An interesting debate broke out over on the Warrior Forum (the best Internet Marketing forum in my opinion) over using affiliate links in your posts. The main consensus in the community is that you shouldn’t use your affiliate links and I agree. The other side of the debate says what a moment…this is an Internet marketing forum…why do Internet marketers object to be sold at. Well it’s pretty simple. We’re peers on this forum and it’s a community to learn and grow not just try to earn a buck. Sure we have our sig files in place and all that good stuff but to plaster affiliate links in your post is a sure way to devalue your comment. Even if it’s a good comment because folks will automatically be on the defensive and they won’t trust your post since they’ll just think your after the commission not helping a peer out. Even if you are being helpful that perception changes when you try to sell to someone.
Just because it’s an Internet marketing forum it doesn’t mean we want to be sold to. Most IM forums like the Warrior Forum have a section for WSO’s and a classified section where yo can sell away. Is it too much to ask we leave the main area of the forum for business discussions?
These are the type of folks who hammer their list with promotions without ever adding free content or value that doesn’t equate to selling all the time. It’s about building relationships vs. trying to squeeze an extra dollar from everyone. Even Internet marketing forums have net etiquette considerations.
In the end we must have to agree to disagree. Those who see no problem to ABC (always be closing) vs. the other camp (where I’m at) which says just relax and contribute to the community without angling for an extra bucks every chance you get.
