Amazon Commission Is Pathetic

86 replies
Does it bother anyone besides me that Amazon only offer around 4-6% commission.

I mean come on atleast 10% should be the minimum...

Maybe Im just spoilt being in the digital product world for so long.

If Amazon wasnt converting so well I'd look to change but not sure what else would work as well?

Just a rant.
#amazon #commission #pathetic
  • Profile picture of the author butters
    Where do people go when they buy a book, amazon, where do they go when they want to buy a game, amazon... Why? It is dirt cheap... Now, if I drop a cookie on someone and get 5% of that sale and then they return 15 times and buy 15 other things through out the year, I would take that any day over 10% on some un known site and slim chance of repeat sales.

    Edit: Amazons beauty is unrelated products to your initial sale plus, everyone trusts it.
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    • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
      Originally Posted by butters View Post

      Where do people go when they buy a book, amazon, where do they go when they want to buy a game, amazon... Why? It is dirt cheap... Now, if I drop a cookie on someone and get 5% of that sale and then they return 15 times and buy 15 other things through out the year, I would take that any day over 10% on some un known site and slim chance of repeat sales.

      Edit: Amazons beauty is unrelated products to your initial sale plus, everyone trusts it.
      I don't think what you said is correct. As far as I know, Amazon cookies only lasts 1 day and therefore you will not get commissions from repeat sales.
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      • Profile picture of the author aquablue
        I think Derek is correct; aren't Amazon cookies 24 hours now?
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        • Profile picture of the author theverysmartguy
          Originally Posted by aquablue View Post

          I think Derek is correct; aren't Amazon cookies 24 hours now?
          Yes they are only 24 hrs now.

          Even though the commissions are low compared to info products, they do convert quite well. The thing that I like about the commission structure is that when you go up each tier the increase in commission is retroactive for everything you sold earlier that month as well.

          You start at 4% and work your way up to 8.5%, all depending on how many items you have sold so far.

          Another cool thing about amazon is the fact that since it is such a big market place, once people arrive there they are sometimes compelled to shop around, just as if you went to a shopping mall, or Walmart etc. And if they are in the buying mood, they tend to "walk out" with more than you sent them there for.

          Plus, as you increase your site count, getting more and more sites that promote amazon products, your potential income starts to grow (as long as you have the traffic). And if you are using product keywords, which are obviously high in commercial intent, your conversion rate are much better than an info product would be, as least that is how I am found it for myself.

          But it is to each their own, some people like to use amazon as part of their streams on income, others would rather not. Same goes for clickbank, and any other affiliate network, some people like it, some people don't.

          -- Jeff
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          • Profile picture of the author halfpoint
            The beauty of Amazon is that you make heaps of random sales.

            I regularly make sales for products that I've never heard of before.
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    • Profile picture of the author remotedb
      Originally Posted by butters View Post

      Where do people go when they buy a book, amazon, where do they go when they want to buy a game, amazon... Why? It is dirt cheap... Now, if I drop a cookie on someone and get 5% of that sale and then they return 15 times and buy 15 other things through out the year, I would take that any day over 10% on some un known site and slim chance of repeat sales.

      Edit: Amazons beauty is unrelated products to your initial sale plus, everyone trusts it.
      Too bad that won't work on Amazon. Their cookie only lasts 24 hours.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Tomwood View Post

        I am wondering if the solution is to build a list in one of these niches then mail regular bulletins when a new product hits the best sellers list or when Amazon does a special offer.

        In the right niche you could even have a newsletter which reviews a product once a week or so

        This way you would have your list going thru your link rather than to Amazon direct
        DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!

        It doesn't even have to be new items or special offers. If you can find obscure items with a high value to the niche and/or a high curiosity factor, some of them will jump on it and thank you for finding it buried in the stacks...
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    • Profile picture of the author JimmyS
      Originally Posted by butters View Post

      Where do people go when they buy a book, amazon, where do they go when they want to buy a game, amazon... Why? It is dirt cheap... Now, if I drop a cookie on someone and get 5% of that sale and then they return 15 times and buy 15 other things through out the year, I would take that any day over 10% on some un known site and slim chance of repeat sales.

