In this video, we expose false advertising, fake deals, and junk affiliates that surround the WordPress ecosystem. We also talk about why this is such a big deal, about possible solutions, and how InfluenceWP is helping fix the problem.
Although this issue is not exclusive to WordPress, it should be a pressing concern for anyone that truly cares about the current and future state of the WordPress ecosystem.
False advertising and shady affiliate practices are tarnishing WordPress. If you’ve ever searched for plugin deals and landed on dodgy sites, this one’s for you. Let’s break down the issue, explore why it’s a problem, and talk solutions.
WordPress is an incredible tool powering nearly half the internet, but bad actors are taking advantage of it. Affiliate programs and deal sites that trick users not only hurt the WordPress ecosystem but also damage trust with new and existing users. Here’s what’s happening and how we can fix it.
Junk Affiliates: How They Work
These sites often appear to have direct partnerships with WordPress companies. Names like “WP Discounts,” “Select WP,” and “Deals WP” imply legitimacy. They plaster the WordPress name all over their sites, misleading users into thinking they’re official.
Here’s their formula:
- List well-known names in WordPress to try and legitimize their website.
- List popular WordPress entities (plugins, themes, services, etc.)
- Pretend to offer discounts or exclusive coupons for said enties.
- Use affiliate links to redirect users.
There are no genuine discounts available. There are no special offers available. Just smoke and mirrors.
The Ripple Effect: A Consumer’s Journey
tl;dr: Consumers associate bad experiences on fake deal websites with WordPress. This first impression can push people away from WordPress altogether.
Imagine a consumer new to building websites is comparing Wix to WordPress. They are doing their due diligence as any consumer should. Let’s say they started by evaluating Wix, and they really like what they found. Now, they are evaluating WordPress.
Let’s say they stumble upon Elementor because they read somewhere that Elementor could give them an experience similar to Wix, but for WordPress.
Due to human nature, they’ll likely look for deals on their journey. Let’s say they stumble across one of the discount sites we covered in our video and they find the Elementor “deals.”
The consumer likely has no idea what affiliate links are. All they know is they clicked on one of the “deal” links for Elementor, thinking they were actually getting a deal, and by then it’s too late.
Not only are they not getting a deal, but the junk affiliate is making money when they have no meaningful relationship with Elementor. They only care how the company is doing to the extent that they can continue to provide affiliate payouts.
What do you think would happen if all of the vendors on these Junk Affiliate websites switched to a “Store credit” affiliate program? These sites would cease to exist. Why? Simple.
The Junk Affiliates do not care about the vendors or their products. In a lot of cases, they probably have never used the product. They can’t speak about the vendor or their products in any meaningful way.
Alternate Outcome: Consumer Knows the Deal Was Fake
Let’s assume that the consumer was aware of receiving a fraudulent offer. Maybe they visited the Elementor pricing page at some point and noted the costs compared to Wix. They wrote that number down as part of the comparison spreadsheet.
Another aspect of human nature is that consumers tend to associate this fake deal website with WordPress as a solution, project, ecosystem, or something similar. Therefore, they may proceed to try other fake deal websites, only to find that the experience is identical.
The consumer immediately perceives WordPress as untrustworthy, while Wix is straightforward and true to its nature, for better or for worse.
Why This Hurts the WordPress Community
These tactics harm more than just consumers—they damage the WordPress ecosystem itself.
- Loss of trust: When users realize they’ve been tricked, their frustration often gets directed at WordPress as a whole.
- The reputation of WordPress suffers due to the misuse of its name by these fake sites.
- Unfair profits: Junk affiliates profit off this deception, while legitimate creators and vendors lose valuable affiliate relationships.
The shocking truth is that some vendors choose to ignore these issues. Why? This is because traffic remains traffic, regardless of whether it originates from deceptive practices or not.
WordPress is about openness, collaboration, and community. These junk affiliates go against everything it stands for.
Practical Solutions to Stop the Madness
Enough ranting—what can vendors and the WordPress community do about this? Fortunately, there are real solutions. Let’s break them down.
Switch to Store Credit for Affiliates
One bold move is to change how affiliate programs work. Instead of paying commissions in cash, offer store credit. InfluenceWP already uses this approach to ensure affiliates genuinely believe in their mission and the problems they aim to solve. It also weeds out junk affiliates who only care about quick cash.
If affiliates support an entity (product, community, service, etc.), they should have no issue putting earnings toward their own use of it. It’s a simple way to align incentives and make sure affiliates act in good faith.
Block Fake Deal Websites
Vendors can take the proactive step of banning fake deal sites from their affiliate programs. Review your affiliate partners, and if a site engages in shady practices, revoke their access.
It’ll take time and effort, but this one step could significantly reduce the spread of false advertising.
Build Partnership-Based Affiliate Programs
Another approach is to ditch traditional affiliate programs entirely in favor of direct partnerships. For example, InfluenceWP partners with vendors directly without using affiliate links. The focus is on relationships, not profit from affiliate payouts.
By eliminating affiliate links, vendors can avoid supporting junk affiliates entirely. Instead, they collaborate with reliable partners who genuinely care about their success.
Hold Vendors Accountable
Finally, vendors need to step up. Some companies may claim they’re unaware of these practices, but ignorance isn’t an excuse. Embrace stricter standards.
If vendors truly care about the current and future state of WordPress (and they obviously should), then let’s show the world that WordPress isn’t a place for shady business practices.
InfluenceWP Takes a Stand
We partially created InfluenceWP to address these specific issues. InfluenceWP is a passion project that aims to foster trusted relationships between WordPress vendors and consumers.
How We Are Different:
- No Affiliation: As outlined in our non-affiliation policy, we don’t profit from affiliate sales.
- Real Deals: We provide real and exclusive deals, and users can trust they’re getting an authentic partnership-based offer.
- Partnerships: We provide FREE lifetime partner memberships for those willing to help us solve the fake deals problem that plauges the WordPress ecosystem
InfluenceWP is proof that there’s a better way to operate within the WordPress community.
Let’s Reboot the WordPress Deals Landscape
WordPress didn’t become the powerhouse it is by accident. It thrives because of its community and the trust people have in it. But fake deal sites erode that trust one frustrated user at a time.
It’s time for vendors, creators, and users to come together and shut down bad actors.
New to WordPress? Don’t trust just any site with a discount banner. Look for trusted partners like InfluenceWP that put fairness and transparency first.
Vendors, consider if your affiliate program aligns with the WordPress values of openness and integrity. Make the changes needed to protect the ecosystem we all rely on.
Together, we can clean up the mess and make WordPress as trustworthy as it deserves to be.