Amazon Affiliate Links for Your Squidoo Lens
It used to be possible to embed the official Amazon Product Links into a lens (if you were an Amazon Associate). However, since the support for IFrames was withdrawn, this is no longer an option.
At SQUIDUtils.com there is a special tool which generates a static version of the Amazon Product Links, which can then be pasted into any suitable module (e.g. Text/Write). The HTML code that it creates is optimised for Squidoo, and will match the color scheme.
Standard Amazon Modules
Here are the four Amazon modules that Squidoo provide, which is probably the easiest way to promote products on your lens, and they don't require you to have your own Amazon Affiliate account. Squidoo will collect the royalties on your behalf, and share them with you 50/50.
- Amazon
The trusty Amazon module you know and love. Feature your favorite stuff (books, CDs, DVDs, geekware...) and comment on it. (Beware, you could earn money!) - Amazon Recommendations
"If you liked Napoleon Dynamite, you may also like..." -- Let Amazon do the work for you. Stick an Amazon Recs module on your lens, pick your ONE favorite item, and the module will automatically display others like it. - Amazon Spotlight
When you just want to really put the spotlight on an incredible book or DVD or CD or another product from Amazon. Write your review and feature the sucker, front and center. - Amazon Voting (Plexo)
Plexo lets you make a list of your favorite Amazon stuff on your topic, and then lets your visitors VOTE them up and down. You can also let people add items to your Plexo module. OR, they can grab your module and stick it on their own lens! (Sends traffic back to you, btw). Yes, it's still a moneymaker. Gooo Plexo!
Squidoo Modules or Own Associate Tags?
Which is better to use?
As mentioned above, you don't actually need to sign up with Amazon Associates to promote their products on your lens. However, if you are already an Associate, you have the option to put on your own affiliate links, and potentially earn more. Alternatively, you can use the Squidoo Associate Tag (unique for every lens) to generate your own link code.
Here are some facts to help you decide:
- Basic Amazon commission rate is 4%. This increases if you sell lots of items in a month.
- Because of the huge volume of sales it generates, Squidoo (probably) gets the maximum commission rate of 8.5%.
- Squidoo takes half of any commission that you make through your lens. 4.25% is as good as the basic rate.
- Using the Squidoo tag allows for your Lensrank to improve when you make a sale on a lens.
On the other hand, if you don't care for Lensrank, and if you can get a higher commission rate, then use your own associate tag. You only need to sell 7 items each month to get onto 6%, and if you sell over 111 items, you will get 7%.
There are some exceptions: Consumer Electricals (TVs, computers, etc) are capped at 4%, whether you use Squidoo's Associate tag or your own. If you do use the Squidoo tag, then you will have to share the commission. It's not all bad though: 2% on $2,000 is still a sizeable commission.
Amazon Affiliate Link Generator
Transformers Ultimate Bumblebee
This tool will build something similar to the Amazon Product Link, without using iframes. An example is shown on the right here.
The generated HTML code can then be pasted into your Squidoo lens. You will to supply the ASIN of the product, and your affiliate tag.
- Amazon Product Link Generator
- - Creates HTML code like Amazon's own Product Links.
- Does not use IFrames - fully compatible with Squidoo.
- Select small or large images, aligned left or right.
- Includes the item's price, updated daily.
- Supports US and UK Associate Tags. - Amazon RSS Feeds
- Alternatively, you can use RSS Feeds to add Amazon products to your lens...
How To Use This Tool
- Click on the picture above to open the tool.
- Enter the ASIN of the product, and it will find the correct title, picture and URL to the details page.
Or, paste in the full URL and it will extract the ASIN out of it. - Enter in your Associate Tag (aka Affiliate ID). If you have pasted in a URL that contains a tag already, it will be automatically extracted.
NEW! If you are logged in, then you can select a lens instead, and the tool will automatically extract the Associate tag. - Select whether you want to links to float left or float right
- Select what size image you want: Small or Large.
- Click on the [Generate HTML Code] button, and it will appear, with a preview on the left.
- Select and copy all of the code, and paste it into your Squidoo lens.
- Begin writing your text immediately after the close bracket (don't put in a newline).
