So, I've heard about Viglink and how it's supposed to be good, useful- eh, you get the point. I was thinking I might want to try it too. But then I saw how it works on the-site-that-shall-not-be-named (a.k.a Bubblews), and now, I'm not so sure.
What is Viglink and how does it work?
Viglink is an affiliate program. It works by automatically adding links to stuff you mention in your posts. For example, if you mention a product or a site or whatever, then Viglink will automatically add an affiliate link which, when people decide to click on, will take them to the site where they can choose to buy the item. You then get a commission from that. Cool, right?What's the problem then?
But the issue I noticed is that Viglink tends to link to the same site several times. I saw this on a few posts I've read that use this affiliate program (like articles from you-know-who (*coughBubblewscough*)). For example, there was this one article I saw that was about Viglink. It mentioned that word around 3 times, maybe more.Do you know what Viglink did? They automatically inserted a link to their site on that article not once, not twice, but three times. Doesn't that seem way too spammy to you? It was 3 different links to the same site. Is that even necessary? Do you like that? Do you think that's a good idea?
Question about Viglink
If you use Viglink on your own sites or blogs, can you be the one to add the affiliate link yourself? Like, can you get the affiliate link from Viglink and be the one to insert it on your post and then make it so that Viglink will not automatically add any links? Is that possible?Edited to add: I've created an account on Viglink though I haven't really had the chance to use it yet. From what I can see so far, you can add the inks yourself. But the program also offers a feature which automatically inserts them for you. You can change the settings of this feature, so it won't go overboard when it comes to creating affiliate links for you.
Question about Skimlinks
Oh, and since we're asking questions and all, anyone know anything about Skimlinks? It's similar to Viglink, but I have to wonder which of the 2 is better, and, more importantly (okay, maybe just as important 😃 LOL), does Skimlinks do the same thing as Viglink? Will it also automatically insert several links to the same site in your article or can you stop this from happening and just do it yourself?Using Viglink on Persona Paper
I can't believe it's happening here on Persona Paper too. Look at the screenshot below:
Aside: I really don't like what Viglink is doing, so, to get rid of or destroy these annoying links, I'm changing one of the letters in the aforementioned word, so don't be surprised if you don't see what the screenshot shows when I publish this post.
Yet another aside: It's interesting to note that Viglink didn't link to Skimlinks in this post, considering I mentioned it a few times too. Must be because they're competitors. LOL. Okay, that does it then. There should be no other links on this post now except the tags at the very end or right below this line.
Here are some of the comments from this article, back when it used to be posted elsewhere:
MsBiz wrote on February 19, 2015, 2:46 PM:
I don't know much about said advertising program. Do you add it on your own? Can you use it on many sites?
FreyaYuki replied to MsBiz on February 20, 2015, 10:30 AM:
I've been doing a bit more research about this. I'll try to write a post about it soon. But, basically, you need to sign up for the programs first. Once they approve you, you can start adding affiliate links to your posts. It's similar to the Amazon Associates program. And you can even use Amazon with Skimlinks and Viglink.
Kasman wrote on February 19, 2015, 5:04 PM:
If that isn't spam I don't know what is. At the very least it's undesirable and not something we really want on PP.
FreyaYuki replied to Kasman on February 20, 2015, 10:35 AM:
Yeah, I think it looks spammy too. I mean, why would anyone want 5 links that all go to the same site? I hope something can be done about this or many might end up thinking the site is too spammy with all the links.
GemstonePink wrote on February 19, 2015, 5:54 PM:
It does sound like it could lead to a lot of problems for a site.
FreyaYuki replied to GemstonePink on February 20, 2015, 10:38 AM:
Yes. It can make a site seem really spammy especially with lots of articles swimming in clickable links that all go to the same site. It's also pointless to link to the same site several times in one post. One link should be more than enough unless they all go to different pages on the same domain. In this case, all the links go to that site's homepage.
inertia4 wrote on February 19, 2015, 6:30 PM:
FreyaYuki I saw those links on the B site also. I do think that people who frequent these sites know that we did not add those links ourself. But they are somewhat annoying. I find it annoying when I am reading a post. The light blue words on the B site turn me off to reading a post. But it is ad revenue for the site them and here as well. And since we get paid from ad revenue, I am not complaining.
FreyaYuki replied to inertia4 on February 20, 2015, 10:44 AM:
I don't mind the links. I add affiliate links on the other sites I write for too and they are allowed though there are rules. But what I don't like is if it ends up making the article look spammy, like in this case. Just because you mention a site or product or something several times doesn't mean a link needs to be added that many times too.
Like in that screenshot I included, Viglink even added a link right in the title. Plus, all the links they added go to their site. Isn't that redundant and pointless? If someone was going to go to a product or site, don't they need only 1 link to do so? What's the point of having so many?
j2jworkz wrote on February 19, 2015, 9:30 PM:
Have hard of Vlinks, but no experience with it. Good questions re: targeting and options.
FreyaYuki replied to j2jworkz on February 20, 2015, 10:46 AM:
Thanks. I'm doing more research about the 2 affiliate programs in question. Have found some things about them already so will try to write a post about this soon.
scheng1 wrote on February 19, 2015, 10:10 PM:
They use it because Adsense policy allows other advertisers that display in-text links.
FreyaYuki replied to scheng1 on February 20, 2015, 10:49 AM:
I don't mind that a site uses either of these affiliate programs. But what I don't like is if an article ends up swimming in clickable links that make it too spammy. Like in that screenshot, there are 5 links that go to the same site. Isn't that redundant and pointless, not to mention spammy? People don't need that many links since they all go to the same site anyway. Plus, one of those links was inserted right in the title.
nbaquero wrote on February 20, 2015, 7:30 AM:
FreyaYuki Well I was doing a little research on my own becasue I saw the links being added here at Persona Paper and there. I do know that those links can be disabled by the user, but then it would be like the Ad blockers.
FreyaYuki replied to nbaquero on February 20, 2015, 10:59 AM:
I did a bit more research too and am planning to write a post about it soon. From what I've found though, it looks like both Persona Paper and Bubblews are using the Viglink Insert, which will automatically insert affiliate links for you.
However, it is actually possible to decrease the amount of links that are automatically added by fine tuning the settings and options of this feature. If they can at least stop this program from linking to the same site several times in the same article, then that should help with making the posts look less spammy because 5 links to the same site is way too much, isn't it?
*Notes:
- First image is by kaboompics (Public Domain) from Pixabay
- Second pic is by GraphBerry (CC:BY-SA) from deviantArt
- Third pic is a screenshot of this article from back when this was posted on another site
- This was previously published elsewhere
