Here are some much better programs than Amazon.
Upon trying to search for Affiliate programs to monetize my site I found some great ones.
I used Amazon on my last site and I am really not happy with them. Here is why:
- You are going to have to join several of them eg. .com .eu .co.uk to get a good global reach as each one only ships to a particular region.
- Which leads to another problem that means you have to add multiple links to reach all of your audience, this or the option before it are not really viable options.
- (don't get me wrong Amazon is fine if you plan on targeting a particular region or country)
- Their widgets and banners are tacky looking and as Jay says they don't convert very well.
- They wont pay you for selling to friends or family, this is a big no no.
- They don't give newbies long enough to make a sale before closing them down. Months of writing content can lead to you having to add every single link again when you re-apply.
- They pay very poor commission.
There are loads of great programs out there but let me tell you about two that I applied for. Where Clickbank and Commission Junction offer ebooks and stuff like that I found ones that give you access to hundreds of companies offering services and products-
TradeDoubler and Affiliate Window.
These companies are an intermediate for many big companies worldwide and these companies use these companies to outsource their affiliate programs. I got access to the likes of Expedia and Stena line.
You have access to well known high street stores like boots and Debenhams (UK stores) then theres website services such as flight comparisons and online stores.
You also have the power of having well known companies featured on your site who offer much better commissions. I found one on Affiliate Window called find my past (A genealogy company) who offer 50%, and $2 when someone takes a free trial.The choice of companies vary depending on the country you are in so theres something to suit worldwide.
These are just some suggestions for you all, I hope they help.
Jason.
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I've not made my mind up about Amazon yet, they're still on trial for me, but I do like Affiliate Window :)
Commission Junction, Webgains and Linkshare also have some good big name merchants signed up to them, depending on your niche.. might be worth a look.
C
Thank you for that. I didn't have most the complaints you did about Amazon, but the comissions are so insanely low you have to have 1000s of people clicking on them all the time to even try to earn anything decent. Thank you for sharing two better options with us.
I felt same as you about Amazon system.
It's not good at all. :-(
I was finding like this.
Thanks for sharing great info!
Yeah, i got shut down with Amazon(usa) for not making a sale.
But my U.K one is still open even though i haven't sold a thing.
Cool, that sounds good. Did you know you can get a link globalization called georiot tool to make Amazon links direct to the country the visitor lives in? I used it once, but then I decided to just target the US (even though I live in the UK) since it was simpler. But yeah, that still doesn't fix the other problems you mentioned. At least you've found a better affiliate program :)
is this allowed by amazon? they have some really strict rules and won't hesitate to close your account for good if they feel like it.
Why wouldn't it be allowed? It doesn't say anything bad against using stuff like this does it?
Wouldn't it be helping Amazon because it would be driving customers to their amazon store specific to their country and therefore amazon will get more money/customers? I mean, they should LIKE stuff like this shouldn't' they? Hmm... I don't know, but I know that a few people do use it. Someone showed me it on WA.
Selling to our friends and relatives is helping Amazon too but still didn't stop them pulling the plug on it.
Selling to our friends and relatives is helping Amazon too but still didn't stop them pulling the plug on it.
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Thank you for this. As I was reading I was thinking "oh, so they treat affiliate marketers like they treat their warehouse workers!" I boy cotted them after my treatment there 2 years ago. I was thinking to myself here that I could possibly use their affiliate links to make the whole sad experience up to myself. After reading this I will avoid them all together. I cannot in good conscious promote their business in any way. With all due respect though to those that thrive from them here of course. It's just my thoughts and chooice.
What a-holes, I'm sorry to hear that. I bet you are more dtermined to make a go of it without using them, in your face Amazon lol
Heehee ya I am! You solidified my resolve to be sure. You rock and thank you for the guidance : ) Free the Amazon modern day slaves!