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Do You Promote Amazon Products via Email Marketing?

by redstanford
13 replies
i know it's against Amazon TOS to send traffic to them directly from emails. is there a way around this?

or do you just promote clickbank type info items.

for instance, i'm in the camping niche. i think i could make a killing, with enough subscribers of course, sending out informational/non-selling type emails about camping and at the end of each email - including a small featured product of the week (ie: multi-tools, water purification tablets, hiking sticks, etc) along with an occasional selling email about some valuable clickbank info item.
#amazon #email #marketing #products #promote
  • Profile picture of the author GMD
    Banned
    Originally Posted by redstanford View Post

    i know it's against Amazon TOS to send traffic to them directly from emails. is there a way around this?

    or do you just promote clickbank type info items.

    for instance, i'm in the camping niche. i think i could make a killing, with enough subscribers of course, sending out informational/non-selling type emails about camping and at the end of each email - including a small featured product of the week (ie: multi-tools, water purification tablets, hiking sticks, etc) along with an occasional selling email about some valuable clickbank info item.
    What you've proposed -- as is -- is indeed contrary to Amazon's TOS.

    HOWEVER...

    What you've proposed is interesting.

    Now, I haven't given this any thought except for the idea that popped into my head as soon as I read your post. Here's how I think it could TECHNICALLY work (staying within Amazon's TOS but perhaps violating the "spirit" of their intent...).

    Assuming you have (or can create) a loyal, large list that's targeted to your niche I would take your "small featured product of the week" and do something along these lines:

    I'd have a dedicated website set up that's geared towards whatever (you decide). Something appropriate -- maybe all things camping and outdoors (like the "top 5 camping activities you should do" and other interesting articles/content).

    Set up a WHOLE PAGE dedicated to your "item of the week". It would include a few nifty pictures, a detailed description, and some spin as to WHY this item needs to be purchased NOW.

    Of course this page would then link to Amazon (with your affiliate ID of course).

    Back at your email, you'd end the email with something like:

    "And now, this week's item that you can't go without!"

    The the link.

    They click through to your website page featuring your item.

    Then, hopefully, they click through from your page to the actual item on Amazon and make a purchase.

    This MIGHT be something to consider?
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    • Profile picture of the author redstanford
      Originally Posted by GMD View Post

      What you've proposed -- as is -- is indeed contrary to Amazon's TOS.

      HOWEVER...

      What you've proposed is interesting.

      Now, I haven't given this any thought except for the idea that popped into my head as soon as I read your post. Here's how I think it could TECHNICALLY work (staying within Amazon's TOS but perhaps violating the "spirit" of their intent...).

      Assuming you have (or can create) a loyal, large list that's targeted to your niche I would take your "small featured product of the week" and do something along these lines:

      I'd have a dedicated website set up that's geared towards whatever (you decide). Something appropriate -- maybe all things camping and outdoors (like the "top 5 camping activities you should do" and other interesting articles/content).

      Set up a WHOLE PAGE dedicated to your "item of the week". It would include a few nifty pictures, a detailed description, and some spin as to WHY this item needs to be purchased NOW.

      Of course this page would then link to Amazon (with your affiliate ID of course).

      Back at your email, you'd end the email with something like:

      "And now, this week's item that you can't go without!"

      The the link.

      They click through to your website page featuring your item.

      Then, hopefully, they click through from your page to the actual item on Amazon and make a purchase.

      This MIGHT be something to consider?

      that certainly would work and something i have considered though not having an entire page dedicated to "products of the week" which is a quite refreshing idea.

      making them click, then click again I'm sure would lose some potential buyers but i guess that's to be expected.

      any idea why Amazon has outlawed sending traffic directly from emails? seems they would make a lot more $$$$ this way? seems a bit odd a top company willingly making the job harder for their salesmen....

      I must not be looking at it right I guess.
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      • Profile picture of the author razorhound
        Originally Posted by redstanford View Post

        that certainly would work and something i have considered though not having an entire page dedicated to "products of the week" which is a quite refreshing idea.

        making them click, then click again I'm sure would lose some potential buyers but i guess that's to be expected.

        any idea why Amazon has outlawed sending traffic directly from emails? seems they would make a lot more $$$$ this way? seems a bit odd a top company willingly making the job harder for their salesmen....

        I must not be looking at it right I guess.
        They might not want to encourage email spamming or so IMO.
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      • Profile picture of the author GMD
        Banned
        Originally Posted by redstanford View Post

        that certainly would work and something i have considered though not having an entire page dedicated to "products of the week" which is a quite refreshing idea.

        making them click, then click again I'm sure would lose some potential buyers but i guess that's to be expected.

        any idea why Amazon has outlawed sending traffic directly from emails? seems they would make a lot more $$$$ this way? seems a bit odd a top company willingly making the job harder for their salesmen....

        I must not be looking at it right I guess.
        You're welcome.

        But the answer is: SPAM

        They don't want their brand/image/name/whatever used in conjunction with SPAM.

