Never been any good at Amazon products

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   Marisa Wrightposted 7 years ago

   Fundamentally, you have to feature products that the reader is going to want.
   
   For instance, if you're writing about a craft or sewing project, you would feature some of the tools or materials necessary to complete the task.   
   
   If you're writing about a type of product, you'd discuss the various options and then recommend the one you think is best, and feature that one.  For instance, you have a Hub about comfortable high heels and at the end, you suggest buying dance shoes.  I would feature a pair of tango shoes from Amazon (but remember you have to say why you recommend that particular brand).

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      TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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         sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Often the people who buy make their way to Amazon via your link but often buy something completely different:)   Amazon earnings can make a real difference to your earnings.

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            TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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               sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               I had a look at your Cumin Oil ad and my feeling was that you could have written a paragraph without focusing on where the reader could buy it.  I would make the ad much more part of the conversation and don't focus so much on the sell.  If the person is convinced they will click on the link.    An Amazon link would work much better than a capsule in my opinion.

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                  TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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                     sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                     'I will never in my life be without this substance again. Just the fact that I am smiling for the first time in maybe 40 years and I have no more gout and pain is enough for me to take it forever. Yes, I'm raving, but three months after I started, I knew I would never be without it again. Now six months later, I sleep better, my head is clearer, and my hair is shining, not falling out, and healthy'
                     
                     Why not change the substance to Cumin Oil and put a link to the product on Amazon instead of the capsule?  HubPages don't favor using capsules anymore, they prefer links.  You don't have to tell people that they can buy it on Amazon, you just lead them gently down the path with the orange amazon link and if they are curious they will go looking.

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                        TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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                           sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                           You highlight the word in the text for instance (castor oil) and then click the chain link at the top of the page.  It will open in a little block at the bottom and one option is Amazon, click amazon, and some links with castor oil will be revealed.  Choose the one which you consider to be closer to the product you have used or the same and it will insert the link in your text.  Just save it as usual and when you go back to your hub it will be there with a little orange A sign.
                           I don't generally use the URL but you can.  When you highlight the product name it will open with that word in the block and all you have to do is click Amazon below and look for the product, much like you have been done if you are using capsules search words.  Others may prefer to use the URL, I don't
                           Incidentally, if you use Grammarly you could have a problem adding the link.  I sometimes have to use another browser.  I use chrome and find that sometimes these are incompatible.

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                              wildernessposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                              I can add that sometimes that amazon button won't produce the item I wish.  If I go to the amazon product, copy the title on that page, and past it into the "search" area it will always pop up.  Useful!

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                                 sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                 Thanks, wilderness, that is helpful, nice to see you gracing these pages again!

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                                    wildernessposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                    Thanks, Sally - I come and go sometimes. 
                                    
                                    But a question for you - if we put the product URL in the pop up box with the chain link, it doesn't seem to produce a link in the finished hub with the little "A" indicator.  Do we still get paid under the HP program that way, or does it slip through the cracks?

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                                       sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                       As I understood it you can but I don't do it, perhaps I was wrong about that!  I do recall putting the URL it into the top box above the search bar but did not understand how it worked.   Interesting thought about payment though, it never crossed my mind!  I will give it a try and see what happens.

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                                       sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                       Interesting, I tried it.  I searched for the product on Amazon.com and copied the URL.  I then clicked on the word I wanted to highlight and the chain link.
                                       I then added the Amazon Product URL to the top line and made the link with no problem.  I wonder if one gets paid for Amazon links but not other websites!.  It inserted the link with no problem.  Whether one gets paid for it I don't know but it is there now.   Perhaps someone in the know can tell us?

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                                          wildernessposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                          Yes, it makes the link with no problem.  But when you see it in the hub, outside of edit, the link is underlined but doesn't carry the little "A" in a box.  Makes me wonder if it's being picked up as an Amazon link and if it is, are we getting paid. 
                                          
                                          Some time ago, when we were told the necessary codes were automatically entered into text links like this, I put a few into hubs, but now I'm wondering if I did it correctly.

