Amazon referral links in FPPs April 8, 2016 5:14 PM Subscribe
So, today I posted about the upcoming new Santana album. It's amazing. It comes out next week. It is available for preorder on Amazon and I have preordered it. Also was a Carly Rae Jepsen link about a single off her new album. It was amazing. I preordered it. Should we, when we compose posts like these, include a link to an Amazon order page so MeFites who want to also purchase these things can give MetaFilter a bit of a kickback? Or is that too commercial?
Or well, I mean, we attach an affiliate code to links that people do put in their posts/comments. You see this most often in AskMe's looking for book recommendations, where it's natural to link to a book on Amazon.
But some people don't like linking to Amazon and that's a-okay, totally fine. People don't need to increase the amount of Amazon linkage they're doing out of a sense of making money for the site.
Maybe you were suggesting something else, like adding a "buy it" link in the sidebar as we sort of do in Fanfare?
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 5:25 PM on April 8, 2016
But some people don't like linking to Amazon and that's a-okay, totally fine. People don't need to increase the amount of Amazon linkage they're doing out of a sense of making money for the site.
Maybe you were suggesting something else, like adding a "buy it" link in the sidebar as we sort of do in Fanfare?
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 5:25 PM on April 8, 2016
More like, I could have easily put a link to an Amazon page in my post as a natural flow of the links that I was already putting into the post.
I don't know if users would find that annoying or not.
I also don't know if someone who had looked at the post and then experienced the content and then read some comments would remember to scroll back up and use the affiliate link included in the post instead of just opening a new window and doing their own search.
It's just a thing that has occurred to me more than once. I know that MetaFilter isn't on the same shaky ground it was a while ago, but every bit helps, right? And I would be willing to make sure to include Amazon affiliate links in posts I make, as long as the general populace wouldn't think this was a bad way to go.
posted by hippybear at 5:30 PM on April 8, 2016
I don't know if users would find that annoying or not.
I also don't know if someone who had looked at the post and then experienced the content and then read some comments would remember to scroll back up and use the affiliate link included in the post instead of just opening a new window and doing their own search.
It's just a thing that has occurred to me more than once. I know that MetaFilter isn't on the same shaky ground it was a while ago, but every bit helps, right? And I would be willing to make sure to include Amazon affiliate links in posts I make, as long as the general populace wouldn't think this was a bad way to go.
posted by hippybear at 5:30 PM on April 8, 2016
I'd kind of find it annoying, sorry. I can easily find it on Amazon if I want to, and it gives the post a real selling aspect that I don't appreciate (like a hard sell).
Leave it to the reader to decide if they want to pursue buying it or not, don't make selling one of the aspects of MetaFilter.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 5:35 PM on April 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
Leave it to the reader to decide if they want to pursue buying it or not, don't make selling one of the aspects of MetaFilter.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 5:35 PM on April 8, 2016 [8 favorites]
(Not just annoying, but a turn-off. YMMV.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 5:36 PM on April 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 5:36 PM on April 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I could have easily put a link to an Amazon page in my post as a natural flow of the links that I was already putting into the post.
I think I'd prefer this more if it were more of an ancillary modifier than part of the main flow of links. Amazon product pages aren't really that interesting if you're not looking to buy right now, so I don't think an Amazon link should carry as much weight as the primary links in the post. Maybe as some sort of small (preorder on Amazon) link that makes it clear what it is?
And to throw this into the pot too: some MeFites prefer not to buy from Amazon.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 5:55 PM on April 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think I'd prefer this more if it were more of an ancillary modifier than part of the main flow of links. Amazon product pages aren't really that interesting if you're not looking to buy right now, so I don't think an Amazon link should carry as much weight as the primary links in the post. Maybe as some sort of small (preorder on Amazon) link that makes it clear what it is?
And to throw this into the pot too: some MeFites prefer not to buy from Amazon.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 5:55 PM on April 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think if people were to do this, I'd tend to agree with WHAD, Kyle -- it should be an obvious, separated thing. Sort of like a [via] link, it could be a [buy] or an [Amazon] link. That way people would know precisely what links to avoid clicking on, instead of having it within the general flow of links where it's not always easy to guess (especially on mobile) where the link is going.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:07 PM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by jacquilynne at 6:07 PM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
This Week In Blackness has a subdomain, http://amazon.twib.me, that simply forwards to Amazon with the right codes appended so that you have a place to start shopping from. Do we have something like that?
