ASK HN:What do you think about inserting affiliate link into free desktop app

2 pointsumenline3 comments

Hi I have small desktop music application that is downloaded few hundred times each month Its small utility that handles mp3 files, I thinking about inserting small affiliate link (Amazon) Do you think its good idea? Some one has experience with such thing?

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I don't see much ethically wrong with it. I do have my doubts about your potential earnings. Music itself will earn you peanuts(cents). Though if they click through your affiliate link and end up buying a bunch of other items, you can make 4-5 bucks/order. With couple hundred downloads a month, I just don't see the math adding up to much significant revenue.

But hey, can't hurt to try!

maybe other ideas? to get revenue ?

As a user, would it bother me if you were trying to monetize your app via affiliate links? No, unless you annoyed me. Affiliate links don't bother me and, if links/products are embedded in an app, it's expected that the app dev made them affiliate links.

Is it a "good idea"? That's a different question. I don't know your app or anything about your users so I can't say.

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