Amazon Associates Confession
🔵This blog post may contain affiliate links. Additional notice: The javascript is being wonky and automatically linking nearly mention of "Amazon" in this blog post. This is problematic because if I wanted to mention "Amazon" as in the rainforest, I would not want to send people to the online shopping site with the same name. Please excuse this until there is a fix. 2019-09-11 Update: It has been fixed.
Not even going to beat around the bush. I joined twice and failed. 😳😓🥵🥶 For those of you that do not know what I'm talking about, read this:
"If your affiliate links have not referred qualified sales after 180 days, your application and access to Associates Central will be withdrawn."
More specifically, Amazon requires you to make three qualified sales within 180 days, before they can review and officially accept you into their program. Otherwise, you just have to start over again. Yep, that means re-entering all the application details, banking information and so forth. It's not the most time consuming thing in the world, but still annoying. 🕒 The bigger issue is that if you've placed those links on say a blog post, a Tweet or something, the links posted under that Associate account become expired. 💀 That's right. Expired. So if someone clicks and purchases something from your dead link, you get nothing. 😶 You can of course remove the dead link and replace it with your newly applied account's links. BUT, what happens you have posted those links on many social media postings? It's not feasible to go way back and replace them, so you're often left to leave them alone. Replacing them on things like recently uploaded videos isn't too bad in comparison. You get the idea.
Today, September 09, 2019, I have decided to give it a go again for the third time, but with a different plan: I'm actually letting you know that I need your help to make those sales. Unlike the past where I'd just place them in the video descriptions or occasionally Tweets, Instagram, Tumblr or Blogger posts, and hope people would just click without knowing what's going on. Honesty is key. So! With this said, here are the locales of my Amazon Associate pages below.
Question #3: Why Amazon? Don't you have VigLink?
Answer: The biggest issue with VigLink is that they only pay you every 90 days (or 60 days for those that opt for express), so long as you generate $10 USD or more. Also, even though they are an aggregate network, some key websites like Amazon and eBay do not affiliate through them. Amazon, as we know, is clearly a major online shopping giant. This is why it makes sense to get into their affiliate program, if you have YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media accounts. Having a diverse source of income is very important in today's age.
Question #4: Are there certain items that qualify? Like does it have to be expensive?
Answer: No, it doesn't have to be something extravagant like a KATARINA Diamond Tennis Line Bracelet in Gold. It can be something something as simple as a box of pencils. It just needs to be a legitimate purchase specifically through my links.
Question #5: If I live in Canada, but buy something from your Spain locale, would that count go towards Spain or Canada?
Answer: I honestly don't know. It's best you stick to the country you live in.
Question #6: Why those countries? Why are highly populous countries like China and Mexico missing from your affiliated locales?
Answer: This is something you would have to take up with Amazon. Canada United States of America United Kingdom Germany Spain France Italy Japan are all countries eligible for OneLink. This means that when you click on an Amazon hyperlink that uses the OneLink text, it should take you to the country where it detects you are from.The other countries do not affiliate or have this option.
Question #7: What if I don't like you, or any of your online acts?
Answer: Then you obviously do not have to help me get into any of the Amazon locales. It's best you leave in a civilized manner, and just stay away from me. It doesn't have to be anything difficult or dramatic. Remember, it's been said before and I'll say it again: GuuzakaTube is not a mass appeal brand. If you happen to like the content, great. If not, move along respectfully.
Question #8: What if I like you, but don't like Amazon or this whole affiliate marketing thing?
Answer: If you don't like Amazon, but do like online shopping, you can shop through my other affiliate links. If you're not into online shopping at all, then you can support my online works by leaving proper, good, or constructive comments. Not bottish, rude, scammy, spammy, self-advertising, snide, nasty, or defamatory ones.
Question #9: Are you sure your links are safe?
Answer: Yes, always make sure you sure from my official YouTube, Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr pages.
Question #10: Why don't you just embrace Patreon or some other tipping platform?
Answer: Not for me.
Question #11: So why did you wait so long to confess this?
Answer: Because of pride. I did not want people to assume the wrong things, so I did not say anything. After failing two times with this, I realized that I had two options: #1 keep doing the same thing over again hoping for different results, only to get the same thing -- Insanity! #2 Just be honest and tell people what and why. The latter was the smarter way to go about this.
