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I have also been thinking about placing a small button or link like "buy at amazon" below the description (real link, not the new webservices since they are not available for all countries).
Any experiences on how this could improve conversions?
While I was having a discussion at PubCon with Travoli about advertising sales and conversions, we both seemed confident that the usage of images would very much help the user find the call to action.
The fine line would exist within using enough images to get the point across and to instigate an action, but not enough graphical elements to confuse or distract.
I have also been thinking about placing a small button or link like "buy at amazon" below the description (real link, not the new webservices since they are not available for all countries).
I'm currently of the mind that if you've done a really good job creating a store, especially with webservices and product data, people will be a little freaked out if they click on a buy now link and end up somewhere else.
I might feel a little misled if I've been drawn into a nice browsing experience on a product site only to be dumped into Amazon at the end. "Who am I?, Where am I?, Who put this gum in my mouth?" :)
So I'm thinking that a "buy at Amazon" link instead of a generic "buy now" link might be more effective. The theory being that a less freaked-out user is more likely to buy when they land at Amazon. And they'll only click through if they're remotely open to the idea of buying from Amazon, which are the only ones you really care about clicking through anyway.
The other approach is to get the user over to the merchant as quickly as possible before they even know what hit them. That's the higher-click, set-as-many-tracking-cookies-as-possible approach.
I don't have any data on this, just some thoughts.
So I'm thinking that a "buy at Amazon" link instead of a generic "buy now" link might be more effective.
Good call on that recommendation. From a user's point of view, I can identify with the frusturation.
Another thing to mention too, would be the target of these links. I heard quite a bit information about the decreasing conversion rates for links that open up in new windows (target="_blank") because of the increasing popularity in "popup-blocker" applications.
None of the sites I'm working with ever need to call upon another domain to pull an action though, so theres no concrete info on that either. Just my thoughts. :)
People are visual. A picture will draw them to a place on the page. People do judge a book by its cover, so to speak and will recognize that you are advertising the book they are looking for much more quickly if they see it rather than read about it.
I would think that you would see your click thrus go up but your conversion go down, though. But overall, you will most likely make more money off adding pictures.
<<The fine line would exist within using enough images to get the point across and to instigate an action, but not enough graphical elements to confuse or distract>>
I would use 1 image per book. Since the site is not using any graphics, these images really would stand out.
<<"buy at Amazon" link instead of a generic "buy now" link>>
That is what i intended to do. Right now I have the link inside the title tag which contains the books title. When thinking about this it probably is the "set-as-many-tracking-cookies-as-possible approach" bonanza also mentioned. Maybe not ethical, but still effective.
Please don't think that I conciously apply unethical tactics. Every page informs the vistor at the bottom that "Mysite is associated with amazon"
<<target of these links>>
I thought about this but decided not to use the "target= " tag. Links transfer in the same window to the merchants site.
<<ClickZ had an article case study a week or so ago>>
Although I am a frequent vistor to their site, I missed out on this one. Probably because of the Easter holidays.
I hope that I can implement some of the recommendations over the coming weekend.
Thanks again for your help.
Indeed, you might see your conversion rate decline with increased click throughs, but you may make more sales. Too bad Amazon has only a one day cookie, though.
I added pictures to the product search result pages (20 products per page). I was surprised by the relatively high percentage of people clicking the image instead of the text link next to it.
Definitely worth a try, onlineleben!
One of the wonderful things about affiliate marketing is that you're free to experiment. Try using images, etc. for a couple of months. See how it impacts the bottom line.
I couldn't echo these words more. Not only true within the affiliate arena, but essentially any site that you have control over.
Another solultion would be to isolate two product lines, and apply image links on one, and not on the other. From there, let the raw data show what lends itself best to conversions.
The trick is to only change one element at a time, and often revert back to the original setup. Let the data come in, record it, then plan another revision based on what you know. That cycle should reveal what types of changes yield the most results for your exact audience.
So, now i am off to a long weekend (public holiday in europe tomorrow).
But keep posting if you have any other ideas.
Thanks.
You can hotlink to covers with Amazon, I believe it's as long as you use less than 100 covers, if your paying for bandwidth this may be worthwile.
I have an XML template in which incorporates links to the same books on the international Amazon's, and again, with XML allows you to use Amazon's graphics.
I think it is good to mention Amazon on the pages if you are an affiliate. People trust Amazon more than some unknown place.
Go60Guy - are you sure? Coulda sworn it was a lot longer than that.
(wanders off in search the answer) >
Another thing to mention too, would be the target of these links. I heard quite a bit information about the decreasing conversion rates for links that open up in new windows (target="_blank") because of the increasing popularity in "popup-blocker" applications.
Is this heard information or heard fact? Not trying to be smart, LOL, I was just very interested in this comment.
Go60Guy: you're absolutely correct:
Amazon TOS:
"The session ends upon one of the following events: (a) 24 hours elapses from the customer's initial click-through...."
Must of had my wires crossed,
Is this heard information or heard fact? Not trying to be smart, LOL, I was just very interested in this comment.
--I just had two people with pop up blockers test this by clicking on a link that was target="_blank" that opened a new full size window... both of them with different programs were able to click the link and have the new window load without their blocker interfering. Scared me there for a minute, LOL.
At a friend's university, some of the machines have an application called _STOPZILLA_ that caused me to sit there for about 5 minutes, wondering why a link here on WebmasterWorld wasn't opening up.
That machine and the others around it all seemed to have the application installed. We were in a library, and I was using machine 300-something. So, I'm assuming this thing was fairly popular.
Later on, I went to a few other sites as well - and had the same problem. You can click a link (intended to be a target="_blank") and nothing happens. I know that it interfered with these types of links, because I owned the sites with the targets set as such.
Another thing that I've gotten from members of a forum I run, are emails saying "I clicked and clicked link X, and nothing happened!" Funny for me since those forums worked fine for the past 3 years. Upon asking, they've all recalled that they've installed or seen applications like this running.
Progressing this back towards the original topic -- does anyone have information on how the introduction of new windows affects usability, conversions, etc.?
It's not that hard to right click, choose new window or tab, and keep both sites open.
In fact, I have a site that has a few notes about not using popups, and right clicking, and a little information about right clicking, and then ads for pop up blockers. This site which has absolutely nothing to do about web browsing or popups except for that, now makes more money sellilng pop up blocker software than it's actual content.
You never know what's going to make money...
