Yes, the biggest amazon affiliate got zapped...

11 years ago

Originally Posted by paulgl

It's not about amazon. It's about thin affiliate sites. People thought
thin affiliate meant something else, so many did thin amazon sites.
Google said, hmmmm, they think amazon links are going to get a pass?
Boom. It's just people going from rock to rock. If people stop
looking under rocks, well...

The biggest amazon affiliate site got hit in the head...squidoo.

But it wasn't amazon links, it was using amazon links on a thin,
nonsense, affiliate crapped-out lens.

Where ever the masses who try and bend google guidelines go,
that's where the next algo will hit.

I don't follow the masses.

Google says don't cover yourself with a blanket.
Okay, the masses go and get sheets.
The sheets get dinged.
Okay, the masses go to blankets
...and the beat goes on.

Sites did not get hit because they are amazon affiliates.

Paul

Something strangely poetic about that post...

Also, not sure about "sites", but pages.

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Icematikx

11 years ago

The problem with Amazon, and being an Amazon Affiliate myself, is that it's extremely hard to contribute something unique.

Toptenreviews.com contribute something unique. If you attempt to do something similar, you're not unique, as toptenreviews is already dominating the market. It's practically impossible to offer anything "unique" for buyers apart from a personal review. Is a personal review really enough though in Google's eyes? The Amazon product pages offers dozens of personal reviews. My review doesn't really matter, does it?

Ah....

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wolfmmiii

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Icematikx

The problem with Amazon, and being an Amazon Affiliate myself, is that it's extremely hard to contribute something unique.

Providing unique info is actually quite easy when you are working with a niche that you actually know something about. The problem is that the typical affiliate is writing "reviews" about fishing equipment when he has never been fishing in his life.

Simply regurgitating what Amazon has said about a product isn't helpful to anyone.

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Icematikx

11 years ago

Originally Posted by wolfmmiii

Providing unique info is actually quite easy when you are working with a niche that you actually know something about. The problem is that the typical affiliate is writing "reviews" about fishing equipment when he has never been fishing in his life.

Simply regurgitating what Amazon has said about a product isn't helpful to anyone.

What can you provide about a particular fishing rod that hasn't already been covered by TopTenReviews? Are you telling me that you can write a review about a leading product on Amazon and offer unique and compelling content to the readers?

Would they find better information on TopTenReviews? Yes.
Would they find a fully working comparison chart and graph of performance of each product on TopTenReviews? Yes.
Would they benefit from more heading over to TopTenReviews, or your affiliate site? I'd bet it'd be TopTenReviews.

Micro-Amazon sites will never prevail. They may not be hit by automatic algorithms, but they'll be taken down after a manual review.

This is coming from an Amazon Affiliate earning a healthy pay check each month. I know my time is short, and I know I'm constantly at the merci of Google. But still, I'm not afraid to admit that I contribute nothing that TopTenReviews and Amazon already contribute.

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wolfmmiii 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Icematikx

What can you provide about a particular fishing rod that hasn't already been covered by TopTenReviews?

Fishing poles is a bad example because there isn't much info to provide to begin with.

Are you telling me that you can write a review about a leading product on Amazon and offer unique and compelling content to the readers?

Absolutely, provided that I am well versed in the field. I can compare it to other products. Explain why one particular model is better suited for a particular task than a similar model. I can also explain the use of the product.

Would they find better information on TopTenReviews? Yes.

Maybe, maybe not. If I'm an expert in the field (like I suggest to all clients) then my info can very easily be more helpful to readers.

Would they find a fully working comparison chart and graph of performance of each product on TopTenReviews? Yes.

Are they experts in the field? No.

Would they benefit from more heading over to TopTenReviews, or your affiliate site? I'd bet it'd be TopTenReviews.

Without seeing my site, it's impossible to make that statement so it's not valid.

Micro-Amazon sites will never prevail. They may not be hit by automatic algorithms, but they'll be taken down after a manual review.

I sorta agree. I don't like the micro-site model but it doesn't mean it can't work. Also, I don't know what "manual" review you are talking about.
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- Icematikx 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by wolfmmiii
  
  I sorta agree. I don't like the micro-site model but it doesn't mean it can't work. Also, I don't know what "manual" review you are talking about.
  
  When a site's deindexed, unless it's pure and utter spam, it's because of a manual review. I had my Amazon sites deindexed all together, within the same 20-minutes roughly 2-months ago. It was sure as hell a manual review.
  
  You have to remember that Google employ hundreds of people to sit at home and manually inspect the SERP's. Their customers are the people who search at home, not the webmasters. It's their primary duty to ensure that customers are always reaching the right sites when they perform a search. The algorithms merely aim to automate the majority of this task.
  
  A document was leaked a while ago. It basically outlined the actions a manual reviewer should take, what they should consider and so forth. A key line within the document said:
  
  "If a site only exists to make revenue, then it is considered SPAM."
  