        Can you imagine, for a second, if they allowed email marketing? Think of the BILLIONS of emails that would be sent out daily from spammers trying to get everybody to buy whatever?

        It would be pretty ugly!
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        • Profile picture of the author Cataclysm1987
          Originally Posted by GMD View Post

          You're welcome.

          But the answer is: SPAM

          They don't want their brand/image/name/whatever used in conjunction with SPAM.

          Can you imagine, for a second, if they allowed email marketing? Think of the BILLIONS of emails that would be sent out daily from spammers trying to get everybody to buy whatever?

          It would be pretty ugly!
          It's not only that.

          Amazon has to protect their reputation. Even beyond spam, there are plenty of shades of grey where people send out e-mails offering products or services that simply aren't true to their nature.

          This makes Amazon.com look terrible. They can't approve every e-mail. It makes more sense for them to approve every website instead.
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          No signature here today!

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  • Profile picture of the author redstanford
    ahhh, good point....
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      All of the Amazon products I promote are done almost exclusively by email, mostly because of the intensity of competition. What I do is send subscribers regular email marketing incrementally higher end products. The review/recommendation for each product is included within emails, and subscribers are directed to a dedicated presell page which has the Amazon affiliate link. Many of my customers have been regular buyers for several years.
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      • Profile picture of the author GMD
        Banned
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        All of the Amazon products I promote are done almost exclusively by email, mostly because of the intensity of competition. What I do is send subscribers regular email marketing incrementally higher end products. The review/recommendation for each product is included within emils, and subscribers are directed to a dedicated presell page which has the Amazon affiliate link. Many of my customers have been regular buyers for several years.
        Does the "end justify the means?"

        In other words, there are those in IM that think -- no matter what -- making the money is all that matters; rules be damned.

        While I'm in no way judging you based on what you do to earn money, your post does IMPLY to the OP that it's okay to promote Amazon products via email (because you're doing it and have, thus far, gotten away with it).

        However, explain this:

        Amazon makes it expressly clear that including an Amazon affiliate link to Amazon from an email is a deal breaker. It's a "no-no".

        Read paragraph six (6) if you will:

        https://affiliate-program.amazon.com.../participation

        In fact, when one reads Amazon's ENTIRE terms of service agreement and agreements attached to that agreement, they make it CLEAR that Amazon affiliates are for those promoting via a WEBSITE ONLY.

        A pre-approved website I might add that they looked at before they let you become an associate.

        The question now is, should the OP really follow your lead?

        What's your "Plan B" when your Amazon account gets suspended? Is the "easy" money worth the risk of making no money in the end?

        If you come back and state that you've been doing this for a while, why not contact Amazon directly -- in fact contact two or three different Amazon reps -- and let them know exactly what you are doing and if it's okay.

        I'd be interested (as well as others I'm sure) in what reply you'd receive from them?
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        • Profile picture of the author myob
          My method is not at all against Amazon's TOS, just very sound marketing practice. Read it again. :rolleyes:
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          • Profile picture of the author fluffythewondercat
            In fact, when one reads Amazon's ENTIRE terms of service agreement and agreements attached to that agreement, they make it CLEAR that Amazon affiliates are for those promoting via a WEBSITE ONLY.

            I've asked Paul about this before. He sends his readers to a non-Amazon page. They can choose to buy from there. There is no Amazon aff link in his emails.

            It's a good technique and I've stolen it for myself. Just starting to see results from it. I tout the features and benefits of buying this item from Amazon (wish lists, gift card use, reviews, etc.)

            fLufF
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          • Profile picture of the author GMD
            Banned
            Originally Posted by myob View Post

            My method is not at all against Amazon's TOS, just very sound marketing practice. Read it again. :rolleyes:
            You know what?

            I have to publicly apologize to you.

            Re-reading your previous post makes me understand what you're doing. It's obvious to me that I didn't read your post carefully enough.

            The issue is: don't put Amazon affiliate links in one's emails.

            You've done what we've been talking about all along: using email, but without the affiliate links. You include a link in your email(s) to a website that has a page that has the link. And that's perfect fine and totally legit within Amazon's TOS.

            So again, I apologize to you and I promise to read posts more carefully in the future!
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  • Profile picture of the author MonopolyMan
    I've seen the idea of using a squeeze page between the email and Amazon before but I don't do it myself personally.

    I can see it working if you're getting traffic looking for generic camping for example, but has anyone tried this on a review site ranking for a product term?

    For example if I'm running a blog on 'Bright Yellow DVD Players' I'm going to review and link to the best yellow DVD players. But I wouldn't build an email list for something like that. I'd figure they're looking to buy now, so I'd focus more on a direct response. Get them to the best deal on Amazon, and pre-sell it.

    I guess, depending on the niche, you could always offer related products afterwards. It would just depend on how much of a hit you'd take on the initial CTR.
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    I've just started playing around with list building and email-marketing similar to MYOB. I guess there will be a learning curve but we'll see how it goes
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