How does Google view inbound affiliate links?

[whatson]

I am about to start an affiliate program. This will in turn mean that sites will link to me. How does Google view affiliate links?

[not2easy]

Few affiliate links go directly to a merchant's site, they normally are routed through a network link - but if you are hosting your own program then they would be linked directly to you. Google understands affiliate marketing links and they are not seen as paid links or link schemes.

[not2easy]

I was looking up a different topic and ran into this Google answer page - about what defines a "Link Scheme" [support.google.com] that might be penalized. On that page they mention affiliate links, but only as regards an affiliate's links that add little value which might penalize that affiliate's site, not the merchant.

You've probably seen some of those that are cookie-cutter pages of copy/paste links that don't add much value for the visitor.

[whatson]

Right, so running your own affiliate program can indirectly be a great way for a boosting your link profile.

[TravisDGarrett]

(I am just asking) what about , if you get too many inbound links all of a sudden, and, does Google look at the sites which are linking to you that way. I mean, what if this is "bad" sites at the eyes of Google, can it impact "you" ?

[not2easy]

No, running your own affiliate program is more likely to be seen as an affiliate program. These are not backlinks and do not improve (or affect) your link profile. These are not mistaken for endorsements.

TravisDGarrett adds an interesting point - and the reason that most successful affiliate efforts are run via reputable networks. You are expected to set the rules and requirements for promotions and monitor where your sales referrals are coming from in most jurisdictions and to keep bad players from eating your lunch, you should want to check each application. Merchants have been known to pay others for their own traffic.

[whatson]

@not2easy but how would Google know if its an affiliate link or not?

[goodroi]

It depends on how you setup the affiliate program and affiliate links. You can use a stand alone tracking domain to insulate yourself or you can use no tracking id and simply reward commissions based on your internal analytics data so Google sees clean dofollow links or do something in between.

Being an affiliate manager is not easy and should not be attempted by someone inexperienced with affiliate marketing. You need to be ready to deal with cookie stuffing and affiliates stealing sales, or damaging the brand, or taking over the traffic for your own company name, or trampling over your intellectual property rights and many other pitfalls.

[whatson]

Thanks, I am new to running an affiliate program. I was going to simply send visitors to my site, and check the referring domain - if the domain belongs to my affiliate program, then they get commission. Hence all the link juice.
I would manually review every site before it's allowed however.
So overall conclusion - this should be avoided as an extra attempt to boost links as well?

[not2easy]

A referring domain is not going to be shown for every click, it is not in your (or your affiliates') control.

but how would Google know if its an affiliate link or not?

If you plan to use natural URL links and pay referrers, it would be seen as a link scheme, see the linked information above which explains it. I'd consider it a waste of effort for affiliates.