Where's the reward for being an Amazon affiliate?

13 years ago

Amazon is a low percentage but is easy to implement. I have been doing quite well being an Amazon Associate, but without a doubt the sites that use my SaS or CJ accounts make far more per month. Amazon should just be another tool, not the end all be all...

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2936761].message }}

trishworks4u

13 years ago

no - they are not the best and the fact that their links are all iframes just makes it worse to get ANY on page seo benefit from them at all. I did much better with them this time last year than I am right now.

Thanks

Signature

Questions About Proxies? Find the Best Here! (20% OFF for LIFE)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2936784].message }}

Rsberg

13 years ago

I can see why your frustrated with it but two things are affecting your income from Amazon...

1. Might I suggest you target higher priced items.

Doing the math from your screenshot the items you sold average out to $37.77 each. Had you sold 29 items that averaged out at $100 each your check would have been much higher...$116.00. If your target products were $250 each (and there are plenty on Amazon, many much higher as well) then your check for 29 sales would have been $290. It goes on and on...

2. Had you sold more frequently then your commission would have been bumped up a few percentage points to 6% and so on based on selling more items. I didn't pay too much attention to the time period in your screen shot but I think those 29 sales covered a year or more which at best only relates to an average of 2 sales most months and 3 a couple of months. Had you made more sales per month then your % increases 33% to the next level. Even though 2% doesnt sound like a lot it does add up over time.

Like I said, I know it's easy to get frustrated with it but there is potential there once you figure out how to work the system to your advantage.

Best of luck,
Robert

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2936808].message }}

Droopy Dawg

13 years ago

Yeah the products that I was promoting were kinda "all over the place" as a far as pricing... I mean I was promoting digital cameras/accessories... GPS/accessories... all kinds of stuff.

I may revisit it at some point, and as I still have a few sites out there that are pulling in a few nickels. But for now I'll chill on building new sites.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Rsberg

I can see why your frustrated with it but two things are affecting your income from Amazon...

1. Might I suggest you target higher priced items.

Doing the math from your screenshot the items you sold average out to $37.77 each. Had you sold 29 items that averaged out at $100 each your check would have been much higher...$116.00. If your target products were $250 each (and there are plenty on Amazon, many much higher as well) then your check for 29 sales would have been $290. It goes on and on...

2. Had you sold more frequently then your commission would have been bumped up a few percentage points to 6% and so on based on selling more items. I didn't pay too much attention to the time period in your screen shot but I think those 29 sales covered a year or more which at best only relates to an average of 2 sales most months and 3 a couple of months. Had you made more sales per month then your % increases 33% to the next level. Even though 2% doesnt sound like a lot it does add up over time.

Like I said, I know it's easy to get frustrated with it but there is potential there once you figure out how to work the system to your advantage.

Best of luck,
Robert

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2936909].message }}

kkrueger

13 years ago

I finally got over the 100.00 mark for Amazon...but I have to wait 60 days before I get it.

So here are the positives of selling on Amazon:

1. Amazon product sites convert because people are used to seeing Amazon

The Cons:

1. low affiliate percentage until you reach a high volume

2. Cookies last 24 hours

3. 60 days before a payout..

4. My Favorite... they will market directly to your
customers after they buy something, if it's something they
have searched for, cutting you out of the loop.

5. Java Script coding that doesn't allow for SEO if you are using
an A-store. If you build your own niche sites, and use your
own SEO...then you're good.

6. It's a one time customer sale. And now that the news is reporting
that people shouldn't click on long scary links...once it shows up in the
browser window, people might freak.

Really, the only way to make money is to find a hot market and sell them a product
that you own, and paypal payments made directly to your account.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2936975].message }}

jan roos

13 years ago

I sent 129 visitors to one of my sites yesterday.

Product 1 costs $150 and I sold 4 = $40 in commission
Product 2 costs $434 and I sold 1 = $32 in commission

That's a total of $72 from 129 visitors from 1 site.

If you sell products in the $200+ range you will make good money with Amazon because their conversion rate is so high. Also, the conversion rate for a $60 product will be about the same as a $200 product so why not promote a $200 product?

Cheers

Jan

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

I'll teach you how to make money like a Mamba.

Sign up for the free money mambas newsletter!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937046].message }}

Bingo123

13 years ago

Originally Posted by jan roos

I sent 129 visitors to one of my sites yesterday.

