1 Topic by A.T.Schlesinger (edited by A.T.Schlesinger 2017-02-03 18:48:15)

Topic: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

A friend of mine alerted me to a rookie mistake I did when I used an Amazon link to promote my book.

Look at these two photos below.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w315/Anastazja_2007/dontuseRED_zpsqlkkmcnw.jpg

and

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w315/Anastazja_2007/dontuseGREEN_zpsopq6cuy8.jpg


The one on the top has an ID reference (ref=sr=1BLAHBLAHBLAH) after the Amazon link. That "blah blah blah" is MY reference number. According to my friend, if I were to use that link to promote my book, and people were to buy my book using that link, the Amazon system would see that as ME, and not them. If they then wrote a review, Amazon may delete that review because the system believes I am cheating by writing my own reviews.

Can anyone confirm this is the case?

Quote Post 1

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

I've heard that's the case.

Quote Post 2

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

I can't see either photo (they are marked Private by PhotoBucket), but I also think you are right about the reference number.

~Tom

Quote Post 3

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

Tom Oldman wrote:

I can't see either photo (they are marked Private by PhotoBucket), but I also think you are right about the reference number.

~Tom

Here is the "Don't use" link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZ1LJDC/re … amp;sr=1-2

But I am now having doubts this is an issue. 

If I were to use an Amazon link to promote my book that had my ref number, and someone used that link, how would the "send it to my Kindle" work for them if the system thought it was me?

Quote Post 4

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

Deleting the extra info at the end of the URL before you give it to someone is alnost always a good idea.

I believe if the user is logged in with an Amazon ID that will override what's in the link (Amazon has very competent web programmers) but better safe than sorry.

Quote Post 5

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

OK, as a follow up to this, I have a link with TOO MUCH INFORMATION for my poor brain --this late--to follow, but if any of you want to be an expert on "super URLs" this, take a look:

https://www.sellerlabs.com/blog/super-urls-exposed/

Quote Post 6

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

I shortened all my URLS.

http://amzn.to/1ld8grm
http://amzn.to/1iWuYmP


http://goo.gl/6YTwyz

http://goo.gl/1eLv66

http://goo.gl/wf7UbM

https://goo.gl/2oJOjc

Quote Post 7

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

But does the shortened URL refer to a URL with the '?' identifier sections?  When the abbreviation is expanded, you'll have just what you provided to make the abbreviation.

Quote Post 8

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

Yes, the link should always stop after the ASIN number...and a recent change concerning ARC's. It is required that if a reader receives an ARC and then reviews, they must state they received a free copy.However, the wording has changed. Where it used to say...I received an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review...It now must say...I received an advance reading copy in CONSIDERATION of an honest review. I have voluntarily reviewed this book. If a reader uses the word EXCHANGE, then Amazon can remove those reviews.

Quote Post 9

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

If you follow my link, it takes you directly to Amazon and that book.

Quote Post 10

11 Reply by njc (edited by njc 2017-02-05 04:30:27)

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

The URL ends with April-Chastain-Ingrigue/dp/1537186833/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475459745&sr=8-2&keywords=wilted+magnolias

From 'ref=' onward you have info about where the link came from, etc.  Some of it may tell Amazon if it came from a link that earns a commission.  The query part (including, I think, the alphabet-encoding spec utf8, tells Amazon what the original lookup was.  They can use that if the book is not found, or to provide additional items for display.

Quote Post 11

12 Reply by Randall Krzak (edited by Randall Krzak 2017-02-05 15:19:24)

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

njc wrote:

The URL ends with April-Chastain-Ingrigue/dp/1537186833/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475459745&sr=8-2&keywords=wilted+magnolias

From 'ref=' onward you have info about where the link came from, etc.  Some of it may tell Amazon if it came from a link that earns a commission.  The query part (including, I think, the alphabet-encoding spec utf8, tells Amazon what the original lookup was.  They can use that if the book is not found, or to provide additional items for display.

Just checked how Bitly created my shortcut and it does show all of the information when it is used. If Amazon keys on this, then it's probably better to use a longer link but stop after the ASIN. Dropping the information after the ASIN still takes me to where I want to go.

Quote Post 12

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

I used Google shortener and simple pasted the long Amazon link in. Whenever I share that link, it's for the purpose of someone going to Amazon. It won't take them anywhere else. So, if someone purchases from that link, it's Amazon. I'm a bit confused how it's an issue for purchase. I don't think I've had a problem with Amazon thinking I was purchasing my own book.

Quote Post 13

14 Reply by A.T.Schlesinger (edited by A.T.Schlesinger 2017-02-05 20:48:36)

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

I used Google shortener and simple pasted the long Amazon link in. Whenever I share that link, it's for the purpose of someone going to Amazon. It won't take them anywhere else. So, if someone purchases from that link, it's Amazon. I'm a bit confused how it's an issue for purchase. I don't think I've had a problem with Amazon thinking I was purchasing my own book.

Janet,

I have have misstated, or I didn't understand what my friend was saying.

In Amazon, algorithms are everything.  Who is buying what, from where they live, and from what lists Amazon secretly puts them into. There is machinery at work in an Amazon link that is the equivalent of the old man behind the curtain pulling a hundred levers.

If the link you provide people to promote your book has YOUR codes to YOUR algorithms (the for mentioned "blahblah blah above) then they system gets confused and may not know who visited that page; you or someone else. It doesn't mean you will be charged if they buy a book, but for purposes of algorithms, the information is conflicted and may result in a review written by that person being deleted.

Or at least the data (algorithms) collected to evaluate your book page being all messed up and you not getting the credit you need to move up the Amazon ladder.

TLDR: Amazon algorithms own you.

Quote Post 14

Re: WARNING to people who use Amazon link to promote their book

I get what you were saying, AT. I never thought I'd be charged. I haven't had an issue with anyone following my shortened links, purchasing the book, and leaving a review. Maybe I'm just lucky so far.  But, I might need to check to see if anyone has left a review that got deleted.

Quote Post 15