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Google may be about to kill affiliate marketing links

fastcompany.com

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Re: Google may be about to kill affiliate marketing links

#2
While I agree that they will eat into affiliate marketing revenue, this title is completely misleading. The links still work, consumers just may not access them if Google's review algorithm becomes robust.

Frankly, this is not a new issue. It's just the effort by Google to use publisher content & data for their own profit continues to expand.

I always end up going to Wirecutter and their related sites for product reviews as they are the modern Consumer Reports. In those circumstances, the affiliate link will still function as anticipated.

Re: Google may be about to kill affiliate marketing links

#6

Unless Google does something about Amazon Prime, good luck with that. Not having to pay for shipping on a case by case basis is the ultimate killer app for online purchases.

Not to mention that people wont blink at paying Amazon hundreds of dollars a year for services, but make memes on the Internet about paying for YouTube Red.

Re: Google may be about to kill affiliate marketing links

#7

While I agree that they will eat into affiliate marketing revenue, this title is completely misleading. The links still work, consumers just may not access them if Google's review algorithm becomes robust. Frankly, this is not a new issue. It's just the effort by Google to use publisher content & data for their own profit continues to expand. I always end up going to Wirecutter and their related sites for product rev…

AMP-shopping is next

Re: Google may be about to kill affiliate marketing links

#8

While I agree that they will eat into affiliate marketing revenue, this title is completely misleading. The links still work, consumers just may not access them if Google's review algorithm becomes robust. Frankly, this is not a new issue. It's just the effort by Google to use publisher content & data for their own profit continues to expand. I always end up going to Wirecutter and their related sites for product rev…

>Frankly, this is not a new issue. It's just the effort by Google to use publisher content & data for their own profit continues to expand.

True. Publishers always hated that Facebook and Google would share too much of an article on their own platforms that no one would click through, and they'd miss the ad impression.

This thing is a similar issue but missing out on affiliate clicks instead of ad impressions.

I'm glad the author is keen and pointing it out, though.

Re: Google may be about to kill affiliate marketing links

#9
post #5

Title is very inaccurate clickbait. Killing affiliate marketing would be a very bad idea for Google.

I run a bunch of websites. Basically, I do some surveys and provide information for consumers. I monetize it through affiliate links. Adsense won't make it profitable enough and people is not willing to pay for that info.

If they drop me in the search results because I use affiliate marketing they are basically cutting 50% of my income. That's a pretty hard hit, specially when I'm not a computer scientist and I can't just look for another job that easy in my country.

Re: Google may be about to kill affiliate marketing links

#10

While I agree that they will eat into affiliate marketing revenue, this title is completely misleading. The links still work, consumers just may not access them if Google's review algorithm becomes robust. Frankly, this is not a new issue. It's just the effort by Google to use publisher content & data for their own profit continues to expand. I always end up going to Wirecutter and their related sites for product rev…

AMP-shopping is next

Is the Amazon’s one-click shopping patent still valid?

Google could add a ”Buy now” button there, handling customer shipping data and payment and just forward the order to merchant that serves customer’s location.

For smaller vendors it might be interesting to replace AdWords with the possibility to list stuff for sale. Instead of click price, you would tell how big cut of price you give to Google if customer makes the purchase.

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