Do We Share Amazon Revenue for Products Sold Through Skyscraper Ads?

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  1. EricDockett profile image93
    EricDockettposted 11 years ago

    I noticed Amazon products displayed in the skyscraper ad on the right of my page.  I also noticed it was displaying the exact same products I had listed in my Hub, further down. 

    I'm sure I've seen Amazon ads in Hubs before, or at least on the site somewhere.  But I've never seen them where they're so prominent compared to my own Amazon modules . . . which I split with HP 60/40. 

    This kinda bugs me, but maybe I'm missing something. Do the Amazon products in the skyscraper ad link to my affiliate code 60% of the time?  If not, it kinda seems like HP is beating me to the punch with that tall ad on the right, and if someone is really interested in the product I'm going to lose out on a sale.

    I hope someone can make me feel better about this.

    1. Robin profile image84
      Robinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Eric,
      Yes, HubPages splits those ad impressions with you 60/40 just like your Amazon Capsule.  smile

      1. EricDockett profile image93
        EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        Thanks for your reply, Robin! 

        Just to clarify, because I got a little confused where you used the word "impressions": Are you saying if someone clicks on one of those skyscraper Amazon ads and buys a product I get the commission 60% of the time?

        The commission for the sales are really what I'm concerned about, not so much the ad impression for the HP ads program.

        1. Robin profile image84
          Robinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

          Hi Eric,
          You don't get a portion of the sale, just the ad revenue if your impression is being displayed.  Amazon is likely giving you retargeting ads (after you visit a page they serve you the product in that page) not contextual ads (ads that match the content of your page).  If your readers are seeing Amazon ads, they aren't likely the same products as in your Hub. I hope that helps.  Have a good night.  smile

          1. EricDockett profile image93
            EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Thank Robin.  I have to reiterate: In the example I saw they were the exact same products as were in my Hub.  And, if a reader is researching a certain product before they come to my Hub about that product, there is a strong chance they will see that product in the Amazon skyscraper ad. 

            I recognize that the skyscraper ad isn't always an Amazon ad, but the example I saw really had the potential to lure readers into clicking the exact same product in the skyscraper ad, rather than my Amazon capsule.   I don't know if HP of anyone gets commission in that case, but apparently I don't.     

            It is what it is, and hopefully you understand where I'm coming from. Maybe what I saw was just a very rare example.

            Thanks again for your reply!

            1. Matthew Meyer profile image69
              Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

              @EricDockett Do you have a specific URL and/or title of a Hub on which you are seeing Amazon ads that are not in your Amazon capsules?

              1. EricDockett profile image93
                EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                Matthew: Not routinely.  I saw in on a Hub on one of my other accounts.  I did some experimenting this morning and didn't see it occur again, though I did see some exact products from other vendors.  Like Robin said, it is probably a rare thing, I hope.

              2. EricDockett profile image93
                EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                Matthew: Noticed it today in the this Hub, in the ad block in the upper right corner just beneath my first picture:

                http://ericdockett.hubpages.com/hub/Fen … Telecaster

                Amazon ad for a Fender Telecaster in a Hub where I have a Fender Telecaster in an Amazon capsule further down. 

                Just saying, FWIW . . . if a visitor is a mood to buy this product they're going to click that ad before they ever get to my Amazon capsule.  Bye bye sale.

                1. Matthew Meyer profile image69
                  Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  I looked at that Hub in Chrome and Firefox as well as signed in and not.
                  I don't see the same ad you are seeing.

                  My guess is that it is related to cookies on your computer from sites you have visited.

                  You can confirm this by clearing all the cookies in your browser.
                  This will likely impact the ads you see.

                  1. EricDockett profile image93
                    EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                    I'm sure you're right, and I understand I'm seeing the ad based on something I was viewing earlier in the day.  But my point all along is that buyers go to different websites before they decide to make a purchase.  Chances are, someone who comes to my page will have been to several other pages where they are looking at Fender Telecasters.  Therefore, chances are, they too may see the same things I saw, because they too will have cookies on their computers from websites they've visited.

                    I've seen this too with Musicians' Friend ads, another company that sells guitars.  But that's a little different, because I can't be a Musician's Friend affiliate here at HubPages.  However I am an Amazon affiliate, and an Amazon ad that shows a visitor the same product I'm trying to sell directly competes with my ability to sell that product. 

                    It's not a huge deal, I suppose, but it is a little frustrating.  I wouldn't worry about this at all if I were getting a commission 60% of the time from anyone who left my page and went to Amazon. wink

  2. lovebuglena profile image81
    lovebuglenaposted 11 years ago

    I've not noticed something like this before... Thanks for bringing it up...

