Here’s a note I received from a friend and affiliate industry ‘insider’.
Ros,
I just HAD to tell you about this.
This is yet another technique “Baaaaad Mr. Merchant” deploys for gaining link popularity with the search engines.
Send affiliates ad copy with their link code at the bottom.
Within the ad copy itself he adds another link with black fonts so it isn’t obvious that it’s a hyperlink.
That link isn’t an affiliate link but goes directly back to his site.
Not only is this sneaky but if a visitor actually clicks the link the affiliate loses their commission.
Here’s an example of the code:
<a href=”http://baaaad-mr-merchant.com/” style=”text-decoration:
none”>
<font color=”#000000″>working from home on your
computer</font></a>
I was completely aghast.
I’ve never seen any merchant with whom I’ve done business engage in what amounts to affiliate commission theft by the merchant himself!
(This guy needs his knuckles rapped, and HOW!)
What can I say but CHECK YOUR AFFILIATE LINKS!!!
Not-so-cheery,
Ros
About Rosalind Gardner
Ros, do you have any plan how to bust that merchant’s balls?
sounds like james martell.. was it him?
I don’t doubt that this type of thing happenes more than we think. Let’s get some balls and name names here instead of pussy footing around trying to be politically correct. Putting the names of people like this”up in lights” will go a long way to shutting them down and prevent others from pulling the same crap.
All the best,
Doc
I hate these kind of sneaky shysters. It seems to me, of course I could be wrong, but if you have the proof that this SOB has been so underhanded, why not inform others of what he is doing. After all, who wants to be an affiliate of this kind of jerk? This may be showing my level of ignorance, but how could you end up in court? He (or she) KNOWS what he has done is wrong and that it is his bad, not yours.
Hi Ros,
Thanks for the heads up.
It’s too bad there isn’t some sort of a clearing house to rat out dishonest affiliate merchants. Maybe the companies like ClickBank and CJ, etc., should be doing this? At least have a grievance process. It might make them think twice before pulling a fast one.
It’s starting to make me wonder if having your own products isn’t a viable solution to the problem, lot’s of people are suggesting this is the way to go – keep all the profits for yourself, and so on. I realize this carries its own baggage, but I’m curious what your thoughts are on the subject.
Regards,
Bob