Amazon ... be GONE!
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Why? I hear you cry!
OK, that's enough of the silly rhyming, but hopefully it helped to catch your attention ... at least until now.
Why would I suggest Amazon is gone? Well, obviously the company is not gone, this is purely a recent change to my hubs. After reading some other hubbers tips, comments and advice, I decided to review my hubs. To do this, I viewed them as a reader, and guess what I found ... cluttered messes that looks like heavy sales pitches! In one hub, I was shocked to find I had inserted THREE Amazon capsules :-s.
Personally I have never found the hard sell works anyway ... at least not on a long term basis. Moreover, for me Hubpages is more about the community, feedback and comments. Natural traffic (from search engines) is very unlikely to click any of the links to Amazon, and if they do, they are then likely to search Amazon for a while, bookmark a few interesting things, then revisit another time before buying something ... hence no sale or commission for you anyway.
Why have I removed Amazon?
I have taken Amazon out of the picture on ALL of my hubs, because I think it removes the readers attention from the article and reduces the amount of comments I receive ... especially if the Amazon capsule is at the bottom of the page - pushing the comment out of sight. Furthermore, Google Adsense adverts and Hubpages ads blend in far better and are often more specifically related to the article (given a little time). I feel this gives a cleaner and calmer feel to my hubs, but please ... let me know what you think?
As for those trying to earn, I would have to suggest picking one of either Amazon, Ebay, Google Adsense or Hubpages Adverts. My reason for suggesting just one revenue source is that a multitude of adverts on a webpage 'blinds the reader!'. Sounds crazy right!? Well, think about how you surf for a minute .... OK minute up. Now, think about the sites that are CRAMMED with adverts, all flashing, blinking and jumping out at you! Do you click any of them? I would bet that you probably pay ZERO attention to those ads.
Now think about a clean site that is about something you are interested in ... with only ONE advert that is specifically about what you are interested in. Now, would you click it? Maybe not, but the odds are not FAR higher in my opinion (increasing your click through rate - CTR - will also impress Google). Obviously I will have to let you know after a while, but I would also imagine that not bombarding my readers with adverts, may actually result in more clicks.
Either way, I don't mind to much. But, I hope the hubs look and feel better now ... keeping readers around for longer and increasing that all important Hubscore. What do you think?
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But please take a moment to leave some feedback. Thanks for reading.
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I am with adventure colorado. I too am colorado. No Amazon here. No big loss, never made a nickle with the ole chaps.
Someone must be earning on their site, it sure was not me. Anyway best wishes to you.
This is interesting to me, I was originally upset that I can't use Amazon because of the state that I live in, but over time I have learned that it isn't as big of a loss as I first thought.
I've only recently learned how to "handle" the Amazon capsules--i.e., not too many items. So, I have some editing to do on older hubs. I've had the affiliate status now for over a year, and have earned zilch, until just the last couple of months, I was surprised to have reached a whole nine dollars. Wow! Impress me, I dare you! You're right--we are acting as unpaid pitchmen for the most part!
So, in order to get my nine dollars, I guess I have to keep putting in the capsules until it hits the $100 mark. I hate that they have such a high threshhold, like Google. I've already made my first payout with HP ad program, in FAR less time than it took to "earn" a measly ten bucks on google, which of course, I have yet to receive because it isn't enough for them to bother paying out. A pox on them!
I do, however, try very hard to select products (in my case, mostly books) that offer more in-depth or additional information on the topic, as I'm not into trying to pitch products. I don't write hubs touting "gizmos."
Your points are well-taken, here..I understand completely. Voted up and interesting.
I was interested to read your take on having Amazon capsules in your hubs and found the comments enlightening, also. Like some other people here, I've been cutting back on the number of Amazon products I advertise in my hubs. I feel that I'm giving Amazon free advertising, but getting very little out of it. While I'm not taking Amazon out of all my hubs, I am removing capsules from some old hubs and cutting back or leaving them completely out of new hubs.
I have had fun placing the capsules. There is an art to it. I think I an pretty good at it. I have had a couple of sales from them, but not much.
I have a lot of experience with print. I worked for and still write for a fishing magazine. Sometimes, I have to keep an article short to make room for another ad. The idea is to keep the reader interested in all of it. Say i write an article about diving for lobster off of the coast of Florida. I try to sell some scuba equipment, inflatable boat and underwater camera. Maybe something will go off the shelf and I will get a piece. If not, so what. No one missed the read because of the advert. People have been conditioned to adverts. You should see the Farmer's Almanac this year.
