"Google Sniper" Banned from Amazon

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Interesting thread over at the Amazon forum regarding MAKITA9227CX3.COM:

http://forums.prosperotechnologies.c...9.36&ctx=32768

All too common "Google Sniper" site where the domain url is a product model number.

Amazon closed his account due to the trademark in the domain. Although he was later able to get reinstated, his site is of course now dead.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #amazon #banned #google sniper
  • Sucks for him, but he should have thought twice before using someone's property for his own gain.

    We have these laws for a reason.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • I warn everyone I coach not to get domains that run afoul of this. It's easy to say "That'll never happen to me." Don't learn the hard way.
  • Didn't rich jerk get his amazon account shut down for that? Was making like 8k a month I believe.

    I may be wrong.

    Kelly Felix you there?
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    • And isn't he continuing to teach it in Bring The Fresh?
  • In itself there is nothing wrong with using a trademarked name, that is if the company doesn't defend it's trademark.

    If you see 200 other sites using the name in the serps that are more than a couple years old then you will most likely be safe.

    But if you see no domains in the serps and you check and see that Sony.org is available, well then use your common sense.

    Of course you need to check your ToS of the affiliate program also.

    For bring the fresh, I don't think it is wrong to teach his students to use trademark domains, but like I said you need to just be careful.
    • [2] replies
    • Well I don't think its wise to EVER do something that violates trademark laws, regardless of your chances of getting caught or not.

      While exact domain name matches are good for quick rankings, I wouldn't employ them for trademarked names. Instead I'd use that time to do OTHER effective seo strategies that won't run the risk of me being banned.
      • [ 3 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
    • I think it's irresponsible not to alert them to the dangers of doing it.

      We had someone in here just last week who got a C&D from a company for his exact-match trademark domain, and he was whinging about "why does Kelly Felix teach this then."

      I gave an answer to that, something along the lines of "sometimes you can get away with it, even though technically you shouldn't."

      I'm a member on BTF, but I don't know why. I've not read much of anything there. It's a big SEO thing, and I don't really do SEO, and basically I just got offered a good deal somewhere and said "ooh, discount."

      Kind of like when a woman sees shoes for 40% off. Doesn't matter if she needs the shoes, or even likes the shoes, that "40% off" simply cannot be ignored.
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  • is this something to do with the domain? does it break copyright?
  • I would have done the same if I were Amazon for so many reasons that I don't have enough time or space to explain here.

    Note: sniper type sites should not be considered a business model, in my opinion
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    • Only if one doesn't know how to build them.
  • Sounds to me like an internet marketing tactic used to get more traffic in GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINES. Trademark infringement? I'm not touching it
  • Product name/brand and model number. I know most people know what you meant but ummm I didn't w/out looking. I thought you meant the model number.
  • Being pounced on for using a trademarked name or term has nothing to do with Google Sniper or any other niche type system.

    Also there is nothing wrong with niche marketing as a business model, might not be your cup of tea but it can work.
  • Eventually the more general exact match domains will run sparse. At which point people will have to use meaningless variations or additions, or perhaps do what they should have done from the start and brand the website.

    After all, your website may rank easier for 1 term, but people still work hard to rank other terms on different pages... you know, the ones that aren't in the domain name. And from what I've seen, they do so just fine.

    So I don't get why this idea of wasting the opportunity to brand your site over one keyword that doesn't at all help to separate you from the majority (who also use the variation of that keyword in their domain) has been in-printed in people's head.

    The idea of doing this was coined mainly by those looking to set-up sites vigorously, and wanted a way in which to rank for terms easier.

    If you wanted a long-term business, you would realise that although you may not have the boost of the initial exact match domain, you do have time on your side.

    Which means that those who have since long gone and have stopped updating their exact match domains will eventually lose out to those who have stuck at their branded site and continued to improve their exposure.

    The majority of those who I see succeed with Amazon lately have been those who have very few pages / sites that they've spent on improving.
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    • It's just a numbers game like anything else. For every 'big' story you hear about you can bet there's a ton that go completely undetected so I guess it's up the affiliate whether they won't to take a relatively low risk gamble.
  • Oh!! I had thought of buying the product... No, i think I should avoid it.. Thanks!!
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