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                                       sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                       That is odd, I made the link and it does have an Amazon A next to it.  I did it on my Wet Felted Gloves Hub.
                                       I edited it again just to make sure I did it correctly and on clicking the chain link it still shows the URL and a picture of the product at the bottom of the page.The A is also on the Hub.  Are you using Amazon.com links?

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                                       Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                       Don't do it that way, then - use the HubPages function that Sallybea explained.

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   Marisa Wrightposted 7 years ago

   Only a small percentage of readers will buy so yes, traffic is critical

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      TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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         Titiaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         I second that

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         Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Traffic is the key to income.  Some people do well with Amazon products, but most Hubbers make their money from HP Ads or Adsense, with the occasional Amazon sale as a bonus.
         
         If you are here to make money rather than express yourself, then you simply have to accept that news items and opinion pieces are a waste of time.   HubPages is not a news site, so it can't compete for with the newspapers.  You need to think about problems people have, or evergreen information that people are seeking, and write about those.

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   earnerposted 7 years ago

   I'll chuck in the odd Amazon capsule, but as I am British, writing in UK English about English things, it's really not viable most of the time. 
   
   Even books are "useless" because if I'm in England, writing about British things, then even a British/English book of interest to somebody will most likely be a British person, who would click and think "Hey, I'm on Amazon.com - I don't want that.... I'd want to buy this book on Amazon.co.uk".
   
   Words/language are different too.  e.g. if I were to write the most amazing hub about choosing frying pans for perfect omelettes.... Americans call them skillets and an omelette is probably either called something else, or spelt differently ... so any "audience" I have will, again, click and think "Hey, this is Amazon.com - and I want to buy this from the UK" and leave.

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      sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I am in the UK and most of my visitors come from the USA but I do have success with Amazon.  I believe Amazon make it possible now for us to sell from in the UK,  They made an announcement about a week or so ago.  There was a forum thread about it.   I just have not figured out what I have to do.

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         Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         We'll have to wait and see what HubPages do, because we can't make the required changes to the HubPages Amazon program.

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   Linda BookLadyposted 7 years ago

   I've had some Amazon capsules snipped lately too. My guess is that the capsule was snipped because you have no personal experience with the product. If you wrote, "I bought this necklace and wore it at the grand opening of a local department store. I'm very happy with the quality, and the compliments I got..." etc.etc. ... then it would be a personal review with your honest observation of the product. That's what they're looking for - not just random products that you never bought that just fit in with the hub's theme.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      The ad doesn't really fit with the theme, either.  The product has nothing to do with the differences between the two types of emeralds.

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   psycheskinnerposted 7 years ago

   I have to agree that it is easy to only write only about products you have experienced if that is what you choose to do.  Of course it does limit what products you post and how many, but it is not impossible.

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   Linda BookLadyposted 7 years ago

   I got the impression HubPages is trying to limit the number of products offered to those we have experience with. I have one page they removed ALL the products from even though they were directly related to the topic of the hub, and I'm guessing it was because I hadn't told about my personal use of the products.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      It's not just an impression, Linda, it's the rules.  See my response to Tess.

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         TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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            Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Did you read my explanation of the rule? Yes, I think it is over the top too, but rules are rules.  Did you see my suggested text that would satisfy the requirement?

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   Glenn Stokposted 7 years ago

   If you limit yourself to products you actually used and have experience with, and follow all the other rules, then you shouldn't have any trouble.  It doesn't matter if you bought them on Amazon or not.
   
   I'm living proof. Last week I published a review of five books that I had read. I used an Amazon capsule for each one. That's five Amazon ads!  The hub was move to Letterpile and none were snipped.

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      TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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         sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Here is a perfect example of how it can be done.
         https://holidappy.com/gift-ideas/Gift-I … eally-Want

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            TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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               Glenn Stokposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               Tess, Paul's hub worked because every Amazon link was 100% related to the title of his hub.
               
               I also have an example you can check out, where I used Amazon capsules, instead of in-text links, for each of five books that I reviewed. That hub was moved to Letterpile within a few days of publication and nothing needed to be snipped.
               
               I'm not allowed to post my own link, as you know, but you can find it in my profile listing. The title is "Five Benjamin Franklin Books With Encouragement and Inspiration."
               
