5 March 2008
Amazon has recently ventured into Google’s territory, selling ad space on its website.
The US version of Amazon announced a new service called Product Ads, which allows retailers to place links on Amazon that take the shopper to product pages on the retailer's own website.
The service is currently running as “limited test” in the US only and it'll be interesting to see if they launch it in the UK. Currently anyone can sell on the Amazon platform as long as the sale takes place through Amazon and not on the retailer's site.
Amazon describes the experience it offers:
At Amazon, we want our customers to have the best information and selection of products available on the Internet. With Product Ads, as a seller you can participate in this cost-per-click program that allows customers to see YOUR products and price offerings. Customers viewing your products can click over to your website where they can buy directly from you.
According to Amazon:
Product Ads is a new program that displays links to product pages on other websites. By participating in this program, you can add products on Amazon.com and create links to your Web site. Your links can appear on Amazon.com product detail pages. Some links may appear directly in search results. When customers click on your links, they go to your website where they can purchase directly from you. You will be charged on a cost-per-click basis.
It’s hard to see how Amazon can go wrong with this initiative, Amazon is a big site but they don’t sell everything, and they probably don’t have the intention of selling everything, so why not create some extra revenue out of related items. Adverts for cars next to Hanes manuals makes sense, will Amazon turn into a new price comparison and product search engine?
Alternatively, will external sites linked to Amazon through Product ads tarnish the Amazon experience?
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