I am maxing mine out . . . loading up. Traffic alone will get you about $.00196 per visit. You need 50,000 visits for $100. No thanks I can do better recycling aluminum cans. eBay and amazon are long shots, but odds are, you will have a decent day eventually. If Some poor fool buys an offshore fishing boat for $100 grand, then I will have a good day.
I have cut back on the amount of Amazon ads I put into a hub. Generally I use them on the right as many here have already suggested. It took a while to make anything with Amazon, but lately it has picked up a bit so I will keep adding a few to most new hubs. One never knows! As to gunking a hub up with ads...I agree with you completely. The content should be the prime focus.
Some good advice here. I well know that I've got hubs where I need to thin down the amazon capsules. I'm sort of lazy about revising older hubs when I'm always more interested in what I'm learning and creating at any given time.
Definately an interesting take on the Amazon capsules. I used to always put them in my hubs but found I was making zilch by doing it. So Amazon is getting me promoting it and I am getting nothing in return. That being said... I do occasionally still use them but it is for selfish reasons. For instance, if my hub is overly long, I like to add a few items in an amazon capsule to break it up. I do it purely for looks though not for the money... and it is a last resort if I don't have pictures to insert. Great information and thanks for Sharing this viewpoint. I should see if it really makes a difference for me as well! But I never really thought of it that way.
I have added ebay capsules to my hubs in recent weeks. I have one amazon capsule with just three book offerings. I don't plan on taking them down as they are next to the poll and related to my subject. It is my belief if you do something like a poll which will keep a person in the same place and thinking for a few seconds they might actually look at the ad below. Most people know that whatever they find in a hub the owner somehow earns from.
This is however something worth thinking about and SHARING.
Very interesting hub. Made me think about all the adverts I have on mine...I think I will go back and look at them see how many are overdone. Thank you so much for this information! Voted up, useful and SHARING!!! :)
Thanks jeyaramd, I just think that too many of them make it look like a sales-pitch, which puts people off. I don't use them, but it is sometimes worth a couple of adverts ... when relevant.
That is great advice. HP is definitely about the community, comments, feedbacks, and overall learning experience. There are wonderful people. I can see that amazon can be a hindrance to the hub experience. I try to limit my amazon hubs as well. However, as an avid reader, I feel compelled to recommend a book. My ads are placed on the right and I try my best not to overpopulate the site. Its important to make your content speak for itself. This is a great hub. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Pegcole17,
I think that is the experience of many on here. Also, when we start writing, we tend to think "Oooooo Amazon ads!" and plaster them everywhere, sometimes for sales and sometimes thinking the readers will like it. However, it is only after reading many hubs on here that you realize how messy it can look, sometimes looking like a sales pitch instead of the interesting Hub you intended. No need to remove them all, but some pruning doesn't hurt ;-).
You're absolutely right about the clutter. I've begun a review process on all my aged hubs to remove excess Amazon ads. It has in 23 mos only earned me 8 cents so there's really no incentive for me to keep them.
Hi Anaya,
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. It really is worth checking through those old hubs, I'm sure we have all gotten a little too carried away with Amazon capsules at some point! lol
I have yet to earn more than a couple dollars off amazon. I don't really do product hubs, but do write a lot on books and lit so I always include the amazon link. I've been cutting them down recently, but think I might just make another sweep on the less relevant junk. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one.
Thanks Brett :)
Hey Trish_M,
If they are to the side and relevant, then I wouldn't worry. Too many adverts can still give the impression you are selling, especially if you haven't written a lot. However, if you have written a decent sized hub, then it won't look bad. The ones I hate are when adverts are inserted between paragraphs of a small amount of text, as you know (or assume) the writer is after revenue and wants you to click on the ads.
You have some great and interesting hubs, don't let my decision affect how you want to run things ;-).
Hi Brett :)
I don't do many reviews; I tend to write quite long items about history, theology and literature.
Oh, yes, I definitely add photos ~ including my own ~ and I put my Amazon capsules to the right of my work.
I add as many Amazon articles as seem relevent ~ to me, that is. I'm not worried about it at all ~ I just hope that the Amazon items never put people off :)
Hi Trish_M,
Thanks for the great comment! I think you are now the new record holder for my longest comment ;-) lol.