    1. Robin profile image84
      Robinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Just as a side note, you are likely seeing a different ad than your readers as you were looking at those products.  For example, I am in a wedding at the end of the month and need to buy a dress.  When viewing Hubs, I am seeing a lot of Nordstrom ads with the dresses that I previously viewed.  I doubt that you are seeing my dresses.  smile

      1. EricDockett profile image93
        EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        Understood, but if someone is researching blue widgets, and they've already visited a couple of sites, when they get to my blue widget page there is a good chance blue widgets are exactly what they're going to see in those ads. 

        Know what I mean?

        I've noticed Amazon ads are especially good at reflecting exactly what you've been looking at, and what search terms you've been entering.

  3. kkingcrabb profile image71
    kkingcrabbposted 11 years ago

    Have any of you ever sold anything from one of your capsules? Been here over a year and have not had one red cent from Amazon.

    1. EricDockett profile image93
      EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yup. A fair chunk of my monthly income here comes from Amazon sales. Hence my concern. smile

    2. lovebuglena profile image81
      lovebuglenaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I've had Amazon sales from my capsules but most of those sales were not the products on my hubs but some other products I never featured in my hubs.

  4. blueheron profile image88
    blueheronposted 11 years ago

    I've been here a few weeks--never sold anything from the Amazon capsules.

  5. kkingcrabb profile image71
    kkingcrabbposted 11 years ago

    Hmm only had like 5000+ views on my 50 hubs and not one things from Amazon maybe I need to reconfigure where I place those capsules.

    1. lovebuglena profile image81
      lovebuglenaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It's best to have the Amazon capsule to the right of the text capsule where those products are talked about or right under neath it. It is not a good idea to place products in your Amazon capsules that have nothing to do with the content of the hub.

    2. lovebuglena profile image81
      lovebuglenaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Also add descriptions to the Amazon products you place in your hubs. People will be more likely to click on the links...

  6. LindaSmith1 profile image61
    LindaSmith1posted 11 years ago

    Not sure about HP, but this happened to me on another site.  I asked about it and was told that the writer is the only one who sees those ads with the same products we used on it not the typical reader.

  7. LindaSmith1 profile image61
    LindaSmith1posted 11 years ago

    Eric: I looked at about 7 of your guitar hubs and only found one with any amazon products which are at the bottom and have nothing to do with guitars.  Nothing on the others.

    But, the question remains, since we know people may click on an amazon link and actually buy something totally different than what we have even written about. So, the question is  Will hubbers get credit if a reader purchases anything by clicking on the HP Amazon ads from their hub?

    1. EricDockett profile image93
      EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, but go check out some guitar sites, or a site like Musicians Friend that sells guitar gear, and then come back to my Hubs.  I bet you'll see a lot more guitar  stuff in the Amazon ads, and if you're researching a specific guitar there is good chance that exact guitar is what you'll see.  That Amazon ad will be directly  competing with my Amazon capsule for that product.

      That said, this probably happens a very small percentage of the time.  I just happened to see such a case.  I'm probably making a bigger deal out of it than it really is.

      1. Robin profile image84
        Robinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        Hi Eric,
        I think it is rare, so I wouldn't worry to much about it.  As for the revenue, HubPages doesn't earn from Amazon sales on skyscraper ads (we are in the same boat as you.)  smile

        1. EricDockett profile image93
          EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

          Thanks Robin.  You're right.  I won't worry, and I didn't mean to make more of this than there really is.  But here's a thought, slightly stolen from another platform:

          What about a static amazon ad on every hub in place of where that skyscraper ad goes? Allow the writer to plug in some keywords that will determine what shows up there, or just pull them from the content.  Split the affiliate code 60/40.  HP will make more $$ from Amazon sales, and some Hubbers who complain they never sell anything might start seeing a few bucks from Amazon. 

          Just a thought.  No idea how hard or insane it might be to implement, or how the money would work out.

          1. Robin profile image84
            Robinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I will bring it up in our next Community meeting.  We are quite busy right now, but it never hurts to ask! I'll let you know.  smile

            1. EricDockett profile image93
              EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

              Understood.  You guys have a lot on your plate already. Thanks Robin. smile

              1. Matthew Meyer profile image69
                Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                We discussed this in our Community meeting.
                Currently Amazon has the ability to bid on those slots, but most of our data supports that other ads perform better.

          2. profile image0
            calculus-geometryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Users who live in states where Amazon shut down its affiliate program would get no benefit from it.  But if it was optional, fine.

            1. EricDockett profile image93
              EricDockettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

              You're right. 

              Hopefully that whole Nexus issue gets straightened out sooner than later.

 
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