can Amazon present Ad based on certain keywords?

[zozzen]

hi,

i'm thinking of joining the Amazon's affiliate program, but i'm wondering if it's possible to show a list of advertising, based on certain keywords?

I actually want to show their advertising based on the variables in <title>example</title> because the result is pretty accurate and desirable. But do they allow this?

Please give me some advice. Thanks a lot!

[purplecape]

zozzen, Amazon has a lot of different ways of generating banners, links, and "widgets," some using information you specify, including keywords. If you check through the information about what they call the Amazon Associates program, you should find what you are looking for--be sure to check out the Advertising API options if the regular program doesn't fit your needs. But you need to go to Amaazon to review the info. There's just too much there to tell you all of it here!

[piatkow]

There is a "topic" based widget but my experience is that it isn't very accurate.

If you are interested in Amazon then go through their vast range of widgets to see if anything suits. Not sure if you need to sign up first or not.

[1EightT]

You might want to take a look at Prosperent actually. They do exactly what you are looking for through their API and their TCPA ad system. They have access to over 50 million products from several thousand merchants just like Amazon, but they can deliver ads and products based on keywords just as you described. I setup a site using their API where I do price comparisons. The API returns a JSON response with all of the product data, you just send over a keyword for the search. Really intelligent system from what I have seen thus far.

[piatkow]

On the other hand Amazon is a trusted name and I have found that punters are far more likely to click on an Amazon link.

[1EightT]

You have a few problems with Amazon. First is the commission rate (one of the lowest in the industry). Next up is the cookie duration. They use one day. Doesn't get any shorter than that. Basically you have to convert someone on the first click, and that rarely happens.


Last, you have the payment terms. Net 90.... ouch!

Amazon is probably the LEAST affiliate friendly company around ;)

[edited by: eljefe3 at 1:47 am (utc) on Jun 21, 2010]

[purplecape]

1EightT, I'd have to disagree. The commission rate for Amazon, provided one gets into the "performance tiers" is decent, at least in my experience--I earn 7%. No comparable program in my area (books) pays that. Maybe other kinds of merchants pay better, but across-the-board comparisons can be misleading. As for cookie duration, in my experience, it doesn't matter--Amazon converts better than comparable merchants.

The thing is, even with those limitations, Amazon may give you a better bottom line, which is what matters.

As for payment terms, your information is out of date. My earnings for April will be paid at the end of this month, so that's a 60 day lag, not 90. Not great, but for those Associates who earn enough to get paid every month, it's no big deal.

Is the Amazon program perfect? Of course not. But for some people, it's the best option. It also "plays well" with AdSense. I use both.

[1EightT]

My whole point is that there are other options out there which are often better. I used Amazon for years, then they dropped all Colorado affiliates (even thought the affiliate marketing bill was not passed here). In the end i'm glad they dropped us. It gave me the chance to explore other options, and luckily I found one that works quite well. So, again, just pointing out that there are other options, and for actual keyword based product targeting,

[edited by: eljefe3 at 1:45 am (utc) on Jun 21, 2010]

[purplecape]

Thanks for clarifying. The main thrust of your previous post was that Amazon was the worst option, which was why I was pointing out that that is not true for everyone.

One should always keep looking for other options. For my particular focus and approach, I haven't found a better one than Amazon.