If You Twitter Affiliate Links – Amazon Won’t Pay
UPDATE 10/22/09: Amazon has since clarified their policy and allows Twitter Links. See this story. Affiliates: New Social Media Marketing Guide – Amazon Sets Record Straight
UPDATE 11/04/09: Amazon just launched Twitter integration Amazon Associates Launches New “Share on Twitter” App
Several stories hit my feed reader today about the fact that Amazon supposedly refused to pay commission on affiliate links placed on Twitter. They cite their terms and conditions that state affiliate links must be on your own web site.
Many merchants and networks prohibit affiliate links from being posted on forums or in blog comments and state links need to be on your own site. However no one has ever set a precedence for social media like Twitter and Facebook.
The original story comes from Search Engine Journal, reported by Joshua Odmark. No Precedence For Social Media – Amazon Hangs Us Out To Dry
I picked up the story via Jangro, so head over and read what he has to say as well. Affiliate Links in Twitter, Amazon Says No
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#1 Hooshmand Moslemi wrote on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009:
Well, that’s why I always recommend my audience to use these social networks as a marketing tool for pre-selling the content on your website.
You see, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the other famous communities have been created out there to networking, not marketing. Posting an affiliate link directly on these websites would be a short term business model.
We should always think outside the box and take the most out of these great opportunities. The reason why a super affiliate makes tons of money is not putting links on these resources. They first build a website, create good content on it and then market that website.
I think this decision made by Amazon could be a warning for many so-called beginners who want to get rich overnight. Affiliate marketing works only if we build a relationship with our audience. We need to gain their trust in order to convince them to buy anything. Twitter is one of those networks that enables us to make new contacts and grow our network.
Thanks for this post which is in one hand a news of the industry and on the other hand a brief article giving a tip.
To Your Success!
Hooshmand Moslemi
#2 Linda Buquet wrote on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009:
Hi Hooshmand,
You do make some really good points and ideally most marketing should go to your own site where the products are but that’s not always practical. I do agree that too many newbies are just dropping affiliate links wherever they can without realizing the importance of building relationships.
Thanks for your comments!
#3 Dodie wrote on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009:
I see the point Hooshmand Moslemi is trying to make. Here is the problem: Marketing is marketing. Is Amazon interested in a webmasters relationships or is it interested in sales? Right down to the “nitty-gritty” sales is what matters. Affiliates sign up to sell products – that is just what they do period. Why do you hire affiliates? – To SELL your product! This is all plain and simple information. No matter how you write it up in the contract – selling products is your final goal. Does Amazon pay for relationships – having friends – the trust others have in you? If so well count me in!!! I want a pay check! Oh wait…I have to sell something to get paid… I am confused? Which is it?
#4 Linda Buquet wrote on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009:
Hi Dodie,
I get your point but here is the point others have tried to make.
If they have readers on their blog that trust their recommendations and buy they should get paid, right?
If they have built up readers on Twitter that trust their recommendations and buy why should they not get paid? Especially since Twitter is being used more and more instead of blogs.
I think there is a huge difference between low quality affiliates that just spam affiliate links on Twitter and a reputable blogger, that has a strong Twitter following and makes an occasional well targeted recommendation. That’s the problem I think. As usual the spammers are ruining it for the honest marketers.
#5 Buat Website wrote on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009:
Twitter easily can be use to distribute promotion to many people we don’t even know them, maybe about spam issue so the amazon decide not paying it.
#6 Affiliates: New Social Media Marketing Guide – Amazon Sets Record Straight - 5 Star Affiliate Blogs wrote on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009:
[...] The original story came from Search Engine Journal, reported by Joshua Odmark. No Precedence For Social Media – Amazon Hangs Us Out To Dry. Jangro blogged it: Affiliate Links in Twitter, Amazon Says No And so did I: If You Twitter Affiliate Links – Amazon Won’t Pay. [...]