Embedded Amazon links

1. 88

   randomcreativeposted 7 years ago

   HubPages editors,
   
   If you choose to embed Amazon links instead of using the Amazon capsule that the site provides (yes, HubPages is still providing it even though they don't seem to want anyone to use it), please make sure the products are linked correctly. I had multiple broken Amazon links in my most recent edit.
   
   Thanks.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      Victoria Lynnposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Randomcreative! I was wondering about the Amazon capsules. Why are we being discouraged not to use them? I had a hub edited for me, and the capsule was removed. I had a product in it that was totally what the article was about! I don't understand. Can I add it back in? ;-)

      replyreport
      1. 88

         randomcreativeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Google has really cracked down on the amount of product capsules that are acceptable from sites like HubPages. I understand that it's not okay to have 6 product links in a 400 word article. However, I've had the HP staff take out a single product link that was completely related to the 1,000+ word article, which I don't understand. Yes, you can definitely add back any content HP removes.

         replyreport
   2. 86

      Robinposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I took a look at the edited version of your most recent edit, the Filofax hub, and didn't see any broken Amazon links.  Are you talking about another Hub?  I want to make sure that we take care of the problem. Thanks!

      replyreport
      1. 88

         randomcreativeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         I went in and fixed the broken links myself.

         replyreport
         1. 86

            Robinposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            I looked at the hub in its edited version. I can see it before you made the changes and didn't notice a problem with the links. Am I looking at the right hub?

            replyreport
            1. 88

               randomcreativeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               I just went back and looked at the HP staff edited version. Now all the links look fine in that version. Maybe I checked the hub before the staff was finished editing it, even though I'd gotten an email saying they were done, and I didn't actually go in to make any changes until a full 24 hours after receiving that email. There were a couple links that looked like this: amazon.com/:B000J6EXM6 and did not work.
               
               Regardless, there are no instructions in the HP hub creation layout about using embedded links. If the staff wants users to create Amazon links in this format, please make it clear how to create these links and get rid of the capsule format entirely. Don't just leave users with the outdated Amazon capsule, scold users repeatedly for still using it, and then delete their capsules while editing hubs. I was actually shocked that an editor had created embedded links for this hub. Typically editors delete all of my Amazon capsules completely, even when I only have a single capsule in a 1,000+ word hub that is relevant to the content.

               replyreport
2. 87

   Will Apseposted 7 years ago

   They need to get a few people who genuinely understand the issues of Amazon ads.
   Weed out the useless and potentially damaging ads. Experiment with different ad regimes on pages where readers expect to find them.
   
   As with everything else, it is all in the detail.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      randomcreativeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      HP really needs to get a few editors who have a thorough understanding of any of the issues HP has faced in recent years. Amazon is just the tip of the iceberg. Many of the recent edits from the staff have really been done poorly. Links don't work, photos aren't in the correct spot in the article, etc. I hate having to go back in and make more changes after they're done.
      
      I think that HP has done a decent job on ad placement overall. It's so much better than it was five years ago. However, the recent guidance, or lack thereof, on Amazon products is really frustrating.

      replyreport
3. 83

   julieann26posted 7 years ago

   The Amazon capsules are now coming with a warning telling you the criteria for posting.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      randomcreativeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      They do, but it's really not sufficient. I've also been frustrated with the recent Amazon product edits because often the staff is choosing to embed links instead of using the capsule. Embedding links is an excellent alternative, but there is NO guidance in the hub creation format for creating these links. I know how to build affiliate Amazon links, but I know that most HP users don't and will simply opt for the Amazon capsule tool. If HP really wants users to make the switch, they need to educate users properly and give them the right tools to succeed.

      replyreport