Brian from Backblaze here. If Backblaze would become an Amazon affiliate, IF you clicked our link and then purchased a hard drive, Backblaze would get about 3% "kickback" from Amazon! (That's the way the Amazon Affiliate program works, you provide a link and you get 3% kickbacks.) The problem is we would look like we are "pushing" drives to get the 3% kickback and it damages our credibility and reputation.
As a backup company, we hold ALL our customers data, so our reputation is incredibly important to us. People MUST trust us as impartial and trustworthy and not sleazy or we would go out of business quickly.
> The problem is we would look like we are "pushing" drives to get the 3% kickback and it damages our credibility and reputation.
1) So what does it look like now with what you are doing? For example you are offering free credible information about drive reliability which contradicts what you actually do which is make using drives for backup irrelevant. While I am sure that the following is not the case, I could easily say that you are doing this to make people think drives aren't reliable and hence they need backblaze! Wow look at drive failure I should DIY this! (Do I think that is your strategy? To repeat I don't..)
2) Note that http://www.dpreview.com was purchased by Amazon and it has only grown larger and more reputable (in terms of the reviews) since then. And they openly link to Amazon and they could easily be accused of a tremendous bias but apparently they either aren't worried about that or the effect is nominal.
3) I can fully understand, as a business decision, why you might not want to "cheesy" up (my words) your site with amazon links or perhaps you might feel the 3% is not consequential enough to do so. It is certainly a judgement call. However don't assume that everyone that would be a potential user of your company really would think that way because I can assure you that isn't the case.
> we hold ALL our customers data, so our reputation is incredibly important to us.
The fact that you are earning money from affiliate links does not mean you are not reputable and doesn't give me any less confidence that my data will be safe. It's a non issue (for that reason). You have a right to earn money in any reasonable fashion. Affiliate links are an accepted way to earn money (we aren't talking about selling customer data). If anything I think almost the opposite. I want to know that you are making money and robust in business practices so you have the funds to insure your operation will continue for the foreseeable future.
> perhaps you might feel the 3% is not consequential enough to do so
We struggle with it internally, I assure you we doubt ourselves all the time. :-) Some companies have an "informal fun loving" outward appearance, like if you purchase from Zappos they send emails like "the magic elves are making your shoes, we will send them along very soon..." But bankers tend to wear suits and ties and appear "very serious" in their communications even while frittering away your money on sub prime mortgages.
Anyway, the point is I'll forward your note along and heck, maybe next quarter our drive stats blog post will have Amazon links and we'll make a little extra money. :-)
However it's important that you wrap this in the proper words [1] not just plop the links on the page.
You need to explain the links but without apologizing for putting them there. You can even say perhaps that you were asked to do this (because you were). And don't chicken out and say you are donating the $$ to charity or anything like that.
Depending on how you write this, you will minimize the whiny blowback (if any). That said, running a business is not running a popularity contest to the tune of the most vocal commenters on HN or reddit or wherever.
If you are not doing so already you might want to issue traditional press releases with your results as well.
Of course if you do the links (and I would try this for more than one quarter) if it works or if it doesn't work you can then do a blog post on that!
[1] In the business I am in we charge for a service that our other competitors give away for free. By wrapping it in the proper words we often get a thank you instead of a complaint.