Amazon Affiliate Links Video Tutorial
Here is a fantastic video by Tiffany Dow, which she posted on her blog Social Marketing 101. She begins by showing how you can use your Amazon Affiliate account to create simple text links in your introduction, followed by a step-by-step guide to using this tool here.
Affiliate Links on Squidoo
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Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, here you will find all the answers to your questions. If not, then post a comment in the guestbook below.
- Which countries are supported?
US and UK only. The tool auto-detects which region your associate tag is from, and creates the appropriate code. Other countries are not yet supported. If you need this for another country, let me know and I'll consider adding it. - Can I set the background or border color?
Not yet, but I might add this functionality in the future if there's enough interest. - What if I don't have my own Associate Tag?
If you are logged in and select one of your lenses, the tool will extract your unique Squidoo tag from it (but only if that lens contains an Amazon module). This means that any purchases made through the link will be credited to you through Squidoo. - Can I use this for other Amazon link types?
No - only product links.
Broken Product Links?
If you have already got these links on your lenses, then you should periodically check the products are still valid. There is now this Amazon Link Error Report, which will tell you if any of your links point to products that have changed or been deleted. All you need to do is login with your Lensmaster name.
Example Layouts
Wrap text around it
This is the easiest way to embed Amazon links into your lens. Simply paste the code at the beginning of your Text/Write module, and start your content immediately afterwards. Select between left and right aligned using the options in the tool.
Fusce orci purus, aliquet ac, aliquet a, mollis ac, est. Fusce eu ipsum. Fusce ac nunc. Maecenas congue erat at nisi. Proin pharetra. Duis consectetuer mauris nec est. Cras imperdiet elit vitae libero. Aliquam elit urna, venenatis nec, tincidunt nec, ullamcorper non, velit. Curabitur lacus mauris, cursus sit amet, hendrerit eget, aliquet volutpat, risus. In imperdiet justo interdum leo tempor lobortis. Suspendisse elit. Praesent leo felis, commodo in, tempus congue, sagittis a, ligula. Vestibulum eu augue sed tortor congue congue. Nulla arcu erat, bibendum nec, aliquam id, rhoncus a, nisi. Duis nisi turpis, ullamcorper non, fermentum sed, adipiscing quis, sapien. Integer malesuada tristique tellus. Pellentesque et nibh.
Sed mattis mi aliquam urna volutpat pharetra. Sed tortor odio, ornare quis, cursus at, tincidunt id, tortor. Pellentesque volutpat sem eu odio. Morbi in tortor. Morbi eu arcu quis neque sodales ornare. Morbi dui purus, ultrices sed, dapibus sit amet, commodo id, neque. Maecenas sapien urna, vestibulum vel, mollis vel, convallis at, nunc. Aenean nibh lorem, egestas in, vestibulum ac, porta eget, enim. Phasellus ut diam. Sed tempus porta mi. Proin facilisis euismod velit. Maecenas tincidunt nulla quis neque. Curabitur viverra. Maecenas consectetuer hendrerit quam. Suspendisse eget enim. Aliquam eget tortor ut sem auctor viverra. Etiam turpis.
Multiple links in a row
You can fit 2, 3 or maybe even 4 links in a row. This often looks good at the end of a piece of text. Paste in the code for the products immediately after each other, with no blank lines in between. You might want to tweak the widths of the paragraphs in this case, e.g. use 290px for 2 products, 190px for 3, and 145px for 4.
In at nisl in mi gravida pretium. Suspendisse potenti. Suspendisse orci. Vivamus lorem. Aenean luctus elementum turpis. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Ut eget nibh. Donec et libero nec metus tincidunt hendrerit. Nullam rutrum dolor ut urna. Donec et ligula sollicitudin dolor laoreet auctor. Nulla risus justo, condimentum vel, egestas eu, congue ac, orci. Integer in nunc id dolor ultrices porttitor. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.
Example Lenses
Here are some lenses which use the Amazon Links code in a variety of ways. There are possibly other ways to integrate these affiliate links into your lens, but here are some ideas to start with.