               It will give you a good example how to use Amazon ads that don't get snipped. Notice how all five Amazon capsule ads relate to my title, in addition to the fact that I made it clear in the hub that I actually read those books.

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                  Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                  ....though it is notable that some of Paul's  links don't meet the rule about personal recommendation. For the animal onesie, for instance, there's no suggestion he has bought that particular onesie for his daughter.  If we did that, it would be snipped now.
                  
                  I wonder if that Hub was moved before the rules tightened up, and it hasn't been checked because it's Paul's.

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                     Glenn Stokposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                     Actually all the ideas were his 14-year-old daughter's. So she would have been the one to use them. That wasn't made clear either, so I see your point. Good question.
                     
                     In any case, the example I gave Tess covers all three requirements. I don't think they would have accepted five Amazon capsules if I hadn't.

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                        Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                        ...even if it was made clear, there is no comment about the particular brand of onesie recommended, which would be required now.
                        
                        Your Hub is different.  In it, it's clear that you've read all five books and the opinions on each one are personal. 
                        https://letterpile.com/books/Books-by-Benjamin-Franklin

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                           Glenn Stokposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                           Yes, I'm sure that's why they didn't snip any of my ads.
                           
                           Thanks for showing the link. I hope it helps Tess see how the rules work in practice. Your comment with the three rules made it very clear.

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                              sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                              You chose a hub which has not been updated yet. I don't use the Capsules anymore.  .If I went back to update it, I would remove the floating capsule.   I had hoped that the change would happen automatically without any help from me.

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                                 Glenn Stokposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                 Yes it will happen automatically, but it may not be where you expect it to be. You might prefer to have the floating capsule content under the left hand capsule, but it may end up over it. The placement may confuse readers if you have wording that says, "see below" or "as shown at the right".
                                 
                                 I'm not saying that you have any of those problems.  I'm just saying that in general for everyone to consider,  because I see a lot of it on some people's hubs that are going to be totally messed up—and already are messed up when viewed on mobile.  Mobile devices only show hubs in one column anyway, and has been that way for a long time. That's why I wrote a hub two years ago talking about making hubs mobile friendly.

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                                    sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                    Thank you, Glenn, I will have to spend a bit more time checking them over.  Sometimes I dread doing more than one at a time.  I spent a few minutes checking out how to place an Amazon link using an URL instead of the chain link in response to a query from Wilderness on the forum page and staff picked it up immediately and gave me a period of time to fix it up or it would be defeatured.  I had removed the Amazon capsule I had and replaced it with the link.but had not even had a chance to complete it.  I had no idea that they checked every single alteration.   I was only trying to teach myself how to use the URL feature.

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                           TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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                              sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                              Did you use Amazon links or capsules?  HubPages definitely don't like capsules anymore even though we still have that option.   I don't know why they don't dump the feature since it just causes so much agro.   They definitely don't like a hard sell of products or someone adding products unless they have a sound reason for adding them.   Just having read them is not a good enough reason.   If you still have the hub this might be the perfect time to review it with the guidelines suggested by Glen and Marisa and re-submit it.  If it is not featured again they can take a look at it.    They are much more qualified to comment than I am.

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                                 Glenn Stokposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                 Sally, there is nothing wrong with using Amazon capsules. I have five of them in my hub I suggested that Tess examine. It was accepted as is, without any snips, and moved to Letterpile.
                                 
                                 Tess, Did you see the difference in the way I used the capsules? I don't think you looked at it yet because you keep complaining about having yours snipped.

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                                    sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                    I was asked to change mine to links.   Personally, I prefer the capsules as they are more open and transparent but stopped using them when I was asked to change them to links.
                                    You and Marisa could not have done a better job of explaining how to use them and I bow to both of your superior knowledge.

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                                       Glenn Stokposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                       Just curious, when they asked you to change them to links, had you placed your own content within the capsule descriptions?  That's what I do, and not just a little. I include an extensive description so that the "buy now" button appears way down, after my description. That's what I've be trying to get Tess to notice.
                                       
                                       I see that many people put their description in a text capsule and leave the Amazon capsule description blank. Not a good idea. That makes it look spammy.

