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Can I use Amazon product descriptions?

by pennyroll
23 replies
If I am going to link to a product page on Amazon can I use a portion of the description on my post?

Is that bad Seo?
#amazon #descriptions #product
  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    Some will say that it is simply "syndicated content" but from a pure SEO perspective, it would be in your best interests to rewrite the description and include that on your site instead.

    BP
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    • Profile picture of the author pennyroll
      Syndicated content would imply that it's ok from a copyright aspect but Search engines might see it as duplicate content? Is that about right? If so what about a blend of theirs and mine?
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      • Profile picture of the author bkat52
        Originally Posted by pennyroll View Post

        Syndicated content would imply that it's ok from a copyright aspect but Search engines might see it as duplicate content? Is that about right? If so what about a blend of theirs and mine?
        thats right on. legally you are ok. but definitely rewrite it, make it unique. With ecommerce I find a lot of sites with the exact same descriptions. I rewrite content to differentiate it from competitors and to avoid duplicate content.

        blending is fine.
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  • Profile picture of the author Adie
    Rewrite to make it unique for SEO purposes...
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    Moderator's Note: You're only allowed to put your own products or sites in your signature.

    Signature edited.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Cole
    You can... There are auto plugins all over the web publishing just that.

    BUT - Apart from the syndicated content/SEO perspective, where is the value in republishing the exact same description?

    What have you got that is a different or unique take on the product?

    My advice is to go that little bit further and write up your own content (descriptions and reviews).
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    Don't do it. Most of your visitors will probably have already been to Amazon. How do you expect your visitors to take your site seriously if all you are doing is taking Amazon's info and posting it to your site?

    I chuckle when I see all these "$29 done-for-you" sites for sale with "10,000 products!!". Nobody that arrives at your site is going to take anything serious because many of them have already seen the same description 50 times on all of the other spam sites.

    I write my own content and can throw up several GOOD reviews in my own words in less than an hour. Because of it, my sites offer value to my visitors. In turn, I do very, very well and even get referenced by much larger sites (gaining valuable backlinks in the process).

    Do yourself a HUGE favor and produce your own content.
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    • Profile picture of the author cherishwealth
      Originally Posted by wolfmmiii View Post

      Don't do it. Most of your visitors will probably have already been to Amazon. How do you expect your visitors to take your site seriously if all you are doing is taking Amazon's info and posting it to your site?

      I chuckle when I see all these "$29 done-for-you" sites for sale with "10,000 products!!". Nobody that arrives at your site is going to take anything serious because many of them have already seen the same description 50 times on all of the other spam sites.

      I write my own content and can throw up several GOOD reviews in my own words in less than an hour. Because of it, my sites offer value to my visitors. In turn, I do very, very well and even get referenced by much larger sites (gaining valuable backlinks in the process).

      Do yourself a HUGE favor and produce your own content.
      wolfmmiii,
      Very good sharing. Thank you so much!

      regards,
      cherish
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  • Profile picture of the author Berg Canon
    Hmmm I never considered it being bad SEO and haven't been Google slapped either.

    I paste the Amazon description first and under that I post "My Review"....

    Sometimes it agrees with what the Amazon descript says sometimes it differs but like I said I have not noticed anything negative happening from doing this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Clair Ryan
    I would always rewrite.

    chris and wolfmmiii really good points.
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  • Profile picture of the author DerekGann
    Read the description from Amazon and note point. Then rewrite it yourself.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Just because others pull product descriptions directly off Amazon, does that mean it's acceptable or legal?

      Be very careful about the advice you get from IMers, especially legal advice.

      Here's what Amazon says (anyone can easily find this on the Amazon site in the Help section if you just look):

      LICENSE AND SITE ACCESS

      Amazon grants you a limited license to access and make personal use of this site and not to download (other than page caching) or modify it, or any portion of it, except with express written consent of Amazon. This license does not include any resale or commercial use of this site or its contents; any collection and use of any product listings, descriptions, or prices; any derivative use of this site or its contents; any downloading or copying of account information for the benefit of another merchant; or any use of data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools. This site or any portion of this site may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold, visited, or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose without express written consent of Amazon. You may not frame or utilize framing techniques to enclose any trademark, logo, or other proprietary information (including images, text, page layout, or form) of Amazon without express written consent. You may not use any meta tags or any other "hidden text" utilizing Amazon's name or trademarks without the express written consent of Amazon. Any unauthorized use terminates the permission or license granted by Amazon. You are granted a limited, revocable, and nonexclusive right to create a hyperlink to the home page of Amazon.com so long as the link does not portray Amazon, or its products or services in a false, misleading, derogatory, or otherwise offensive matter. You may not use any Amazon logo or other proprietary graphic or trademark as part of the link without express written permission.

      (Note: Underline and bold is my emphasis)

      Be forewarned . . .

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author ArielT
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        Just because others pull product descriptions directly off Amazon, does that mean it's acceptable or legal?

        Be very careful about the advice you get from IMers, especially legal advice.

