New Way to Use Amazon Capsules?

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   Jean Bakulaposted 6 years ago

   I am almost ready to publish a new article, and I want to add two Amazon Capsules. I know how to do it the old way. But I saw on lobobrandon and a few other's hubs a different way. There is just an orange "A" and what looks like a hyperlink, and when clicked, it takes the reader right to the item on the correct Amazon page. How can I do that? I tried different things with my Amazon capsule, and can't figure it out.
   
   And is the the preferred way now? Thank you.

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2. 0

   Beth Eaglescliffeposted 6 years ago

   You add an Amazon link by using a text capsule (not an Amazon one). 
   
   1. Open the text capsule.
   2. Highlight a word or phrase.
   3. In the menu (inside the text capsule) there is an icon of a closed chain link next to one of a broken chain. Click on the closed chain link.
   4. Insert URL of amazon product page.
   5. Click save.
   6. Then click save in the edit capsule.
   
   If you want to remove the link, click on the word or phrase and then click on the broken chain icon.
   
   I get more sales from these in-text links than I did using the old Amazon capsules. (You still need to add a few sentences about why you are recommending that particular product.)

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      Junaid Mustafaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      But I don't see product preview.

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         lobobrandonposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         This is why it is called a text link and not a product capsule.

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      liesl5858posted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Beth for this. I often wonder how they do it.

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   theraggededgeposted 6 years ago

   Or... highlight the item name (or book title or whatever) in the text, click the chain icon, then look for the Amazon tab further down the pop-up window. Click on it and your item should be near the top of the list.
   
   Oh and ditto what Beth says, I get more sales from them too.

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      DrMark1961posted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Since we cannot tell which of our sales come from which articles (unless it is a product relating to only one hub), how can you tell?

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4. 83

   lobobrandonposted 6 years ago

   All my links were added through the HTML when I click view HTML while editing the text capsule. I place this code where I want the link: <a rel="nofollow" href="AMAZON:ASINHERE">LINK THIS TO AMAZON</a>
   
   I used to do this because the only way to add Amazon links was the way Bev suggested (if you wanted the revenue share thing with HP). And I could never find the products I wanted doing the usual search as I rarely link to the product via its name. But now, after reading the comment from Beth I tried it out the simple way and it works! That's a new change that happened sometime over the last year Thanks Beth.

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      Beth Eaglescliffeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      @lobobrandon - I've picked up lots of useful tips from you too.

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5. 75

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 6 years ago

   Robin told me she'd prefer I do the hyperlinks about two years ago, and so I've been doing that for two years now. It's beautiful because ad blockers don't block those amazon hyperlinks, and the big A lets you know where the link is going. No deception, no annoyance - just great non blockable amazon links.

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      lobobrandonposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed. This is also why I switched over. Not blocked, better conversion rates as it's not a sales pitch but a helpful link.

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         Jean Bakulaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Everyone,
         I didn't realize it was just a hyperlink. It looks so much nicer!

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6. 52

   Daniel Mollatposted 6 years ago

   Okay. I'm a little confused here. There is the Amazon Capsule that shows an image of the product that is referred to in our article and there is the Amazon link that serves the same purpose?. When a visitor clicks the "buy now" button on the Amazon image and ends up buying the product, we get a commission. Does the same thing work with an amazon link instead of a capsule, i.e., we get a commission if the visitor ends up buying the product from the link?
   
   If this is the case wouldn't a link be a more professional, 'non-sales-pitch', method of presenting a product on which we derive commissions? Should I go back to all my articles and change all my amazon capsules to amazon links?
   
   Please respond as this seems to be a very important issue.

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      DrMark1961posted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Do you remember those old TV shows where the host would stop in the middle of the program and pitch some product? We still have them here, and on Brazilian TV the star will stop in the middle of the show and pitch soda, food, whatever. They have not been seen for many years in the US, and I think that is becuase they are so tacky.
      TACKY. That is kind of what the in link Amazon sales look like to me. You will still get paid the same, no matter if you sell through the capsule or the link, but instead of just mentioning the product and linking to it, you will also have to include a personal recommendation.
      
      In my opinion it looks unprofessional. I have a few of them, usually in the hubs I wrote just for fun (like dog names) but when I want to present a better alternative to what the reader may already be using I include a capsule that eplains why I recommend the product and a photo so that they can see what I am talking about.

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         lobobrandonposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         I think capsules are tacky haha. To each his own I guess. Capsules you literally throw an ad in the readers face.

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            DrMark1961posted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, I realize that. If an ad is thrown in your face, however, you can always ignore it.
            Imagine you are watching your favorite newscast and in the middle of the story the guys swings to the right and tells you "When I get heartburn, I always reach for Rolaids", swings back to the left and says, "in other news..."
            To me that is what the Amazon link is all about.
            But, as you point out, to each his own. I know HP now prefers Amazon links but I would be upset if they chose to ONLY have links instead of both.

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      theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      It doesn't matter what they buy, Daniel. As long as there is a click-through, a cookie is placed on their computer so that you receive commission on whatever they purchase from Amazon within the following 24 hours (I think it's 24 hrs; it might only be 12 now).
      
      It's your choice whether to use links or capsules. Their purpose is exactly the same.

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   Daniel Mollatposted 6 years ago

   One further question to my earlier post. Are there limitations as to the number of links we can include in the articles as there are limits on Amazon capsules?

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      lobobrandonposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Capsules and links have the same requirements. Yes, same commissions. No you MUST not go and change all.

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      theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. I only ever use one, possibly two, but I know some people use more. They tend to get snipped by the editors.

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      Jean Bakulaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Daniel,
      I believe the rule is still one Amazon capsule or "suggestion" if you adopt the new way for each 500 words you write. Use them sparingly, because even if you follow the rule, the editors are quite ruthless about taking them out. I've had book reviews where they took the actual book link out (I argued that one). Best Regards, Jean

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   Daniel Mollatposted 6 years ago

   From what I'm reading it seems that Amazon links are preferred to Amazon capsules. I personally feel the same way. I think the capsules portray an intention by the writer to promote the product and that his article is just a big sales pitch for it. This was in fact mentioned to me by a friend who read my article on "How I Found a Perfect Way to Prevent Growth of Colon Polyps". He asked me if I was promoting sales of the products in the article. I felt very embarrassed because that is definitely not my intention. This incident made me think if other readers view amazon capsules in similar fashion.
   
   On the other hand the link is a subtle way of suggesting that the product is mentioned only like an afterthought to highlight how it is much related to the article.
   
   This being the case why, lobobrando, did you suggest that I MUST not change the Amazon capsules I already have in many of my articles? You capitalized the word MUST which I view as a very emphatic suggestion. There must be a reason behind your remark and I would be very grateful if you could elaborate more on the reason behind it.
   
   Will replacing all my Amazon capsules with links do some damage to my articles in any way? Won't this change be viewed as an update or edit to the article thus being more favorable with search engines?
   
   Appreciate everybody's comments on this. Thanks.

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      Jean Bakulaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I normally use them so people can read books on the topic of my hub for more info. I tend to write long hubs, so in a way the old Amazon capsules added a bit of color. I don't see how to add my description though. In the hub I am finishing, I talk about two authors I've read who saw the topic from my point of view, so it really doesn't need a description.
      
      I never made much on Amazon, so if the reader doesn't care to learn more about what I found interesting, they can just read the hub. I don't care if they buy anything.

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      theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      It's your choice. Brandon meant that there's no 'MUST' involved.

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   Bills Placeposted 6 years ago

   Good to know about the hyperlink method giving better conversions. I think I'll give these a try instead of the capsules once I get all my hubs updated.

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