The views on disclosing affiliate links differs widely.
A while back Weblog Tools Collection introduced Text Link Ads (referral) with a referral link and Matt quickly pointed out that referral links should be disclosed.
Later, another post was quick to point out that the link is not a referral.
What is your opinion on disclosing affiliate links?
Having been on the reader’s side and now standing on the publisher side, I know the debate well.
As a reader, I do not like to be tricked into clicking on referral links. I had even seen link saying something but linking to another. However I do not mind giving the publisher the referral if the information is useful. Anyway it is someone else that is paying, so why not make someone happy.
As a publisher, the concern is readers bypassing the referral. Each click is a potential earning and if I can get more people to click, all the better.
Is there a balance?
My decision is to disclose affiliate referral using the title attributes in the link tag and if necessary mentioning it. I hope the reader will appreciate this action as a sincere introduction and give me the referral if I deserve it.
How do you decide?
This is a great question. I like to tell the reader that the link is an affiliate link. I think this shows that you are being honest and are not out to trick people. If I don’t mention it, I feel the reader might feel betrayed once he finds out that I’m trying to make money off of him or her.