  Unfortunately, it's easy to come off as a site that only exists to make revenue and not provide a useful consumer experience. Without the necessary funds to build a brand and an authority, you simply cannot achieve it. You can't afford to hire an in-house team of developers to develop quizzes to determine the best vacuum cleaner for their home. You can't afford to develop all these useful tools that consumers love and want. You're limited by WordPress and your $5,000 a month income which just about lets you live a decent lifestyle.
  
  Google will always favor businesses, it's just how it is. Until you become a business, a brand and an authority, you will forever bow down to the mighty G.
  
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nik0

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by wolfmmiii

Providing unique info is actually quite easy when you are working with a niche that you actually know something about. The problem is that the typical affiliate is writing "reviews" about fishing equipment when he has never been fishing in his life.

Simply regurgitating what Amazon has said about a product isn't helpful to anyone.

Ah that is why you don't provide the content when you deliver a site to clients.

Very smart!

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wolfmmiii

11 years ago

Originally Posted by nik0

Ah that is why you don't provide the content when you deliver a site to clients.

Very smart!

I don't deliver content for 2 reasons actually:

I'm not in expert in all fields so I can't provide value in all fields
The sites don't sell at a price-point where providing content is feasible

What's the point of doing ALL of the work to build a complete site and then selling it for $69 when I KNOW it will (more often than not) make multiple times more back?

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nik0

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by wolfmmiii

I don't deliver content for 2 reasons actually:

I'm not in expert in all fields so I can't provide value in all fields
The sites don't sell at a price-point where providing content is feasible

What's the point of doing ALL of the work to build a complete site and then selling it for $69 when I KNOW it will (more often than not) make multiple times more back?

1: You know that the buyers aren't experts either, they are just looking for a concept to make quick money.

2: Duh, price increasing solves that.

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KingOfContentMarketing

11 years ago

Originally Posted by wolfmmiii

Providing unique info is actually quite easy when you are working with a niche that you actually know something about. The problem is that the typical affiliate is writing "reviews" about fishing equipment when he has never been fishing in his life.

Simply regurgitating what Amazon has said about a product isn't helpful to anyone.

Even if you don't know much about the topic, it's easy to write unique content. My experience is most Amazon product pages don't provide near enough material to write even a basic review. A trip to the manufacturer's site, a glance at relevant forums and a review of press releases and other sources tells you much more than Amazon.

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wolfmmiii 11 years ago

Originally Posted by joe golfer

Even if you don't know much about the topic, it's easy to write unique content.

True. But "unique" doesn't always equal "helpful". I prefer to write helpful content because it converts better.
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- KingOfContentMarketing 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by wolfmmiii
  
  True. But "unique" doesn't always equal "helpful". I prefer to write helpful content because it converts better.
  
  Agreed, I'm just saying if you gather information from relevant sources, you'll have added a ton of value. You save them time and frustration as the Amazon pages are often thin, and to get the info I now how to get would take them hours.
  
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  Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
  - Jack Trout
  
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wolfmmiii

11 years ago

I know about the leaked document but you are leaving key pieces of it out. Sites are allowed to exist solely to make money. A manual review will never result in a de-index of a site that provides REAL information that's helpful to readers.

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paulgl

11 years ago

"If a site only exists to make revenue, then it is considered SPAM."

I always say go with the big boys. Amazon.com exists only to make
money, as well as tons of other sites.

One does need to qualify that statement to incorporate real world
meaning.

Paul

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nik0

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by paulgl

It's not about amazon. It's about thin affiliate sites. People thought
thin affiliate meant something else, so many did thin amazon sites.
Google said, hmmmm, they think amazon links are going to get a pass?
Boom. It's just people going from rock to rock. If people stop
looking under rocks, well...

The biggest amazon affiliate site got hit in the head...squidoo.

But it wasn't amazon links, it was using amazon links on a thin,
nonsense, affiliate crapped-out lens.

Where ever the masses who try and bend google guidelines go,
that's where the next algo will hit.

I don't follow the masses.

Google says don't cover yourself with a blanket.
Okay, the masses go and get sheets.
The sheets get dinged.
Okay, the masses go to curtains
...and the beat goes on.

Sites did not get hit because they are amazon affiliates.

Paul

Do you have a source or some data to backup your claims or are only your personal Amazon squidoo lenses hit?

I don't ask this to nag, only cause I thought that when a site had plenty of content with no affiliate links on the site that it would then all be okay and bypass the update as I guess it's safe to assume that at least 50% of the lenses does not have Amazon on them. Me for example build quite a few lenses before for link building purposes but never monetized any of them with Amazon or Adsense or any of that kind.

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paulgl

11 years ago

Originally Posted by nik0

Do you have a source or some data to backup your claims or are only your personal Amazon squidoo lenses hit?

Me for example build quite a few lenses before for link building purposes but never monetized any of them with Amazon or Adsense or any of that kind.

ROTFLMAO!!!! You have read nothing lately on squidoo. They made vast
changes, deleted thousands of lenses, changed TOS, changed amazon
rules, etc. etc. etc......have you read nothing abut squidoo? They are
indeed the biggest amazon affiliate on the planet...and they are going
gaga over google algos....

