's right, your post contains a link to Sainsbos - which due to the AdBlocker you can't see, but we can.

Skimlinks on Talk
BIWI · 18/02/2017 13:58

Thanks, ItsAllGoingToBeFine and Trimpot

Angry
paxillin · 18/02/2017 16:18

I'm not sure the links create business. I have clicked them before. Post went like this: I bought a fabulous desk at John Lewis for just that purpose!

So I think, fab, just the desk I want, click the link, John Lewis homepage, not the desk I want. I can then search for "fabulous desk MNetter bought", but it isn't going to get me anywhere, so I close the JL page again.

olderthanyouthink · 18/02/2017 17:19

I'm wondering how much MN makes per user from ad banners/skimlinks etc... It cant be that much, there are loads of people who would pay.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 18/02/2017 18:32

We used to pay back in the day. Well it was a donation iirc.

HemiDemiSemiquaver · 18/02/2017 19:44

Just seen a really ridiculous one, someone saying they'd had to give something up for their DS, and it linked to amazon for a game by ninendo called UP, which I'm positive was not the OP's intention.

AppleMagic · 19/02/2017 05:30

Every time I or someone else writes the word breast pump I get a link to this page (I am in the US so might be region specific). It looks so spammy. I'd prefer people not think that I was linking to such dodgy content so another vote for different colour for non-user added links.

Skimlinks on Talk
maamalady · 19/02/2017 09:30

Another voice adding to the chorus of "hate it, please at least change it to a completely different colour"...

RedAndYellowStripe · 19/02/2017 10:41

Well I know that MN is a commercial venture BUT thanks you for using us all to make money wo a thought to the users.
People have said before that they don't like it.
People are saying again they don't like it.
But I suspect it will stay.

Just like FB has
And the articles in the DM, the Sun etc... straight from the threads here, even the ones in Relationships (a new low).

So I have a question for MNHQ where have you drawn the limit of what is or isn't acceptable to do with our posts???
Because it feels more and more dangerous to post on here anything that isn't neutral, and I am including posts on political subjects for example, relationships, the SN board etc etc.