On the back of the news that Pinterest has banned all affiliate links, another bookmarking site and app has quickly reacted to the announcement and launched an affiliate service of its own.
Dubbed the “shoppable Pinterest”, Keep.com will be enabling its users to add affiliate links to posts for the first time as part of an invitation-only program allowing a select group of users to earn commission from products purchased on the site.
To sign up, users will have to pass a qualifying process, but will then be able to earn money using affiliate links from networks such rewardStyle, which was among the companies affected by the Pinterest ban.
Shoppable platform
Keep.com has a very similar format to Pinterest in that it enables users to add pictures of products to various online pinboards.
The difference with Keep.com however is that it also acts as a universal shopping cart, allowing users to conveniently purchase all items in one place.
The site also differs to Pinterest in that it is a shopping-only platform, and claims not include any how-tos, recipes or images of crafts. With this in mind, Keep.com appears keen to distance itself from the Pinterest model which gained popularity among foodies and craft lovers.
In an email to its ‘super pinners’, Pinterest announced it was banning users from attaching affiliate tags and redirects in an attempt to crack down on spammy content and ensure the smooth running of the site.
The decision left many Pinterest publishers unhappy, with some voicing their disdain via Twitter and even threatening to leave the site.