In my spare time, I like to fondle my stacks of filthy lucre in a vaguely homoerotic manner. Photo by Liz West.
I am writing this to solicit the opinions of my readers. How do you feel about affiliate programs? It is very common that when someone links to a site like Amazon or a vendor of sex toys, they include a small code in the link which gives them credit for any sales that are made during that visit to the site. Later, they get some small percentage of the sales.
So far I have kept affiliate links off of my site (except for a single link at the bottom of my About page), both when I post my sex toy reviews and when I randomly mention media I have recently consumed. My initial thinking was that it made me seem more honest — I have no incentive to rave about a toy I like other than genuine pleasure if I don’t make any money from future sales. On the other hand, if I genuinely like a toy and someone buys it because of me, is it wrong for me to make something? I know I have already sold one Club Vibe, the subject of an upcoming review, to a friend I talked about it with last night. Almost every day I get a handful of hits for my review of the FunFactory BendyBeads, some of whom may go on to buy one via the link in the review. I know that I don’t really think less of the people I read because they participate in affiliate programs; rather I look to whether they seem willing to give an honest, blunt opinion. And perhaps most importantly, I am really very broke right now and feel stupid turning down even the remotest chance to ethically make a few dollars.
It’s not like I am somehow 100% pure — I already link to sex toy sites as a result of my doing reviews, at least one of which I know carries toys that could be considered unsafe not to mention unsafe products like Anal-eze. I’ll happily speak out against these kinds of products, but I am still sending business there way. I don’t plan to ever include true advertisements, especially banner ads, on this site. But I am considering adding affiliate codes to the site.
So I am asking your opinion — when you see an affiliate code on someone’s site, do you think less of them? Does accepting money open me up to an ethical gray area? Would you give less weight to my reviews if I might make money from sales of the toys or products?
By the way, many people ask me how to become a sex toy reviewer. I sort of lucked into it, but here is a link to a series of posts on How to Become A Sex Toy Blogger, written by Kara Sutra and vouched for by Domina Doll, Mistress of the review program for one of my vendors.
Update: Based on overwhelming support of me adding affiliate links, I am going to do so. I am still open to opinions counter to this decision, they might change my mind, but so far it looks like no one minds as long as I don’t go overboard by selling out my honesty or linking like crazy.
Comments (9)
I dont mind affiliate links, as long as they are genuine. As in, dont link to something just to link to it, but rather just link to things that you would be talking about even without the link. :)
If you consider yourself a sex blogger, then by your standards, many of us are ethically wrong. Anybody I know they reviews uses affiliate links. Its simply how it is done with reviewing. Personally I think you would be silly not to. There’s a right way, and a wrong way something I wrote about this morning actually. Hidden affiliate links are low. Affiliate links to something you have actually reviewed/owned, placed in the review posts are something else entirely
StacyCat: Thanks for your opinion.
Lilly: I consider myself a blogger who sometimes writes about sex. I don’t mean to accuse others of being unethical, but I guess that thinking I am ‘better than’ affiliate links suggests that I do. Thanks for your opinion, I will consider this.
I didn’t want to post this on the FL page, which is why I’m basically double commenting. Here’s a link to a blogger post I made a while back, chock full of affiliate links: http://thiszenmoment.blogspot.com/2010/08/vegetarian-won-tons.html
Of course, it’s also chock full of me nattering on about cooking, with a recipe and talking about the kids reaction to it. So it’s got the affiliate links in there, linking to things I’m talking about, things I used in making the recipe discussed, but the links aren’t the central thing in the post. The links are more a, I guess, aid… if you don’t know what those things are, or where to get them, then there’s a handy link that shows you what they are as well as where to go to get some for yourself.
I try to use links like that sparingly… each instance occurs once, and I try not to link each and every freaking thing. I also don’t make a big deal out of it. They are there, but they’re not what the blog is about.
I think if you’re not in people’s faces about things, unobtrusive and not a pushy salesperson then most folks take them as a normal thing. You’ve got a blog, you mention things you’ve done or seen or used, you provide google juice in the form of a link-back, I don’t see why you shouldn’t earn a couple cents off a transaction someone was going to make anyway.
(and don’t kid yourself, most of the affiliate link things don’t earn you much money. To bank from this sort of thing means turning your blogging from a fun hobby into a really truly full time job.)
I feel as long as you don’t start adding into a bajillion links just for the sake of getting more clicks, you’ll be fine. You’re doing it cause you need money. I listen to people complain and yell at me and I make them drinks that are sometimes bad for them(extra extra extra caramel and whip???? REALLY?) I do it because I don’t have a degree yet and IT’S A JOB. Which is rare in this economy. At least you’re doing something you like, I say Hell Yes. Use the links and make money where you can dude. I’m considering selling plasma….
I’m not expecting to make a lot of money, but I also know I’d have made about $5 yesterday if I’d had an affiliate link for a friend who just bought a club vibe based on my recommendation. That’s not much but it’s also a few groceries…
Thanks for your opinions, so far, everyone.
Count me in the affiliate-links-yes crowd. Particularly as noted above, if you don’t go overboard adding them. But the way I see it, as a reader, you’re providing me with something valuable – reviews help me suss out what products are worth my time and money, and reviews by people I know and trust even moreso. When you provide something of value, I think it is fair that you are compensated. I get that you receive free sex toys to review… but that’s not paying the bills, and it’s not feeding you. I’ve seen affiliate links abused – tons of links for stuff that bears no relation to site content – but that’s not the case here.
It costs me nothing (yes, the prices of products rise to include advertising costs, but trust me – you’re cheap compared to a 30-second TV spot – they’d make it up with another advertising method). Not even attention (as obnoxious ads do). It’s a win for you and a win for your readers, since you keep reviewing.
:) Erica
Thank you for your comments, Erica!
Not sure if you’re reading comments in Buzz/Reader, so reposting:
Kit, I’m the primary author behind my [adult] employer’s affiliate program. I’ve seen many different affiliate sites – good and bad. The terrible sites that would lead to my not trusting them are not well-written and obviously don’t care about integrity or building much trust. I just suggest that you disclose to your readers your affiliate status with the vendor, especially if you’re writing about that product or working the product into your writing somehow.