Credit Karma cracking down on blogger practices
Jan 21, 2014 | 10:18 am
#1
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Credit Karma cracking down on blogger practices
Due to several concerns from credit card issuers, we are applying new rules around the use of the Credit Karma banners and redirect links. I have outlined the three main changes and rules each site will now be required to follow.
1. Credit Karma affiliate redirect links can only be used in the following three ways:
a. Behind a Credit Karma issued banner
b. With a Credit Karma credit card widget
c. Behind a tab in the main navigation on your site referring to credit cards
2. Credit Karma redirect links cannot be used as text links.
3. Affiliates cannot refer to the Credit Karma banners or tabs with redirect links in the content of the site.
For example, you can't have an article about a Chase credit card and say click on the banner to apply for this Chase card.
Please review your articles and banner strategies to ensure your site is in compliance with the new rules below. The necessary changes need to be made to your site by 5 PM EST on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
1. Credit Karma affiliate redirect links can only be used in the following three ways:
a. Behind a Credit Karma issued banner
b. With a Credit Karma credit card widget
c. Behind a tab in the main navigation on your site referring to credit cards
2. Credit Karma redirect links cannot be used as text links.
3. Affiliates cannot refer to the Credit Karma banners or tabs with redirect links in the content of the site.
For example, you can't have an article about a Chase credit card and say click on the banner to apply for this Chase card.
Please review your articles and banner strategies to ensure your site is in compliance with the new rules below. The necessary changes need to be made to your site by 5 PM EST on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
Jan 21, 2014 | 11:33 am
#3
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I guess they are just reminding bloggers to toe the FTC line.... which the FTC has laid out nicely here:
http://www.business.ftc.gov/document...ple-are-asking
http://www.business.ftc.gov/document...ple-are-asking
Jan 24, 2014 | 2:18 pm
#5
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I didn't realize Credit Karma was a source of credit card commissions for others ... lowers my opinion of Credit Karma, a site I like ... 
Jan 25, 2014 | 12:58 am
#6
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Once you have great traffic and app conversions you can move up to the big leagues.
Jan 25, 2014 | 10:03 am
#7
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Jan 25, 2014 | 10:04 am
#8
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I guess they are just reminding bloggers to toe the FTC line.... which the FTC has laid out nicely here:
http://www.business.ftc.gov/document...ple-are-asking
http://www.business.ftc.gov/document...ple-are-asking
Jan 25, 2014 | 10:30 am
#9
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It's a shame bloggers have to be so circumspect about the matter out of fear of souring their gravy-train.
If anyone wants to PM me a fuller explanation I'd be happy to post it anonymously. @:-)^
If anyone wants to PM me a fuller explanation I'd be happy to post it anonymously. @:-)^
Jan 25, 2014 | 12:08 pm
#10
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Circumspect
Fear
Souring
Gravy Train
Come on, with words like that why would I want to go into more details? None of them apply, I just wrote the last posts quickly.
Jan 25, 2014 | 6:39 pm
#11
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I actually have a pretty good idea what's going on, but only on a third hand basis. So I'd rather hear it from folks directly involved, lest I be smacked down for getting some detail or another slightly off.
If people directly involved don't want to explain, that's cool. Totally understandable given the economics of blogging.
Jan 25, 2014 | 7:07 pm
#12
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I'm not taking an attitude. Just calling it like I see it.
I actually have a pretty good idea what's going on, but only on a third hand basis. So I'd rather hear it from folks directly involved, lest I be smacked down for getting some detail or another slightly off.
If people directly involved don't want to explain, that's cool. Totally understandable given the economics of blogging.
I actually have a pretty good idea what's going on, but only on a third hand basis. So I'd rather hear it from folks directly involved, lest I be smacked down for getting some detail or another slightly off.
If people directly involved don't want to explain, that's cool. Totally understandable given the economics of blogging.
This 'crackdown' is nothing new, it's just a reminder that goes out periodically from all affiliate managers (not just those with Credit Karma). The problem is that some bloggers intentionally, or unintentionally, break the terms on the issuer side. Chase is notorious for the hardest links to get, yet the CK platform allows me to link directly to issuer sorted cards, so I could text link that with: check out the CSP link here.
Chase doesn't want that to happen, they are being very selective as to whom they work with and don't want all and sundry pushing them, if CK doesn't keep bloggers in compliance then Chase dumps them. Nothing to do with FTC or really anything special at all, just a reminder to not text link as it gives the impression the blogger has a relationship with an issuer that actually they have not been approved for.
Jan 26, 2014 | 11:08 am
#13
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Honestly, it feels like an attitude, but let's give that the benefit of the doubt.
This 'crackdown' is nothing new, it's just a reminder that goes out periodically from all affiliate managers (not just those with Credit Karma). The problem is that some bloggers intentionally, or unintentionally, break the terms on the issuer side. Chase is notorious for the hardest links to get, yet the CK platform allows me to link directly to issuer sorted cards, so I could text link that with: check out the CSP link here.
Chase doesn't want that to happen, they are being very selective as to whom they work with and don't want all and sundry pushing them, if CK doesn't keep bloggers in compliance then Chase dumps them. Nothing to do with FTC or really anything special at all, just a reminder to not text link as it gives the impression the blogger has a relationship with an issuer that actually they have not been approved for.
This 'crackdown' is nothing new, it's just a reminder that goes out periodically from all affiliate managers (not just those with Credit Karma). The problem is that some bloggers intentionally, or unintentionally, break the terms on the issuer side. Chase is notorious for the hardest links to get, yet the CK platform allows me to link directly to issuer sorted cards, so I could text link that with: check out the CSP link here.
Chase doesn't want that to happen, they are being very selective as to whom they work with and don't want all and sundry pushing them, if CK doesn't keep bloggers in compliance then Chase dumps them. Nothing to do with FTC or really anything special at all, just a reminder to not text link as it gives the impression the blogger has a relationship with an issuer that actually they have not been approved for.
Well obviously credit karma is where newbie bloggers start getting nickles and dimes. But my understanding is that with Chase's ongoing crack down generally, part of their campaign is the concern of in-line links to their products via CK.
The idea being that Chase doesn't want readers getting the impression that a blog has a direct affiliate relationship when that blog is actually going through CK.
IOW, Chase wants readers to know when there is a Chase link from the blog and when there is a CK link from the blog.
Jan 26, 2014 | 11:12 am
#14
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Thanks. That aligns with what I was going to (but was hesitant to) post:
Well obviously credit karma is where newbie bloggers start getting nickles and dimes. But my understanding is that with Chase's ongoing crack down generally, part of their campaign is the concern of in-line links to their products via CK.
The idea being that Chase doesn't want readers getting the impression that bloggers have a direct affiliate relationship with bloggers who are actually going through CK.
IOW, Chase wants readers to know when there is a Chase link from the blog and when there is a CK link from the blog.
Well obviously credit karma is where newbie bloggers start getting nickles and dimes. But my understanding is that with Chase's ongoing crack down generally, part of their campaign is the concern of in-line links to their products via CK.
The idea being that Chase doesn't want readers getting the impression that bloggers have a direct affiliate relationship with bloggers who are actually going through CK.
IOW, Chase wants readers to know when there is a Chase link from the blog and when there is a CK link from the blog.
To the rest of your assumption - I think it is more of an internal Chase compliance issue, and that Chase is watching their direct link bloggers closer now. But that is speculation on my behalf also. CK has the Direct Chase links as far as I can see.