Answering my own question: there's a link like this at the bottom of the funding page.
Aaaaand now I've noticed that LobsterMitten linked to the same place in the first comment.
posted by XMLicious at 6:19 PM on April 8, 2016
Answering my own question: there's a link like this at the bottom of the funding page.
Aaaaand now I've noticed that LobsterMitten linked to the same place in the first comment.
posted by XMLicious at 6:19 PM on April 8, 2016
I mean, really, the only reason I thought of this is that two of my main interactions with MF today resulted in me buying a thing. I don't know how many MeFites buy stuff related to their interactions with MF, but that is super rare for me.
I do agree that some sort of marker makes sense, so it isn't confused with containing actual information. I nod enthusiastically with that.
posted by hippybear at 6:19 PM on April 8, 2016
I do agree that some sort of marker makes sense, so it isn't confused with containing actual information. I nod enthusiastically with that.
posted by hippybear at 6:19 PM on April 8, 2016
I personally prefer when people link to Amazon for books (in particular) because not only do I do most of my book shopping there (as we have no local or indie in town; just a smallish B&N), I store my list of books to get at the library or scour the used book store for on Amazon, so it's just faster and more convenient for me. (Although I certainly understand why some people prefer not to link there, shop there, or drive traffic there, and I respect that.) But yeah in book posts I always click through the Amazon link and am glad someone saved me the extra 20 seconds. :)
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 7:53 PM on April 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 7:53 PM on April 8, 2016 [5 favorites]
eeyew Amazon eeyew nope nope nope
posted by y2karl at 8:14 PM on April 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by y2karl at 8:14 PM on April 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
I hate it too. Amazon is certifiably evil in almost every way that matters to me.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:31 PM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:31 PM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've seen many people link to Powell's, which has 99% of commonly referenced books. I always appreciate that extra thought.
Amazon is extremely evil. I don't think we're going to tip it one way or the other, and they're just the bellwether of where all fulfillment employment is headed, but I do like using an alternative when there is one.
posted by Miko at 8:49 PM on April 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Amazon is extremely evil. I don't think we're going to tip it one way or the other, and they're just the bellwether of where all fulfillment employment is headed, but I do like using an alternative when there is one.
posted by Miko at 8:49 PM on April 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Annoying. I'm OK with it in Asks where an answerer is recommending a product or where an asker is trying to provide relevant info. On the Blue, though? A bit crass, honestly. I know where to find things if I want to buy them, thanks. But then, I'm of the school of thought that FPPs already include far too much commercialism and advertising.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:06 PM on April 8, 2016
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:06 PM on April 8, 2016
Metafilter hates Amazon; Metafilter is ill disposed toward Carly Rae Jepsen; and Metafilter doesn't know enough about Santana to have an opinion.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:21 PM on April 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 9:21 PM on April 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I love Amazon, partially because I hate leaving the house, and shopping especially. Does that make me evil? I appreciate an Amazon link in the comments. Perhaps this should be added to the "You're doing it wrong" thread?
posted by Roger Dodger at 9:53 PM on April 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Roger Dodger at 9:53 PM on April 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I love Amazon and the people who find it evil are wrong, their opinions are bad, and a life without two day access to any commercial good in the world would be empty and meaningless. That being said, FPP links to places that exist primarily to sell stuff are gross and it is the non-commercial nature of Metafilter that motivates my recurring PayPal donation to MeFi. We are the NPR of the Internet and I'd probably stop donating if I saw too many commercials.
Cue the "PayPal is evil" chorus...
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 11:32 PM on April 8, 2016
Cue the "PayPal is evil" chorus...
