What constitutes an affiliate link
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I’m having a hard time understanding just what are and are not “affiliate links”. I’ve read your page about them but am still not clear. Is there someone I can speak to about this? I’ve created an account, but need to be sure I’m “legal” before I jump in.
Blog url: http://tomsgoodfiles.wordpress.com/ -
This is a very good explanation of what is and isn’t allowed: https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/affiliate-link?replies=89#post-418795
And this is as well: http://en.wordpress.com/types-of-blogs/
If you’re still not sure, please provide a specific example link and let us know how you will use it in context.
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I need to describe 2 scenarios and quote from one of your sources.
1. I need a blog (which I’ve never done before) to communicate more effectively with fans of my website. Therefore I will provide frequent links (including deep links) to my site. (The Jan.’10 forums posts were helpful, but I still want to respond.) Wikipedia says “Affiliate marketing—using one website to drive traffic to another–“. That’s exactly what I want to do, drive my blog readers to a website. But the “another” is my own. Is this okay? A friend told me yes. Here’s the reasons I have doubts. You say, “SEO blogs: Blogs that are written for search engines instead of humans. These blogs are dedicated to trying to fool Google and other search engines into ranking them or the sites they link to highly. WordPress.com is not meant for this type of activity.” Well, mine IS written for humans. But I’ve been told that a legitimate byproduct of this is that this will provide incoming links to my site and will help ranking in the engines. Not trying to fool anyone, but I *am* wanting to create incoming links. Is this a problem?? In fact, I was urged to create a blog SO THAT there will be activity on my site, and activity (including links to my site) helps ranking (legitimately). Is there a problem here? (Am not trying to create one of those horrible link farms.)
2. One small part of what I have at my website is the opportunity to get really good products through a recently started MLM company. I have a member website with them, through which if people want to buy products, they can, and I get commissions. The theme of the MLM is extremely in keeping with the philosophy of my website, and will be a topic for occasional blog discussions. In fact, I do have links to my MLM site at my regular site. But may I give such a link to my blog readers?? You all sound like all MLMs are inherently evil and thusly forbidden. But to be clear, promoting the MLM will not be the bulk of blog content. If you say this is still a problem, I can resort to simply talking to my readers, telling them where on MY website to click to get to the MLM. (But it’d be nice to provide a direct link for their ease.)
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If you are directing traffic to another site or store in exchange for money, then that would be a violation of our terms of service.
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It should be clear from my latter comment that I’m not. Sending them to my own site involves no exchange of money. And sending them to my MLM website doesn’t not involve a transaction. It merely enables them to learn about the products and system, and they can later sign up and/or buy things if they want. But there’s no money exchanged triggered by executing either catagory of link. (No pay per click if that’s what you mean.)
So having this clarification, I hope someone will kindly respond more directly to the 2 subjects I listed (noting the nuances I included).
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1. We cannot always judge future possible links that you might place on your blog. This is why we refer you to our terms of service and types of blogs pages if you don’t provide specific examples. You asked a general question about whether trying to create incoming links is okay. The answer is yes as long as it doesn’t conflict with http://en.wordpress.com/types-of-blogs/
2. Promoting multi-level marketing is not permitted on WordPress.com blogs.
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