Dilemma of a Blogger – Thinking out Loud
There has been something on my mind lately that I can’t seem to shake off.
You see, I read quite a few blogs everyday, some through their feed in my mailbox, others because I came across them when dropping entrecards and they caught my eye before heading off to another blog and of course I follow the commentluv links when somebody leaves a comment on this blog.
Many times I see the same names popping up in the comments on other blogs, showing that the bloggers that I like, actually like the same blogs that I do, or feel they are worth commenting on as well.
A few days ago I finally downloaded an e-book I wanted to have for a few weeks already but put off buying it the whole time since I didn’t want to spend my money on more e-books which normally end up in the trash after only skipping through the first pages.
This particular e-book is a real jewel in my opinion though, filled with good tips and I find it a great read, very much like the blog where I downloaded the ebook.
I could have gone and print out all different posts and come up with the same end result, however, downloading the book in it’s whole just seemed to be easier and more compact and I am really glad I did, since now I have a really nicely designed e-book, printed out and it is on my nightstand as a motivational tool I go through before sleeping.
Some of the bloggers I daily read are recommending this particular e-book with their affiliate link, making some money this way. To be honest, I don’t remember which of them has put me on the track of finding the blog that sells the e-book and I don’t even remember who was the first blogger who recommended the e-book.
Even though I would really want to recommend this book to my readers, I feel that recommending it with my affiliate link would be in some way unethical towards the bloggers who have recommended the book in the first place.
I mean, we blog about things we value, we blog about things that we feel can help our readers, we blog about things we have tested and that work for us. And at times we put in affiliate links on products we find worthy of spending money on.
Now, this is where my dilemma comes in:
If I were to put in my affiliate link, would that be ethically towards the bloggers I read daily, who also recommend this particular e-book, or should I point my readers to their recommendation page?
What do you think?
Filed under: Blogging • Personal
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Let me see how to put this. I have a ADD. To be specific about that, my brain jumps around a lot. I usually have no less than 20 topics selected for Stumble Upon. I like to jump around. There are very few blogs that I read, much less read consistently. I come across so many “Be a better Blogger” blogs that I pick and choose which ones I read. Of the blogs I have come across that cover this topic your blog is one of 2 that I actually actively read daily.
There may be others like me who are not reading every other blog and only select a few. We only select a few because we only select the ones we like and respect. We pick bloggers that we generally believe that will will give sound advice and not the flavor of the month.
As a loyal reader I would definitely say post the link because some one like me does not have a lot of interest in going to another be a better blogger site. I found one I like. However I would mention where you found it to give credit where credit is due and giving your readers the choice of visiting the other blog rather than making them go to the other blog to find the link.
The long version. Have a good one.
Jim – Just a Guy’s last blog post..Off In My Own Little World
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In other words you have the right to benefit from building a readership. Almost forgot that part.
Jim – Just a Guy’s last blog post..Off In My Own Little World
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Mirjam Reply:
March 6th, 2008 at 8:57 am
WOW Jim!
I´m having my morning coffee at the moment while going through the comments and replying to them and you have made me smile big time! (And blush for that matter, what a great way to start my day, thank you!)
As you know I have only started this blog not too long ago and it is the support from readers like you that makes me push myself more in wanting to improve this blog. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your opinion in such an extensive and open manner, I really appreciate it!
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There is nothing wrong with placing a referral link when referring readers to a quality service/product that you believe in. You are just getting back what you deserve by referring them. They probably wouldn’t have found it without your help, so you are just taking your share.
However, there are many people out there that don’t believe in a service. Many bloggers just sign up to a service so they can use the referral link, that is unethical IMO.
Gary R. Hess’s last blog post..How to Write Great Content and Keep Visitors Interested
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Mirjam Reply:
March 6th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Hi Gary,
Great to see you around here! Thanks for taking the time to comment and for the heads up. I noticed your ad keeps popping up in the Project Wonderful, how is that working for you?
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Hi Mirjam,
Michael from Germany here.
Quiet a dilemma you’re in.
I liked the way you talked openly about it.
Many others in your situation just wouldn’t care about it.
Referral “theft” is common in Affiliate Marketing.
But that’s not what you did.
It happens often in Affiliate Marketing, that alot of Affiliates market the same product or service.
The prospects often don’t buy from the afiliate site where they first got knowledge of the product or service. That’s the risk any affiliate takes.
Affiliates could protect themselves against this by using advanced link or referral techniques.
So don’t worry this much. Perhaps the blogger where you discovered the ebook first did so and earned his share on you buy.
If you became an Affiliate of the service or program selling the ebook afer buying it yourself, it would only be normal to use your own referral to recommend the ebook.
If the book came with a referral, you might want to credit the blogger who referred you in addition to free your mind of your dilemma.
To do so you could rotate your referral with his / hers and let him / her know, if contact data is available.
This could even be the beginning of something new …*-)
Keep the good work up …*-)
Michael
Michael’s last blog post..Full or Partial Feeds? Or Headlines only?
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Mirjam Reply:
March 6th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Hey Michael from Germany, here Mirjam from the Netherlands… ehm, Spain
I liked your comment a lot, and it has given me a solution I can find myself in, which I will be posting later on this day! Thank you for taking the time to reply this extensively, it is so great to see how my readers are taking an active role in this blog!
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Hi Mirjam,
Well, I see people are commenting their a**es off. I don’t have anything more to add.
Well, maybe a little:
If bloggers would have worried about this too much, the publishers would have stopped offering affiliate programs a long time ago. This is the basis for this kind of promotion, you use a service/product and you recommend it if you like it. Nothing wrong with getting some money for doing it.
And no reason you should feel obliged to refer readers to that other blog to d/l the book, since you’ve already made him commission for yourself.
Cheers,
Alex.
p.s.
Those are really long comments…
Is this a comment bait?
Alex at Net-Entrepreneur.com’s last blog post..How-To: Adding Functionality to Your Header
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Mirjam Reply:
March 6th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Hey Alex!
Nope, it wasn´t meant to be a comment bait, but it is wonderful to see all these comments by readers who take their time and step out of the confort zone of “great-post-comments”, sharing their honest opinion on this matter and others I bring up.
It reminds me of why I started this blog and makes me realize just how important feedback and participation is.
I know there is no reason to feel obliged, but on the other hand, I want to stay true to my own values and believes, being able to look others straight into their eyes.
Thanks to you too, for taking the time to share your opinion!
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Ugh I just wrote this long comment then I had put it my email address incorrectly and it deleted.
So now I am going to try to write what I wrote again:
What is the ebook? Sorry new here, I am curious though what ebook you bought.
I think its fine to post your affiliate link, if people enjoy your blog and you give recommendations I see no problem posting it. 
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Mirjam Reply:
March 8th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Hi Jackie!
Nice to see you here
You can read all about the ebooks in the follow up post (Dilemma of a Blogger – follow up). They are Zen Habits Handbook for Life and Zen to Done
BTW, you are just entered in the little contest
good luck!
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