Product 1 costs $150 and I sold 4 = $40 in commission
Product 2 costs $434 and I sold 1 = $32 in commission

That's a total of $72 from 129 visitors from 1 site.

If you sell products in the $200+ range you will make good money with Amazon because their conversion rate is so high. Also, the conversion rate for a $60 product will be about the same as a $200 product so why not promote a $200 product?

Cheers

Jan

Hi Jan,
thanks for the inspiring post.
I'm trying to establish just how important it is to have a hosted site with a domain name versus a .blogspot.com site?

Obviously the domain name is better, but it requires investment.
I would be interested to know if you think it is possible to start amazon marketing using the free .blogspot.com sites just to while I get my feet wet.

Thanks

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937268].message }}

jan roos

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Bingo123

Hi Jan,
thanks for the inspiring post.
I'm trying to establish just how important it is to have a hosted site with a domain name versus a .blogspot.com site?

Obviously the domain name is better, but it requires investment.
I would be interested to know if you think it is possible to start amazon marketing using the free .blogspot.com sites just to while I get my feet wet.

Thanks

If you don't have the money to buy a domain name I would suggest you go with hub pages and target a few products with buyer keywords. Once you made some money go and buy a domain name for $9 from namecheap and also hosting for $9.99 a month from hostgator.

Build a review site where you review at least 7 products in the same niche. Focus on getting that site to page one for a lot of buyer keywords and you have yourself an automated income stream which should last a long time.

Wash, rinse and repeat!

Cheers

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

I'll teach you how to make money like a Mamba.

Sign up for the free money mambas newsletter!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937359].message }}

Bingo123

13 years ago

Originally Posted by jan roos

If you don't have the money to buy a domain name I would suggest you go with hub pages and target a few products with buyer keywords. Once you made some money go and buy a domain name for $9 from namecheap and also hosting for $9.99 a month from hostgator.

Build a review site where you review at least 7 products in the same niche. Focus on getting that site to page one for a lot of buyer keywords and you have yourself an automated income stream which should last a long time.

Wash, rinse and repeat!

Cheers

Hi Jan,
Thanks.
I have just bought your course for $97 but have not yet got my username and password?
Could you let me know how long this should take?
My Purchase ID was: 1D503335M30758000

P.S. Nice to see a fellow Saffa on here..
Cheers

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2941529].message }}

jan roos

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Bingo123

Hi Jan,
Thanks.
I have just bought your course for $97 but have not yet got my username and password?
Could you let me know how long this should take?
My Purchase ID was: 1D503335M30758000

P.S. Nice to see a fellow Saffa on here..
Cheers

Pm sent. Sorry for the confusion.

Jan

Thanks

Signature

I'll teach you how to make money like a Mamba.

Sign up for the free money mambas newsletter!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2942173].message }}

Dan C. Rinnert 13 years ago

Originally Posted by kkrueger

4. My Favorite... they will market directly to your
customers after they buy something, if it's something they
have searched for, cutting you out of the loop.

It's not like a lot of people have never heard of Amazon.com. So, it's not like they are stealing someone away from you.

Typically, you're not promoting Amazon.com, you're promoting a specific product available through Amazon.com. And the fact that it is from Amazon rather than some unknown merchant increases conversions because people will feel more comfortable about their purchase.

If they are an Amazon Prime member, odds are they will buy sooner (as in before the cookie expires) rather than later. With free shipping on any order, there is no reason to hold off ordering stuff until you have $x in your shopping cart to bring the shipping cost down to a reasonable level. It's great for impulse buys because if an item is ten bucks, it's ten bucks and not ten bucks plus seven bucks for shipping.
- Thanks
Signature

Dan's content is irregularly read by handfuls of people. Join the elite few by reading his blog: dcrBlogs.com, following him on Twitter: dcrTweets.com or reading his fiction: dcrWrites.com but NOT by Clicking Here!

Dan also writes content for hire, but you can't afford him anyway.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2941641].message }}

Ntech25

13 years ago

I agree focus on selling higher priced items. Amazon has a very large selection of products and most time have lowest pricing. So its easy to sell a lot of items just need to pick the right niche and get traffic going to it. Its low payment if you sell 1 item but if you are selling 20 to 50 items in 1 day it adds up. Trust me!

Thanks

Signature

Done For You Services - Custom Amazon Stores - Wordpress Blog - Unique Content and Design - My Reviews http://dfyservices.com/reviews or Skype = NTech52 - Examples - http://90dayfitnessworkout.com/ http://bmxbikeaccessories.com/ http://ps4store.com/

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2936922].message }}

DireStraits

13 years ago

It's very much a trade-off, I think, when it comes to something like Amazon Associates versus other affiliate programs/networks.

