No .com on a link to paysite = blind link?

PR_Tom · 2006-06-27, 12:07 PM

Ok, so I was speaking to someone who said that some link lists will call a link blind unless you put a ".com" after a paysite name and wanted to come here and ask.

First of all, if I say "Click here for DownloadPass for full length movies", and you click it, and you go to Downloadpass, that is NOT a blind link.

If I say "Click here for full length movies", that IS a blind link.

When did defining a truly blind link become difficult?

When did a link list come along and force webmasters to give the surfer the typein domain name?

Why do people submit sites to them?

Is this really true? I'm frankly shocked! LOL

Say it aint so

swedguy · 2006-06-27, 12:16 PM

"Join Download Pass for full length movies" is even less blind.

PR_Tom · 2006-06-27, 12:24 PM

Well I suppose so, by saying "Join". But thats interpretive I think.
The bottom line, in my view, is that if the surfer lands on the place the link said they would, then it's not a blind link.

I was surprised when I was told that a link list was rejecting people because they didnt put a .com in text. That seems.. well lets be nice and say misguided, perhaps by a lack of understanding of the definition of "blind link".. Or, if they understand what a blind link is, then there must be some other motivation. Cookies perhaps?

Greenguy · 2006-06-27, 12:24 PM

Are they referring to the mouseover or the actual text link?

I ask because it is a pretty standard rule that you can use a mouseover as long as it's the URL of the paysite, like:
http://links.pimproll.com/?s=stracys...mp2144&j=9&c=1
would have a mouseover of:
http://www.stracystone.com/
but most would not allow the mouseover to read "Click here for Stracy Stone"

PR_Tom · 2006-06-27, 12:27 PM

GG, he said the actual text, not the link code (or mouseover text) at all.. the actual text on the visible page.

Cleo · 2006-06-27, 12:28 PM

"Click here for DownloadPass for full length movies" is blind.

Take a tour of DownloadPass where you can download full length movies is not blind.

PR_Tom · 2006-06-27, 12:35 PM

Well Cleo, I respect your opinion but I disagree. IMHO there is no "more blind or less blind", there is blind or not blind.

If you click the text of your first example and land on the site named Downloadpass, then in what way was it blind?

By your example, shouldnt anything be blind that does not say "Click here for a paysite called DownloadPass where you cannot download anything for free, but once you pay to join and become a member, you can download movies"?

hehe

Because Cleo, in both of your examples they cannot "download movies" at all until they join, and once inside they can in fact download or stream full length movies.

In any case, they are not "landing" on the members area, they are landing on a tour page, which IMHO again, should be simply true to the text of the link clicked.

So I think your example might be better illustrating 2 different styles of marketing text (both true in the example site), but not blind vs non blind.

At the risk of rambling too much, blind concerns the truthfullness of where they land.

Truth in advertising concerns the text of what is said/implied.

LadyB · 2006-06-27, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleo

"Click here for DownloadPass for full length movies" is blind.

lol no way is that blind!

<waving at Cleo>

PR_Tom · 2006-06-27, 12:41 PM

But anyway, why would someone require a submitter to instead of all these examples put "Click here to land on Downloadpass.com" lmao

msanchez · 2006-06-27, 12:52 PM

I dont use the .com in the sales text myself and have never really had any problem doing it like that. But thats just my experience.

LadyB · 2006-06-27, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msanchez

I dont use the .com in the sales text myself and have never really had any problem doing it like that. But thats just my experience.

yeah, I think as long webmasters submit nice clean sites with decent content that most LL owners aren't going to care if they use .com in their sales text.

One would think so anyway

Useless · 2006-06-27, 01:05 PM

I think that this is the thread that began much of the attitudes towards what is considered blind and not blind amongst many list owners today.

For me, almost any linked text string that is part of a greater amount of text which forms an obvious ad block, is not blind - assuming the linked text isn't a complete falsehood.

As far as sponsor links with no supporting ad text or graphic banner are concerned; I like to see text which uses language surfers are accustomed to seeing as representing a paysite, such as Join and Instant Access. I want to see the site's name, but I don't demand that the link read "Click here for DownloadPass, where you'll get nothing for free". If the tour offers free samples pics or movies, I don't mind a text link that says "Go to DownloadPass for More Free Samples".

Though I understand what I refer to as "The Blind Link Revolution", I don't necessarily agree with the extremes of it. If you build cleans sites and aren't lying your ass off with your advertising text, I'm not going to bust your balls.

