I commend CyclingTips for being transparent about this issue as the lines are often blurred. I for one would much prefer to navigate around ads rather than second guess whether a tip is `paid for' or not.
Anonymous
· 8 months ago
Agreed. You'll maintain your credibility and your brand by clearly separating advertising and content. Good thinking.
Bryan
· 8 months ago
Advertising on a blog is always a touchy subject especially when it's one that covers a personal interest and you don't want to potentially harm any relationships you've built with it. You want to build a successful blog but at the same time it would be nice to cover the cost of running the blog via paid advertisements or affiliate sales.
With this post you've done you've let your regular readers know about the advertisements so they know exactly what's going on. Well done. If you don't mind, I'd like to borrow this idea for a post of my own.
erik
· 8 months ago
Just never let them put up one of those screen-blocking ads that follow you around. I'm glad you strive to remain disinterested.
Mike J
· 8 months ago
I applaud you for being up front on the advertizing thing. I'll check them out.
Steve
· 8 months ago
At least the ads look decent, they "fit in."
cyclingtips
· 8 months ago
A couple online betting sites offered this site a fair amount of money to start writing posts about gambling in cycling. The conditions were that I write "in my own words" and "don't make it sound like a paid ad". This is what prompted me to write this post to make it clear to everyone that this will not be done.
Cyclists aren't stupid - they know when they're being sold something. At the same time, products and cycling go hand in hand. It's hard to talk about cycling without talking about some of my favorite products. I think that this is why a clear line needs to be drawn that everyone needs to know about and doesn't leave you second guessing.
Mike Hayward
· 8 months ago
Hats off to you Wade for this post
And since I spend a bit through Wiggle and PBK, I'm happy to add a few clicks and bring some cash back to you for what is a valuable resource for me.
cyclingtips
· 8 months ago
Thanks Mike (and everyone else). There's not even any need to refer this blog when ordering or anything like that - it's automatic. You just need to click on the Wiggle or PBK ads when you get the urge to buy some bike parts, buy your stuff (without going to other sites in-between), and voila! If you leave the PBK or Wiggle sites before going back again and purchasing credit won't be awarded.
Thanks again for everyone's support.
DC
· 7 months ago
WW, just read the above comments and your article. well done. I can now remove PBK and Wiggle from my long list of favourites! You should now see a marked increase in funding from these sites...
All Comments
With this post you've done you've let your regular readers know about the advertisements so they know exactly what's going on. Well done. If you don't mind, I'd like to borrow this idea for a post of my own.
Cyclists aren't stupid - they know when they're being sold something. At the same time, products and cycling go hand in hand. It's hard to talk about cycling without talking about some of my favorite products. I think that this is why a clear line needs to be drawn that everyone needs to know about and doesn't leave you second guessing.
And since I spend a bit through Wiggle and PBK, I'm happy to add a few clicks and bring some cash back to you for what is a valuable resource for me.
Thanks again for everyone's support.
I can now remove PBK and Wiggle from my long list of favourites!
You should now see a marked increase in funding from these sites...