Skimlinks trial on MSE forums

oakhouse13

What info would be helpful for the trial period? I have tried out a few links to see what cookies I get. I am not an expert and tend to over react.

Former_MSE_Dan

Checking cookies is ok, but the key thing is if it ever changes the page you'd expect to land on, or if it makes the links especially slow - any change in user experience of the forum.

weeowens

Will it become more obvious to the linked sites where were are linking from?This is from a comping viewpoint ie will they be more able to spot MSE entrants?

Reaper

weeowen67 wrote: »

Will it become more obvious to the linked sites where were are linking from?This is from a comping viewpoint ie will they be more able to spot MSE entrants?

They can already see which web site you came from. I doubt this will make any difference.

I was surprised you hadn't done this ages ago, it seems such an obvious money maker without (hopefully) affecting anybody's experience of the site.

MrsTinks

I think there is still a little confusion about how skimlink works... Some have got it - some haven't

Ok you post a post on say the wedding board - saying WOW I found these GREAT invites for my wedding on Amazon (don't know if they sell them but it's an example!) and you may even provide (and this is crucial) a link to the exact invite you happen to have decided match your colours for the wedding. That link will still go to the invite you linked, but a little piece of (in theory) unnoticable software is set up so that when anyone clicks on a link in the forums to say Amazon a little counter ticks "MSE forums" and they get a very small % as they are affiliated. Ok that's very simplified but still... that software is called Skimlink
Your post is not altered and if you posted "Go to amazon and search Landrover Wedding Invite" the word Amazon wouldn't be edited into a link.

I know a wee bit about cookies (and not just the chocolate chip ones!) and even more about bandwidth and cost of hosting as I work for an ISP - The traffic generated by MSE and the forums is actually HUGE - they put no stop on you posting pictures to reduce this, there is a good amoung of historical posts on here and the sheer numbers of posters and users (remember many will read but never register and post...) is astronomical.
MSE (as explained in Martins "how the site is funded" article is not a small concern anymore - they have a massive editorial team for a pure information site that doesn't allow advertising.
If this software can help generate more money for the continued development and improvement of the site and growth of the team then I am all for it... so long as they can assure us all that any cookie issues relating to cashback etc are not interfered with (although in all honesty I would ALWAYS recommend you clear cookies before entering a cashback site - very often other sites leave their cookie behind and YOU won't get the cashback as the cashback sites cookie has been blocked by another sites cookie and THEY get the cashback...)

Remember that this site is free for you to use - Martin could probably make a fortune if he wanted by charging just a few £ per year for people to access the wealth of information on here (legal issues aside) but it's always been about empowering the small person and giving them the power to fight for their rights and to save them money and importantly: to educate them!

This won't cost you money, so if they can assure us that it won't impact the user experience... what's the problem?

robt_2

MrsTine wrote: »

I think there is still a little confusion about how skimlink works... Some have got it - some haven't

Ok you post a post on say the wedding board - saying WOW I found these GREAT invites for my wedding on Amazon (don't know if they sell them but it's an example!) and you may even provide (and this is crucial) a link to the exact invite you happen to have decided match your colours for the wedding. That link will still go to the invite you linked, but a little piece of (in theory) unnoticable software is set up so that when anyone clicks on a link in the forums to say Amazon a little counter ticks "MSE forums" and they get a very small % as they are affiliated. Ok that's very simplified but still... that software is called Skimlink

Pretty much spot on with how the end result is achieved.

I know a wee bit about cookies (and not just the chocolate chip ones!) and even more about bandwidth and cost of hosting as I work for an ISP - The traffic generated by MSE and the forums is actually HUGE - they put no stop on you posting pictures to reduce this, there is a good amoung of historical posts on here and the sheer numbers of posters and users (remember many will read but never register and post...) is astronomical

It was me who mentioned bandwidth in my post, and I think you misunderstood what I said.

Nobody has said that the amount of bandwidth used is not huge, what I said was that its costs have not suddenly shot up. And I'm not sure what you are talking about when you are talking about not stopping us uploading pictures, because that is not allowed unless it is with a 3rd party site (eg ImageShack) so the bandwidth cost to MSE for uploaded pictures/attachments is zero.

I am all for it... so long as they can assure us all that any cookie issues relating to cashback etc are not interfered with (although in all honesty I would ALWAYS recommend you clear cookies before entering a cashback site - very often other sites leave their cookie behind and YOU won't get the cashback as the cashback sites cookie has been blocked by another sites cookie and THEY get the cashback...)

MSE (nor anyone else) would EVER be able could give a guarentee about not interfering with cashback, it would be foolish to do so. However if best practice is followed, clearing cookies etc, or using a different browser there should be no reason why it wouldn't track.

This won't cost you money, so if they can assure us that it won't impact the user experience... what's the problem?

Because some people will think it is a little bit underhand. Despite what Dan is saying, posts WILL be edited (automatically, and only the link, on-the-fly) to change the link to the product (eg on Amazon) to an affiliate link. The fact that Dan has told such a blatant lie is disgraceful.

Reaper

robt wrote: »

Despite what Dan is saying, posts WILL be edited (automatically, and only the link, on-the-fly) to change the link to the product (eg on Amazon) to an affiliate link. The fact that Dan has told such a blatant lie is disgraceful.

I think you are being unfair. The purpose of this whole thread is to explain to people their links will be amended. There is no deception. You calling him a "blatant liar" is the only disgraceful thing here.

itsinthemail

I really have reservations about this, I understand the need to generate revenue, but I think I would rather pay a small annual fee and belong to a members only site. If the lurkers then joined, as they would be unable to access the comp information, the fee would only need to be small, I do appreciate that any fee at all can be difficult to find. I usually use in private browsing and filtering when I'm comping, can anyone tell me what effect that would have please? Sorry if thats a stupid question.

kermitfrog

It's amazing the number of people who say they're happy to pay for something, but who, when the time comes to put their hand in their pocket, can't be seen for dust!

itsinthemail

kermitfrog wrote: »

It's amazing the number of people who say they're happy to pay for something, but who, when the time comes to put their hand in their pocket, can't be seen for dust!

I said I would be happy to pay, and that's exactly what I meant - no dust on me.