This blog does make use of links to retailers that will result in a payment to me if a purchase is subsequently made (NB the identity of the person buying is not available to me). I want to make it very clear what my order of priorities is as regards recommendations and advertising. This is not an advertising driven blog but it does take advantage of affiliate schemes where these exist.
- First of all comes the subject I want to write about. If it fits and I want to include a specific issue or subject then I will write a post about it.
- If there are related goods or services that I enjoy and/or get good service from I will include them in the post. 99% of the things recommended are things I use or own.
- Finally I will check to see if the retailer has an affiliate scheme. If they don't it doesn't make any difference - the post will go out just the same. If they do then, providing the terms are ok, I will join the scheme and then that retailer will know if any sales come via my blog and will pay me a small percentage in return.
If retailers are happy to make payments for any sales that are directed to them as a result of someone reading my blog then I am not going to turn away that money. However, that does not drive the content of the posts.
Anyone can go to any of the sites I link to and see for themselves a) if that retailer does run an affiliates scheme and b) the terms of that scheme.
Several of the retailers run their affiliate schemes via other companies, such as Affiliate Window, that manage many 100's of retailers. If this was an advertising driven blog then you would see many many links and lists to all sorts of companies, but you don't and won't. Also my policy is not to recommend anything I have not used for myself. I am not going to put a link to a retailer I have not used. Clearly this in no way guarantees you will get the same level of service - all I can tell you about is my own experience and that may differ from yours.
I hope this makes clear my stance on advertising but if you do have any questions I will be happy to answer them.
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