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                                          TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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                                             Glenn Stokposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                             So when they snip your Amazon capsules, do they move your description into a text capsule? Or lose it?
                                             
                                             There must be another reason then. Did your content include all three rules that Marisa mentioned?

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                                    sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                    I usually include it in the list of materials which will be needed to complete a Tutorial and explain why I use that particular product, such as hat blocks, shoe lasts purse frames etc or a particular type of wool for felting because it wears better, felts easier etc.,   I often include photos of the ones which I am used myself  in the Tutorial so I think I have it a lot easier than most. 
                                    I don't just write a list of ingredients as if I were making a cake, I go into detail.

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                                       Glenn Stokposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                       But do you put all that in the Amazon capsule itself? An example I found, you just include an empty Amazon capsule in "How to Wet Felt a Poinsettia Flower."
                                       
                                       And by the way, you need to adjust the floating capsule to be sure it appears in the right place when that feature is removed the end of October.

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         Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         I wish HubPages wouldn't create their own jargon, especially when it sounds insulting.  "Spammy elements" is just jargon and it doesn't mean what it says.
         
         All it means is "you have one or more links which break our rules". It really is that simple.  Try to ignore the word and concentrate on the meaning.
         
         To reiterate, the rules for Amazon products are:
         
         1. They must be relevant to the title of your Hub
         2.  You must say, either in the text or in the Amazon capsule, why you are recommending that particular make or model of the product. 
         3.  You must couch that recommendation in personal terms (i.e. using "I" or "my" or "mine").
         
         I suspect your Hubs were snipped because although the books were relevant, you didn't say why you were recommending them.

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            sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Boiled down like that it seems pretty simple:)

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            TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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               Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               You could have read other reviews and combined them, so it's not stating the obvious. You'll notice how Glenn is careful to inject personal comments throughout his Hub which makes it clear he has read each book.
               
               Educating Republicans is your motive for writing the Hub. What you need to say is the reason why you chose each of those particular books.  I'm sure there's a range of books on that subject - why did you choose those?

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                  TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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                     Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                     I have to apologise, because I missed the fact that you had actually linked to that Hub.  I can see exactly what the problem is.
                     
                     Firstly, you have no introduction. I am a big advocate for keeping the introduction short, but you need a sentence or two to say what the Hub is about.  Remember, the summary is not visible to the reader except on Google search. 
                     
                     Secondly, I can see why HubPages thought you hadn't read the books.  For the first book, you say what the book is about - which you could have put together from the book jacket, Amazon etc - then a review from a Guardian journalist.  No  opinion or review of your own at all.    For the second, third and fourth books, you say what the book is about, but no review at all.   With the fifth book, you begin to express some opinions and I start to see sentences with "I" in them, which is what's required - but I suspect the editors had stopped reading by that time.

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   Marisa Wrightposted 7 years ago

   You're missing the point, Tess. HubPages is NOT journalism, nor is it academic writing.   And that's as it should be - Hubs can never compete with Huffington Post, newspapers or Wikipedia.  To get traffic, HubPages articles HAVE to be written from a different angle.  Readers come here looking for writers who offer advice and opinions - they can get dry, impartial facts in plenty of other places.
   
   This is what we've been trying to get across to you regarding the Amazon capsules. As I explained in my list of rules, if you include an Amazon capsule, you must give a personal opinion of the product - otherwise it's not allowed.

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      TessSchlesingerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

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         Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         People don't trust Amazon reviews - they know that for some products, they are planted by the manufacturer.   That's why they go looking for other views on the product.   If you have written an in-depth Hub about a subject, so it looks as though you know what you're talking about, then the reader will trust your review more than the Amazon reviews.
         
         Also, people are looking for advice on which particular make and model (or which book) to buy.  They know that if they search on Amazon, they'll get a whole list of possible products or books, most of which will have several reviews, and some of those will be contradictory.  They're daunted by the prospect of ploughing through all that - they want help to make a decision.   
         
         I agree that it wouldn't be worth adding Amazon capsules to that particular Hub because you don't do anything in that Hub to help people decide which book would be most suitable for their needs.

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