This is something that’s been on my mind for a long time, whether it’s ok to post affiliate links in twitter.
Robert Scoble got called out on it when he did this a few months ago, which got me thinking again about making a post about it. It’s been on the “write about someday list” until now when I had a chance to make an example. I wanted the example to be me, so I wasn’t calling out anyone else on this. I also wanted it to be somewhat real. So finally…
Today on Twitter, Geno Prussakov asked for a recommendation for a coffee grinder. If you follow my tweets, you know that this is one of my favorite subjects. I spend a lot of money and effort to drink good coffee.
Geno wrote:
To which I responded:
While I don’t make a practice of this, the link I put in there was an affiliate link to the coffee grinder on Amazon. I really do own it. (Proof: the picture above is the grinder on my counter top.)
It took all of about 5 minutes for another affiliate to call me out on this. I really don’t know if this bothered Adam, or if he really thought it was “nice”, or if he’s just busting my balls to let me know I didn’t pull the wool over his eyes. I suspect the latter but I hope Adam will share his thoughts here.
So is this cool?
I’m a little surprised that we don’t see more of this. Especially with all the auto-DM’s I’m getting recently on follows with offers for free e-books. Maybe Geno did get some “spammier” responses.
People put affiliate links on blogs all the time. Is Twitter any different? Twitter is a micro-blog platform. I don’t push this stuff on people. They subscribe to me. I suppose I could lose some followers if this became standard procedure, but it doesn’t necessarily make it wrong.
Would it be any more ok if I had some disclosed that it was an Amazon Associate link?
How did I feel about doing this?
Honestly, I felt a little weird about it. I don’t think it was so much any potential deception involved, though I didn’t disclose it was an affiliate link. I think it was more that the followers I care about might expect that I won’t be pushing affiliate links.
The fact that I do own the appliance and really do recommend it makes me feel better about it. (Ironically, Scoble’s defense was that he wasn’t making a recommendation. He just posted a link.) I was going to post that exact tweet anyway, why not make it an affiliate link?
I did know that Geno would know it’s an affiliate link as soon as he clicked on it, but not until he clicked on it. Also Geno’s a friend, and I know he wouldn’t have a problem with it. But dozens of other people would click on that link as well.
What’s your opinion?
Cool or not cool?
Is this coming from me any worse than the same thing coming from some deal-specific twitter account that posts affiliate links all the time?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
