4 ms·

Maybe so. It all boils down to recommendation versus promotion. I hate ads yet I'm totally comfortable with affiliate links on blog, so I consider her site to b

• chobo 14y ago
  Why do you think one is okay but not the other?
  • deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  • harlanlewis 14y ago
    I feel the same as grandparent, but it's a blurry line. Ideally, promoted ads should be recommendations. Buy more than just reach to a demo, instead ensure a qualified voice authentically highlights your benefits - more akin to social recommendations from friends than banner ads. This is rarely attempted in a world of publications that depend on ad volume and outsourced ad buyer supply, but examples exist. The webcomic Penny Arcade recently ran a Kickstarter to achieve freedom from ads, but found itself answering questions like "What if I love ads?" (http://www.penny-arcade.com/2012/07/20/what-if-i-love-ads http://www.penny-arcade.com/2012/07/20/what-if-i-love-ads) because they'd built a reputation of only advertising products they would feel comfortable endorsing even without an adbuy (can't find a direct link to when they talk about this, but it's out there somewhere).
• cubicle67 14y ago
  It all boils down to recommendation versus promotion No, I think that's a sidetrack. The issue, at least how I read it, is saying to the dear reader "please donate as that's my only income source"* when it's not true. It's deliberately deceptive. What's odd is that there's nothing wrong, that I can see, with just being upfront about affiliate links - "Hey, want to support this blog? I get a small amount of money from any purchases made by clicking on the amazon links" * Yes, I realise that's not the words she's using, but it sure is the message that's conveyed