Can You Buy Through Your Own Affiliate Link?

One of the questions that has been raised is whether it’s considered cheeky to utilize one’s own affiliate links for personal purchases. The lady in the example here is curious. She ponders whether it’s deemed cheeky to buy something through her own affiliate link merely to comprehend how the process operates. Alternatively, is it more prudent to exercise patience? Several responses were provided, and the consensus was that exercising patience is the advisable approach.

Certainly, I understand that many affiliate marketers are eager to secure their first sale, especially when they’re just embarking on their affiliate journey. The anticipation of receiving that initial commission is palpable. However, it’s important to acknowledge that attempting such a manoeuvre could lead to the closure of your affiliate account. This outcome would be far from ideal.

Interestingly, in the past, there may have been instances where companies weren’t overly concerned about such actions. I believe that many years ago, you were allowed to purchase a product through your own affiliate link with ClickBank; I don’t imagine that this is allowed any more! Yet, the landscape has transformed significantly. We now find ourselves under a magnifying glass of sorts. Affiliate companies possess the capability to track our activities, including our IP addresses and various other identifying information. Engaging in this type of behaviour is not only ill-advised but also detrimental to ethically conducting business.

Don’t Be Like This Lady!

An anecdote comes to mind from a few months back. A lady had an Amazon affiliate account linked to her website. She invited a group of individuals over to her house and encouraged them to make purchases through her website. Whether they did so from her computer or their phones remains uncertain. Regardless, Amazon swiftly detected this dubious activity. Consequently, she didn’t receive a single commission from these transactions due to Amazon’s ability to identify fraudulent behaviour.

So, the key takeaway is to exercise caution, adhere to the rules, and conduct your business ethically. It’s wise to refrain from purchasing through your own affiliate link. If you have inquiries on this topic, I’m here to assist. My journey in affiliate marketing began in 2004, and I continue to learn and evolve. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have questions, and if you found this video helpful, a like would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for tuning in.

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