      Edit: Amazons beauty is unrelated products to your initial sale plus, everyone trusts it.
      The guy makes sense..... Good response man....
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author Pierre!
      Diversify that Portfolio!!!

      Never hurts to get it in place, and save the nickels for a rainy day... Might be an eye opener!

      The time commitment is nothing after all...
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    • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Which would you prefer, a 5% commission on something with a 10% conversion rate or a 30% commission on something with a 1% conversion rate?
      Exactly right. I can tell you from direct experience - not theory or hearing it from others - that Amazon rocks if you know what you're doing. Last year I got a big commission on a freaking backyard swingset someone bought at Amazon. Do I have a site about swingsets? Nope. Nothing even close. THAT is the power of being an Amazon affiliate. They sell everything. And they are very trusted. Just because someone came through my cooking site doesn't mean they have to buy pots and pans or a recipe book at Amazon for me to earn a commission.

      John
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    • Profile picture of the author Marian
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Which would you prefer, a 5% commission on something with a 10% conversion rate or a 30% commission on something with a 1% conversion rate?
      30% commission on something with a 10% conversion rate

      Marian
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    • Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Which would you prefer, a 5% commission on something with a 10% conversion rate or a 30% commission on something with a 1% conversion rate?
      WOW you make a great point! Google closed down my Adsence acount for something that I was not in control of so I started using Adbrite. I make more from Adbrite than I ever did from Google because they give more opportunites for clicks. Same is true as Amazon.

      I have never focused on Amazon or Adsence for me it is just a bonus I have other product I focus those are just income stream I offer as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author ContentIn48Hours
    I would suggest to drop ship products. It pays much better than Amazon for the exact amount of work.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author enwereuzo
      Originally Posted by PLRchief View Post

      I would suggest to drop ship products. It pays much better than Amazon for the exact amount of work.

      Steve
      The problem is getting a good dropshipping company
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    • Profile picture of the author Jacqueline Smith
      Originally Posted by PLRchief View Post

      I would suggest to drop ship products. It pays much better than Amazon for the exact amount of work.

      Steve
      Steve:

      I am with amazon but have seriously considered dropshopping....i think it would work well in my nice.

      Have any info you care to share about dropshipping? Please feel free to PM me.

      Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Consider the difference between the 6% they pay and the 10% you want as the price you pay for capitalizing on the trust THEY built over the years.

    Sorry, Ernie, you're an alright guy, but all I hear is one big whine. C'mon, man! If you don't like it, don't use Amazon.

    Would you rather get something, or nothing?

    You are obviously using them for a reason. Focus on that.

    If you continue to focus on the crap you don't like, then you will keep getting crap you don't like.

    The above is meant with all due respect and not a personal slight.

    All the best,
    Michael
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    • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
      I wasnt whining Michael ok maybe a little.. I'm not blaming Amazon for anything or trying to shift my own failures or anything. Its just what it is a complaint.

      Its not like Amazon is my main income method or anything. Its just when you sell something for $35 and only get 1.30 from it its kind of disappointing.

      And Just because Amazon converts well doesnt mean we should put up with their minuscule commissions and thats what they are, very low.

      Sure I dont have to use Amazon but I do have the right to complain I think.




      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      Consider the difference between the 6% they pay and the 10% you want as the price you pay for capitalizing on the trust THEY built over the years.

      Sorry, Ernie, you're an alright guy, but all I hear is one big whine. C'mon, man! If you don't like it, don't use Amazon.

      Would you rather get something, or nothing?

      You are obviously using them for a reason. Focus on that.

      If you continue to focus on the crap you don't like, then you will keep getting crap you don't like.

      The above is meant with all due respect and not a personal slight.

      All the best,
      Michael
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
        Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

        I wasnt whining Michael ok maybe a little.. I'm not blaming Amazon for anything or trying to shift my own failures or anything. Its just what it is a complaint.

        Its not like Amazon is my main income method or anything. Its just when you sell something for $35 and only get 1.30 from it its kind of disappointing.

        And Just because Amazon converts well doesnt mean we should put up with their minuscule commissions and thats what they are, very low.

        Sure I dont have to use Amazon but I do have the right to complain I think.
        I will repeat...

