Questions on Amazon Links/Products/Capsules

1. 86

   DzyMsLizzyposted 6 years ago

   Hi folks!
   I'm editing some hubs, and I have a couple of questions:
   
   1.  I notice there has been a lot of talk from HP staff lately that seems to discourage use of Amazon capsules, preferring anchor text links instead.
   
   I have "kind of" a problem with this, for if the product being recommended is one that might not be familiar to most folks, e.g. a plumbing tool, then a link without an image seems silly.  Wouldn't folks like to see a picture of the item?  I know I would rather see a photo right then and there while I'm reading an article, that to have to click over to some other site in the middle of what I'm trying to read.  I find that to be very annoying--in much the same way that newspapers have always irritated me by splitting up stories, with their 'continued on page xxx' nonsense.
   
   2.  Since the new protocol seems to be anchor text, instead of an Amazon capsule, when we put the URL in for the link, should we check it for a 'no follow,' if we do have an Amazon affiliate account? 
   
   I'm a bit confused about what that means.  (Outside of I know that a 'no follow' means The Big G won't penalize the article for the link)...

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   1. 83

      Venkatachari Mposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think they are entirely against Amazon capsules. You can use them but with more care. You should see that the product you add in the capsule is completely consistent with your topic. It should be 100% related and you should mention why you are linking it with your experiences and full justification for recommending that product instead of other ones that are available there.
      Regarding the "No follow" doubt, I am equally zero in that matter.

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      1. 86

         DzyMsLizzyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I am aware of all that, thank you; I am really just puzzled about the other item I mentioned.

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   2. 83

      peachpurpleposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      sorry no idea, but I do add in 1 amazon capsule in my hub

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2. 96

   eugbugposted 6 years ago

   What's the logic behind preferring links? Is it simply that capsules are "in your face" and spoil the reader experience, whereas links are more discrete?

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   1. 83

      Venkatachari Mposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I think most readers don't have the time to refer to the products and make their selection. If you can provide a review of the product readily based on your own experience, it will be of much help for them. The readymade image of the product is also worthy in making their decision as to whether that product suits their needs or not. So, the capsule works as a quick review for those readers.

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   2. 86

      DzyMsLizzyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I don't find it very 'discreet' when they stick a bit fat orange "a" RIGHT BEFORE the link!  That's even worse 'in your face' than a separate capsule, IMO.  It interrupts your reading in the middle of a sentence!

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3. 85

   Marisa Wrightposted 6 years ago

   As others have said, they're not totally against Amazon capsules. If you're planning to include two or three products in a Hub they prefer links - but if it's just one, then a capsule is just fine.

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   1. 86

      DzyMsLizzyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      My bigger issue, Marisa, is with whether or not we should make an Amazon link a 'no follow.'

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4. 74

   Barbara Kayposted 6 years ago

   I've had some snipped, because I don't think the moderator understood the word crochet. Crochet is like knitting and they'll snip the yarn that is needed almost every time. I think they don't know what crochet is.

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   1. 95

      Robie Benveposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Barbara, from a guidance that I recently read from Robin, it looks like, in the case of crochet, the issue with the amazon product was that yes yarn it's needed, but it's not difficult to find, or particularly specialized.
      Here is what she wrote on a different thread:
      - Only include products that are specific and the reader might have a difficult time finding, e.g., if you're writing a recipe article and linking to flour on Amazon, this will always get snipped. 
      I hope this helps, it surely helped me .

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5. 69

   tritrainposted 6 years ago

   Unless this particular brand of flower is a favorite of the recipe maker.  I'm just not sure that it is always considered.
   
   One can argue that Amazon capsules can be distracting, but then so can those big irrelevant ads that sometimes pop up.

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