Pinterest an early revenue generator
Pinterest, seemingly everyone’s favourite social network at the moment has already found a way to monetise its users submissions.
I first ran across an article on LLSocial.com but it looks like some bloggers were discussing the issue in January.
Pinterest will modify links from your pins if they point to ecommerce sites that have an affiliate program associated with them.
It uses a service called skimlinks that will automatically add affiliate links to links where they point to a product that has an associated affiliate program. These links contain Pinterests own ID, so drive affiliate revenue back to them.
GalavantMedia raised a good point on Twitter highlighting that if you’re not paying for something such as Facebook, Google etc then you are the product. It’s interesting to note a relatively new social media platform such as Pinterest attempting to drive revenue so early on whilst other recent social media sites like Google + refrain from doing.
“GalavantMedia
@traceyctt @TravMonkey Always remember: if you’re not paying, you’re the product. See also Facebook, Google.”
Some bloggers have commented that the lack of transparency has left a bitter taste in the mouth, whilst other commentators really don’t see the issue with making money in an non intrusive manner.
Source : llsocial.com
What do you think? Did you know this was happening?
Do you care?
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Interesting. I didn’t know that about affiliate links through Pinterest. A different, but related, question I have is about photo copyrights. I’m not a professional photographer (nor do I sell photos), but obviously other people are. Are there measures in place to prevent casual Pinterest users from “pinning” photos to their boards, that are actually meant to be sold/copyrighted?
Hi Jennifer,
Not that I’m aware of, I guess it’s similar to any user generated content site like Facebook, Google + etc user can pin or post whatever they like.
Paul, I have to disagree Facebook, Google + etc share small images, almost thumbnails and link to the originals. Pinterest save large images on their servers. Not the same.
Hi John,
You can upload large images on Google + and facebook, are talking about via a share button?
I posted this on Google + and facebook a few days ago about photographers being wary:
One for photographers – >”If you’re on Pinterest, do you know about this clause in its Terms and Conditions?
“you hereby grant to Cold Brew Labs a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, adapt, modify, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast, access, view, and otherwise exploit such Member Content”"
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104867148520425189911/posts/7fWHCS5bd2E
Paul, yes via the share button or dropping links into the update profile.
Sure, if I get one of travmonkey’s photos Right Click on it, save it I can upload at full size, to most social media sites and claim it was my own. No, I am referring to the easy click to share service these platforms have.
I am aware of the Rights Grab. It may well change in the future as most sites start of with a catch all. If enough pressure is applied they might change the T&C’s to cover just what they need. But until they do it is one to be aware of. But it could all get messy as members are certifying that the content they are pinning is either their own or that they have permission to Pin. Not too dissimilar to FB and G+, so on second thoughts I won’t post one of your photos, as it is me who will be sued.
Thanks John, I know what your saying… I can see them changing the terms and conditions to pinterest because of the pressure.
I surprised that not that many people see to care about the underhandedness off pinterests affiliate work.
Surely Google+ doesn’t drive for revenue in a similar fashion because they’re main focus is and always has been to drive search.
It’s the same for the Android platform as well, it’s all about pushing their search results.
Yeh true, improving their search and retaining users I guess. They have plenty of ads around their search results. Perhaps Google + just keeps them as the no.1 search engine and keeps their ad revenue flowing.
I think most Pinterest users would rather have theeir links changed than have ads on their boards! It also keeps internet marketers and blatant commercial boardes off the site.
Yeh I know what you mean Alex, it could be the death of pinterest… the affiliates that is.