"If your affiliate links have not referred qualified sales after 180 days, your application and access to Associates Central will be withdrawn."
More specifically, Amazon requires you to make three qualified sales within 180 days, before they can review and officially accept you into their program. Otherwise, you just have to start over again. Yep, that means re-entering all the application details, banking information and so forth. It's not the most time consuming thing in the world, but still annoying. 🕒 The bigger issue is that if you've placed those links on say a blog post, a Tweet or something, the links posted under that Associate account become expired. 💀 That's right. Expired. So if someone clicks and purchases something from your dead link, you get nothing. 😶 You can of course remove the dead link and replace it with your newly applied account's links. BUT, what happens you have posted those links on many social media postings? It's not feasible to go way back and replace them, so you're often left to leave them alone. Replacing them on things like recently uploaded videos isn't too bad in comparison. You get the idea.
Today, September 09, 2019, I have decided to give it a go again for the third time, but with a different plan: I'm actually letting you know that I need your help to make those sales. Unlike the past where I'd just place them in the video descriptions or occasionally Tweets, Instagram, Tumblr or Blogger posts, and hope people would just click without knowing what's going on. Honesty is key. So! With this said, here are the locales of my Amazon Associate pages below.
Canada 🍁
Spain 🎸
France 🥖
Italy 🎻
Japan 🌸
Questions
I know some of you will have questions, so I will answer the ones I already expect.
Question #1: Is it three sales per locale, or across all countries?
Answer: Three for each locale.
Question #2: Is there a particular locale that's a priority to you?
Answer: I would like to be accepted into all locales, but Canada, the United States and United Kingdom are the most important ones to me. The reason for this is because of the use and ease of them being English by default. Because I am Canadian, much of my YouTube audience is naturally Canadian. As for my Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, I'm not entire sure where the bulk of my audience is coming from. I suspect Canada and United States.
Answer: The biggest issue with VigLink is that they only pay you every 90 days (or 60 days for those that opt for express), so long as you generate $10 USD or more. Also, even though they are an aggregate network, some key websites like Amazon and eBay do not affiliate through them. Amazon, as we know, is clearly a major online shopping giant. This is why it makes sense to get into their affiliate program, if you have YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media accounts. Having a diverse source of income is very important in today's age.
Question #4: Are there certain items that qualify? Like does it have to be expensive?
Answer: No, it doesn't have to be something extravagant like a KATARINA Diamond Tennis Line Bracelet in Gold. It can be something something as simple as a box of pencils. It just needs to be a legitimate purchase specifically through my links.
Question #5: If I live in Canada, but buy something from your Spain locale, would that count go towards Spain or Canada?
Answer: I honestly don't know. It's best you stick to the country you live in.
Question #6: Why those countries? Why are highly populous countries like China and Mexico missing from your affiliated locales?
Answer: This is something you would have to take up with Amazon. Canada United States of America United Kingdom Germany Spain France Italy Japan are all countries eligible for OneLink. This means that when you click on an Amazon hyperlink that uses the OneLink text, it should take you to the country where it detects you are from.The other countries do not affiliate or have this option.
Question #7: What if I don't like you, or any of your online acts?
Answer: Then you obviously do not have to help me get into any of the Amazon locales. It's best you leave in a civilized manner, and just stay away from me. It doesn't have to be anything difficult or dramatic. Remember, it's been said before and I'll say it again: GuuzakaTube is not a mass appeal brand. If you happen to like the content, great. If not, move along respectfully.
Question #8: What if I like you, but don't like Amazon or this whole affiliate marketing thing?
Answer: If you don't like Amazon, but do like online shopping, you can shop through my other affiliate links. If you're not into online shopping at all, then you can support my online works by leaving proper, good, or constructive comments. Not bottish, rude, scammy, spammy, self-advertising, snide, nasty, or defamatory ones.
Question #9: Are you sure your links are safe?
Answer: Yes, always make sure you sure from my official YouTube, Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr pages.
Question #10: Why don't you just embrace Patreon or some other tipping platform?
Answer: Not for me.
Question #11: So why did you wait so long to confess this?
Answer: Because of pride. I did not want people to assume the wrong things, so I did not say anything. After failing two times with this, I realized that I had two options: #1 keep doing the same thing over again hoping for different results, only to get the same thing -- Insanity! #2 Just be honest and tell people what and why. The latter was the smarter way to go about this.
