Does the blog reader, though, know there's revenue involved for the blogger when clicking those credit card links or do they just think the bloggers are good guys sharing the best credit card links available? Do they know it's "marketing/advertising" and money is being paid out if they use the link? I'm not sure the reader is typically aware of that side of blogs.

Should bloggers disclose they're making money off those credit card links up front? From my non-blogging side, I'd like to see a disclosure that "I will receive a commission if you use my link". Could the blogging community live with that?

Can bloggers be influenced, with the revenue factor in play, to link the credit cards that are best for their bank account versus best for the consumer?

Some blogs disclose their financial relationship not just in 'about' sections or in fine print at the bottom of their site, but literally in each post that contains affiliate links.

Agreed.

Some that are good about this, making this disclosure every time:
Mommy Points
View from the Wing
One Mile at a Time
Million Mile Secrets

Some that I have not ever seen make these disclosures in their posts:
Frugal Travel Guy
The Points Guy
Dans Deals

There are others on both sides of this, and apologies if I put any of them in the wrong category although I do not think that I did.

It does seem this disclosure is key, if it's there then folks can make their reasonable judgments about what is being sold to them.

Here's the thing that's worth looking at, which bloggers promote better offers than the ones that are their affiliate links?

Clearly Million Mile Secrets and View from the Wing do.

Usually Frugal Travel Guy does not, although occasionally he has more recently (after much public shaming and ridicule). He has even warned people away from using "zombie links" that everyone here on Flyertalk has had great success with getting more points from than his links, and has explained in these forums that he does this because those other links don't cause him to get paid).

Usually MileValue does not, either, for quite awhile he was posting about the US Airways card offers and deleting comments about the fact that the offer he was promoting was less than the best one.

Dan's Deals does't promote better offers than his affilaite links, either, he tells people to use his links and then ask the banks to match to the better offer instead of just applying through a link that would give them that offer.

Disclosure does seem to matter and so does integrity.

My objection is to the affiliate companies (Flex Offers, etc) themselves more than the blogs that use them. They discriminate against smaller blogs who could probably get a few customers a month using sidebar ads and not manufactured posts and still maintain the integrity of the blog. It's not like they have to hire staff to manually pay the commissions, it can all be done automatically with tracking. Big blog sells 100 credit cards, gets $10,000 commission. Little blog sells 3 credit cards, gets $300 commission, what's the big deal? Anyway, I will not be clicking any affiliate credit card links until Flex Offers or whatever stop discriminating against small blogs and give everyone equal chance.

Discriminating is a very strong word. As they are businesses themselves I'm sure they want to maximize profit so definitely there is some objective that you as a small blog are not meeting and so that's why they're not giving you links. For example they might want to keep the brand (I have no idea at this I'm just saying). Or it could even be the banks saying that they don't want to give links out to small blogs, not the affiliate companies. Are you not going to apply for Chase cards now?

On second thought it could very well be the banks not allowing small blogs to have links. Like why there are very few chase aff links but discover will give links to everyone.

I was told it was the banks, not flex that were the barrier. Flex needs to make a case for you to the banks.

I can see why the little guy isn't wanted, if there are 10000 little guys and they drop from a 50K CSP to a 40K or any other T&C then ensuring compliance is a PITA.

They want as few as possible, but enough to get exposure. Therefore they can manage the applications but also sell card fees.

Where do affiliate links come from? Once someone starts a blog do the credit cards and hotels come to them or vice-versa?

+1 on Disclosure. Ironically today at the end of TPG's ANA summary he writes: If you enjoyed this series and would like to see more research posts like this, I would appreciate if you could use my links when possible when you are applying for credit cards. This site is free and runs solely on advertising and credit card referrals so we greatly appreciate any support when our readers are applying for top offers.

The sweet spot is x vistor per diem. If you want links you normally approach them, of you are hitting per diems they approach you.

I am just now starting to read posts in this new forum, I like it!

This above brilliantly summarizes what is wrong with affiliate links.

Seth, can I feature it in my site? Por favor?

I would love to learn more about Affiliate Links! How about an Affiliate Links 101 or Affiliate Links for Dummies class? The main providers, the arrangements (could be a problem!), the criteria used, perhaps an hierarchy of them (I am guessing Bent Offers is at the top?).

I also believe that Disclosure does matter, it is the right thing to do!

I am really glad this forum was approved. And chat is back on. And wikis. Good to have competition again^

"I have nothing to add"

I'm curious about the threat of identity theft. It is not uncommon for bloggers to provide "the best link" which is not their own. Some blogs who do not have the traffic to get into the referral business provide links that are not their own as well.

Since this is a business. I would have to think that if someone claimed that a link provided by a particular blogger lead them to have their information stolen could have a rather large impact on the amount of future sign ups.

As a consumer, I am rather cautious when using any type of link to sign up. I want to not only protect my credit score, but also want to make sure my information is safe. I think this could be a reason why all the small blogs do not have referral links.

Yay, I'm glad someone else worries about identity theft (other than cynical me). As I say, always look for the lock sign beside the https. You want ->verified by ____. And also the aff links will redirect you to the same link as the public offer just with all the crecardlink.com/affid=aeoitu4h3iu1h3kjnv so it's the same link.

Same as looking for best offer, be alert!

I think you could just add this as a Wiki and then close this thread. I don't think there is anything more to say on the topic.

FTG may point out that the average American is ok sitting through a half hour show with 26% of commercials, but some blogs feel like you are watching a constant QVC "info"-merical and others feel a little more subtle and tasteful in their approach. Matt I hope you stick with the latter.

I think what rubs people the wrong way is that some just seem to post what everyone else is posting. I appreciate when someone has a "game changer" idea.

Others dislike that the bloggers are "spoon feeding" the masses with arrows etc and perceive that this ruins the deal for the "smart people".

I've used some affiliate links when I thought the person answers emails or texts that I send their way.