Amazon "Omakase Link" (beta) vs. AdSense TOS?

The AdSense TOS permits noncontextual ads from other sourcers such as AdSense.

What about the new Amazon "Omakase Link" (beta) option for affiliates?

"Omakase links will show an Associate's visitors what they're most likely to buy based on Amazon's unique understanding of the site, the user, and the page itself."

See: Omakase FAQ at http://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/network/help/t21/

Does this violate the AdSense TOS?

 

I was thinking the same thing yesterday, I came across a thread on webmasterworld describing this issue.

They claim that the Omakase links, while still in beta, are contextual and are therefor in violation of the adsense tos. A person sent an email to adsense support and they replied that it is not allowed to use omakase together with adsense.

 

I've played around with Amazon quite a bit and the best strategy for me is my own "text links". For example, let's say I posted an article about falling housing prices or the coming housing market collaps. In the very end I add More on this subject: The Coming Crash in the Housing Market : 10 Things You Can Do Now to Protect Your Most Valuable Investment
It looks like it's another story, but it's acually my affiliate link to a book. Here is the weird part. The conversions are very good - 1.48%, but most people buy not the book that I advertised, but something completely unrelated. Like one day I sold 10 DVDs, while I don't have any links to DVDs.

Likewise, if you have a post about esspresso machines, you can use the same strategy. It looks like this

"When choosing esspresso machines, the most important factors to consider are ... bla-bla-bla

Works like magic.

 

have you guys read this thread?

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=134300&highlight=omakase

Dunno what to believe..

 

I've emailed AdSense myself. I'll see what they say.

 

Took them weeks (as in 3 weeks) to finally respond to my email after a brief flurry of exchanges where they said yes, then no, then maybe. They finally said Yes.

 

Given the inconsistency in their replies, I think I'll wait for my own email reply. That way, if they decide later it's against the TOS and cancel my account, I can produce proof of prior correspondence indicating it was okay.

 

Update:

I just received this email from AdSense:

 

I wonder what they would say if you emailed the same question

Good that you have been given the go ahead.

 

very nice.. i 've been think about update to the Omakase Links

 

I still do believe that they will provide different reply to different publishers. Their stance on omakase (as seen in Jack's reply) still hasn't matured. With Google's own CPA coming, it's likely that they will disallow publishers from doing both AS & OM on the same page.

Dave sheds some light here

 

The thing is that I now have a saved copy of that email proving (1) that I asked permission first and (2) that I was told I had approval to go ahead. If they do change their minds, I can't see having any problems appealing. I would advise others to take the same precautions.

 

Yes you are on the safer side Ministrel. I will drop them an email just to make sure that no problems arise for me in the future as well.

Btw good find.

 

On a thread here sometime back, the inconsistancy from Google was apparent.

I emailed Google about using the Omakase ads around a month ago and was told that I could NOT use them.

Though on threads here and other forums there have been a number of people that were told it was ok, and a number of them that were told it was not ok.

I think it is a good idea for each person to email them individually and keep copies of their approval email.

 

Unfortunately that's not true. Having an email copy of their approval for something they would later consider as breaking the TOS is not an automatic unbanning. Yes, it MIGHT help them to reconsider your case, but people shouldn't believe being in possession of an approval email is their cure-all against banishment.

Just a thought.

 

And what is this "just a thought" based on? How could Google NOT "unban" someone based on the evidence of their prior approval?

 

Because THEY DO IT ALL THE TIME. They change their TOS all the time. They reverse their own decisions all the time. Seriously, you think having an email that says "Yeah, you can do it" from 5 months ago is going to make a difference if they change their TOS tomorrow, and it means what they told you "Yes" to 5 months ago is now in violation? Don't be so naive. Every other week I run across someone posting that "Google said Yes, but now they said No, so I'm banned! Help!" Publishers need to get it through their heads that saving an email from Adsense isn't going to protect you against getting banned, or unbanned.

 

I'm sorry, Jack, but that is utter nonsense at best - or paranoia. I've yet to see anyone credible saying "Google said Yes, but now they said No, so I'm banned! Help!".

 

I asked Google too. The answer was exactly the same that David received.

 

Hmm...I guess I better shoot them an email, just to be on the safe side. No telling what might happen.

- MENJ