PR_Tom · 2006-06-27, 01:38 PM

Well Useless, that makes common sense. I will point out that in the thread you reference, nowhere does the exact issue of "paysitename.com vs paysitename" come up except in post 1 that I saw. And in the examples, it was said in a stand alone text link, it'd be ok as paysitename.com, whatever.com, but it was not explicitly stated that paysitename, or whatever would be ok without the .com.

Again, I'm asking this because I do support for 2 programs. When people hit me up via ICQ, email and PM's on our board asking how to improve ratios, I review their pages. When I see "paysitename.com" I instantly tell them to remove it and replace it with "paysitename" only.

I have 2 reasons.
1) you, as a submitter, absolutely do NOT want the surfer to type in the raw domain name of the paysite. While you can never absolutely prevent it, you also dont have to put it in size 4 font in the page text.

2) I wont post #2 because it could give people bad ideas.

I'll say also that I often get positive feedback about my advice (thank you people!) and obviously when it's positive, sales have improved..

So I think if there are LL and other list sites that actually require a .com in a text link, I may actually be costing you submitters and I'm sorry for that. It's just counter intuitive to making the affiliate more sales.

babymaker · 2006-06-27, 07:27 PM

good points

I never use the site name anymore for awhile at least did it a few times in the past and realized how fucking stupid it was.

I notice that the only people who have ever rejected me for dumb stuff like that had crappy no traffic sites anyway, and probably just think they are so important becase they have a link list lol

i just move on, and ussually leave the fuckers recip up anyway lol. All the important sites never give me any shit since i don't use any nasty tricks.

MrYum · 2006-06-27, 09:31 PM

Wow...yea, I'd have to say that's pretty over the top

While, I do like to see the site name in the link...I don't require it. And I certainly don't require the .com on there...yikes that's tight!

As long as it's clear the link leads to a paysite, it's good to go

Cleo · 2006-06-27, 11:46 PM

Looks like HardcoreFreeSampleVids.com is available.

I'm going to start a paysite named HardcoreFreeSampleVids

Sales text will read,

"Click Here for HardcoreFreeSampleVids!"

I'm seeing an awful lot of blind links lately. If the text is with a banner or something and looks like an ad that is one thing but what I'm seeing a lot of is one or two links of text be itself that doesn't really look like an ad and the paysite name is often misleading too.

MrYum · 2006-06-28, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleo

Looks like HardcoreFreeSampleVids.com is available.

I'm going to start a paysite named HardcoreFreeSampleVids

Sales text will read,

"Click Here for HardcoreFreeSampleVids!"

I'm seeing an awful lot of blind links lately. If the text is with a banner or something and looks like an ad that is one thing but what I'm seeing a lot of is one or two links of text be itself that doesn't really look like an ad and the paysite name is often misleading too.

Cool! Just bought me a new domain

Given that example, I agree Cleo...some paysite names can make what should be a non-blind link appear blind. Geez, that statement isn't confusing at all

msanchez · 2006-06-28, 12:31 AM

If Mr Yum Says its too tight then its too tight because he runs a tight ship.

With the example given by Cleo of course thats clearly something that is trying to break the spirit of the no blind link rule so yes that would be blind to me too. But that seem like an exception maybe and not really what i think many real freesite submitters are doing to much but I could be wrong. At least regarding if .com makes a difference or not.

PR_Tom · 2006-06-28, 10:31 AM

If someone comes up with a site called "Free Video Samples" and the link leads there, it's not blind by any definition of "blind link" that I've ever ever seen. BUT, it'd be terribly misleading and falls into the misleading category of rejection. If you land on FreeVideoSamples.com after clicking the link, it cannot be said to be "blind" though because it was truthful.

Most old established link lists do state "no blind or misleading links" (link-o-rama.com rule 5 for example), and I believe they word it that way for that exact reason. Because some links that arent blind, could still be misleading. But they're not the same thing.

Maybe it is only an issue of interpretation. I still couldnt advise people to submit to places that absolutely require the .com to be tacked onto every link that leads to a paysite.