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 11:32 PM on April 8, 2016
I personally prefer when people link to Amazon for books (in particular) because not only do I do most of my book shopping there (as we have no local or indie in town; just a smallish B&N), I store my list of books to get at the library or scour the used book store for on Amazon, so it's just faster and more convenient for me. (Although I certainly understand why some people prefer not to link there, shop there, or drive traffic there, and I respect that.) But yeah in book posts I always click through the Amazon link and am glad someone saved me the extra 20 seconds. :)
I also appreciate Amazon links for books in comments and posts because I use it in the same way you describe. However, when I link things I am never sure whether to use Amazon, Wikipedia, or other options like IMDB or the author or director's personal website. I think I have been randomly switching the sources around without ever having thought about it much, and I am sure there is a better approach.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:08 AM on April 9, 2016
I also appreciate Amazon links for books in comments and posts because I use it in the same way you describe. However, when I link things I am never sure whether to use Amazon, Wikipedia, or other options like IMDB or the author or director's personal website. I think I have been randomly switching the sources around without ever having thought about it much, and I am sure there is a better approach.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:08 AM on April 9, 2016
If the Amazon product description adds something to the post that's not otherwise covered, I don't mind much. Otherwise, I'd prefer not to be steered toward a particular vendor, personally.
posted by EvaDestruction at 6:28 AM on April 9, 2016
posted by EvaDestruction at 6:28 AM on April 9, 2016
> Amazon is extremely evil.
Oh, for god's sake, Amazon is not "extremely evil." It is a corporation; it provides a service for money, and it predictably exploits workers, and that's a problem with capitalism, and there's a whole library of discussion of how that works and what can be done about it, and nobody's solved it yet, and yada yada, but boy am I sick of the self-righteous tendency, so prevalent hereabouts, to short-circuit discussion and slime everyone who disagrees with you by announcing that anything you have problems with is evil (and anyone who disagrees with you is therefore complicit in evil). If you can't stand modern life in a capitalist country, go live off the grid or something. I order books from Amazon because it makes my life a lot easier, and I'm grateful they exist. Go ahead, call me a tool of Satan, I can take it.
posted by languagehat at 7:28 AM on April 9, 2016 [20 favorites]
Oh, for god's sake, Amazon is not "extremely evil." It is a corporation; it provides a service for money, and it predictably exploits workers, and that's a problem with capitalism, and there's a whole library of discussion of how that works and what can be done about it, and nobody's solved it yet, and yada yada, but boy am I sick of the self-righteous tendency, so prevalent hereabouts, to short-circuit discussion and slime everyone who disagrees with you by announcing that anything you have problems with is evil (and anyone who disagrees with you is therefore complicit in evil). If you can't stand modern life in a capitalist country, go live off the grid or something. I order books from Amazon because it makes my life a lot easier, and I'm grateful they exist. Go ahead, call me a tool of Satan, I can take it.
posted by languagehat at 7:28 AM on April 9, 2016 [20 favorites]
languagehat is a tool of satan...
...but this was true before the whole Amazon discussion
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:08 AM on April 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
...but this was true before the whole Amazon discussion
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:08 AM on April 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah, all those hating Amazon, while I agree, Apple is no better at all, having moved production from Foxconn when they put their wages up, to Pegatron.
posted by marienbad at 8:09 AM on April 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by marienbad at 8:09 AM on April 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Some thoughts:
- I don't see a real obvious non-intrusive way to make product links a formal part of posts on the blue, and just as a sort of gut-feeling thing it doesn't really fit at a glance. So I don't really see a clear "yes, let's do this" angle here insofar as altering posting habits or presentation would go.
- Where we see Amazon links show up organically most is in answers on Ask MetaFilter, which is totally fine: it fits the natural flow of the process, "here's a link to a thing that may help with the problem you have" and some times that thing is a product and sometimes that product is most easily/non-sketchily available from Amazon. I wouldn't expect people to go out of their way to link to Amazon, nor would I expect them to go out of their way not to.
- I likewise don't really blink at amazon links showing up in comments on the blue, though it's probably less common overall because of the difference in comment/discussion content.
- We do formally feature Amazon (and a couple other) external links on those FanFare posts that are tied to a specific book/movie/show/etc, because that's something that has a discrete, commoditized aspect to it to begin with. But very little else on the site has such a direct one-to-one mapping between a thread and the item that thread is about.
- We make a point, as noted above, of putting the affiliate link on the funding page for folks who want to use it if they're going to Amazon anyway. It's something where you don't have to literally click through on a product link and buy that product for us to get credit; doing a bit of shopping around after hitting the site via an affiliate link of any sort works. So if we were to do something to raise the general likelihood of folks turning a chunk of shopping spending the site's way, it'd probably be more along the lines of just raising the profile/existence of that link a bit in ways that would fit the context naturally.
