Have You Set Up Your Amazon aStore Yet?
Posted on August 27, 2006
Filed Under Affiliate Networks, Affiliate Programs, Web Site Promotion
If you're new here, join the community by subscribing to my RSS Feed. 
via Email or Enter your "EMAIL ADDRESS" to the form located at the top of each blog page => for email updates and out "Get Online Now" course! Glad to have your onboard!
My thoughts on the Amazon’s new aStores [Beta] for their current affiliate program.
One thing I liked about it is how quick and easy is to set up. Unlike the time it takes to use the ‘Build Links‘ feature for single product searches which require separate codes for each individual product then to having to insert each section of code into your HTML pages. The shortest code in Amazon link history!
Another problem I have with Amazon is the payout rate of only 4% average. I know they have put in performance related commission incentives to get many more affiliates to use non book items so that other categories get publicized. Some people have mixed views on how much they could realistically make as an Amazon affiliate.
On the other hand there are an elite few who claim to make a nice sum from their sales. Maybe sites that a have a focus on products from Amazon are better performers such as Steve Nash who has a super home shopping site. Yep he’s also from the UK. He has set up his own style of links which look more professional than standard Amazon links.
I was intrigued at how John Jantsch has integrated his own site header and footer so that visitors can easily return back to his site without the need to open new browser window. I’m not that proficient with coding so I have opted for a stand alone Amazon aStore much like Darren Prowse who has also discussed the service.
Makes good housekeeping for my blog as I only need to ad a short link to the store for featured products instead of listing each item one by one. Quick, fast, and simple to complete. Go Amazon go!
Like all affiliate products it is ALWAYS best if you have the flexibility to be able to integrate your own sites ‘look and feel’ to blend with your site as you would for AdSense or other programs. This creates a more aesthetically pleasing design.
Unfortunately there is no easy option to host aStore at your own web site. All stores remain on the Amazon domain and unless you’re savvy with iframe type coding. Maybe they will change this after results from Beta testing and feedback from affiliates.
If you haven’t joined Amazon Associates then do so right away and begin setting up your own Amazon aStore.
If you have had a chance to use the aStore what do you think?
I’d be happy to feature your own aStore especially if you have been successful at integrating the code into your site!
Thanks for reading,
Nancy P Redford
Comments
18 Responses to “Have You Set Up Your Amazon aStore Yet?”
Subscribe to RSS Feed UpdatesLeave a Reply Below!
Top Tools & Services
Stumbleupon
Twitter
YouTube
LinkedIn
Digg
Social Vibe
Facebook 
Once you have your aStore built, you can add it to this aStore directory
It’s a permanent page in the Squidoo network. You can add your store to the map as well. You just need to join Squidoo to add your link, if you’re not already a member.
Great tips, do you have any useful ideas on ways to promote the astore once it is set up?
SW- I like your web layout with your aStore featured links. Very original.
Indigenous Peoples activist – Your content for your store is excellent. Good to see lots of creative ideas.
Best wishes,
Nancy
Indigenous Peoples activist wrote: do you have any useful ideas on ways to promote the astore once it is set up?
Answer: One could submit to the astore directories… there isn’t many of them.
SW’s best amazon (listed above) is a good one
I like astoredir.com, also.
Note: I’ve been depending on the search engines
to drive traffic to the store. Haven’t tried PPC (pay per click).
Robert
Hi Robert,
I like the design of your store.
Natural search engine traffic is my own No.1 favorite because it’s free and where people will find me from performing keyword searches.
I also recommend using the many social networks to bookmark your website [Digg etc] and get lots of one way links pointing back to your site.
Set up a profile and a link to your website. There are also some social networks who pay YOU for using them through ‘Revenue Sharing’.
Join some that I use here:
http://www.miriadz.com/blog/about
Enjoy!
Nancy
If you have Amazon aStore you definitely would like to give it own domain name. You can do it with StoreBrander.com free public service. More over, you can customize your aStore look by adding header, footer, navigation, for example, using simple html templates.
Hi Twinky,
Took a look at your subdomain service.
So far I have used my Amazon Astore link “as is” with no problems.
I could always set up a domain name and use dooamin forwarding or my own subdomain if I wanted.
Best wishes for your service to others.
-Nancy
http://twitter.com/npredford
Hi Nancy,
The main source of income in affiliate marketing is traffic. There are 2 main aspects here:
1. How search engines see your store? Of course, you can get all traffic from your site with excelent content. But why don’t benefit from landing of customers from search engines to your store directly? Own domain name for all pages and in all links can help in it very much. StoreBrander is easiest way to do it. This allow you increase traffic to your store.
2. How customers see your store? Following links or redirects to aStore customers see aStore as separate site having no relation to your excelent site. More over standard aStore have non-profitable look and it is hard to change it using standard methods. Using custom StoreBrander templates you can enforce your aStore look to exactly match to your site. You can make it visually a part of your site. This allows you to increase percent of visitors becoming shoppers.
Really StoreBrander service is not necessary: you can go without it. It is just possibility: you can benefit from it.
May I make example from your aStore and this site look in demonstration purposes?
Hi again Twinky,
Thanks for the feedback.
I’m sure my readers will appreciate your service.
-Nancy
My site includes other features but the category page link to my aStore categories. I achieved this through integrating wordpress blogging software with aStore
Hi Lisa,
Very nice site design using WordPress.
Thanks for sharing your niche!
-Nancy
Thanks Nancy – I have started to try to integrate the astore a bit more – using single products within posts and full astore category listings on other pages. Trying to get the balance right for SEO!
Hi Everyone,
firstly appreciating the comments an dlinks such as Storebrander, I will be doing that when I can get hold of my DNS stuff.
I read about iframes everywhere, but i use blogger…. would it just be best to make a new html page and put the store in it? I was trying to integrate the blogger page with the amazon astore, but it jus doesnt…look…right. lol.
What i REALLY want to do is set up a footer on the page so I can put links between them etc. how can i do this? or do i have to use an iframe? Is there a simple way
lol. Thanks.
J ~ FightSupplements.co.uk
I’ve just started setting up my aStore, but I decided to format it as a blog and use SEO blog posts to drive traffic to the site. I also targeted a specific audience to help find a niche market online. It requires a bit more work because I’m trying to find vegan-friendly products, but I think it will pay off in the end. Thanks for the tips and good luck!
I’ve had a store up for about a year, finally made a sale last month. I was expecting a bit more, perhaps I can get a few more sales if traffic increases. I’ll have to look into the aStore directories. Thanks for the article!
Hi Elizabeth,
I hope you include Wheatgrass and Bee Pollen products as they are both rich in vitamin B12
-Nancy
Hi Erik,
Spend some time building links back to your store using social networks and directories, videos and more
Take a look at this article for more tips:
http://www.miriadz.com/blog/595/6-quick-ways-to-promote-your-web-site-for-free
-Nancy