$500 from an affiliation!

NON - TRADITIONAL, BUT I WILL TAKE IT

A few weeks ago, I received a private message from one of my sporting goods affiliations. I was "selected" to write a blog about their upcoming "back to school" specials.

They presented a few rules to follow:

• I must include an FTC disclosure, "This post contains affiliate links and I have received compensation for this post" at the beginning of my content.
• I must include at least two images
• I must write at least 75 words. Were they kidding?
• I must use at least 2 links

Since I was stating that I "have received compensation" in advance of any writing, I assumed that they were serious about this. Otherwise, I would be lying.

I had only one stipulaton:

• I was not going to pretend that "back to school" was not a unique matter in the United States today, i.e. that we had returned to the normalcy of classroom settings of prior years. I didn't cite this to them, nor did they suggest anything otherwise. But I didn't want to be a "pollyanna" for them or for anyone. So...I pointed out some of the concerns that teachers, students and parents will be facing.

I had always been able to be convincing when writing about this company. I had only been an affiliate for a little over a year, but I had been a customer for several decades. They are indeed an outstanding sporting goods merchant. I know this and they know that I know it.

One more thing - I had not received too much in commissions up to this point from this company. But I am convinced that there is an institutional value to the company when I place their name before search engines and social media.

We can all be assured that our postings are helpful to our affiliations even when they don't result in commissions for us. It is gratifying that at least one company recognizes this.

This morning, I checked my account information and was happy to see that the $500 had been added.