You can't monetize a lens with adsense, and, squidoo strong arms you
into adding an amazon module. You can't get 100% without it. They even
want you to add it high up. (Squidoo adds their own adsense, which is
one major reason for the changes.)

The fact that they had a zillion thin amazon lenses is one reason why
they took draconian measures. They were thin lenses, but 99.99% of
squidoo is monetized with amazon. Even non thin lenses are getting
deleted. Squidoo is in a shambles.

The biggest, baddest, amazon affiliate has bottomed out.

Paul

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nik0

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by paulgl

ROTFLMAO!!!! You have read nothing lately on squidoo. They made vast
changes, deleted thousands of lenses, changed TOS, changed amazon
rules, etc. etc. etc......have you read nothing abut squidoo? They are
indeed the biggest amazon affiliate on the planet...and they are going
gaga over google algos....

You can't monetize a lens with adsense, and, squidoo strong arms you
into adding an amazon module. You can't get 100% without it. They even
want you to add it high up. (Squidoo adds their own adsense, which is
one major reason for the changes.)

The fact that they had a zillion thin amazon lenses is one reason why
they took draconian measures. They were thin lenses, but 99.99% of
squidoo is monetized with amazon. Even non thin lenses are getting
deleted. Squidoo is in a shambles.

The biggest, baddest, amazon affiliate has bottomed out.

Paul

Ok, well if you say so then that's fine with me that they are the biggest affiliate site and that 99% of the lenses are monetized with Amazon.

I do know about the deletion of lenses and the nofollowing, hard to miss that with tons of threads about it, for example from you

But how does that relate to the supposed update on the 5th of June.

Have you tracked tons of rankings to conclude that they have dropped? Or any other data from after the June 5 update? As the things that you mentioned doesn't mean that they lost rankings so recently, it are just things that they did long before that crucial date.

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wolfmmiii

11 years ago

My concept has always been built around the client understanding the market he is operating in. I ALWAYS recommend that the client know what he is talking about. I actually did offer a $199 option for some time and did very well.

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PerformanceMan

11 years ago

Humping this dead on arrival business model is going to get boring this Summer, dudes.

Build a real website that adds value and quit chasing the quick buck.

If you don't - Matt Cutts is coming for you!

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Backlinko

11 years ago

Originally Posted by paulgl

Where ever the masses who try and bend google guidelines go,
that's where the next algo will hit.

So true it hurts.

I always try to invent new link building strategies -- or make serious mods to existing ones.

If you're the only one taking advantage of a technique you'll fly well below Big G's radar screen.

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PerformanceMan

11 years ago

The 'content' on Squidoo and most Amazon affiliate websites is pure doo doo.

Can we get REAL here? LOL

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Slin

11 years ago

I find it interesting that my thin affiliate cb blogs still rank well.

Poor amazon guys. I'm surprised this happened.

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phobium 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Slin

I find it interesting that my thin affiliate cb blogs still rank well.

Poor amazon guys. I'm surprised this happened.

Even though they say that the Search team doesn't let business get involved, Google is about to go to war with Amazon. So I'm actually not surprised at all.
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- markowe 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by phobium
  
  Even though they say that the Search team doesn't let business get involved, Google is about to go to war with Amazon. So I'm actually not surprised at all.
  
  Google, war with Amazon?! Would that be why every single product-related search out there features Amazon on page 1?! They seem just cosy to me. War with Amazon affiliates, sure, could be a deal between Google and Amazon if you think about it that way - Amazon's affiliate program (goes for any affiliate program) was NEVER about having its own affiliates outrank it in the SERPS! Amazon hates sniper pages/sites as much as Google - common interest there.
  
  Amazon-monetised pages rank great, but think NOT "product review" (unless you can write a long, in-depth, quality review that actually demonstrates you have held the product in your hand) - think "How-to pages" that explain how to get a job done, and then give relevant products to buy at the end.
  
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  Who says you can't earn money as an eBay affiliate any more? My stats say otherwise
  
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jxam69

11 years ago

I track a number of my competitors Squidoo pages which don't have Amazon on them - overall they've gone up in the SERPs since this update - many back on page 1.

It's only a small number (41), and only in a single niche, so it's not significant, but I'd be interested to know if anyone else has any data.

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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

Not sure what people expect, it's not like sites like Squidoo were ever useful for traffic, affiliates maybe, traffic, I don't think so.

Same goes for that pile of dung EZA, useless for traffic.

Build a real site, stop pissing around looking for the monthly IM schemes.

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marco005

11 years ago

Hi;

@Icematrikx; what do you mean with that?

"You can't afford to develop all these useful tools that consumers love and want. You're limited by WordPress and your $5,000 a month income which just about lets you live a decent lifestyle".

What are these full useful tools that consumers want? are they not free or not possible with wordpress?

Does a wordpress site not can make more than $5000 in month?

?????

best wishes
marco005

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Baba Pandey

11 years ago

Lenses used to rank quickly with less effort even with poor content because of domain authority. Now it has been slammed which is indeed good news

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Yes, the biggest amazon affiliate got zapped...

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