        "If you continue to focus on the crap you don't like, then you will keep getting crap you don't like."

        don't understand why anyone would bother putting in the effort to promote amazon products for a lousy 4%. clickbank is the way to go. 75%+ commissions.
        COOL! When did ClickBank start selling physical books, CDs, DVDs, gardening equipment, print magazines, electronics, toys, and swing sets?

        ~M~
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        • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
          So in sum:

          What percentage does Amazon offer?

          How long do the Cookies last?

          Answers please, lest I look in my Amazon account.

          As I'm here, posting this is easier

          Jeff.
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          • Profile picture of the author theverysmartguy
            Originally Posted by Jeff Henshaw View Post

            So in sum:

            What percentage does Amazon offer?

            How long do the Cookies last?

            Answers please, lest I look in my Amazon account.

            As I'm here, posting this is easier

            Jeff.
            4% - 8.5% on most products
            Electronics - 4%
            Kindle - 10%
            Amazon MP3 - 10%
            Amazon VOD - 10%
            Endless.com - 15%
            Amazon Gift Cards - 5%

            Cookies last 24hrs
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        • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
          Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

          COOL! When did ClickBank start selling physical books, CDs, DVDs, gardening equipment, print magazines, electronics, toys, and swing sets?

          ~M~
          Funny you should ask. I just downloaded a swing set and a riding lawn mower from Clickbank.
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  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    Sell a few books on Amazon and you'll see how the numbers
    shake-out. Sure, Amazon takes their pound of flesh - but
    part of that goes to paying affiliates.

    Amazon has a lot of overhead costs too. It ran at a
    loss for years before getting into profit not too long ago.
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  • Yup...one day cookies. But as others have said, sometimes you get someone to clickthrough to Amazon and they but something unrelated and expensive - it's a nice surprise when it happens. It's a volume thing with Amazon, you need alot of traffic.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lisa Gergets
    Personally, I dig Amazon. Do I make a million bucks a month as their affiliate? No. Do I have a few sites that bring in a couple hundred without me lifting a darn finger. Yup.

    Sounds good to me!
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  • Profile picture of the author Emily Meeks
    Like others have said... everyone trusts Amazon. I'm not sure how you're promoting them, but you can probably get more Amazon commissions by setting up your own Amazon store (as opposed to a tiny widget).

    I can think of a few niches where an Amazon store would be PERFECT...
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
      Find me a digital product(worthwhile) that pays out like this:

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      • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
        Originally Posted by Daniel Brock View Post

        Find me a digital product(worthwhile) that pays out like this:

        HOLY CRAP! That is, if memory serves, the EXACT same swingset I sold! If not, it was one that cost just about the same amount because I got a similar commission. HA!
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        • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
          Originally Posted by Zeus66 View Post

          HOLY CRAP! That is, if memory serves, the EXACT same swingset I sold! If not, it was one that cost just about the same amount because I got a similar commission. HA!
          Hehe makes me want to get out of Internet Marketing and get into child playset construction lol.
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          • Profile picture of the author halfpoint
            Originally Posted by Daniel Brock View Post

            Hehe makes me want to get out of Internet Marketing and get into child playset construction lol.
            Dan, out of interest, after you got that sale did you end up setting up a site about children's playsets?
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Bruno
    I'm not sure any of you have thouhgt about this...

    Well maybe a few of you

    But physcial products do not have that much room in their margins to pay out huge commission rates for obvious reasons.

    Frank Bruno
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    • Profile picture of the author Emily Meeks
      Originally Posted by Frank Bruno View Post

      I'm not sure any of you have thouhgt about this...

      Well maybe a few of you

      But physcial products do not have that much room in their margins to pay out huge commission rates for obvious reasons.

      Frank Bruno
      True, true. Time, labor, stocking, inventory... lots more involved than hosting a PDF file
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  • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
    I love amazon commissions...

    The higher price the product, the bigger that percentage works out in real cash terms

    Think bigger in your amazon promo's.... I happen to focus a great deal of my time on amazon product sales.

