I have been learning strategies for PPC and affiliate marketing for a while now. Yet, sometimes the internet world would still shock me when major company like Google or Amazon make changes that impact the affiliate industries.
We are talking about changes that would cost millions to some of the PPC and affiliate gurus and expert that have been around every since the first affiliate program / associate program is up
Recently, www.amazon.com
NOTE THIS DATE : May 1st 2009
As of 1st may 2009, Amazon (www.amazon.com) is not allowing anymore traffic from Pay Per Click (PPC) DIRECT LINKING to any of their products
So What is direct linking to amazon?
Let me give you an example of what was done in the past.
Example of a direct linking to amazon.com
This is a typical way on how some one would search for a product on like. In the above example, we are searching for “Kindle”
When we key in Kindle in google we came to the page above. As you can see the first sponsor link on the top right is kindle from Amazon. And as we click on the link we are brought to this page
Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)
The page can be found here: “Kindle 2″
Anyone who buy this product or any other product within 24 hours through this link and the creator of the Sponsor ad would gain a commission from Amazon.
The above example is what we call direct linking to Amazon (www.amazon.com).
However, this does not mean that affiliates can’t make money online, all they need to do is to build their own website or blog with articles and products which is not a direct link from PPC to their site and Amazon will still pay referral fee to these affiliates.
An example would be:
http://amazonchoice.blogspot.com/2009/04/amazon-kindle-kindle-2-amazons-new.html
BE WARNED: This change in policy by Amazon would affect all PPC / direct linking strategy that is out in the market. Be sure to terminate / pause your campaign is you have not done so already
Hope that this Article would keep you in the light when it comes to Affiliate marketing through Amazon (www.amazon.com).
For your success,
Johnson Tan
PS. Below is the email which Amazon sent out to all of Amazon’s associate indicating the change is policy.
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Dear Amazon Associate:
We’re writing to let you know about a change to the Amazon Associates Program. After careful review of how we are investing our advertising resources, we have made the decision to no longer pay referral fees to Associates who send users to www.amazon.com, www.amazon.ca, or www.endless.com through keyword bidding and other paid search on Google, Yahoo, MSN, and other search engines, and their extended search networks. If you’re not sure if this change affects you, please visit this page for FAQs.
As of May 1, 2009, Associates will not be paid referral fees for paid search traffic. Also, in connection with this change, as of May 1, 2009, Amazon will no longer make data feeds available to Associates for the purpose of sending users to the Amazon websites in the US or Canada via paid search.
This change applies only to the Associates programs in North America. If you are conducting paid search activities in connection with one of Amazon’s Associates Programs outside of the US and Canada, please refer to the applicable country’s Associates Program Operating Agreement for relevant terms and conditions.
We appreciate your continued support and participation in this advertising Program. If you have questions or concerns, please write to us by using the Contact Us form available on Associates Central.
Sincerely,
The Amazon Associates Program
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