subject: Why Do People Always Hate on Affiliate Links? [print this page] Why Do People Always Hate on Affiliate Links?
Okay, I'll admit that I've hated on affiliate links too. Heck I probably still do it now and again without even thinking about it. It's like second nature. But why do we do it? I mean why is it so horrible that someone we don't know gets a commission for recommending a service or product that fulfills our needs?
Right now I'm building a WordPress theme that I think is pretty cool. But here's the thing, there's another theme out there that has more options than mine. It does more than my theme and to be honest, I'm a little jealous! Now I should add a side-note that it's a bit more expensive, but that's beside the point for this article.
So here's where we get to the interesting part. In order for me to get sales I'm basically hoping that others don't know about this competitive product. It doesn't make any business sense for me to say "Hey Buddy, Don't Buy My Product, Go Here and Get This Instead". If I did that people would say that I'm a moron, and they'd be right! So what should I do?
I could just quit developing my theme and help this other guy promote his product. But then I remember something people hate affiliate links! I mean sure I could cloak the affiliate links or find some other means of trying to hide the fact that it's an affiliate link. But at the end of the day it is what it is and some people will know it and bypass it. And others will look at me like I'm some kind of sub-human just for attempting it.
So I guess what I'm really trying to understand is why do we think and act the way we do when it comes to affiliate links? Why do we see that "aff?=33389" or whatever it may look like and think to ourselves "oh hell no, you're not getting my money buddy". Is it just nature? We know that this guy (or gal) didn't do anything but put that link there and he's going to get anywhere from 10 to 100% of the money that WE GIVE! We're the ones dishing out the cash we should have the decision whether this money goes to the developer of the product or some guy making links, right?
Well that's where the whole point of the article goes. I wrote this article so you would question yourself and your beliefs on affiliate links. So let's dig a little deeper and really analyze what affiliate links are and what they do.
On the surface an affiliate link may seem like a pretty simple thing. I mean you get a link, put it on your website and if someone buys you get a commission. The thing I think we forget though is that we probably wouldn't know about half of these products if it weren't for affiliates. I mean some of these affiliates are very skilled at getting traffic, among other things. And if you ever create products you're going to hope that the big skilled affiliates come out to help you, seriously.
Now I've never been very good at promoting others products with affiliate programs. But I guess I've never genuinely understood it like I do now. In the past I'd just put up some links and hope for the best. But I see to be a good affiliate you have to almost take a little ownership in the product you're promoting. What I mean is you should care about the product as though you created it to really get some motivation behind you. Others will see that you genuinely like or believe in the product you're pushing and that truly does count for something. Buyers like to see that.
Anyways, hopefully this short article gave you an alternative perspective on affiliates and affiliate links. Perhaps next time instead of just bypassing the link, you'll at the very least give it some thought. Thank you for reading!