    They are a trusted site, with a wide selection of products on offer, and a sliding scale commission structure to benefit the affiliates who can really work it. Perfect

    Peace

    Jay
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    WOW, amazon RAISED it again!? I could have SWORN it was 3-5%! They USED to have like a 15% commission. It just got ridiculous though. Their funds went down, competition increased, many used their API to make MORE sales, OF COURSE they lowered the rate! So if you want them to pay YOU 10%, do you think THEY should make less? Should the distributer? Should the manufacturer? Should the author?

    Of course, the 15% was about when they were a BOOKSTORE. Like others here have alluded, they are now basically an ecommerce infrastructure. They sell a LOT more, and even 1% of a computer can be a good amount.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    I used to be really down on Amazon too, but since I started building micro niche sites and getting more Amazon sales, I really do see the power. When people get on there, they just buy up a ton of stuff!

    Plus, the other products they buy give me ideas for other niche sites.

    That swingset has a nice commission - I bet some enterprising entrepreneur is registering that domain name right now to build a site around it

    Lee
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

    Does it bother anyone besides me that Amazon only offer around 4-6% commission.

    I mean come on atleast 10% should be the minimum...

    Maybe Im just spoilt being in the digital product world for so long.

    If Amazon wasnt converting so well I'd look to change but not sure what else would work as well?

    Just a rant.
    yes...you have a point. Thats why you should only promote high-value stuff like big screen TVs
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    • Profile picture of the author ShaunJohnson
      Im interested in applying to amazon, is it hard to get accepted?
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  • Profile picture of the author Sparhawke
    Without looking at above answers I will point this out, Jeff Bezos' whole strategy from the beginning was to get big fast, he did this by slashing prices everywhere he could.

    When he brought out the commissions they had to be small simply because otherwise it wouldn't have been the cheapest place to go...the whole point is getting people to come again and again.

    Amazon is now the #1 trusted site on the internet (and the most widely known which means its reputation is above question) when it comes to buying anything, I would much rather have 5% commission with one of the most trusted brands in the whole world than a random store that gives 10% but which no one has ever heard of.

    The 5% commission may be small, but people keep coming back to Amazon, if you have a site that people keep visiting the chances are you are going to get a majority of those commissions and then all the adds on top.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Sparhawke View Post

      Without looking at above answers I will point this out, Jeff Bezos' whole strategy from the beginning was to get big fast, he did this by slashing prices everywhere he could.

      When he brought out the commissions they had to be small simply because otherwise it wouldn't have been the cheapest place to go...the whole point is getting people to come again and again.

      Amazon is now the #1 trusted site on the internet (and the most widely known which means its reputation is above question) when it comes to buying anything, I would much rather have 5% commission with one of the most trusted brands in the whole world than a random store that gives 10% but which no one has ever heard of.

      The 5% commission may be small, but people keep coming back to Amazon, if you have a site that people keep visiting the chances are you are going to get a majority of those commissions and then all the adds on top.

      They actually used to have HIGH commissions. They practically took over the internet BEFORE radio, tv and news! HOW? AFFILIATES!

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Sparhawke
    Amazon didn't bring out affiliates on day one, no one ever can since you need the infrastructure first...but the whole strategy of giving people ordinary commissions was what got Amazon noticed everywhere since you didn't have just a few random people spamming the occasional link here or there but many thousands of sites all with the name seeping into the sub-concious.

    Besides, they don't need to give 20% or so and probably couldn't even if they wanted to since they now allow anyone to sell on their site, how would they convince those people to hand over 20%?

    Regardless of whether it is high or low, they have such a towering reputation that if anyone did see the link they would more than likely go to it rather than another of their competitors....
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  • Profile picture of the author se7en
    I got accepted as an Amazon affiliate with a squidoo lens.

    Think about your own seasonal spending habits and map it all out in your diary ie. you need to be working on your Christmas sites in September.

    Research niche hobbies I know I spend way too much on some of my hobbies.

    Go into Amazon books on a topic in the niche your researching click bestsellers
    and you find loads of sub niches look for ones with the most customer reviews.

    With Amazon get lots of sites out there.Take ACTION and learn from what works
    dont flog a dead horse.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexander CPA
    Your obviously just picking the wrong products to promote with Amazon, sure it's only %4, but let's say you sell a product which costs $500, that's a nice $20 commision for a single sale, Amazon converts like crazy because it's one of the most well known websites to shop for games/books/films/etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author pappyy3
      If I wasn't for the 24 hrs cookie, I would pick Amazon over the majority of clickbank affiliate programs, simply due to the trust of customers, and the variety of products it offers.

