thinking going the amazon review site route - bad idea? | Warrior Forum - The #1 Digital Marketing Forum & Marketplace

15 years ago

A little over a year ago another Warrior made a post about making money with Amazon review sites and, not only did it start a whole new biz for me, but it led me into several other directions, as well, that have been quite profitable.

I say pick your method of making money, then go for it. Any route you take will have pros and cons.

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myob

15 years ago

The product review model is a good one, and there are of course a number of Warriors doing very well with it. I have been doing it just a little differently for many years, which right now is looking quite fortuitous, since California is another state that may fall to the affiliate tax issue with Amazon.

The products I promote are available through other programs such as CJ, Linkshare, and direct affiliation with manufacturers. These products are promoted by direct selling through my lists of ongoing buyers spread out over dozens of niches. In the event Amazon does pull out of California, I will still have my lists to move over to other affiliate programs with similar products.

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Bradley J Anderson

15 years ago

Originally Posted by myob

The products I promote are available through other programs such as CJ, Linkshare, and direct affiliation with manufacturers. These products are promoted by direct selling through my lists of ongoing buyers spread out over dozens of niches. In the event Amazon does pull out of California, I will still have my lists to move over to other affiliate programs with similar products.

That's a good point. You don't necessarily have to promote through Amazon only.

BTW, here's the link to that thread I alluded to in my earlier post. Might be some useful information in there for you:

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...print-you.html

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Jason Perez O'Connor

15 years ago

Originally Posted by myob

The product review model is a good one, and there are of course a number of Warriors doing very well with it. I have been doing it just a little differently for many years, which right now is looking quite fortuitous, since California is another state that may fall to the affiliate tax issue with Amazon.

The products I promote are available through other programs such as CJ, Linkshare, and direct affiliation with manufacturers. These products are promoted by direct selling through my lists of ongoing buyers spread out over dozens of niches. In the event Amazon does pull out of California, I will still have my lists to move over to other affiliate programs with similar products.

I have been following your posts because I am currently going at the Amazon Review method full force, but going the write your reviews on a website then get it ranked route, tossed in with a few guest posts. I've been trying to figure out just what it is that you write to those lists of prospects. Product reviews, information about problems and how a product is a solution, or writing about something and simply leaving a related link to a product that people click.

Especially since you seem to make a good amount from a successful publication. I wonder if you've tried those 30+ k dollar labotory products under Industrial and Science at Amazon, though I wouldn't be suprised if you have, I'm very keen to learn what you do in that respect, have any courses anywhere? Can't put my finger on it, seems highly effective. Maybe I've even answered my own question, please wink lol

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myob

15 years ago

@Jason

What I do is actually very simple, and this model has been explained in many previous posts by myself and other experienced, highly successful, and professional article marketers. You write articles to establish yourself as an authority in your niche(s). Your readers will then trust your recommendations.

An excellent ebook detailing this model, which I purchased many years ago, in fact is still available on Clickbank for $39: Turn Words into Traffic by Jim Edwards. It is also available on Amazon.

Writing articles for syndication is the quickest way I know to build recognition, authority, and sales in any niche. As I mentioned quite often, it does not take many articles at all to succeed in any market no matter how competitive or "saturated" it may seem. The reason I target the most hotly competitive markets is because that's were the big money is at. Seems simple to me, and I just don't understand why everyone tries to make it so complicated.

Writing quality, well researched and original articles then submitting them to targeted outlets such as ezine publishers, blogs, websites, and even offline publications like trade journals, magazines, newspapers, press releases, etc., ensures that real live eyeballs read them and respond to your call to action. Besides some incidental advertising and appurtenant offline followups, that one line is my entire internet marketing model.

And yes, I do have companies that will quite often buy several $30,000+ industrial/scientific/communications/medical/automotive products at the same time. But IMO this type of volume sales most likely will not ever be accomplished by "product review" sites alone. Most of my sites in these highly competitive niches don't even rank higher than 10,000 from the top anyway. This is what we mean by "article syndication"; leveraging quality articles to their highest potential. My big "secret" to success is - article marketing.

"Of those that spin out trifles and die without a memorial, many flatter themselves with high opinions of their own importance, and imagine that they are every day adding some improvement to human life."

- Samuel Johnson

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Jason Perez O'Connor

15 years ago

Originally Posted by myob

@Jason

What I do is actually very simple, and this model has been explained in many previous posts by myself and other experienced, highly successful, and professional article marketers. You write articles to establish yourself as an authority in your niche(s). Your readers will then trust your recommendations.

