Google & Affiliate Marketing Links.
I thought I would post this blog, because this at some point might affect us all and reading some of the blogs where people are having issues with Amazon Code on their websites, this might go someway to explaining those issues and a potential way forward
It is reported that Google, is starting to clamp down, not heavily yet, but it depends on your definition of heavy, on affiliate links within websites and specifically amazon Links due to the plain and simple fact, that it is waging a battle with and against Amazon
Google, is moving closer to favouring ecommerce shopers and those who are searching for what Google sees as 'real products' as opposed to the 'digitial marketing variety'. Consequently, it is hitting websites, where it detects what it sees as affiliate links, masked or otherwise 'hidden' in content with traffic reduction, some of you might have experienced this already
Personally I have experienced this and have noticed within certain sites I use, that Google has placed what I call restrictions on certain links, meaning that they are not clickable or if they are clickable, then google places a very large warning that the site ahead, is potentially untrusted and you should not proceed.. The ultimate choice is up to you of course
Now given that we are writing content on our websites and most of us use Chrome as a browser, it may be worth while using an alternative browser to combat this.
For example I have started using Firefox and though it has only been for a few days now, it has improved my experience of using the web and I am finding that the issues caused with using Chrome are not present in Firefox
As far as Affiilate Marketing links are concerned, then this might be a good time to review the ventures you are associated with and its a good suggestion to look more at evergreen products ( ones that have been around years, as they are considered more trustworthy)
Google hasn't clamped down heavily as yet, but as with any Internet Giant, they are starting small and will no doubt lead up to the smaller affiiliate marketing /media companies at some stage
I have done this myself and tweaked my marketing accordingly, with it has to be said, a very posistive effect
Forwarned, forarmed
Applied Education is the Difference
Recent Comments
34
Thanks for sharing some very good information. Google vs. Amazon? I would rather watch Godzilla vs. King Kong.
Mark
About "using an alternative browser to combat this" - your own browser has no effect on what your visitors are doing/using, or did I misunderstand the point?
No you didn't misunderstand me, my own experience with certain affiliate links, is that when using chrome, the links don't click through, but when I use Firefox for example they do
Either way as a result of this, I am going to alternate between browsers, using either Firefox or IE as my alternative and I am not decided on which of the two it will be yet
OK, thanks. Have not noticed this at my side and have not been aware of the problem, but good to know, what if our visitors have this issue, we might be losing sales.
Its one reason why we are using Pretty Links, to readicate the 'stolen' sales, otherwise with raw links, then your number can just be replaced with someone elses
But this is a different issue, do not see how this can be related.
I never use Pretty Links or anything similar. When you click it, the full link will always show, this cannot be hidden. So I do not see the point of using it. Besides, all Amazon links are already available as short links, but click on any and you will see the raw link displayed.
Morning Dave (Congrats on Wimbledons escape act by the way!)
Blimey that sounds a bit nasty for the future of affiliate marketing!
With Chrome being the biggest browser in terms of usage, Google acting like they are God, is not a good thing methinks.
Thanks for commenting and for the congratulations, I alsways said the boys would do it, which they did and watching the celebrations on YouTube yesterday, was immense.
We lose 6 of the squad immediately, due to loans expiring and was hoping to see Rambo Ransdale come back for another season, bu that hope might have been dashed with Bournemeouth giving a debut to Mark Travers on Saturday, so they might need rambo as back up
As for the google thing, no its not looking good at the moment for affiliate ventures, but we will wait and see where it goes
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Thank you for the information,I had no idea... Question about switching browsers, can you please explain how that helps? Isn't it what browser the end user is using to view your site on such as Chrome or Firefox? Also, was this only Amazon links or has it been noticed with other basic affiliate links?
Appreciate your time!
At the moment its only with Amazon, but they have been starting to erode other affiliate links with other ventures
As far as switching browsers goes, I use Firefox and Google, depending on what I am doing work wise