What is Amazon Up To?
I just visited Amazon Associates, which is nothing unusual expect that they have notifications stating that they are getting rid of aStore.
For all those who have an aStore widget on their site, it is important that you read this message.
Based on customer demand, we are making changes to aStore starting 31 August 2015. Although your existing aStore will continue to operate, you will not be able to create new aStores or modify existing aStores after 31st August 2015. Please note that no customer support will be available for aStore after 31st August.
I am presuming this means that it is best to remove all aStore widgets from our sites!!!
Recent Comments
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aStore doesn't look that attractive to begin with. I have always wondered how can it be profitable with that king of the poor quality interface. I'm not that surprised if Amazon finally decides to phase-out aStore.
I think maybe they have come to the conclusion that it is not a profitable item for themselves or anyone.
I feel that Amazon are doing everyone a favor with removing aStore because if we want a store widget displaying links to products show on our site. We have no choice but to create our own.
Yes. My suspicions as well.
That is why I wen to wooCommerce to begin to build my own store.
I have never been a fan of aStores for many reasons. First, they don't convert that well. It is a limited and irrelevant shopping experience that pales in comparison to what you would get on the actual Amazon site.
It is always much better to promoting a product/service based on the context of your content. If you are writing a review on the best baby strollers, discuss the specific strollers you recommend with direct Amazon links to that specific stroller. This would convert 100x better than an aStore with a smorgasbord of "baby" products.
It doesn't surprise me that Amazon is getting rid of this platform and I only think this is a good thing for affiliates that they are limiting this option.
Yeah, aStores are easy to setup - but do nothing for rankings and visitor experience. Plus you don't get to tailor the comments/descriptions - so better to write your own.
I think it was probably seen as an easy option for most people (I'm not saying that's why you chose it) but I expect as they most likely don't rank that well, as you can't just keyword stuff the page they are on anymore (they are iFrames) that Amazon wasn't seeing any real benefit in maintaining it as a profitable area.
I'm 100% certain if you picked the best of the products you had on your aStore and wrote a review on them, you'd get more hits and conversions than you would if you stuck to the aStore setup.
All the best, Mark
Hi Mark
Thank you. I will do what you suggest and chose some of the products that I had incorporated into the aStore and write individual reviews.
Lis.
Hi Kyle
That makes a lot of sense as I never had anyone click on that widget. It was more of a decorative item in the sidebar, so to be honest I will not miss it on my site.
I feel the same about Adsense even though it can receive clicks and you can earn pocket money it diverts attention from the content that has been written.
I have been concentrating on providing reviews for the products I show on my site, which as you say converts.
Thank you.
Lis.
At least then, people are getting your individual review - and SEO has a role to play there - with and iFrame aStore, you would have little chance of attracting the same traffic.
Cheers Lis,
Mark
Hi Lis:
An Amazon aStore is a different feature that Amazon has that is separate from creating side widgets on your website. An Amazon aStore is a dedicated shopping space on your website or an online shopping cart that promotes all Amazon products. Unless you have this installed on your site, you should be fine.
Steph
Hi Steph,
I did have an Amazon aStore on my site. I created it with products that were based on my niche. Due to this new revelation from Amazon, I have removed it.
Lis.
I see. I understand now what your question was and after reading everyone else's response, I have a better idea of it as well.Thank you for asking this question.
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Hi LisB, I stumbled across your site when googling about the aStore. I'm glad I did too. I know you said Amazon is shutting it down, but I just created a new aStore today. However, I am in the U.S., so it might be different for over here? Not sure how or why, but it's making me leery of even continuing with it.
It can be a lot of busy work inputting the items into the app, which makes me feel like there's no point in continuing with the aStore if it's going to be discontinued. Frustrating! But thanks for posting about it because I had no idea! Any suggestions on what a similar way to display Amazon products in a similar fashion?
Hi Angela,
Welcome to WA and sorry for the delay in replying to your question.
A similar way to display Amazon products would be to create a shop store of your own. That way you could also obtain other affiliate links and include their products as well as Amazon's.
If you go through the training you will learn how to start building your own online store.
Here is some training on the subject which should help: Amazon Online Shop - Become Amazon affiliate Lis.
Also:
Woo Commerce themes and plugins are good for creating your own online store.
Thanks for the info. That's very helpful!
You are welcome, Angela. Let me know if you need anything at all. :)