Quick note about a free Wordpress blog

[cmiddlebrook]

I love Wordpress and I use them for another blog I write that's on its own domain so yesterday I decided to create a free hosted WP blog for my new content but as I read through the terms and conditions I noticed that you cannot put affiliate links on there so only use Wordpress if you're going to be linking to more of your content elsewhere - don't link straight to your affiliate page.

[blacloch]

Oh, looks I like might have to take mine down. Thanks for the heads up.

[Shamir]

Really? Oh man. This is ridiculous After I set up a WP blog I find out about this.

Jeeez.

Thanks for the info though.

[sxyshandy]

Noted! Thanks for the heads up. I put my second niche there since I'm used to WP.

[gnurf]

Can you tell me in what paragraph in the TOS they say it's not allowed to have affiliate links? If everything is made in good manners I cannot see how for example an affiliate text link to Amazon wouldn't be allowed.

Anyway, I have a couple of affiliate links on my WP-site (http://howtodrawcartooncharacters.wordpress.com/), can anyone say if they are offending the TOS, or should I remove the links?

-Paul

[ivatel]

Originally Posted by gnurf

Can you tell me in what paragraph in the TOS they say it's not allowed to have affiliate links? If everything is made in good manners I cannot see how for example an affiliate text link to Amazon wouldn't be allowed.

Anyway, I have a couple of affiliate links on my WP-site (http://howtodrawcartooncharacters.wordpress.com/), can anyone say if they are offending the TOS, or should I remove the links?

-Paul

I can't comment on wordpress i don't use it.

A lot of work has gone into the content of your site just one thing missing to me add in some visual stuff in the creating stages you go through. Photos speak louder than words and adding in some shots of the various stages will make your site stand out big time, it helps break up the text too.
I am sure being a cartoonist you can come up with some great pictorial content for it. Good content though. I enjoyed your page. I will be back!

On the affiliate thing it is getting more and more evident that if you read the T & C,s on thes Web 2.0 platforms that they don't like "direct" affiliate links. Fair enough they are offering a free service, it's their call!


Lynne

[ScottSharpe]

Wow. I didn't know that. Isn't wordpress like a community project or something?

Maybe thats why.

[olirom]

Thanks for the headsup. Just went into WP and removed my affiliate links.

Back to the drawing board.

[lsandrsn]

I have affiliate links (and have had for over 2 years) on one of my WP blogs. Never any problem. But they are in my "linkroll" in the sidebar and never actually in my text.

Not saying this will work for everyone, but like someone else suggested, you could point to another website you own/use where it's definitely ok (like maybe squidoo or something) and post your affiliate links there.

[Fatman]

Originally Posted by gnurf

Can you tell me in what paragraph in the TOS they say it's not allowed to have affiliate links?

Adsense and other Ads

Adsense, Yahoo, Chitika and other ads are not permitted to be added by users. Adverts that may be inserted when using an external blogging program will be blocked.

Sponsored / paid posts including PayPerPost and ReviewMe are not permitted.

Sponsored / paid links are not permitted.

Text ads are not permitted.

A discreet link to your business in the sidebar or an About page is permitted.

One discreet link to Amazon per blog is okay, but if the primary purpose of the blog is to drive traffic to affiliate programs that’s not allowed. If you’re not sure, contact support.

Clicktrackers and any promotion of the “I made a million on the internet and so can you” type of advertising are expressly forbidden.

We have a very low tolerance for blogs created purely for search engine optimization or commercial purposes, machine-generated blogs, and will continue to nuke them, so if that’s what you’re interested in WordPress.com is not for you.

–

You may see some advertising on the domain.
1. VIP blogs are able to run ads.
2. We also run some ads sometimes and the reasons for that are explained here

http://faq.wordpress.com/2005/12/08/adsense/