They're a hugely trusted retailer; they have a huge product-range; they're probably the most commonly and repeatedly "shopped-at" online store among people who do any online shopping at all; the list goes on. All of these things and more make Amazon into what I can only describe as a "killer conversions machine".

That is to say, if you can just get people to click through to them via your links, even from potentially the worst-looking/functioning/reading website known to man, you'll probably still make a bucket load of sales, because there's a good chance someone looking to buy something will order that thing (or something, at least) through Amazon within 24 hours.

Even if they weren't interested in buying anything else, Amazon's site seems to have the midas-touch; the ability to tickle and tease one's buying g-spot with such ease and finesse that they're probably ordering something from them either way.

You can't exactly say the same when you're promoting products through the majority of other stores' affiliate programs, nor when promoting Clickbank products.

Amazon is really positioned quite uniquely from almost every other online retailer, in that respect, I think.

So take your pick: high conversions and small commissions per sale (Amazon), or much lower conversions, perhaps more work (well, not necessarily, and perhaps less - but nearly always work that is harder to do well / get right) but much bigger commissions per individual sale (anyone else - particularly through a company like Clickbank).

A choice either way isn't unequivocally better or worse in most cases, I don't think; they're just different, and require a different approach.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937106].message }}

imagoodguy

13 years ago

how many sites would you have to put up if i want to make a good stable income?

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937427].message }}

cashcow

13 years ago

1. Amazon has the trust factor

2. People often buy a bunch of other stuff when they click through from your link - almost half my sales are for items I do not have on my site(s). (This is especially true at Christmas when people have a bunch of things on their list)

3. There is a sliding scale for the commission (if you have your account setup for this) so you can actually get up to 8.5% commission on all your sales if you sell a boatload of stuff. But even just for a 7% commission, you only need to make 111 sales - I have checked out many other merchants that offer the same items I sell (usually stuff that goes for over $100) and that commission is quite competitive, in fact, many of the other merchants offered only 5%.

Lee

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Gone Fishing

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937530].message }}

LilBlackDress 13 years ago

I think Paula and Wanda said it best in their ebook and on various forums.

Amazon offers customers great value! uhhuh..if we can focus on giving VALUE to our readers then it is a win win because we will end up making money ourselves if we do it right. Ok so most of us may not make $10K like Paula and Wanda but still...

How does Amazon offer value? Free shipping options, great customer service, outstanding prices, no scammy auto ship deals, excellent choices....I could go on and on.

What to offer. The brilliant warrior Sojourn shares this formula. Find high ticket products using this search on Google...

5..50 customer reviews type of product site:amazon.com $50..300
example
5..50 customer reviews cameras site:amazon.com $50..300

This will bring up products in that price range. Then add in some lower ticket items to get to that higher commission level. What you will find is you get a ton of sales that aren't even related to your initial offering.

It can work. It does work. And you can feel good about offering great Value.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

Pen Name + 8 eBooks + social media sites 4 SALE - PM me (evergreen beauty niche)
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937592].message }}

LetterCraft Inc.

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Droopy Dawg

Granted... I have not fully committed myself to my Amazon sites... I normally build a site... on-page SEO it... throw some backlinks at it, then move on to something else.

To all you that are making a killing from Amazon I applaud you, and I wish you nothing but the best in your business's success.

But the screenshot below is the reason why I will not be building anymore Amazon sites... ever.

Sure Amazon is benefiting, but 43 dollars? Fareals? Playerrr?

That isn't the commission that you'll find promoting products on the net, BUT, keep in mind that for the kind of products sold on Amazon, 5% isn't too bad considering they have to keep a margin themselves.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2937551].message }}

getsmartt

13 years ago

With Amazon the common response is to sell "big ticket" items, and this is great, you certainly get more commission for the expensive items. But, there are a ton of people out there looking for lower priced items. (Not to mention a lot less completion from other marketers)

If you can build a site efficiently and quickly you can afford to target the lower priced items and make up for the difference on the amount of items sold.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stÃ¤rker

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2941560].message }}

davidjames42973 13 years ago

I've been building sites and using CJ, Clickbank, etc. I just recently started to promote products on Amazon. It's definitely been a slow incline, but I'm making about $2-$5 daily with my sites.

