Amazon Is NOT the Only Game In Town
Yesterday, I received an email from the Grand Pappy of all affiliates... Amazon, ahem... dot com. You may have one in your inbox, too. Here it is pasted below
---------------------------------------
Hi there,
We are writing to notify you of some changes to the Amazon Associates Program Operating Agreement, which governs your participation in the Amazon Associates Program. All changes are effective as of January 1, 2018.
Visit Associates Central to see a summary of changes to the Operating Agreement. Sincerely, The Amazon Associates Program
----------------------------------------
Like me, your first thought may have been, "Well, ahh, THAT can't be good."
And you would be correct.
Here's the bad news folks, once again, copied and pasted her for your perusal...
----------------------------------------
Associates Operating Agreement – What’s Changed
Here are some of the most important updates we made to the Amazon Associates Program Operating Agreement and Program Policies on January 1, 2018:
Changes to the Program Policies
- We’ve changed the rate for Amazon Fire Tablet Devices, Dash Buttons, and Amazon Kindle Devices from 8.0% to 4.0% and for Amazon Echo Devices from 8% to 7%.
- We’ve updated the list of Amazon Channels.
----------------------------------------
I'm sure the updated list of Amazon channels is of no consequence. However, did you see the drop in those commissions?! They slashed the commissions on Amazon Fire Tablets, Dash Buttons, and Amazon Kindles by 50%. They're already notoriously cheap enough and now they're back to being SUPER-Cheapos.
Fear not, though, and I'll tell you why. If you read Kyle's latest post, he just blogged about this very subject. Check it out here
Affiliate Marketing in 2018, What You Need to Know
Although his article touts Amazon as having gotten half of all online affiliate sales ofver the holidays, my guess is, if they treat their affiliates as if they are less and less important over time, it will give US, the AFFILIATES, the opportunity to make more money from the other businesses out there. And like Kyle says in making his very first point:
Affiliate Programs Need Affiliates More Than Ever.
So, take heart,everyone. And take advantage of some of the affiliate opportunities that present themselves OUTSIDE of Amazon. There's Share-A-Sale, Pepperjam, and heck, the Affiliate bootcamp right here in your own backyard - to name a few. There are dating sites, travel sites, pet supply companies, music stores, etc.; affiliate programs in every category.
So, when Grand Pappy Amazon drops some of the commission rates, don't get discouraged. Be like a contestant on Survivor and search for the "Hidden Immunity Idol".
There's more than one way to stay in the game, so if Amazon isn't doing right by you...
Just say...
"Bye Felicia"
Recent Comments
25
They accepted me and when I read all the negatives things I didn't bother. 3 months later they send me an email to start adding links and I told them I won't be joining and have no interest, and to not message me again. I gave them the boot from the start.
I wrote a blog post months ago with this and was surprised to read the comments on how nasty they are!
I'm with ShareASale Network since the beginning and have 3 merchants I use and am happy :D
You have very good foresight. My account was already active from years ago, so I didn't really have to do anything extra when I joined WA. However, I haven't made very much money from my Amazon links, so it's as if they don't even exist, anyway.
They are 'King' out there but not for me!
There was another blog post earlier where she was accepted at first thinking she was 'in' permanently but found her account gone and not there now. She is stuck with Amazon links all over her website and has to find another affiliate program, something 100's of members were stuck doing. The worst part was when she stated she was making sales! now, if someone wants to go buy something else they can't!
Yeah...Amazon is not necessarily working for Affiliates best Interests. Let's face it, as their stock rises, more dividends have to be paid to share holders and someone has to take a cut....ahhh, Affiliates won't mind if we cut into their piece of the pie! This is a part of the Conundrum.
Bezos is getting more picky as more people buy in to Amazon. A common problem in marketing. We're all right to keep shopping!
Amazon is getting greedy:( Someday, I think it will come back to bite them! And you're right...there are so ma y other affiliate programs to choose from:). That's the blessing!
Suzi
Thank you for summarizing the changes. I meant to read that Amazon email today. Wow, that is unfortunate. Well, corporations keep cutting expenses, we see it all the time.
Great update Hal. I better go check that they didn't lower my segment on Amazon...pets. I have been loving the "new" 8% commission on all pet items since this spring the last time they changed it.
They didn't. It makes me nervous though. Clothing is about the only category that pays more. I wonder how long until they lower my 8% segment and the 10% clothing segment back down to all the others around 4%!
My second website focusing on supplements and books about nutrition looks like it will fall in a 4% segment as well...bummer.
You can only push affiliates away so much before you really start to notice the impact.
Amazon is cutting is already slim margins on it's already cheap devices (for pure marketshare play), but I do think it is wrong to punish affiliates for their own personal interests.
They removed the floating commissions for high volume affiliates earlier on this year while increasing the rates slightly across the board as a static commission %.
This frustrated many of the affiliates with authority sites out there (and heaps of traffic), whom I know are continually looking for alternatives.
I think you are going to see a bit more of "push and pull" between Amazon and associates in the year ahead, it will be very interesting to see the next move.
I still remember when they offered a 30 day cookie, so visitors could return within the month and the referrer would still get a commission. Ahh, progress :-(
See more comments
The picture of the dog is priceless!
Debbie
I like it, too!!