From time to time, my blog posts might include an affiliate link — meaning, if you make a purchase through that link, you may receive a discount and/or I might receive a small commission.
I’d like to briefly share my policy on this, so you can understand why certain items are featured and what limits are in place, to ensure my blogs never become an ad masquerading as a genuine recommendation.
How a Product, Brand, or Service Gets Featured on LQTU
An item or service is featured on this blog one of two ways:
1. I discover it on my own, try it (and love it!), and decide to feature it.
I love sharing different apps, services, books, and products that have supported me, especially as a neurodivergent and disabled person.
Often I find these all on my own, because I’m passionate about experimenting and finding things that work for me!
If something ends up working well for me (and I’m genuinely excited about it), I’ll usually reach out to the brand or provider and ask if they have any discounts or affiliate links that I can include.
If they say yes, wonderful! If they say no, I will still feature the item or service, as I do not believe that I should feature something only because I’m incentivized to.
2. A brand or provider reaches out to me, and asks me to try their product or service.
Every so often, someone will reach out to me and ask if I’d like to try something. Most of the time, it’s not really relevant to you all, so I turn it down.
But sometimes it does seem like a good fit! In those cases, I’ll give it a shot.
If I really believe in it, I’ll feature it! But if I don’t, you’ll never hear about it.
This is because I will never accept a gifted item in exchange for guaranteed posting about it, to ensure I’m only featuring items that I can stand by.
My Commitment to Readers
- I believe in what I’m sharing: I will never feature a product, brand, or service I haven’t personally used and found helpful (i.e., sharing only because I was paid to).
- I don’t play favorites: I will never exclude a product, brand, or service that is helpful from a relevant blog post just because they can’t offer an affiliate link or discount.
- I won’t link to Amazon: I won’t be joining the Amazon affiliate program, though I completely respect that readers may need to rely on cheaper alternatives given their unique financial situation (I’ve been there and understand this — there’s a difference between driving sales to Amazon versus surviving under the constraints of late stage capitalism).
- I love small businesses and developers! I will always prioritize supporting small businesses and developers as much as possible. In some cases, I won’t request an affiliate link or discount where an indie creator’s expenses may be high (especially with a physical product).
- I decenter marketplaces where possible: If an item I’m featuring originally came from a marketplace like Etsy, I will either link the item as it’s listed on the maker’s own website, or reach out to them directly to ensure I am sending readers to their preferred platform.
- I do my best to be aware of boycotts: If there is a collective action that calls for a brand to be boycotted, and that action aligns with my values, I will not continue featuring the product or service.
- I remain open to feedback about my recommendations: My experience isn’t the be-all end-all! I do my best to read other reviews to ensure my recommendations are solid, but I’m always open to amending posts if I was misguided or new information becomes available.
Do I Have to Buy Something Through Your Link?
You never have to use an affiliate link to make a purchase if you don’t want to!
For example, when I am sharing a book, I usually share it through Bookshop, which supports independent booksellers. But if you’d rather purchase directly from your local bookstore or get a copy from your library, by all means, please do!
That said, if you’re going to buy the item regardless, doing so through an affiliate link is a nice way to support the blog! Maintaining an entire website can be costly and involves a lot of unpaid work, so the little things add up.
QUestions?
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