If someone has Amazing Footjobs as the paysite they're advertising, surely someone doesnt think "well, I assume I'll get an amazing footjob if I click this link, therefore it's blind without a .com on there" lmao

2006-06-27, 12:07 PM	#1
PR_Tom Nobody gets into heaven without a glowstick Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 423	No .com on a link to paysite = blind link? Ok, so I was speaking to someone who said that some link lists will call a link blind unless you put a ".com" after a paysite name and wanted to come here and ask. First of all, if I say "Click here for DownloadPass for full length movies", and you click it, and you go to Downloadpass, that is NOT a blind link. If I say "Click here for full length movies", that IS a blind link. When did defining a truly blind link become difficult? When did a link list come along and force webmasters to give the surfer the typein domain name? Why do people submit sites to them? Is this really true? I'm frankly shocked! LOL Say it aint so __________________ PimpRoll

2006-06-27, 12:24 PM	#3
PR_Tom Nobody gets into heaven without a glowstick Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 423	Well I suppose so, by saying "Join". But thats interpretive I think. The bottom line, in my view, is that if the surfer lands on the place the link said they would, then it's not a blind link. I was surprised when I was told that a link list was rejecting people because they didnt put a .com in text. That seems.. well lets be nice and say misguided, perhaps by a lack of understanding of the definition of "blind link".. Or, if they understand what a blind link is, then there must be some other motivation. Cookies perhaps? __________________ PimpRoll

2006-06-27, 12:24 PM	#4
Greenguy The Original Greenguy (Est'd 1996) & AVN HOF Member - I Crop Pics For Thumbs In My Sleep Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Blasdell, NY (shithole suburb south of Buffalo) Posts: 41,754	Are they referring to the mouseover or the actual text link? I ask because it is a pretty standard rule that you can use a mouseover as long as it's the URL of the paysite, like: http://links.pimproll.com/?s=stracys...mp2144&j=9&c=1 would have a mouseover of: http://www.stracystone.com/ but most would not allow the mouseover to read "Click here for Stracy Stone" __________________ Promote POV Porn Cash By Building & Submitting Galleries to the Porn Luv Network

2006-06-27, 12:27 PM	#5
PR_Tom Nobody gets into heaven without a glowstick Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 423	GG, he said the actual text, not the link code (or mouseover text) at all.. the actual text on the visible page. __________________ PimpRoll

2006-06-27, 12:28 PM	#6
Cleo Subversive filth of the hedonistic decadent West Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 27,936	"Click here for DownloadPass for full length movies" is blind. Take a tour of DownloadPass where you can download full length movies is not blind. __________________ Free Rides on Uber and Lyft Uber Car: uberTzTerri Lyft Car: TZ896289

2006-06-27, 12:16 PM	#2
swedguy Vagabond Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,374	"Join Download Pass for full length movies" is even less blind.

2006-06-27, 12:35 PM	#7
PR_Tom Nobody gets into heaven without a glowstick Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 423	Well Cleo, I respect your opinion but I disagree. IMHO there is no "more blind or less blind", there is blind or not blind. If you click the text of your first example and land on the site named Downloadpass, then in what way was it blind? By your example, shouldnt anything be blind that does not say "Click here for a paysite called DownloadPass where you cannot download anything for free, but once you pay to join and become a member, you can download movies"? hehe Because Cleo, in both of your examples they cannot "download movies" at all until they join, and once inside they can in fact download or stream full length movies. In any case, they are not "landing" on the members area, they are landing on a tour page, which IMHO again, should be simply true to the text of the link clicked. So I think your example might be better illustrating 2 different styles of marketing text (both true in the example site), but not blind vs non blind. At the risk of rambling too much, blind concerns the truthfullness of where they land. Truth in advertising concerns the text of what is said/implied. __________________ PimpRoll

2006-06-27, 12:41 PM	#9
PR_Tom Nobody gets into heaven without a glowstick Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 423	But anyway, why would someone require a submitter to instead of all these examples put "Click here to land on Downloadpass.com" lmao __________________ PimpRoll

2006-06-27, 12:52 PM	#10
msanchez It is better to watch things then to do them Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The Thumb Posts: 484	I dont use the .com in the sales text myself and have never really had any problem doing it like that. But thats just my experience. __________________ I buy text links, clicked traffic, blog posts, and more! Hit me with a pm.

2006-06-27, 01:05 PM	#12
Useless Certified Nice Person Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dirty Undies, NY Posts: 11,268	I think that this is the thread that began much of the attitudes towards what is considered blind and not blind amongst many list owners today. For me, almost any linked text string that is part of a greater amount of text which forms an obvious ad block, is not blind - assuming the linked text isn't a complete falsehood. As far as sponsor links with no supporting ad text or graphic banner are concerned; I like to see text which uses language surfers are accustomed to seeing as representing a paysite, such as Join and Instant Access. I want to see the site's name, but I don't demand that the link read "Click here for DownloadPass, where you'll get nothing for free". If the tour offers free samples pics or movies, I don't mind a text link that says "Go to DownloadPass for More Free Samples". Though I understand what I refer to as "The Blind Link Revolution", I don't necessarily agree with the extremes of it. If you build cleans sites and aren't lying your ass off with your advertising text, I'm not going to bust your balls. __________________ Click here to purchase a bridge I'm selling.