      If amazon changed their strategy on cookies, their sales from affilliates would look very different I think
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  • Profile picture of the author Hyaku_Man
    Their commission is low, but if you choose your products wisely you can get a great conversion rate on Amazon products because of trust and name recognition. Whether that makes up for the low rate, I don't know. But with Amazon if you're making any sales at all then all you have to do is scale it up and you will sell more. I have some of the worst autoblogs on earth with content all written in autospun gibberish and they still make a few sales because they have Amazon products on them.
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  • Profile picture of the author PaulaC
    We make over $10,000 a month on Amazon commissions. They pay up to 8.5% if you sell enough products.

    When we were promoting CJ merchants we weren't making as near as much. It was only when we started adding Amazon links that our sales sky rocketed.

    People trust Amazon and they will buy all sorts of products even though you might only send them there for one thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pauline60
    Well I like Amazon - as a newbie its the first half decent money I have made. Its easy to get from 4% to 6% and they do the selling for you. I love the fact that you can sell stuff you don't even sell...last month one person bought $100 worth of coffee through one of my sites which sells stuff not even remotely related to coffee.

    It may sound like peanuts but last month I made $60 from 2 crap sites and a hubpage. I was pretty happy with that as I reckon I can make far more when I improve my sites and make more of them. I have tried so hard with clickbank but can't seem to sell a thing. I think Amazon is a great place to get started.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Maybe Im just spoilt being in the digital product world for so long.

      If Amazon wasnt converting so well I'd look to change but not sure what else would work as well?
      That's the point - Amazon payments are more in line with retail sales commissions. Face it - digital products are often high priced just to pay high commissions because otherwise we wouldn't sell them.
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      • Profile picture of the author Wakunahum
        Think of it in terms of cents per click as opposed to commission percentages.

        If Amazon pays you the most per click on average, use them. If not, use someone else.
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      • Profile picture of the author Sparhawke
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        That's the point - Amazon payments are more in line with retail sales commissions. Face it - digital products are often high priced just to pay high commissions because otherwise we wouldn't sell them.
        Exactly, there are thousands of clickbank affiliates products, but they are all separate.

        If someone was to bring them all together in one page where every clickthrough gained commission on what was sold regardless of what product it was it would be great...

        Amazon wins hands down because it doesn't really matter what you are promoting as it all adds.

        So long as you have lots of pages all with views then there is a high chance of selling anything.
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  • Profile picture of the author actionplanbiz
    amazon is low cost, got credibility, and they have a bunch of things you can sell. it all balances out in my opinion
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  • Profile picture of the author Shannon Spoon
    I just started promoting Amazon products and have sold over $300 worth of stuff. In my opinion it is a lot harder to sell ClickBank products because of the trust factor.
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  • Profile picture of the author buffblaze
    Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

    Does it bother anyone besides me that Amazon only offer around 4-6% commission.

    I mean come on atleast 10% should be the minimum...

    Maybe Im just spoilt being in the digital product world for so long.

    If Amazon wasnt converting so well I'd look to change but not sure what else would work as well?

    Just a rant.
    what products are converting for you.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sparhawke
      Originally Posted by buffblaze View Post

      what products are converting for you.
      No one is going to tell you that and you shouldn't ask...as soon as someone does they will find 1000+ vultures without imagination descending on their niche and destroy it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
      Sorry but I cant tell you that exactly.

      What I can tell you is use google keyword tool to serach for "buying keywords"...put a blog/site and try and rank 1st page for that keyword, put adsense and amazon ads and profit.

      It really is that simple...just the ranking/traffic part takes time.




