How ethical is it to post affiliate links on other forums?

[froggyboy604]

For example, if someone on another forum needs a web hosting recommendation on a topic, and I post an affiliate link for HostGator where I make commission of a sale of a web hosting account.

Another Example, might include me embedding a YouTube videos with ads (if im a youtube partner or have a monitized Youtube account) on it from Google Adsense, or telling people to buy web hosting with my special offer code, so they get a discount, and I get reimbursed with some money from YouTube, and direct sales.

I have no problems with people posting affiliate links on my forums as long as the links are related to the topics the member is posting about, and the products the links are selling are not illegal, adult content, or the store is a scam.

I post affiliate links for Amazon on other people's forum when they ask what product they should buy. I might as well get reimbursed 4% of the purchase price instead of Amazon taking all the earnings from a non-affiliate linked Amazon link.

 

[Jerlene]

Re: How ethical is it to post affiliate links on other forum

More than anything that's just annoying but it's fine as it's not against their rules. Most forums have it in their rules that you can't post affiliate or referral links though.

EDIT: This is my 1,000th post! YAY!🙂

 

[kavin]

Re: How ethical is it to post affiliate links on other forum

I would not allow it. I accept that some people would be genuine and post them in relevant places.
But more people would try to spam forums with their affiliate links. Like if an x hosting company provides higher affiliate amount, then no matter whether the hosting is reliable or not, people would just link it, so that they can get affiliate income.

 

[froggyboy604]

Re: How ethical is it to post affiliate links on other forum

I agree it can be annoying when people post affiliate links to unrelated products, or products they won't use themselves, but promote for the money.

But, if they recommend great products which are related to the posts. I don't mind.

I just dislike it when people make topics like:

Best cheap hosting form Example web hosting, and post affiliate links, and not be active on the forum, or all their posts are affiliate and refferal links for Swagbucks, etc.