2006-06-27, 01:38 PM	#13
PR_Tom Nobody gets into heaven without a glowstick Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 423	Well Useless, that makes common sense. I will point out that in the thread you reference, nowhere does the exact issue of "paysitename.com vs paysitename" come up except in post 1 that I saw. And in the examples, it was said in a stand alone text link, it'd be ok as paysitename.com, whatever.com, but it was not explicitly stated that paysitename, or whatever would be ok without the .com. Again, I'm asking this because I do support for 2 programs. When people hit me up via ICQ, email and PM's on our board asking how to improve ratios, I review their pages. When I see "paysitename.com" I instantly tell them to remove it and replace it with "paysitename" only. I have 2 reasons. 1) you, as a submitter, absolutely do NOT want the surfer to type in the raw domain name of the paysite. While you can never absolutely prevent it, you also dont have to put it in size 4 font in the page text. 2) I wont post #2 because it could give people bad ideas. I'll say also that I often get positive feedback about my advice (thank you people!) and obviously when it's positive, sales have improved.. So I think if there are LL and other list sites that actually require a .com in a text link, I may actually be costing you submitters and I'm sorry for that. It's just counter intuitive to making the affiliate more sales. __________________ PimpRoll

2006-06-27, 07:27 PM	#14
babymaker Someone Turn Off The Damn Heat! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Sewer....err.philly i mean Posts: 1,366	good points I never use the site name anymore for awhile at least did it a few times in the past and realized how fucking stupid it was. I notice that the only people who have ever rejected me for dumb stuff like that had crappy no traffic sites anyway, and probably just think they are so important becase they have a link list lol i just move on, and ussually leave the fuckers recip up anyway lol. All the important sites never give me any shit since i don't use any nasty tricks. __________________ *Get ElevatedX W/Hosting 99MO!*

2006-06-27, 09:31 PM	#15
MrYum Arghhhh...submit yer sites ya ruddy swabs! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sunny Florida! Posts: 5,108	Wow...yea, I'd have to say that's pretty over the top While, I do like to see the site name in the link...I don't require it. And I certainly don't require the .com on there...yikes that's tight! As long as it's clear the link leads to a paysite, it's good to go __________________ Porno Flixxx Submissions SOTI Site Submissions Free Porn Resource Submissions

2006-06-27, 11:46 PM	#16
Cleo Subversive filth of the hedonistic decadent West Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 27,936	Looks like HardcoreFreeSampleVids.com is available. I'm going to start a paysite named HardcoreFreeSampleVids Sales text will read, "Click Here for HardcoreFreeSampleVids!" I'm seeing an awful lot of blind links lately. If the text is with a banner or something and looks like an ad that is one thing but what I'm seeing a lot of is one or two links of text be itself that doesn't really look like an ad and the paysite name is often misleading too. __________________ Free Rides on Uber and Lyft Uber Car: uberTzTerri Lyft Car: TZ896289

2006-06-28, 12:31 AM	#18
msanchez It is better to watch things then to do them Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The Thumb Posts: 484	If Mr Yum Says its too tight then its too tight because he runs a tight ship. With the example given by Cleo of course thats clearly something that is trying to break the spirit of the no blind link rule so yes that would be blind to me too. But that seem like an exception maybe and not really what i think many real freesite submitters are doing to much but I could be wrong. At least regarding if .com makes a difference or not. __________________ I buy text links, clicked traffic, blog posts, and more! Hit me with a pm.

2006-06-28, 10:31 AM	#19
PR_Tom Nobody gets into heaven without a glowstick Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 423	If someone comes up with a site called "Free Video Samples" and the link leads there, it's not blind by any definition of "blind link" that I've ever ever seen. BUT, it'd be terribly misleading and falls into the misleading category of rejection. If you land on FreeVideoSamples.com after clicking the link, it cannot be said to be "blind" though because it was truthful. Most old established link lists do state "no blind or misleading links" (link-o-rama.com rule 5 for example), and I believe they word it that way for that exact reason. Because some links that arent blind, could still be misleading. But they're not the same thing. Maybe it is only an issue of interpretation. I still couldnt advise people to submit to places that absolutely require the .com to be tacked onto every link that leads to a paysite. If someone has Amazing Footjobs as the paysite they're advertising, surely someone doesnt think "well, I assume I'll get an amazing footjob if I click this link, therefore it's blind without a .com on there" lmao __________________ PimpRoll