This was actually an awesome design framework that I wanted to SHARE with HN. And the fact that these many sales and comments came off it is an indication that is something that HN readers wanted. There is nothing wrong with using an affiliate link :)
If all I am doing is posting affiliate links then yes that would be spam.
Why all the hate for affiliate links!!! A lot of people on HN are trying to create startups and side projects and many of them consider affiliate marketing for their projects. So it's ok to add it to our marketing plans but posting about it is bad? Like I said, if this was not a relative product/service for HN readers, I would have never posted it.
PS: I do disclose that they are affiliate links in my post. Plus pretty much anyone on HN knows how an affiliate link look like by just looking at the URL.
What a douchey thing to do. If you were really interested in helping the HN community you'd just put in the direct link instead of this affiliate shit. I felt dirty just reading your post.
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[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 34.7 ms ] threadIf all I am doing is posting affiliate links then yes that would be spam.
Oh, and using affiliate links without disclosure is, indeed, wrong. Just ask the FTC.
PS: I do disclose that they are affiliate links in my post. Plus pretty much anyone on HN knows how an affiliate link look like by just looking at the URL.
Fewer startups use referral links nowadays because it encourages spam.
PS: I appreciate your feedback and thanks for keeping the discussion civil.
Not that it's that bad to use them, but the way this dude is doing it makes me feel cheated.
how is that different than almost all bloggers posting affiliate links to amazon proudcts/books.
how do you feel cheated?
So it's ok to use them but the way I am using them makes you feel cheated? How so?