        Here's what Amazon says (anyone can easily find this on the Amazon site in the Help section if you just look):

        LICENSE AND SITE ACCESS

        Amazon grants you a limited license to access and make personal use of this site and not to download (other than page caching) or modify it, or any portion of it, except with express written consent of Amazon. This license does not include any resale or commercial use of this site or its contents; any collection and use of any product listings, descriptions, or prices; any derivative use of this site or its contents; any downloading or copying of account information for the benefit of another merchant; or any use of data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools. This site or any portion of this site may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold, visited, or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose without express written consent of Amazon. You may not frame or utilize framing techniques to enclose any trademark, logo, or other proprietary information (including images, text, page layout, or form) of Amazon without express written consent. You may not use any meta tags or any other "hidden text" utilizing Amazon's name or trademarks without the express written consent of Amazon. Any unauthorized use terminates the permission or license granted by Amazon. You are granted a limited, revocable, and nonexclusive right to create a hyperlink to the home page of Amazon.com so long as the link does not portray Amazon, or its products or services in a false, misleading, derogatory, or otherwise offensive matter. You may not use any Amazon logo or other proprietary graphic or trademark as part of the link without express written permission.

        (Note: Underline and bold is my emphasis)

        Be forewarned . . .

        Steve
        Are you sure that is for amazon associates? I was looking for that in the Operating Agreement and didn't find that, did I miss something?

        You said that is in help section, so my guess is that wouldn't apply exactly to associates since that seems to be for general public
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      • Profile picture of the author Elle Holder
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        Here's what Amazon says (anyone can easily find this on the Amazon site in the Help section if you just look):

        LICENSE AND SITE ACCESS

        Amazon grants you a limited license to access and make personal use of this site and not to download (other than page caching) or modify it, or any portion of it, except with express written consent of Amazon. This license does not include any resale or commercial use of this site or its contents; any collection and use of any product listings, descriptions, or prices; ...

        Um, would that be the amazon.com terms of use or the amazon associates operating agreement? Two different things my friend!

        11. Limited License

        Subject to the terms of this Operating Agreement and solely for the limited purposes of advertising Products on, and directing end users to, the Amazon Site in connection with the Program, we hereby grant you a limited, revocable, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to (a) copy and display the Content solely on your site...
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  • Profile picture of the author Edwin Torres
    I dont think Amazon has anything against you using their product descriptions, but at a SEO standpoint, I'd recommend either:

    1. Not copy/pasting too much of the product description
    or
    2. Writing the description in your own words
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  • Profile picture of the author Manoj V
    Originally Posted by pennyroll View Post

    If I am going to link to a product page on Amazon can I use a portion of the description on my post?

    Is that bad Seo?
    Hi pennyroll - It makes better sense to write in your own words but based on the actual description given on Amazon. How else can you write a description of a product that you do not buy?

    A better idea is to insert Amazon products in your blog which contains unique content pertaining to your niche. The articles may contain product recommendations for readers with images which link to Amazon products. You can easily do this by using the "Amazon product in a post plugin" by which you can insert products within your post.

    You can also build an Amazon aStore in a separate section in your blog and link to it from posts in your blog.

    Moreover you can use Amazon widgets to promote books and magazines related to your niche in your blog.

    If you follow the points above you will be able to have unique content with low competition keywords for which you can rank easily while also promoting Amazon products.
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  • Profile picture of the author Todd Pedersen
    You can also build an Amazon aStore in a separate section in your blog and link to it from posts in your blog.
    One thing I have found is your conversions suffer GREATLY if you use the widgets that Amazon gives you.

    I get in the neighborhood of 4 to 5 times the clicks from text links. I like to include a Specials section on most pages to engage the readers eye into clicking. I think readers become "ad blind" to the widgets aAmazon uses.

    As per the main topic of the OP, content really needs to be rewritten. I use Amazon as well as competing sites for a guidline for my product reviews.
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  • Profile picture of the author MaryPabelate
    Banned
    What I do is I rewrite the description and I give it a form of article, also I do on-page optimization to target some keywords based on the product.
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  • Profile picture of the author ambrown31
    You really want to write your own original review to give readers something "new" to look at.
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  • Profile picture of the author askdeeps
    Yes, you can capture amazon products which comes under some keywords and post on your site, including the product image, description and even reviews.
    You can see this site FreeInsuranceAdvice .com which i have done as an example.

    It will help you in seo actually, if the permalinks is properly set.

    If you need my help, i can do that for you

    regards
    Deepu

    Originally Posted by pennyroll View Post

    If I am going to link to a product page on Amazon can I use a portion of the description on my post?

    Is that bad Seo?
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  • Profile picture of the author peterb1234
    Definitely re write. People are not only looking for the product description. As others have said, people have already read the description on Amazon.

    People are looking for a quality review of a product, give your visitors something worth reading.
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  • Profile picture of the author dimitri banks
    ok you all say re-write re-write , can someone please tell me how can i re-write that

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  • Profile picture of the author dimitri banks
    My point is , i want that my readers have all the information on my website . And product descriptions are not reviews it's precise technical information and really i don#t want to rewrite that because in my opinion it's the best for the reader to have manufacturer description . The question is . will i be punished for that by search engines or not . I am talking specifically about technical specifications description .
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  • Profile picture of the author laracoates28
    Search Engines not gonna like it if you going to depends on organic traffic. So better write your own description and ensure the perfect on-page seo.
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