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My Top Wii Games
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The Nintendo Wii is a one of the best family oriented consoles. The Wii's unique motion-sensing control system is intuitive, and easy to use, and it gets you up out of your chair and more active. Accessible by young and old alike, even the Queen of E...
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The Best Wii Games Ever
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If you own a Nintendo Wii, then there's a good chance that you'll be looking for the best games to buy for it. Here is are just a few of them, compiled by some keen gamers. I have put together my own list of favorite games too » My Top Wii Gam...
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Transformers Toys and Figures
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Following the Transformers Movie that came out last year, Hasbo has brought out a brand new range of Transformer toys, most of which will transform from their robot form into a vehicle. Read all about the main characters from the movie here, and the...
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Harry Potter Books - Complete Set
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Since J. K. Rowling has finished writing the Harry Potter series, the complete collection of 7 books is now available as a boxed set. Follow Harry from his first days at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, through his many adventures with H...
Coming Soon!
Currently in development is a new stats package for Amazon links. You will be able to see how many impressions and clicks you are getting from products on your lenses.
Stay tuned for details!
Feedback and Feature Requests
If there's something else you'd like to see added to the tool, or you have an idea for another, then let me know...
Make sure to subscribe to this lens or join my fan club to receive the latest updates.
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mulberry
Excellent lens, it answered all of the questions I had regarding this! Posted October 09, 2008 |
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OhMe
I think this will be very helpful. Thanks so much. Posted October 08, 2008 |
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ciscopower
Great tips, I never know this before. And also welcome to visit my squidoo lens (http://www.squidoo.com/amazondiscount). Posted October 04, 2008 |
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JAEhle
You answered some of my questions...THANKS! Posted September 30, 2008 |
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EternalFlame
Very helpful tips! Thanks for sharing. Five Stars Posted September 30, 2008 |
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marsha32
I am printing this all out to read and hopefully it will sink in to my pea brain and I can accomplish what I want on my lenses. Thanks so much for putting it all together for us. Posted September 26, 2008 |
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CrypticFragments
I think I get it now... thanks for the great lens, and watch for me to try this out! Posted September 11, 2008 |
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Marinadxb
I'm completely new at this, but this is GREAT info to help me make my lens special! Posted September 11, 2008 |
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roysumit
Great to be here. Nice information and thanks for it. Five star to you Posted September 01, 2008 |
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a_willow
Fluff, I need this for Amazon.de!?! Posted August 22, 2008 |
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ShareTer
Fluffanutta, this is fantastic! I was having a helluva time trying to get my affiliate links on the new lens I'm creating. I want to publish this puppy today so, will apply this new info tomorrow. Thanks so much! Posted August 15, 2008 |
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Catalysthere
Another great Lens, I have made this a featured lens for this week!! http://www.squidoo.com/groups/Thirtydaychallenge Posted August 12, 2008 |
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aliun
Very nice len!.By the way,If you want to remove the underlines on some (but not all) of your links. Just add STYLE="text-decoration: none" on the links that you don't want to be underlined. (You should include the quote signs like the example above.) For links that you want to keep underlined, use the regular tag. An example is shown below: Posted August 11, 2008 |
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purplelady
Fluff, Thank you so much for this. I have been wanting to find a way to do more with my Amazon Associates link. This "how to" definitely enters into the realm of "awesomeness". As always, you have provided some very valuable information. Posted August 06, 2008 |
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JJNW
Hi from a new member of the social networking group - Thirty Day Challenge! This is a very helpful lens. Thanks! Posted July 13, 2008 |
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Catalysthere
Anything that makes me more cash is great by me - Well done, you have made it into the http://www.squidoo.com/groups/Socialpostingangel featured lenses again this week!! Posted July 09, 2008 |
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Tahiti
Thank-you for a "newbie" start Posted June 25, 2008 |
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thefluffanutta
Yes - if you enter a UK affiliate ID, then visitors will see UK prices, and the link will take the to Amazon.co.uk Posted June 21, 2008 |
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spirituality
If I were to use the UK affiliate code, will that mean my squidoo visitors get sent to the amazon.uk site, and see the price in Pounds? Posted June 21, 2008 |
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poddys
Great helpful advice, you are for sure the Tricksmaster... Posted June 11, 2008 |
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