Guidance regarding "forbidden" outgoing links on Wizzley

Shock, horror - I have had a Hub on Hubpages unpublished because they dont like the links I have on it. And before I throw all my toys out the pram (it is my best performing hub) and republish the content on Wizzley, I have a question.

The Hub linked out to a Clickbank e-book *Gasp*!! It is actually a very well written ebook on the care of Goldfish.

So, I swallowed my pride and deleted the Clickbank Link.

Darn Hub still wont re-publish and I think the problem is that it is because the Hub links to a Squidoo lens, that links to the Clickbank ebook.

So, I know I could write to Anne or Achim with this question, but I think the answer will be useful to the Wizzley Community in general. My question is:

If I delete the Hub and re-publish on Wizzley (once the Hub is de-indexed of course), will I be penalised on Wizzley for publishing something that links to a Clickbank product? Or if I dont link directly, if I link to a Squidoo lens that links to Clickbank?

And it really is a VERY good ebook :(

Great question, AJ...

I want to know about this, too...so am going to follow this post!

I understand the world of "icky" ebook products, and respect Wizzley's decision because it is their site, but I absolutely won't put myself on defense and try to explain "it's good, it really is!"

There are many, many wonderful ebooks and tools in my niche...and there are many in other niches as well. Fortunately, I have my own blog where I can post them as resources (I use ejunkie in addition to clickbank) - but there are some I would really like to use outside of my niche to do a lens/article, etc. on...

I just got Jim an ebook he wanted for Father's Day...it is the best, about two people traveling the country, living on $20/day...just full of helpful, insightful info.

I highly recommend to anyone who immediately feels "ebooks, ewww, garbage" to spend some time browsing through them first...you might be surprised!

If the ebook is good, and your unique review reflects your personal experience with it, we have nothing against links to Clickbank products.  

One of the hallmarks of what makes this site great is that they, as well as Squidoo, allow affiliate links so long as the content itself is valuable and useful to readers not just an add or pre-sales page...

HP doesn't realize what they are doing to their writer base by not allowing these links- I think 2 per page (self serving includes affiliate links) per page and in cahoots with the aforementioned- that this is very fair and a distinct part of part of the people who'd write here- If you find an exciting ebook or product and truly want to write a review on it, why shouldn't you be able to offer an affiliate link to sell it? I think this is why many will flock to wizzley from other sites but it's also why spammers will try to come here and pull the latter without the former (write presales pages and use affiliate links)...

They are few and far between and it takes some effort to find it, but there are a few quality items on Clickbank.

Achim, the Clickbank link is not there because I have reviewed the ebook, the link is there because this professionally laid out ebook offers additional help on a broader scale to what I am offering in my content.

My page is about a problem that goldfish have (including one of my own) and about which very few sites have the info about how to cure that problem.

The ebook is offering general advice about goldfish care, but I recommend it because not only does it have good content and images, but because it can help people instantly - they dont have to wait for the book to arrive in the post.

So although the lens is based on genuine persoanl experience, the book is not on there because I reviewed it.

Like many books from Amazon that many of us recommend, this is more of a "you may find this useful" recommendation, rather than "I have read it and it is brilliant" recommendation.

AJ, I'm glad you brought this up.

I always felt that it was the "topics" that turned off sites to ebooks...but then that evolved into "all ebooks are junk" - which isn't an accurate leap.

In my rv niche, I cannot possibly buy up every ebook, but because I know what they do (point out dump station locations, rv checklists, mountain grades in US) they are helpful to point to for new rvers.

I referred to one on an article I did that was about tiny house plans, on an article about downsizing your life.

Clickbank has a no questions asked, 60 day return policy for any purchase...if anyone does purchase them.

Your point about how articles point to many, many products a writer has never read, seen, touched or used is very true. Thanks for bringing this up!

AJ: 10. Jul 2012, 06:37

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... but I recommend it because not only does it have good content and images, ...

Apparently, you know something positive about it. If you feel honestly good about recommending a product, go right ahead with it.

Robin, you're right about "topics". The truth is: As soon as another "guru" mentions a key phrase example in a course, there's a flood of low-quality content swamping the web...weight-loss, tropical fish, online learning, top-selling (Clickbank) ebooks, etc., etc., blah, blah....yawn. This is what we're trying to avoid.

You two are top writers. If you guys recommend an ebook in one of your articles, we know it's because you've either read it yourself, or you've researched the content and found it to be useful. Whether the ebook is sold on CB or any other affiliate site...who cares.  

So, what we're looking at, is the author's degree of authority and trust. A first-time (and one-time) writer named 6Xwotzlprmft394 from Nigeria, promoting the latest diet (or goldfish or online insurance) ebook with lots of duplicate content from the product landing page...has neither.  

Thank you - for the freedom, trust and compliments!

Oh my goodness, thank you Achim for that endorsement

So its goodbye Hubpages and Hello Wizzley for that page.