The best part about using Amazon is the people you refer to the site usually buys a lot more than the product you're promoting.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2941586].message }}
- mrdomains 13 years ago
  
  You need to target higher ticket stuff. I tend to stay away from electronics, including photography etc.
  
  You also need to do hardcore keyword research.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Free action plan : Think less. Do more.
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2941605].message }}

Chris Munch

13 years ago

Why just monetize by Amazon? I find I at least triple my earnings by adding other advertising like eBay, Adsense, Infolinks, Chitika etc. I've found adding the additional advertising has little effect on the existing advertising, and overall you have a big boost to earnings.

If you structure your site correctly then that advertising is not intrusive. For that you actually need a decent amount of useful content to balance to ad to content ratio.

I never understand why people just focus on one advertiser and put all their eggs in one basket.

As for your low Amazon earnings, you get out what you put in. Figure out how to repeat what you have done to earn that but way way faster. Volume is key with Amazon.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

How I DOUBLED a 7 figure business & drove 100,000 visitors to this forum - Click to See My LIVE Warrior Q&A

I rarely check my PMs here, if you need support, help or have a question please go to our support desk.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2942081].message }}

jan roos

13 years ago

Originally Posted by ChrisTew

Why just monetize by Amazon? I find I at least triple my earnings by adding other advertising like eBay, Adsense, Infolinks, Chitika etc. I've found adding the additional advertising has little effect on the existing advertising, and overall you have a big boost to earnings.

If you structure your site correctly then that advertising is not intrusive. For that you actually need a decent amount of useful content to balance to ad to content ratio.

I never understand why people just focus on one advertiser and put all their eggs in one basket.

As for your low Amazon earnings, you get out what you put in. Figure out how to repeat what you have done to earn that but way way faster. Volume is key with Amazon.

Do you add the other advertising in the form of text links or banners or widgets?

Cheers

Thanks

Signature

I'll teach you how to make money like a Mamba.

Sign up for the free money mambas newsletter!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2942185].message }}

forexaffiliate

13 years ago

I really don't get it. Why in the world would anyone be an associate with Amazon... I made 1000's of referrals, 100's of referred sales, and commissons, well, let's just say I couldn't even buy a beer from what I've earned.

So please come to your senses and find something better to promote... The commissions at Amazon is just terrible. They can handle their own marketing, and their affiliate program is just a joke.

Maybe Amazon superaffiliates make $5K a month... but superaffiliates at ebay make $5 millions a month, and I personally know forex affiliates that make at least $250,000 per month. So why people bother with the Amazon affiliate program is something I really don't understand. Why...........

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2942363].message }}

mkpoway

13 years ago

Can I confirm that the cookie actually last 24 hours? I've read elsewhere on this forum that the cookie lasts 7 days.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2945035].message }}

kkrueger 13 years ago

I signed up with Jan's program, so I think I will see an increase in revenue. Unfortunately, I was targeting high volume products but very low prices. I had somebody order 5 1.99 products today...but because it was electronics, I only got a 4.00% commission.

So you can imagine the commission I made on that piddly amount didn't pay squat! LOL

In one month I can have 5,500 clicks but no purchases. So it's not the volume of traffic...I was getting that...but it's either I didn't have the right product, or they chose not buy.

I have tried many types of affiliate products, and Amazon seems to be the most reliable in a sense.

Jan has a really solid program, and people have seen results... so I'm going to give it a shot.

Karen

P.S. Here is the Amazon Cookie Info...straight from the horses mouth:

How long do visitors have to add an item to their Shopping Cart after clicking on one of my Amazon links until I no longer earn a referral fee on their purchase?

You earn referral fees on any qualifying items placed in a customer's Shopping Cart within 24 hours of their arrival at Amazon.com via your Associates link. However, this 24-hour window closes once the customer submits his order or reenters Amazon.com through another Associate's link. Once the window is closed, you will not earn referral fees on any subsequent purchases. However, if the customer then returns to Amazon.com through one of your Associates links, this opens a new 24-hour window.

It is of course possible that a customer may arrive at Amazon.com via your Associates link, add an item to his Shopping Cart, and then leave Amazon.com without placing an order. As long as the item was added to the customer's Shopping Cart during this 24-hour window, you will still earn a referral fee if the order is placed before the Shopping Cart expires (usually after 90 days). The referral fee will not be credited to your Associates account until the customer has purchased the item, accepted delivery, and remitted full payment to Amazon.com.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2945062].message }}
AFI 13 years ago

Originally Posted by mkpoway

Can I confirm that the cookie actually last 24 hours? I've read elsewhere on this forum that the cookie lasts 7 days.

