More Amazon Changes?

1. 58

   pnerissaposted 15 years ago

   I received this in my morning email and because it's early I was wanting a second opinion on it. Does this mean that we're not getting paid by Amazon anymore?
   
   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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2. 82

   Whitney05posted 15 years ago

   Basically, it sounds like you shouldn't use the keyword option. Stick with picking products by ASIN.

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   1. 72

      relacheposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      No, that's not what it means at all.
      
      
      
      Whether you use the keyword or ASIN option, you are not sending users to the Amazon site via keyword bidding or other paid search functions.  As several people have pointed out, this change in the Amazon Associates doesn't effect those of us using their services via HubPages.

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3. 70

   sunforgedposted 15 years ago

   The PPC change will have no effect on us at hubpages.
   
   The datafeed could, If it was going to then whitneys solutions would hopefully work well. I think the capsules would classify as widgets and are not " data feeds " I see no suggestion that widget use will be not be credited.
   
   But if this was true:
   
   Hopefully hubs could just make the capsule serve ads for non north american programs?
   
   Not including datafeeds is most likely a measure intended to stop the use of automated scripts that create amazon stores automatically it would be a shame if it effected hubs.

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4. STAFF

   pauldeedsposted 15 years ago

   This should have no effect on HubPages.  They are trying to prevent affiliates from buying paid search ads that go directly to Amazon.  Paid search ads are the sponsored links that appear along side of search results.  Amazon likely has their own paid search program, and they apparently don't want affiliates competing with them (in North America anyway).

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   1. 70

      sunforgedposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      the ppc part is obvious....the data feed question begs a definitive answer
      
      are hubcapsules "data feeds"...or are widgets a different classification

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      1. STAFF

         pauldeedsposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         The data feeds clause also only applies to paid search.

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         1. 58

            pnerissaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Paul. It was the widgets I was concerned with and I think you answered it. I also checked the Q & A section of Amazon and found this that refers to just the paid search:
            
            Q: Will I earn referral fees on items that are ordered in April by a customer through my paid search advertisement but that ship on or after May 1, 2009?
            A: The referral fees rates you were eligible to earn in April will apply to all qualifying products that are placed in a shopping cart prior to May 1, 2009, by a user who followed your accurately tagged paid search advertisements, as long as that user completes the purchase on or before July 29, 2009. However, you will not be paid fees items that are placed in a shopping cart on or after May 1, 2009, by users who follow your paid search advertisements.

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5. 81

   ngurecoposted 15 years ago

   I think it means no adwords biding on amazon products and by extension there shall be no amazon products on adsense.

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6. 56

   Dame Scribeposted 15 years ago

   ahh...alright. thank you Mr. Pauldeeds, you are wonderful! awesome! fantastic! quick! shall I go on thank you.

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7. 59

   Pat Merewetherposted 15 years ago

   I haven't gotten anything from Amazon for months - sold five items via my hub pages and that shows on my report on amazon, but since about January - nothing at all.  May be a link problem? 
   
   I keep adding Amazon products that are relative to my articles - but nothing happens - so is this new announcement mean I shouldn't add more? I keep sending emails to Amazon about it - but can't get a reply.

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   1. 70

      sunforgedposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      the new announcement is completely irrelevant to hubpages and to your problem

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8. 73

   Research Analystposted 15 years ago

   I have been adding amazon books by use of the ASIN numbers to relevant hubs but not getting any sales, I don't know how to increase sales for amazon products. Maybe its the topic I am choosing to write about. Just like its been already stated it seems that if anyone is using paid search they will not be able to use the associate referral program with amazon. It just boils down to the fact that companies want more viral and natural search results.

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9. 57

   lindagoffiganposted 15 years ago

   I received the same email and immediately started deleting the Amazon capsule from my hub.  However, the American way is not to say no to yourself and I am received information about updating my Amazon account for payment.  When I received the email about my Amazon account and stopped deleting the Amazon capsule and decided to get in the wait and see mode.  Maybe the email from Amazon was a follow through with the email about Amazon no longer paying.  But until I get my Amazon account straight and can still rely on eBay, I am going to leave the Amazon capsule alone.

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10. 55

    my-success-guruposted 15 years ago

    Did I read that correctly? No more Amazon affiliate program???

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    1. 72

       Maddie Ruudposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       See Paul's responses above.  This does not affect HubPages.

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    2. 58

       Mark Knowlesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Just have faith - that will get you through this difficult time.......
       
       Or, as Misha says - you could read the email.

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    3. 63

       darksideposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I think what we've learnt from this thread is that you can't read correctly.

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       1. 39

          kashifmahmoodposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Or you can say that Hubbers do not ready their mails carefully

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11. 63

    Mishaposted 15 years ago

    Would you people actually bother to read what email says exactly? If you can't do this, just try to read Relache's or Paul's post, they made a nice summary for you...

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12. 57

    lindagoffiganposted 15 years ago

    Thanks Pauldeeds for you answer about the Amazon Affiliate Marketing email.   As you stated, Hubpages will not be effected so I should not delete Amazon as an affiliate marketing tool or delete their capsule from the hub.  Amazon is trying to stop the paid search in the ads to go directly to Amazon.  Amazon probably have a paid search of its own.  Surprising email notification, a few replies from hubbers and the right answer received from a HubPage crew member.    Hubpage writers are not effected and need not take any action but to keep writing hubs.
    
    Thanks Paul Deeds.

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13. 60

    laringoposted 15 years ago

    Thanks Paul for clearing this up. I got the same email but wasn't positive about whether it would affect me or not.

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