Skimlinks on Talk

[AmyGMumsnet]

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

[EssieTregowan]

Yes, if the skimlinks were a different colour that would be much better.

It stops them feeling a bit, I dunno, devious.

[AliceInUnderpants]

Skimlinks state that:

we store Users’ IP addresses, from which we can determine a User’s approximate geographical location (e.g. country or region). We need this information to optimize the links that are created/monetized to suit the geography of the User, and to provide aggregate reporting to Publishers, Merchants and Advertisers on the location of users visiting Skimlinks Enabled Sites. We also use IP addresses as part of our efforts to reduce fraud and identify non-human browsing patterns.
we store information about the device that a User uses to access sites within our Publisher network, such as the browser type, browser version, and type of device. This helps us ensure we can diagnose and fix browser compatibility issues more swiftly, optimize our service to suit the preferred browsing environments, and provide aggregate reporting to Publishers, Merchants and Advertisers.
we store anonymous information, using cookies and device identifiers, about the websites within our Publisher network that Users visit, which of our links Users click on, and whether Users make a purchase. This enables us to provide Users with relevant and useful links and advertising to products and/or services in which they are likely to be interested, and to Merchants and Advertisers from whom they are likely to want to buy. Further information regarding the cookies we utilise to collect this information can be found here.
as part of the information available in standard web serving logs, we also store information about the referrer, i.e. the website page from which the User linked to the Skimlinks Enabled Site.
to provide Publishers and Merchants with the Service, we collect information on visits and sales on Skimlinks Enabled Sites, including but not limited to order value, products bought, and order identifiers. These are used to help Publishers, Merchants and Advertisers make better marketing and content creation decisions.
at no time do we know who a User is, nor do we make any attempt to try and identify a User.

Since this is "including but not limited to", can MNHQ please confirm exactly what information on users they are selling to these external companies? And again, in which part of the site's T&C or privacy policy we agreed to this on signup.

Thanks.

[Sparklingbrook]

YY to the different colour. Then we could differentiate between the ones posters have added and the link ones MN have put in.

TBH I have only seen Asda and Sainsburys (oh and Harrods). None of which interest me.

[MackerelOfFact]

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's

Sainsbo's

[Sparklingbrook]

Harrods

[Sparklingbrook]

Ooh if you leave the apostrophe out of Sainsbury's it doesn't pick it up.

[MackerelOfFact]

Sorry. Ignore me. I was just trying to figure out what would override the automatic links, I meant to press 'preview,' not 'post'.

I agree that the links should definitely be a different colour to 'normal' links, and should only be rolled out on certain boards (Chat and AIBU, for example) as I think it would be massively insensitive on many others, and could be wrongly construed as advice.

Could there also be a message that alerts posters when they're about to post a message including the trigger words, to allow them to go back and edit it if they wish, since there is no option for users to edit their own posts once posted? I think you should give people a fair chance to choose not to promote these brands if they don't want to.

Also, isn't it going to make it trickier for posters to identify when someone is just spamming with their own (non paid-for) advertising content?

[Sparklingbrook]

I think I have seen As da already so people are getting wise. If you don't spell it exactly right or stick a gap in it doesn't work.

[icanteven]

I don't mind it. It must cost a fortune to run Mumsnet, and the only way I can imagine you avoiding external ads is if you developed products of your own, such as online training in "back to work" skills or functional apps such as Go Henry where vast numbers numbers of Mumsnetters would be your target audience anyway.

[DJKKSlider]

we collect information on visits and sales on Skimlinks Enabled Sites, including but not limited to order value, products bought, and order identifiers

This is concerning.
So Skumlinks builds a database that collects info on the products bought, the most of the order and 'order identifiers' which I assume is order number or delivery address...

Someone has that database, finds Sanesburies, they now have a list of order numbers, products bought and cost. Wouldn't take much to use that info to scam people I'd think?

[DonkeyOaty]

Ah. Now I can see S ainsbury's as a blue link on the mobile site. Shoulda kept me gob shut earlier huh

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

I understand the need to pay for running the site and that means some ads.

I find the current version of skimlinks annoying as it looks just like a poster's intended link. I might want to click on that but I don't want to click to find a homepage. I suppose the suggestion of a different colour would minimise their effect?

I hate threads which take over the screen. My local newspaper uses these which makes it phenomenally annoying to read on the phone, and pretty pesky on the desktop. So please don't use those!

[BIWI]

Hang on - just let me get this straight.

Does this mean if I click on these links, that skimlink (or the brand I've referred to) gets my data?

What about if I just use the name of a shop (as I've just done on a post), without realising it would turn into a link?

[AliceInUnderpants]

It's the sneaky, underhand way that links are not immediately obvious to be part of this advertising scheme. We have no idea which companies are or are not involved and are accessing data about us.

[olderthanyouthink]

In the same way that ur ads have the little ad choices logo the scumlinks should also be marked.

I totally get that MNG is expensive to run but this isn't great.

Like is I say "when I was in Harrods last the staff looked at me like I was scum" (didn't really happen) hardly something they want liking to their site, right?

[needalittleL]

I work for an affiliate programme organisation and am pretty unphased by this (as it goes on without you knowing anyway). fWIW thanks for letting us know about it Mumsnet and if you want me to take part in any user testing I will happily do so!

To other users- when you click that 'accept cookies' message on other websites this is what you are giving up. Your time of logging in, browser type, whether you've clicked through to any other sites etc. Mumsnet will take an 'override' (a commission)) on any clicks that turn into conversions (sales) that originate from this site.

Personally I think it's a fair way of doing it. The other option is having ads all over the site. I know which I prefer.

[icanteven]

scumlinks? That's a bit overboard, surely? You "totally get" that Mumsnet is expensive to run, but slag off a fairly inoffensive monetising technique they're trialling and discussing with us - the non-paying users of the site?

[DirtyBlonde]

scumlinks would also be a good term for a story going straight to the tabloids?

(Not that that makes any money for either site or post's author)

[PencilsInSpace]

Oh yes, I just looked at the cookies policy and it's in there. I still think the autolinks are tacky and damage MN brand though.

the non-paying users of the site?

We're the product, icanteven, MN isn't a charity for which we must be grateful. I don't find the autolinks 'fairly inoffensive' they blur the distinction between advertising and content in a way I'm not comfortable with at all.

I'm glad I can block them. I understand this deprives MN of income but as I've said, I'll happily pay a subscription for an ad-free version.

[JustAnotherSilentOldNumber]

damage MN brand though

Oh dear, i tihnk it's far to late to be worried about damaged brand.

[StumblyMonkey]

FWIW....they don't bother me at all.

I totally understand the need to generate income and the skimlinks are less intrusive than annoying pop up adds, etc.

[hollyisalovelyname]

When I clicked on a link ( a thread on eternity rings, supposedly Mumsnetters showing their eternity rings ) PaidbyResults.net quiclkly came up prior to getting to the website linked to by the supposed Mumsnetter.
I was so disappointed. Was the whole thread so jewellers could advertise???
But Mumsnet Towers took that post down swiftly when I alerted them.