I have complicated feelings about Amazon, just like I have complicated feelings about the web ad market, but in both cases the pragmatic side of this is that it's where MeFi's income comes from, and passive revenue from Amazon referrer stuff represents a significant if still far from majority chunk of our monthly income.
So while I will never, ever suggest anyone has to like or shop at or click on a link to Amazon—do what works for you—I also can't responsibly ignore the fact that insofar as lots of people already are both reading MetaFilter and doing some of their shopping there, it's a good thing for the site for our affiliate code to be the third leg of that particular fiscal barstool.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:15 AM on April 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
- I don't see a real obvious non-intrusive way to make product links a formal part of posts on the blue, and just as a sort of gut-feeling thing it doesn't really fit at a glance. So I don't really see a clear "yes, let's do this" angle here insofar as altering posting habits or presentation would go.
- Where we see Amazon links show up organically most is in answers on Ask MetaFilter, which is totally fine: it fits the natural flow of the process, "here's a link to a thing that may help with the problem you have" and some times that thing is a product and sometimes that product is most easily/non-sketchily available from Amazon. I wouldn't expect people to go out of their way to link to Amazon, nor would I expect them to go out of their way not to.
- I likewise don't really blink at amazon links showing up in comments on the blue, though it's probably less common overall because of the difference in comment/discussion content.
- We do formally feature Amazon (and a couple other) external links on those FanFare posts that are tied to a specific book/movie/show/etc, because that's something that has a discrete, commoditized aspect to it to begin with. But very little else on the site has such a direct one-to-one mapping between a thread and the item that thread is about.
- We make a point, as noted above, of putting the affiliate link on the funding page for folks who want to use it if they're going to Amazon anyway. It's something where you don't have to literally click through on a product link and buy that product for us to get credit; doing a bit of shopping around after hitting the site via an affiliate link of any sort works. So if we were to do something to raise the general likelihood of folks turning a chunk of shopping spending the site's way, it'd probably be more along the lines of just raising the profile/existence of that link a bit in ways that would fit the context naturally.
I have complicated feelings about Amazon, just like I have complicated feelings about the web ad market, but in both cases the pragmatic side of this is that it's where MeFi's income comes from, and passive revenue from Amazon referrer stuff represents a significant if still far from majority chunk of our monthly income.
So while I will never, ever suggest anyone has to like or shop at or click on a link to Amazon—do what works for you—I also can't responsibly ignore the fact that insofar as lots of people already are both reading MetaFilter and doing some of their shopping there, it's a good thing for the site for our affiliate code to be the third leg of that particular fiscal barstool.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:15 AM on April 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
languagehat, you never worked for Amazon. I did. Plus Jeff Bezos has the laugh of the AntiChrist. Nope nope nope..
posted by y2karl at 9:29 AM on April 9, 2016
posted by y2karl at 9:29 AM on April 9, 2016
CIA interrogators used recordings of his laugh on prisoners in Iraq.
posted by y2karl at 9:33 AM on April 9, 2016
posted by y2karl at 9:33 AM on April 9, 2016
some MeFites prefer not to buy from Amazon.
Adding my voice to this chorus. Amazon is on par with Walmart in terms of worker treatment, and we've had FPPs on this very topic. I understand that there may be financial benefit to the site by the affiliate link, but IMO explicitly linking to Amazon supports their maltreatment of their warehouse workers. I would advocate Powell's, if we must link to a sales site for books.
I have bought music based on FPPs in the past. This specific one linked directly to the record label's Bandcamp site. I would prefer to support Bandcamp if at all possible over Amazon for music, even for mega-commercial music like Santana or Jepson. Plus, it feels like less of a straight BUY PRODUCT HERE thing because you can stream the music and find other related music.
posted by Existential Dread at 10:13 AM on April 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Adding my voice to this chorus. Amazon is on par with Walmart in terms of worker treatment, and we've had FPPs on this very topic. I understand that there may be financial benefit to the site by the affiliate link, but IMO explicitly linking to Amazon supports their maltreatment of their warehouse workers. I would advocate Powell's, if we must link to a sales site for books.