An excellent ebook detailing this model, which I purchased many years ago, in fact is still available on Clickbank for $39: Turn Words into Traffic by Jim Edwards. I believe it is also available on Amazon now as well.

Writing articles for syndication is the quickest way I know to build recognition, authority, and sales in any niche. As I mentioned quite often, it does not take many articles at all to succeed in any market no matter how competitive or "saturated" it may seem. The reason I target the most hotly competitive markets is because that's were the big money is at. Seems simple to me, and I just don't understand why everyone tries to make it so complicated.

Writing quality, well researched and original articles then submitting them to targeted outlets such as ezine publishers, blogs, websites, and even offline publications like trade journals, magazines, newspapers, press releases, etc., ensures that real live eyeballs read them and respond to your call to action. Besides some incidental advertising and appurtenant offline followups, that one line is my entire internet marketing model.

And yes, I do have companies that will quite often buy several $30,000+ industrial/scientific/communications/medical/automotive products at the same time. But IMO this type of volume sales most likely will not ever be accomplished by "product review" sites alone. Most of my sites in these highly competitive niches don't even rank higher than 10,000 from the top anyway. This is what we mean by "article syndication"; leveraging quality articles to their highest potential. My big "secret" to success is - article marketing.

"Of those that spin out trifles and die without a memorial, many flatter themselves with high opinions of their own importance, and imagine that they are every day adding some improvement to human life."

- Samuel Johnson

Maybe the way I worded things made it confusing or hard to understand what I meant. From following previous posts I know what you do, I was simply asking what you write in these Articles, and how you introduce those recommendations.

Infact, don't answer it, I'd better figure it out for myself so I learn how to do it. Thanks for the course recommendation, I'll check it out.

I do product sites because it's what I'm use to and what I've done in the past. Whilst I wont give up on what works, I'm always willing to try another method just to add it to my arsenal.

I guess what stops me is not knowing what I should really write and what constitutes good original articles that these different outlets will like.

I know how to do product reviews though hihi : )

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myob

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Jason Perez O'Connor

...I guess what stops me is not knowing what I should really write and what constitutes good original articles that these different outlets will like.

I know how to do product reviews though hihi : )

One example I have given previously was on "mesothelioma". It is typical of my style. Write authoritative articles on topic, submit them to relevant outlets (in this case publications for litigation lawyers in this specialty, paralegals, workers' comp insurance journals, association newsletters, consumer health magazines, etc). Include a short promo in the resource box with a link for "more info" ... to my website with Amazon reference books.

Most of those specialty books are upwards of $200-$300 each. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout. And I ain't gonna do no website "product review" on medical books. It doesn't rank anywhere near about a million pages from the top spot anyway.

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Jason Perez O'Connor

15 years ago

Originally Posted by myob

One example I have given was on "mesothelioma". It is typical of my style. Write authoritative articles on topic, submit them to relevant outlets (in this case publications for litigation lawyers in this specialty, paralegals, workers' comp insurance journals, association newsletters, consumer health magazines, etc). Include a short promo in the resource box with a link for "more info" ... to my website with Amazon reference books.

Most of those specialty books are upwards of $200-$300 each. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout. And I ain't gonna do no website "product review" on medical books. It doesn't rank anywhere near about a million pages from the top spot anyway.

Hehe, that sounds awesome =) Hopefully, one day, I can do the same

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myob

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Jason Perez O'Connor

Hehe, that sounds awesome =) Hopefully, one day, I can do the same

It's in The Book

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Jason Perez O'Connor

15 years ago

Originally Posted by myob

It's in The Book

Yeah I made sure I read some test pages first to see what it was all about on Google and it has enticed me to buy it, damn it! Going to take a lot more than one sitting to digest

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csrpj

15 years ago

can anybody address the question of weather it makes sense to jump into amazon review site making, in regards to the fear that they can easily cut off their program? is this fear legitimate or is it unlikely to happen with there being a work-around?

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stitchlips 15 years ago

If you made a review site and it was only Amazon and they decided to stop their program then just find someone else selling the same things. There are countless merchants out there.
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SuResearcher

15 years ago

Originally Posted by csrpj

can anybody address the question of weather it makes sense to jump into amazon review site making, in regards to the fear that they can easily cut off their program? is this fear legitimate or is it unlikely to happen with there being a work-around?

Amazon is dropping affiliates from states which have passed the affiliate nexus law which causes them to satisfy the sales tax nexus. Affiliates from non-affected states are not being dropped.

Do you live in a state that has sales tax?
If yes, has your state passed any affiliate nexus law?
If no, is there any pending legislature on the affiliate nexus law?
If no, you might be safe for now.
If there is pending legislature, then you might want to wait for the outcome before spending time on amazon review sites.