      Originally Posted by buffblaze View Post

      what products are converting for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author KreCi
    The most funny in Amazon is that I never sell products I promote. They have such big database of items to offer that people spend there hours by browsing it and buy totally other things that they have started browsing from.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alan Mc Donald
      can any of you guys who make good earnings from amazon tell me if you write original product reviews or use wp amazon plugins? And is there a particular wp theme that converts well for you on your amazon sites?

      thanks guys
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      • Profile picture of the author PaulaC
        Originally Posted by Pattaya-Addict View Post

        can any of you guys who make good earnings from amazon tell me if you write original product reviews or use wp amazon plugins? And is there a particular wp theme that converts well for you on your amazon sites?

        thanks guys
        I have tried the amazon plugins but haven't had much success. I prefer plain product reviews. Our reviews are around 1000 to 1500 words. They are the ones that do the best.
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        • Profile picture of the author jandmich
          cjmo - you're right Clickbank does have MUCH higher payouts BUT IMO, it seems like they will give a refund when the customer even 'thinks' about the word refund! Granted, crap products should be refunded but it makes for a 'snatch, grab and run' scenario way too often. Amazon is trusted and I will continue to use them.
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      • Profile picture of the author PaulaC
        Originally Posted by Pattaya-Addict View Post

        can any of you guys who make good earnings from amazon tell me if you write original product reviews or use wp amazon plugins? And is there a particular wp theme that converts well for you on your amazon sites?

        thanks guys
        As for themes we use the Flexsqueeze theme as it allows us to create a full page review minus the sidebar. With Amazon reviews you don't want to distract the reader so the less stuff you have on the page the better.
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        Our New Membership Site - Affiliate Tools HQ

        Amazonian Profit Plan - Our Complete Blueprint for Making Money Online by Promoting Amazon Products - The Amazonian Profit Plan

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    • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
      "Amazon Commission Is Pathetic." What makes you say that?

      http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...r-5-years.html
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  • Profile picture of the author Tomwood
    I personally have been trying to thing of a way to get over the one downside thing about Amazon which is the fact that they don't pay on recurring commission.

    if they would just pay 1% or even 0.5% on referrals for life then no other affiliate program would come close for many niches. I am thinking of obsession niches in particular where people just buy and buy again.

    I am wondering if the solution is to build a list in one of these niches then mail regular bulletins when a new product hits the best sellers list or when Amazon does a special offer.

    In the right niche you could even have a newsletter which reviews a product once a week or so

    This way you would have your list going thru your link rather than to Amazon direct
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  • Profile picture of the author aquablue
    Originally Posted by Happy Warrior View Post

    I'm not involved with affiliate marketing, but I've heard that amazon also offers a one time cookie, so you'll only get credit for the sale if someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase on amazon right then and there. Seems like it must be really hard to make any significant money promoting for amazon.
    You might want to actually read the thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tomwood
    We should have a 30 day challenge who can sell the most expensive Amazon item here's one for starters
    Gibson Custom Jeff Beck 1954 Les Paul Oxblood Aged Signed Electric Guitar this goes for just under $25,000 4% of that's not to shabby.

    Can anyone find any higher paying items better still can you sell them
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  • Profile picture of the author GMatthers
    It surely is pathetic
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    • Profile picture of the author FredJones
      I love Amazon for my own reasons. And if I would love to sell for one single website, for me it would be Amazon.

      Why?

      Simply because, it gives the best possible brand supplemented by tangibility (notional perceptional of "clean-ness") of products.

      In fact, it is an absolutely amazing site to work for, in spite of the relatively lesser commission rates and some other apparent issues compared to some other affiliate sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author fitz10
    First of all if you work hard at it Amazon does pay more than 6%. If you're only getting the 4-6% commission chances are you're not selling enough products to make being an Amazon Associate viable. Second, depending on what you're selling a 4-8% commission might be just as substantial as selling something off of Clickbank. I've regularly sold items garnering $30-$50 commissions. Some people sell items that cost $1000s and thus could have commissions of over $100. Third, your volume of sales is going to be much higher than a typical affiliate program because people love stuff on Amazon and everything on Amazon is designed to get people to buy more products. You as the affiliate barely have to do any selling at all.

    In my very first ten days of becoming an Amazon Associate I earned a little over $1000 with no list and a few shoddy websites. Not many people are banking that much on their first week with other affiliate programs.
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  • Profile picture of the author keithdougherty
    I think that depending on how you use Amazon, it can be great. If you go after the low commission rates, if you have high volume you will make good money. The sites I have setup are automatic, so do I care, not really, they just work.

