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Amazon Associates - Spam warning

by kopter52
3 replies
I have been a low traffic affiliate for 8yrs, and this is the first time I have run into trouble with them.

Last week, I foolishly made a newbie thread in a popular online forum with an affiliate link (along with REAL review/commentary of a $$$$ product), the forum admin removed the thread 2 days later & reported to Amazon. Amazon send an email 2 days back:
This message is to notify you of recent complaints about unsolicited commercial messages you posted on the XYZ-ELECTRONICS.COM (not real) forums. This is considered Spamming, and since you are Associated with Amazon.com it reflects very badly on our company and upsets our customers. We have to individually respond to every complaint and still may lose customers as a result.

"quoted my message.......... with an amzn.to affiliate link"

Because many readers naturally hold Amazon.com partially responsible for the practices of our Associates, we cannot continue to associate with Web sites that Spam. We hope you will continue as an Associate under these terms, but if you cannot honor our requirements we will terminate your Associates account. (emphasis mine)

Please let us know as soon as possible how you want us to proceed.

This was sent from a <no-reply+AWED534535005276@ama...com>. So I am not even sure how to contact them back (as they had asked LET US KNOW HOW TO PROCEED).

Anyway, I replied with an apology and promise not to post in that forum, and didnt hear anything back. I am able to log into affiliate website, and see my orders, earnings etc

- So does it mean I am forgiven if I didnt hear anything back? Or will they just not reply, and when time comes to pay me, they just close my account?

The affiliate fee generated is ~ 2K... so I am very nervous.

2) If I leave comments on other blogs (with owners permission) with affiliate links or have a signature with affiliate link (if its allowed in that forum) - does that violate of TOS agreement? Ex. Mashable.com, LifeHacker.com (They moderate comments, and allow links if it is relevant).
#amazon #associates #spam #warning
  • Profile picture of the author jimmymc
    If you continue with placing raw affiliate links on forums... you won't last long with Amazon. It's just a matter of time before someone else reports you.

    You need to rethink your marketing plan and try a more modern approach. You are about three phases and ten or twelve years behind.
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  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    I think it would be better if you made a website or squeeze page and linked to that.

    Obviously Amazon takes a dim view of affiliate links being left in blog comments (as, I assume, would most of the people who own the blogs) so it seems you are only setting yourself up for a permanent ban if you continue. If you had a blog, would you want people coming in and dropping their affiliate links in the comments?

    And if you do, would you have to put an affiliate disclaimer in the comment as well?

    Lee
    Signature
    Gone Fishing
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  • Profile picture of the author Rumpleteazer
    In Amazon's terms and conditions it says something about declaring that you receive a commission for sales made via affiliate links (can't remember wording) on your site. Presumably you would not be making the same declaration via links on forums or comments. As a blogger, if you left a comment on my blog with an affiliate link in it I would consider this to be spam and your comment would not be pubslished.

    It is better to use your own site and ensure that you have the appropriate declaration in place to ensure compliance not only with Amazon but also FTC rules.
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