Also, keep in mind that while the common misleading term for this is "Amazon tax bill", it in fact affects all merchants who have affiliates in the state that passed the law. So, even if you promote CJ merchants, you could be affected if that merchant meets the sales threshold.

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Bradley J Anderson

15 years ago

Originally Posted by SuResearcher

Amazon is dropping affiliates from states which have passed the affiliate nexus law which causes them to satisfy the sales tax nexus. Affiliates from non-affected states are not being dropped.

Do you live in a state that has sales tax?
If yes, has your state passed any affiliate nexus law?
If no, is there any pending legislature on the affiliate nexus law?
If no, you might be safe for now.
If there is pending legislature, then you might want to wait for the outcome before spending time on amazon review sites.

Also, keep in mind that while the common misleading term for this is "Amazon tax bill", it in fact affects all merchants who have affiliates in the state that passed the law. So, even if you promote CJ merchants, you could be affected if that merchant meets the sales threshold.

Actually, while most internet companies are not required to collect out-of-state sales tax, most states have always had a 'use tax' for items bought via mail order or internet if the sales tax had not been collected by the vendor at the time of purchase.

Consumers are supposed to pay the 'use tax' on any non-taxed purchases they make through mail-order or online. Obviously, keeping track of all the sales would be darn near impossible for the government, however, and that's why the 'use tax' is not enforced.

Given the current financial woes of our nation at the moment, however, it was only a matter of time before someone in office realized just how much money was being lost because of this.

Sooner or later, this will affect Amazon affiliates in almost every state, and by that time I think Amazon will reconsider it's stance on this issue.

You are definitely correct in stating that Amazon is not the only one being affected by this change, though.

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TBInternetMarketing

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Brad armPitt

A little over a year ago another Warrior made a post about making money with Amazon review sites and, not only did it start a whole new biz for me, but it led me into several other directions, as well, that have been quite profitable.

I say pick your method of making money, then go for it. Any route you take will have pros and cons.

This is great advice. I can't emphasize how important it is to pick one model and then stick to it. Once you have built a nice income from that and having things running well, then move onto a new model. Whatever you do though, don't jump around in the beginning. This could be a fatal move for your IM business.

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ratracegrad

15 years ago

Being an Amazon affiliate has gotten to the point that it has become an obsession with me. I wake up in the morning to see my sales since yesterday and how many clicks I am getting.

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Sonomacats

15 years ago

@myob - great post! I totally agree. It's how I approach this and it really works. Add to that a guide or two on Kindle, Smashwords, and CreateSpace (or even your local printing office) and you've gone a long way to set yourself up as an expert.

Add Squidoo lenses, Hubpages and all that kind of thing - all just great info for people looking for Green Widgets. Maybe do a weekly podcast - Green Widgets Digest / what's new in the world of Green Widgets, etc. Or a weekly radio show about Green Widgets.

Be everywhere. If you do one article/marketing thing a day, it will take you less than a month to get noticed and followed.

Add a free teleseminar/webinar once a week (or more) to start and you'll be well on your way. When he was first getting started, Jeff Herring was doing 2-3 teleseminars a week for free and it soon turned into a huge business for him. Because he clearly was an expert and was teaching great stuff.

I also recommend checking out the other threads on this topic - do a search on PaulaC and Sojourn.

I also recommend getting Dan Brock's Amazon Guide and PaulaC's Amazonian Guide. Paula's approach to writing reviews is top notch and both guides work well together. Read Dan's first and then Paula's.

If you don't have the money to buy them just yet, read their threads completely. There's enough information there to get you going. PaulaC also has a website where she talks about her experience using Amazon. She's making really good money and is worth emulating.

If you make it clear that you know what you're talking about and your website and articles make it clear you care about your readers and want to give them great info, you'll be the go-to gal on the subject. And your knowledge will be obvious and will attract more readers/buyers to your site.

The bottom line - care about your topic, care about your readers. The money will come from that.

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Writing as Kieran McKendrick
You can find the first prequel to my Purgatory series (How Blended are Dust and Fire) on Amazon and Smashwords.

Whether you think you can or think you cannot, you are right. -- Henry Ford

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Jake Gray

15 years ago

Amazon Affiliates is for sure a stable program.

I have used them for a while now and have loved
the results they have produced. Now you have to
realize that commission rates aren't as high, but you
are able to sell in masses, which makes you the money.

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misterkailo

15 years ago

I know some guy who owns a Webkinz site is doing really well with his Amazon site. You should go for it but find the right products to review.

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thinking going the amazon review site route - bad idea?

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