    Personally, I love Amazon, especially for their marketing traffic. That is where I make the really money.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts though.
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  • Profile picture of the author eflo
    There's nothing wrong with selling phyiscal product over Amazon, but why not actually create a secondary income stream and warp information products around some of them? Yes the affiliate commissions on physical products are low, but once these people have purchased things, you might see a trend of purchases that you can serve with an info product for higher margins.

    I just took on a position as sales manager for a wholesale gift operation to better understand the physical market. There really isn't much margin to go round. Granted reps make 10-15% in this industry, but with a powerhouse like Amazon which has a TON of other products, you get random sales (like swingsets) and getting paid 4-6% commissions to find buying trends isn't half bad. Don't forget a back end for your list as you build it up. (You are Building a list PRIOR to forwarding them off to Amazon right?)
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  • Profile picture of the author gareth
    You are talking as an affiliate - what if you publish a POD book on Amazon or open an Amazon store ?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jenb
    I make amazon sites, and personally, it's the best money I've made and I'll tell you why. I review the product, all info is right there on the Amazon page, and I do not need to sell them a product. On Clickbank, you need to sell them, and I am no copywriter. So, if you are good at that, more power to you, but Amazon works without those skills and pays me every month.
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  • Profile picture of the author randalblanchette
    Yeah, not too impressed with the program over there myself. Unless you are able to push out either serious volume or big ticket items it is a very slow trickle in my experience. Mileage may vary of course...
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  • Profile picture of the author lexilexi
    I think there's a product in this thread for someone - "How to make money as an amazon affiliate."

    Not that I could write it, currently. Of all the affiliate schemes I have been a member of, Amazon has been the worst performer in every respect. For some reason, no-one buys amazon stuff off my pages. Perhaps it's because I have added Amazon products as "incidental" to the page, rather than focusing on creating a page with the main intention being to push the visitors to Amazon. Could any of the successful with Amazon shed any light on this?

    Also, one more question. If someone clicks through from your page and then buys an alternate Amazon product, do you get any aff. commission?
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    "If there is no door, it becomes necessary to break out through the wall."

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  • Profile picture of the author MSutton
    For someone like yourself who is used to higher commissions per sale but wants to use a merchant like Amazon to make money, the answer is to focus solely on sending laser targetted, presold traffic to items in the $300+ range.

    Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

    Does it bother anyone besides me that Amazon only offer around 4-6% commission.

    I mean come on atleast 10% should be the minimum...

    Maybe Im just spoilt being in the digital product world for so long.

    If Amazon wasnt converting so well I'd look to change but not sure what else would work as well?

    Just a rant.
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  • Profile picture of the author timpears
    I keep seeing people say that Amazon sells their stuff, but they don't. People buy it. If you find a product on Amazon and click on it to get a description, you get a graphic and the name and that is just about it. People know what they want and they go there and find it and make the buy. If you are lucky enough for them to have gone through your site first, then you get the commission on what they sell.

    Depending on how you set up your site, you probably do more selling than Amazon does. That is how much trust Amazon has. People know that they will get good prices there. Maybe not the lowest price available, but pretty low. And they know they can trust Amazon.

    And the number of people that list their products on Amazon is got to be in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. Mostly the highest cut Amazon takes out of that sale is 15%, so if they pay the affiliate 4% to 8.5%, that doesn't leave a hell of a lot for Amazon to run their infrastructure on.

    Lots of people are making lots of money on Amazon, so bottom line, if you don't like the commission, then go sell Clickbank or something. That way there is less competition for those that do like it.
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    Tim Pears

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  • Profile picture of the author rysportguy
    Banned
    i totally agree that amazon commission is absolutly horrible. You barely get anything and its hard enough to sell there products. I have always just stuck to clickbank commission is way better and it is just easier and better overall
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  • Profile picture of the author ~kev~
    Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

    Does it bother anyone besides me that Amazon only offer around 4-6% commission.

    I mean come on atleast 10% should be the minimum...
    Amazon is easy to use, they have a great reputation, they offer a great selection of banners, a huge product line,,,,. With all of that in consideration, I think 4 - 6 percent is good.

    And, the scale is performance based - the more you sale, the more higher percentage you get.

    To answer your question directly, I'am fine with the way amazon pays its commission.
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