Yahoo! Business Express

Do affiliate/commission links harm the submission?

[ckern]

I am a fellow webmaster/developer that produces many web sites and I submit them to Yahoo! via the Business Express program. In the past I have stripped all my web sites from there affiliate tracking codes, and just placed the actully web site address in the LINK. I am wondering, do I need to strip my sites clean of tracking codes from programs such as cj, linkshare, reporting? My sites are content based clean and conservative, I don't have banners all over the place and all that garbage.

I have never had any problems in the past with Yahoo! Business Express. Although in the past they were affilaite tracking free when I submitted, although this time, I want to save myself the trouble and just keep the tracking codes on the site.

What is your input on this? Please help... Thanks... Any thoughts are very welcome...

[JamesR]

Yes, I heard of two sites being rejected recently because of affiliate links. I think the issue was the editor made a judgement call that the sites did not have unique enough cotent. To be safe, I would strip or hide the affiliate links until you are in then add the links.

[ckern]

Thanks, thats exactly what I have done in the past. There is no reason to take that chance. Might as well strip the site of affiliate links until the site is in Yahoo!

Any other comments? Please feel free...

[startup]

If Yahoo is rejecting sites just because of affiliate links, this is very new. In the past I have got sites listed in non-commercial categories(Paid) with very blatant affiliate links.
Naahh! they want the money. A policy like that would cost them alot.

[JamesR]

>A policy like that would cost them alot.

Not if you have already paid the fee :) . I am going with the safe than sorry principle here. When you are leaving up your site's inclusion to the fallibility of any one of hundreds of Yahoo editors, I'd rather not take the chance, especially since I know of two sites that got rejected because of affiliate links and content that was designed around an affiliate program(s).

[buckworks]

Regarding the rejected sites that JamesR mentioned, I 'd be inclined to suspect that the fundamental problem was weak content (or maybe usability problems, etc.), rather than the mere presence of affiliate links.

If Yahoo is starting to exhibit a blind, DMOZ-like prejudice against affiliate links, they need to make that a lot clearer in their information pages, otherwise they'll be taking some people's money under false pretences.

[startup]

I am very curious which programs very involved James. Erring to the safe side is very understandable. If you saw what I submitted just to see what would happen, you would be surprised. Of course, once accepted, the income is more than welcome;). The affiliate links were very blatant, you know, loud flashing banners, ugly ugly ugly.

[JamesR]

I agree startup, I don't think affiliate banners would be a problem. You are probably right, buckworks. I think in the situation I was referring to, if the affiliate links weren't there to tip off the editor, the sites may have gotten in. I bet the editors don't compare sites for content unless you give them a an affiliate link to follow.