Amazon Cutting Commissions on April 21st

Sweetrevenge said:

And you people still want to deal with them ?
I didn't want to get involved with them since the beginning as there are so many rules you can break unpurposely and they have the almighty power to cut you off just like that. I dislike that since the beginning.
Now, I think most of affiliate marketers are going to find another stuff to promote and it's the end of Amazon domination.
They're going to lose a big chunk of their profit too as people will start to abandon their websites and many reviews will be deleted.

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Shopllc said:

I agree that their policy is kinda scary.

I've started joining other programs in my niche. Although I guess Amazon gives the best conversion.

Is it allowed to have Amazon links with other affiliate links on the same page?

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sydneyaus said:

An easy way to test as many merchants as possible is to use a service like Skimlinks, Viglinks or Magik.ly, because you get approved for a lot of programs at once.

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sydneyaus said:

Yes, you can have other affiliate links on the same page.

You "guess" Amazon has the best conversion? The only way to find out is to test other programs. And since Amazon will only be lowering their commissions further or as according to some, even close down the program soon, it's wise to start testing now.

An easy way to test as many merchants as possible is to use a service like Skimlinks, Viglinks or Magik.ly, because you get approved for a lot of programs at once.

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sydneyaus said:

Yes, you can have other affiliate links on the same page.

You "guess" Amazon has the best conversion? The only way to find out is to test other programs. And since Amazon will only be lowering their commissions further or as according to some, even close down the program soon, it's wise to start testing now.

An easy way to test as many merchants as possible is to use a service like Skimlinks, Viglinks or Magik.ly, because you get approved for a lot of programs at once.

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ScreamingMidget said:

Does Skimlinks, Viglinks or Magik.ly display products automatically depending on the content?

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ranga said:

They insert links and convert existing links to affiliate links

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sydneyaus said:

Skimlinks, Viglinks

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nSnoopy said:

You have no idea how worried i was when i first saw this thread, because the niche i am in does not have it's own affiliate program other than amazon, and then saw your reply and looked at walmart. Guess what? It has ALL of the products i promote, thank you for your reply. You just saved my 2k invested in my affiliate website.
Cheers

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Dark Hat 007 said:

How's it going so far.

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Skitnica said:

Yeah, it absolutely sucks. But here's the deal:

1. Don't hold your breath. The change is permanent.
This wasn't a rush decision. They have data to back it up, and they've probably considered all scenarios.
Some of you have already contacted Amazon and their responses confirm this.

2. We had a good run, but they're moving on. And we're not their business partners or majority shareholders.
Yes, this change sucks. Yes, it affects us. Yes, the change was too drastic. Yes, they're letting us know just days before. And?
They're not a charity. They're a business.
When I find a better option to get results, I don't worry about how using a different supplier will affect my old supplier's economy. You don't stick with your old suppliers just because you don't want to hurt them. Amazon is the same. It just so happens that they're so big that this change affects a lot more people in a bigger way, but it's the same principle. They didn't plan this to hurt us or affect us or because they're evil. It just made business sense, based on whatever data they have.

3. And it definitely made business sense. This was coming.
The reason we were relying on Amazon is that it was bountiful. I mean, look at the percentages from other big brands like Walmart or Best Buy. It's not like they were much better than Amazon. Hell, some of them were/are even worse. And those brands don't have the conversion, shipping, refund, or reputation as Amazon.
Just read the thread. Most of us are asking, "If it isn't Amazon, then where do we turn to?" and there's no clear answer. Why? Because there was no better option than Amazon. There isn't one right now, either.
So why would Amazon, the best option pretty much across the board, be the one paying the most to affiliates?
And don't go "Oh, this site pays a way bigger percentage than Amazon." I mean, as far as your actual income goes, Amazon was on top, no question.

4. No one cares about our plight.
We could get all major networks and newspapers all over the country to tell our story and show the world how Amazon is affecting us. Guess what? No one cares.
We're like a beautiful traveling Instagram model, complaining about how this pandemic is affecting her upcoming photo shoot in Ibiza and how a six-figure contract with a makeup brand fell through because of travel restrictions. Do you think normal people care about her plight? Of course not!
And just like her, normal people won't care about our plight. Do you think normal people are going to care about how we're not going to be able to make as much residual profit from a laptop while they just lost their jobs and are looking at zero income? Put it into perspective.

5. Amazon will grow bigger.
Come on. I've been reading replies saying this will affect Amazon. Really?
Stores and malls were already having a bad time BEFORE this pandemic.
And I can bet a lot of people that didn't use Amazon, are using it now.
And you can bet a lot of brands that didn't want to be on Amazon are calling them to reopen talks.
Besides, why are you thinking that moving somewhere else will not bring the same issue further down the road? They're all businesses. If we all get together and move to Walmart or whatever other option is out there, then Walmart will ALSO lower the commissions at some point in the future. It's not Amazon, it's every business.

6. Percentages will keep dropping.
Nowadays, it's not about helping people get to know Amazon. Everybody knows Amazon right now.
Think like a company, guys and gals. They don't need to be on the top 1,000 search results. They just need to be on the top 50. They already have that.
What's the next step? They want to skip their middleman, Google. It's better for them if people go and stay at Amazon (instead of Google, then Amazon).

7. Put it into perspective.
We're still able to make a living or make a buck while working from home.
Just think of how many unemployed people, scared not just because they lost their jobs, but because they don't even know if there will even be an available job out there... don't you think they would jump at the opportunity of being able to earn that extra 3% or 1%?
We're the little fishes that are swimming behind the great white shark. We have a mutualist relationship. Amazon allows us to earn money, and we send customers their way. The difference is there's just one Amazon, and we're thousands of little fish (some bigger than others, of course). If some of us go away, the shark won't notice because new ones will join. If we ALL go at the same time, we affect ourselves more than we affect the shark. And the shark will be able to go on for quite a while, assured he will gain new little fishes.

In the end, the shark is a jackass, but I'm staying with this shark.

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Basic said:

"Never rely on just one income stream or platform".

I will keep using Amazon as it's handy especially for picture links within a post.

But I no longer rely on Amazon for my main income.

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Basic said:

used to use Squidoo

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mezzofanti said:

agreed. I started adding Share-a-Sale links as soon as Amazon announced the commission rates cut back in April, but the conversions are not even close to Amazon's. Any alternative to the Amazon affiliate program that has at least similar conversions?

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pleb1 said:

I gave 500 relevant clicks to Share-A-Sale advertisers. 0 sales.

Gave up - and I got about ~ 20 % conversion rate on Amazon. But I agree - the commissions are smaller, and relying on Amazon as my number 1 income stream would never happen.

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