The points and miles blog business model
Apr 17, 2013, 4:00 pm
#16
formerly known as felinaar
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AA Gold, AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 612
There is a very steep curve. I don't recommend anyone quit their day job and become a blogger because more likely than not you will be on the low end of that curve.
Last edited by Scottrick; Apr 17, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Apr 17, 2013, 4:06 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: HNL
Posts: 781
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/...dom-of-speech/
Apr 17, 2013, 4:26 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
11 of the 19 miles and points cards in the UK do not offer any sort of referral bonus or appear on any cashback sites.
And why should they? After all, logically, almost everyone bothered enough to want an airline or hotel loyalty credit card will already be in the loyalty programme. There is a small subset of FTers outside that, but they are a real minority - and not a very profitable minority either.
And the airlines and hotels already have your email and home addresses to bombard you with promo materials! Why pay fat commissions?
The only exceptions are (US) cards such as Ink which are not aligned to a particular programme and so do not have a member database to mine.
Apr 17, 2013, 4:35 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
They could just go away!
11 of the 19 miles and points cards in the UK do not offer any sort of referral bonus or appear on any cashback sites.
And why should they? After all, logically, almost everyone bothered enough to want an airline or hotel loyalty credit card will already be in the loyalty programme. There is a small subset of FTers outside that, but they are a real minority - and not a very profitable minority either.
And the airlines and hotels already have your email and home addresses to bombard you with promo materials! Why pay fat commissions?
The only exceptions are (US) cards such as Ink which are not aligned to a particular programme and so do not have a member database to mine.
11 of the 19 miles and points cards in the UK do not offer any sort of referral bonus or appear on any cashback sites.
And why should they? After all, logically, almost everyone bothered enough to want an airline or hotel loyalty credit card will already be in the loyalty programme. There is a small subset of FTers outside that, but they are a real minority - and not a very profitable minority either.
And the airlines and hotels already have your email and home addresses to bombard you with promo materials! Why pay fat commissions?
The only exceptions are (US) cards such as Ink which are not aligned to a particular programme and so do not have a member database to mine.
Apr 17, 2013, 5:33 pm
#20
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,611
While not miles and points related, one of my favorite blogs provided some insight on the scale of this while doing very little promotion of the credit cards. Seeing this, I have no problem believing ma91pmh's estimates of 6 figure income for some bloggers.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/...dom-of-speech/
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/...dom-of-speech/
A fascinating insight into the business side of blogging.
I wonder if any P&M bloggers will take such a principled stand!
Apr 17, 2013, 5:41 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: AMEX Plat, AAdvantage Gold, UA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 963
You say principled I say stupid. He could have negotiated better. There is nothing wrong with monetizing, and once you are in a position of authority you should be able to find a way to retain integrity and payments.
Apr 17, 2013, 5:55 pm
#22
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Apr 17, 2013, 6:00 pm
#23
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,611
I agree.
The moment a blog changes a single thing for an affiliate, the blog goes from working for its readers to working for its affiliates.
Really, though, it seems as though just about every single P&M blog is all about the affiliate referral dough any more. Even blogs like Gary's that used to eschew that approach have gone that way.
Are there any big blogs that don't do affiliate programs and thus are not pushing them and, presumably, being influenced if not outright controlled by them?
^
Apr 17, 2013, 7:30 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
Don't fall for the bs from mr moustache on integrity. While he was posting that mumbo jumbo his best travel credit card offer was an inferior Barclays us air card
He couldn't get with chase and tried to make it out like he was the hero. Yawn
He couldn't get with chase and tried to make it out like he was the hero. Yawn
Apr 17, 2013, 9:43 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: MSP
Posts: 376
If that's the case he's obviously doing a superb job in keeping his readership grow. I am shocked to see the consistent ~300 comments for every post he publishes.
Apr 17, 2013, 9:56 pm
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Off the top of my head I can name several.
Last edited by sbm12; Apr 17, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Apr 17, 2013, 11:23 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Apr 18, 2013, 4:54 am
#28
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 35
I would think it's neither out of principle or stupidity that he did what he did but a smart business decision. His readership base is probably more valuable to him then the affiliate links and by posting an article like that, the readership grows and remains loyal. Had he done the opposite, he may have lost readers. This is a guy that talks about passive income and retirement . . . I really don't think he would make a stupid business decision on purpose. In reality, it's probably closer to what Milesabound said.
Apr 18, 2013, 5:48 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: AMEX Plat, AAdvantage Gold, UA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 963
I would think it's neither out of principle or stupidity that he did what he did but a smart business decision. His readership base is probably more valuable to him then the affiliate links and by posting an article like that, the readership grows and remains loyal. Had he done the opposite, he may have lost readers. This is a guy that talks about passive income and retirement . . . I really don't think he would make a stupid business decision on purpose. In reality, it's probably closer to what Milesabound said.
I'm sticking with the point that it would be stupid to burn your affiliate links when you could have worked something out AND maintained integrity. If a person cannot find that balance then they left something on the table. It doesn't matter how informed your articles are, if you cannot balance egos and negotiations then i'm not impressed.
Of course, if it was all a crock and he actually is posting affiliate links then what does that say about integrity?
Apr 18, 2013, 6:18 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 100