As for your hubs, don't worry about it too much. If you are reviewing something, then Amazon links can help the reader. If something is relevant, then put them in. However, don't add lots 1-3 I would think is best (personal opinion), and don't put them before the comments (as it pushes the comments area out of view). Instead, hit the 'move right' arrow and then the 'move up' arrow on the capsule, then they will blend in with the text better than being stuck at the end.
Removing them was a personal decision, as I don't normally write reviews ...
Oh, and for decoration (although you may already know), don't forget there are 1000s of free pics on the web you can use.
Hope it helps ...
Hi Brett :)
I was very interested in your ideas on Amazon.
I tend to include as many books, etc, as I find interesting ~ which can, sometimes, mean quite a few.
If people are reading my work, then I assume that they find the subject interesting, and may want to read up on it. I, therefore, give them a choice of books to look at.
They don't have to buy them ~ they could borrow them from a library, for example ~ but the Amazon links can introduce them to new information.
Also, as another hubber once wrote, our hubs are mainly in black and white ~ the Amazon links can 'decorate' the pages with pictures and a bit of colour.
Maybe I am wrong.
Maybe I really should cut down on Amazon links??
I know that you are not the only hubber to suggest removing these capsules.
Though I feel comfortable with what I am doing, I don't want to frighten people off, because they think that I am pushing a sales pitch, rather than writing interesting articles.
What to do ...
Hhmmm...
Hey Lady Rain,
You don't have to remove them completely (that was my personal choice). If you use them, just remember to preview your hub and maybe only include 1-2 Amazon items ... the idea is to produce tidy looking helpful hubs, instead of hubs that look like a sales pitch.
Thanks for reading.
I was about to add Amazon when I read your hub. Thanks for the tip.
Hi Alocsin,
Thanks for stopping by, and for the votes of course.
Why did they stop it in California? How does the law prevent the use of Amazon?
From what I'm hearing from other hubbers, most don't get many sales anyway ... probably due to the 'browsing' habit of shoppers. Adsense and Hubpages' ads seem to work better!
Some good points, Brett, but at least you have the choice to put/remove Amazon. As a California affiliate, I don't have that choice. Amazon cancelled all affiliates in the state due to a new law. Voting this Up and Useful.
Hi Dexter,
Thanks for the comment. Just remember, you don't have to ban them completely ... if you write reviews, then they can make a great link with what you are writing about.
However, for myself, I never write product reviews ... unless something comes along and blows me away ... then maybe. But, it hasn't happened yet! lol
Hi Samsons, good to see you and cheers for dropping a few lines.
I'm not suggesting everyone follow my lead, but just consider that cramming in ads can scare away the reader. Better to focus the ads to suite your audience...
Great hub! My Amazon ads are disabled. They didn't do much for me. Voted up, up and away!
very good young man, enjoyed the read and must admit I had failed to think along the same lines you mentioned here. Voted up and useful...
Hi Phil,
Thanks for stopping by and writing a comment. That's a fair point, I haven't really done any book or product specific reviews yet, but it would make sense to use Amazon for them if I do any in the future ... to provide a convenient link for the reader.
I have added amazon only on one or two hubs of mine, only where I speak heavily about a product or book or movie. I have the amazon capsule just to make it convenient for someone - if they are reading my book review, it would be convenient for them, if they intended to buy it, to link to it directly from the hub.
Hi Myi4u,
Thanks for the comment. Yep, that is exactly what I did ... went through all my old hubs, adjusted titles, formatting and removed Amazon. I think they look better and will be easier for search engines to pinpoint ... hopefully.
Yeah... I didn't add any amazon capsules for quite a while now. All I do now is adding pictures relevant to the hub that I have written. I guess, that looks more pleasant and tidy. I think I have to look back my previous hubs and try to keep them tidy!
Hi Rochelle Frank,
Thanks for the comment! Pleased you agree ... I hope it improves my hubs!
Why is Amazon disappearing from California and a few other states? Is it banned? ... I'm kinda out of the loop over here in South Korea lol
I have already cut down on lists of Amazon products, and often now have only one or two items on a hub... but the point is almost moot now, for me.
Looks like Amazon may disappear from our hubs altogether, at least here in California and a few other states.
Brett.Tesol Hub Author 3 months ago
I think that the Amazon capsules can compliment a hub if used in moderation, but a lot of them seems like the article was written to make money. Your content should be the biggest part, the adverts should then compliment it, but not drown it.
Some interesting comments though. This was just my take, but doesn't mean I'm right lol ;-).