Amazon Associates

I'm not sure if this is for monetization via SEO or just monetization in general, but I wanted to comment on Amazon Associates.

Amazon Associates tends to kind of be written off by most admins as a joke, but really you can become quite successful with it.

There are a variety of widgets that you can place on your site, and many are beneficial in forums.

There's one in particular that automatically takes text on your site/forum and links it to an amazon product, which can be really helpful. If your in any type of merchandise niche, like Movies, TV, Books, or Electronics, this can be really beneficial.

Also, what's really great right now is Unbox Video Downloads and MP3. Amazon is offering 20% Commision on these through December. What was really great for me was that people SUBSCRIBED to Moonlight episodes. So now whenever new episodes are released, I automatically get commission on it. Also, if you run a music site, you could use Amazon MP3, because unlike iTunes, once you have the MP3 file, you can do whatever you want with it, no restrictions or limitations.

 

I'm starting to give amazon associates more of a chance, though I had written it off before. While I've made a few sales, it hasn't been anything significant thus far. I've also tried adding Unbox Video but unfortunately, they don't tend to have the tv episodes/movies included in their directory that my sites are focused around.

 

I think if you can use it in the right way, its worth it. Though if you have a totally unrelated niche, sticking codes left and right won't work like adsense does.

 

I ignored Amazon Associates for a while, but discovered just getting the cookie set around the holiday's was really paying off. The products that people were buying were completely unrelated to my links, but the cookie was set.

 

I have made something like $5 in amazon this year. $0 from CJ.

All of my money comes from google adsense and selling text ads.

-Raymond

 

I've been with Amazon for probably two years now and still haven't earned enough to get my first pay cheque! I do get sales, but never enough. Hopefully in another year I'll get paid out!

They do have good creatives and I do use them a lot on the site, esp the ones that relate to what my site is about but the sales conversion isn't very good at all unforunately.

 

it's hard to get paid when their cookie is only good for 24 hours.

 

Never heard that before. People that say amazon associates is a joke, have probably never tried it.

I belong to a LOT of associates programs, and amazon is probably the best.

 

Hi Kevin,

What other associate programs do you belong to besides Amazon? I would be intersted to know and try them out...

 

I used AA in the past, but found it was only effective when a new book or video etc was released on a subject relevant to my site. That does'nt surprise me as the site is very much a 'niche' site dealing with a highly specialised field.

 

I'd be interested in hearing of your experiences as well, Kevin.