Can you trust bloggers to list the best credit card offers?

This is a hot topic in blogosphere. For those, who don’t know, top bloggers have affiliate links, where they get paid from every credit card application, their reader makes. But sometimes a better offer pops up, that does not provide blogger a commission. Obviously, it’s essential for my family to get the very best offer, since some you can only get once. Can you trust the bloggers to list it? So, here are my thoughts and observations.

First, I have no problem with people getting paid for their work . Don’t get me wrong, there are some  issues with this hobby, but that’s not one of them. It’s not like bloggers are taking food from an orphan child, the banks pay them. I also would rather they disclose it before each post. Why?

Because a new reader  may not realize, how this works and go to the credit issuer’s website and apply there, and then no one gets the commission. Is that really fair to the person, who spent hours, researching the deal? More advanced blogs don’t disclose it, but that’s because their readers know, where to find the links on the site.  Do bloggers want you to click on their links?

Sure, they do!  People respond to incentives, it’s very simple. I will come out and admit, I want you to click on my links! Some bloggers may say, they don’t care , but they really do. Frankly, I would rather they  just ask for it, like Rapid Travel Chai did recently (BTW that’s not his real name), than insult my intelligence by pretending , they don’t care. Honestly, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. This market is crowded and everyone wants their slice of the pie.

I recommend, you treat it as a business decision. Support the one, who benefits you the most at the time, whatever that is. I would support the blogger, who helps me make the most money and stay on top of the deals. Even if it’s not considered the coolest “blog on the block”.

So, can you trust them to list the best offer? I would say, mostly yes. Obviously, not all are honest. Sometimes the bloggers don’t update the deals in time, because they are busy. They have a life outside of this hobby too, you know. Or at least they should! There are two reasons here:

1) They started out to help people save money on travel.  It may have become more about making money over time, but that original intent is still there, I think. I can relate, because I literally hate for people not to get the best deal.

Did you know, that most bloggers out there make less, than 10 dollars a month, doing it? If I was only after affiliate links, it would make more sense for me to return to my flexible part- time job, where I was making 36 dollars per hour. In fact, you would do better to get a  job at Mc’Donalds, at least it’s a sure thing.

2) The level  of transparency in this hobby. It would take someone 2 minutes to find the better offer on Flyertalk. So immediately there will be 40 people calling you out  on it. Bloggers can’t afford not to list the better offer, because if they don’t, their readers will not trust them in the future and not use their links. It would be penny wise and pound foolish.

But since I have major trust issues, I double check Flyertalk, just in case.

Author: Leana

Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.