I think MV may be an outlier (as FM is…to the good side that is) as he would write about stuff and then try to cram cc links that do business with MV. Looking around the blogosphere, in my own humble opinion, I still think that cc ads absolutely drive content. Just a couple of points:
How many posts did you see about the Club Carlson ads BEFORE affiliate links were instituted. Some but not many. After a way to get paid for them was initiated, every blogger discovered the incredible freebie night benefit! I am sure other readers can go and on…need to move on & catch up with my real job.

Yeah, that weed in North Korea article was such a gem, I had no idea!
Every time I play soccer I have my phone with me and ambulance # is waiting, lol.

Thanks mate – In my next post I will expand on my thesis re: the difference between pumping and pimping -stay tuned 😉

“I am making a list. I am sure you are not going to like it.”

That’s fine. You’re forgiven for discovering that gem about smoking weed in NK :).

“But it is evidently clear that cc ads DRIVE content.”

Um. no, it isn’t. Interestingly enough, in my response to Steve I had to admit his US Airways and SPG links were not relevant to his post. He was right, I was wrong. Try and analyze his recent posts, and you will see that MV posts about anything while linking the cards that have pretty much nothing to do with anything. Of course, that opens him to being slammed for not posting the links he doesn’t get commissions for, and to be honest this is not what I would do. But it’s either this or that. You can’t, in my opinion, claim that his content is driven by the credit card ads.

Now, as I said before, I do not condone linking to a lesser credit card bonus without a relevant disclosure. Lame. We’re in agreement on this, I guess, that’s a start.

Kudos on your soccer game. I’m only a little older than you are, but if I tried that, I would end up in the back of the ambulance. (Deep sigh).

Yep, got it now, fixed.

Thanks for the tweet, found them and approved them. I fixed the typo, I confused them you know. pimp vs pump lol

I think you are right 🙂

No, I agree. I didn’t pay attention to the date. So there is no connection. And yes, he should’ve mentioned the ways to earn miles on United even though he doesn’t (apparently) have an affiliate agreement with Chase. So treat those links as pure advertisements. Pay them no more attention than you would pay attention to commercials while watching TV. I still happen to like his article about hopping around Europe for 12.5K miles.

But I could bet, if he did push RELEVANT Chase links you’d be every bit as angry:).

Thanks, I would have to agree 🙂

I meant about sending a newbie to LEARN how to start earning miles/points. I don’t do much of that here, just too busy trying to keep up with all the blogs! Travel Summary had posted some excellent how to material some time ago.

Question to all: Your friend learns you travel for peanuts taking advantage of miles/points, credit cards, etc. If you do not have the time to talk in person WHICH blog posts would you send someone who is really GREEN abt this. Obviously (hopefully) you made sure he/she has the mindset for this game! Detail oriented, prudent with money and debt, thinks paying a penny of interest to bank should be a felony, excellent credit score, loves travel, very organized.etc.

And the key, and where this fails frequently, these blogs MUST BE KEPT UP TO DATE!

Anyone, anyone?

This whole space has veered so much towards “convincing them to make that instant application?”

Then again, TPG’s posts today about the 10 best economy awards and hotel credit cards offering free night do provide some valuable content. And links to better cc offers too.

But, the theme to sell, sell, sell just runs wild in this blog. It turns me off. Maybe me and you are just different 🙂