I have bought music based on FPPs in the past. This specific one linked directly to the record label's Bandcamp site. I would prefer to support Bandcamp if at all possible over Amazon for music, even for mega-commercial music like Santana or Jepson. Plus, it feels like less of a straight BUY PRODUCT HERE thing because you can stream the music and find other related music.
posted by Existential Dread at 10:13 AM on April 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also worth noting that Amazon Dot Com isn't everyone's Amazon of choice, so that's another set of people who'd experience an increase in referral links as not-entirely-useful.
Too many links spoil thebroth blog anyhow.
posted by comealongpole at 2:27 PM on April 9, 2016
Too many links spoil the
posted by comealongpole at 2:27 PM on April 9, 2016
FWIW, whenever I link to a book, I try to use Barnes and Noble. I'd rather just send the cash directly to Metafilter (from any lost commissions). ...maybe I'll actually do that someday (but I doubt it would be much; I don't recommend books much).
posted by amtho at 4:52 PM on April 9, 2016
posted by amtho at 4:52 PM on April 9, 2016
His much does the average Amazon link on the site bring in?
posted by michaelh at 6:22 PM on April 9, 2016
posted by michaelh at 6:22 PM on April 9, 2016
It'd be difficult and a little meaningless to try and nail down that number, since we don't have any way of explicitly correlating affiliate revenue with a given link (or a given user or non-member reader).
I can look at the individual items that were purchased on such and such date and our cut of that sale price, and so if we wanted to get speculatively wonky about it we could in theory create an index of every amazon link on the site and then try to match up items sold with items linked that way. But that'd be a guess at best since it wouldn't tell us whether someone followed a link to one product and then bought something else, or followed the generic affiliate link on the funding page and then bought something that had coincidentally been linked directly at some point.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:08 PM on April 9, 2016
I can look at the individual items that were purchased on such and such date and our cut of that sale price, and so if we wanted to get speculatively wonky about it we could in theory create an index of every amazon link on the site and then try to match up items sold with items linked that way. But that'd be a guess at best since it wouldn't tell us whether someone followed a link to one product and then bought something else, or followed the generic affiliate link on the funding page and then bought something that had coincidentally been linked directly at some point.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:08 PM on April 9, 2016
I do a decent amount of Amazon shopping, and I wouldn't mind kicking some scratch to MeFi while I do it, but I mostly shop through the iOS app. Is there a way to add affiliate links to those purchases?
posted by Rock Steady at 7:20 AM on April 10, 2016
posted by Rock Steady at 7:20 AM on April 10, 2016
Interesting question! I've never used the app, I'll poke around and see.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:53 AM on April 10, 2016
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:53 AM on April 10, 2016
I like the idea Hippybear and I'll try to add Amazon links, when appropriate, to my FPPs.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:10 AM on April 10, 2016
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:10 AM on April 10, 2016
michaelh - if you mean, what does mefi earn on a single purchase? then it seems to be between 4 and 8.5% of the price, depending on how many sales are made in a month, if i understand this correctly.
posted by andrewcooke at 5:45 PM on April 10, 2016
posted by andrewcooke at 5:45 PM on April 10, 2016
That is a surprising lot.
posted by Miko at 9:42 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 9:42 PM on April 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yep, it's all mostly in that range, and varies from product to product, presumably negotiated by Amazon and the vendor in some cases since certain things do significantly less (e.g. a Macbook only nets about 2%, no huge vig courtesy of Amazon and Apple there).
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:19 AM on April 11, 2016
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:19 AM on April 11, 2016
My dream is to someday visit languagehat and stand on his lawn.
posted by GuyZero at 1:56 PM on April 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by GuyZero at 1:56 PM on April 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
languagehat, you never worked for Amazon. I did. Plus Jeff Bezos has the laugh of the AntiChrist.
On the other hand, many if not most people who work or have worked for corporations think their C-level execs are evil.
posted by aught at 11:01 AM on April 13, 2016
On the other hand, many if not most people who work or have worked for corporations think their C-level execs are evil.
posted by aught at 11:01 AM on April 13, 2016
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
In 2006, Matt started appending the Amazon affiliate code to Amazon links on the site - a bit of the history here. If you want to, you can also access it directly from the bottom of the fund Mefi page. (A link to that funding page appears in the footer of every page, too.)
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 5:20 PM on April 8, 2016 [6 favorites]