How many blog [CC] affiliate links have you used?
So..I've been doing this MS/points/miles thing for a few years now. Got in on
some easy MS, and missed out on others. I've read my fair share of blogs - doc, frequentmiler, travelisfree, travelcodex, milevalue, onemileatatime mostly.. sometimes - travelwithgrant, upgradedpoints, milecards, tpg, welltraveledmile, milestomemories, mms, and a smattering of other random ones. There's another one that I don't remember the name of...some Asian woman does that. Her picture is in the corner anyway. [Edit: travelsort!] So..I've realized I have only signed up for 1 card on an affiliate link - travelisfree a couple years ago. I have also clicked on Amazon/ebay from DOC and Travelwithgrant. I need to do better. The issue I've realized lately is certain cards aren't being offered on affiliate links. Nor are things like links with no 24-month language or incognito ones. Some cards might of been affiliate at one point, but it doesn't appear to be the case now. Or the personal is affiliate but the business is not (Marriott Business for example which I recently got). My recent B of A Asiana appears to have once been affiliate but not recently. Also part of me earlier has avoided affiliate links because "they didn't offer the best deal" (Looking at TPG here) or it s shameless shilling, so to speak - "so I just avoid all of them." Or worries that if I go through an affiliate link my odds of getting approved might go down. I have on my list to support frequentmiler (Barclay Arrival) and milevalue (Alaska Air? SPG Business?) if possible with my next CC applications. Onemileatatime is also deserving. Going forward, I think I am willing to sacrifice a little to not get the best offer, if that is the case, if I can help a blogger I read. I read a travelbloggerbuzz article about the life and death of many miles and points blogs. http://travelbloggerbuzz.com/a-deep-...ts-blog-space/ What is your experience with this? |
I think another thing is when you get information from so many different sources you don't link it to any one individual or blogger. When I used the affiliate with travelisfree the specific info was so valuable and relatively unique.
but as I've settled on few blogs to regularly reference, I know I should go out of my way to support them - especially when they've helped me make or save $$. |
I usually use Award Wallet's affiliate links. It's a service that I use almost daily so I want support them.
|
As this topic is more about blogs and their affiliate links than actual Manufactured Spending the thread has been relocated to the External Miles and Points Resources forum for further discussion.
tcook052 on behalf of MS forum moderators |
God, I hope zero.
|
I made and have a standing offer to use any blogger's affiliate link...so long as they split the payment with me. None have taken me up on the offer. And I'm in the clear on time and app limits currently!
|
As you've discovered OP, you definitely need to shop around and make sure you're applying for the best available offer, no matter what. The CC forums on FT are a good place to spot check what's current.
Very few of the points & miles bloggers will even mention if a better, non-affiliate offer is available. Or warn you about other ramifications. Those folks don't have your best interests at heart any more than Target or Honda or United Airlines does - it's a business. I have occasionally used affiliate links of sites that are trustworthy and that I appreciate reading (and where the offer was just as good). I haven't kept track though to tell you how many. |
Used to apply through FrequentMiler, however his posts over the last couple years were so far from where he started out - so i stopped and apply directly through the banks
|
Originally Posted by Jesperss
(Post 28784422)
Used to apply through FrequentMiler, however his posts over the last couple years were so far from where he started out - so i stopped and apply directly through the banks
I usually check to see if any friends or FT'ers have referral links before going straight to the bank. I've used FrequentMiler's from time to time. It's too bad there isn't a blog that is non-profit or charity who donated the commissions to charity. |
Originally Posted by iadisgreat
(Post 28777870)
God, I hope zero.
|
Originally Posted by Raffles
(Post 28785032)
The cookies probably have a 14-28 day life. People don't understand this. Click a link, apply direct 3 weeks later, blogger is still paid.
didn't think about that.... when I buy through Topcashback, etc...I usually delete my browser history and cookies, so I know I have periodically cleaned house so to speak. despite that...I wonder how many bloggers / which ones I may have inadvertently supported in this way? I can eliminate the no 24 month language ones and incognito ones. Certain bloggers I am careful to generally not click any of the actual app links, just sticking with the content. And some bloggers don't hawk CCs aggressively at all. like travelisfree and doc - no affiliate links. Seems to be some hate for bloggers on FT. I can understand why for some of them. Killed some gooses. But I've gotten valuable info from various ones. And I know they mention the best offers available - except for a few, which I typically don't care for their writing style anyway...so I don't bother. I often have compared to what is on FT to make sure I get the latest. |
Zero. I also don't do blogs.
Many of them simply lift information that's been posted on FT. I agree they have killed the miles/points game. |
Originally Posted by EqualOpp
(Post 28785632)
didn't think about that.... when I buy through Topcashback, etc...I usually delete my browser history and cookies, so I know I have periodically cleaned house so to speak.
despite that...I wonder how many bloggers / which ones I may have inadvertently supported in this way? I can eliminate the no 24 month language ones and incognito ones. Certain bloggers I am careful to generally not click any of the actual app links, just sticking with the content. And some bloggers don't hawk CCs aggressively at all. like travelisfree and doc - no affiliate links. Seems to be some hate for bloggers on FT. I can understand why for some of them. Killed some gooses. But I've gotten valuable info from various ones. And I know they mention the best offers available - except for a few, which I typically don't care for their writing style anyway...so I don't bother. I often have compared to what is on FT to make sure I get the latest. |
Originally Posted by Mary2e
(Post 28787908)
Zero. I also don't do blogs.
Many of them simply lift information that's been posted on FT. I agree they have killed the miles/points game. |
They killed it by constantly publicizing the sign up bonuses, back doors, MS, and hotel points bonuses.
The inability to use them started with the glut of points/miles being out there and people trying to use them, not the other way around. The game had lessened, but I believe it's current state is directly due to all the people jumping on the free vacation bandwagon. These blogs started a long time ago as a labor of love and turned into a labor of profit. |
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 8:18 pm. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.