I WISHED it lasted 7 days. No unfortunately it only lasts 24 hours.
- Thanks
Signature

Learn about Internet Marketing from my dofollow comment blog.....Make Extra Money At Home...
I WILL BUILD YOU YOUR OWN CUSTOM AMAZON REVIEW SITE - HUNDREDS SOLD!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3051316].message }}

Dalyinx

13 years ago

Yeah, I haven't had much luck with Amazon. I haven't really focused on using it and just throw it on my hubpages once in a while, so maybe that's why. I've had a couple hundred clicks, but no sales or anything.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2945323].message }}

JamieSEO 13 years ago

I usually use Amazon Affiliate products more as space fillers that anything. Other affiliate programs through Linkshare or CJ have done much better for me, or if I am getting high volumes of targeted traffic I directly approach people that have a product that appeals to my visitors and offer them ad space each month
- Thanks
Signature
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2946099].message }}
wolfmmiii 13 years ago

I've been making $x,xxx per month from a handful of sites like the one in my sig in addition to a few web 2.0 properties. By targeting a wide variety of less expensive and more expensive items that I can rank for, I have done very well. I'd say there's plenty of reward if done right.

That said, I fully expect a slowdown come January
- Thanks
Signature

Want a REAL Online Business That's Fun to Run?
CLICK HERE FOR INFO
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3051804].message }}

kislany

13 years ago

Considering that I just made $900 from Amazon this month (an the month is not over yet), there is a reward for it indeed. Granted, it's Christmas time so maybe in January it will go down to $700 or so, but it's still by no means throwaway money.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Jewels of Cyprus - my personal blog

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3051267].message }}

bay37 13 years ago

Originally Posted by kislany

Granted, it's Christmas time so maybe in January it will go down to $700 or so, but it's still by no means throwaway money.

I have found that sales slow down a bit in January and then pick up again in February. I think a lot of people get $$$ for Xmas and spend it towards the end of January/start of February.

Amazon Associates is an awesome thing. I had a long (two and a half months) downtime due to personal/family/health issues and just couldn't "force" myself to work on anything related to my business... and my Amazon earnings are the only reason that I am not in:

1. Debt
2. Broke
3. Massive long term depression due to being broke/in debt/not making money

Most of my Adsense minisites got pushed back to page two for some reason (Google).

All of my cpa campaings are dead/offers dead (should have kept track of things better).

All of my service related businesses have stalled.

My Facebook dating campaigns only lasted 7-10 days (I don't do massive volume - $200/$500 per day only).

Only my Amazon earnings and some eCommerce stuff remained stable.

I don't do CJ, Clickbank, etc - but I imagine they're a bit like Amazon when it comes to offer/website stability.

You don't need to sell more expensive items. Just keep building quality websites. If you can sell 29 items, you can sell 2900 - that's only *100! Build more websites, add more reviews, do more backlinking and let your websites age.

If you stay consistent, you will be making 2900 sales/month this time next year. You don't need "100 times more websites" - quality reviews, good keyword research, larger websites, more and varied backlinks - it all adds up. Don't just rely on exact match domains and you will be fine. Step your game up, break away from the sheeple-crowd. :p

Good luck OP and everyone else.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

Ultimate SERP BOOSTER! Google #1 Step-By-Step! EXCLUSIVE WARRIOR OFFER!
Exclusive - Niche Website Formula Reloaded - Huge WSO Discount - Limited Offer - Get In NOW!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3051703].message }}

tjm2788

13 years ago

If it makes me a profit then I'll be happy to have it as part of my income streams. Thats my attitude to Amazon.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3051489].message }}

kislany

13 years ago

Just checked today my earnings and I have over $1,000 in Amazon. Darn but it will hurt in January when it will go down again...

One thing I also found to be true is having a mix of high, expensive items and small items promoted. The small ones push the commission % up nicely and fast, and just a few high ticket items a month really give the nice well rounded earnings.

Thanks

Signature

Jewels of Cyprus - my personal blog

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3052092].message }}

Where's the reward for being an Amazon affiliate?

Trending Topics

How do I effectively build and nurture an email list for affiliate marketing purposes?

Are Solo ADs the Most Cost Effective Way to Promote your Product?

Are billboards still effective in driving customers?

Been a while! Any of you Old Timers here?

How much does the rebranding affect CR ?