Amazon's TOS on the word usage of "Amazon" in ads.

Discussion in 'Amazon' started by Nite, Jan 27, 2007.

  1. #1
    Just for clarification

    Example
    This means that I cannot bid on the keywords: Amazon Books, Amazon Music, Amazon Whatever, Amazon XYZ, and so on.
    However, I can bid on the keywords: Books, Music, Whatever, XYZ, and so on.

    (Edit: The keyterms Amazon Books and Amazon Music will indeed increase your sales, but I guarantee that those keyterms are prohibited according to the TOS.)

    That much I understand.

    However, when constructing a Title for an ad, i.e. adwords, can I use the word "Amazon" ?

    In Google, when searching for keyterms "Amazon Affiliate," I see several advertisements that use the name "Amazon" in the ad title.

    Example of "Amazon" usage in adwords:
    So, if I wanted to create an ad:
    Is it acceptable?

    In other words, is it acceptable to use the word "Amazon" in the ad description, so long as I do not use the word "Amazon" as part of my keyterms?
     
    Nite, Jan 27, 2007 IP
  2. Nite

    Nite Active Member

    Messages:
    440
    Likes Received:
    22
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    68
    #2
    I'm really interested in what DP user: GeneKavner has to say about this because he was the Former World-Wide Director of Amazon.com Associates Program. That makes him the authority on this in my book.
     
    Nite, Jan 27, 2007 IP
  3. GeneKavner

    GeneKavner Peon

    Messages:
    59
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    Thanks Nite :)

    You are right that you MAY NOT bid on keywords that contain "Amazon" or any variation of it, including misspellings (like "Amazone" or "AMZN" or even a distant one like "AZONE").

    Amazon recently informed me that you are even supposed to supply a NEGATIVE keyword [-Amazon] so that if you bid on "Bicycle" you will not appear if someone were to type "Bicycle at Amazon". I know that Google lets you do this; not sure about other search engines.

    You also may NOT use "Amazon" or any close misspellings in the DOMAIN NAME. So "amazonian-king.com" will not work. However, Amazon may appear in the URL after the domain, so "http://mydomain.com/amazonian-king.htm" is ok. It is also ok to send the user straight to Amazon, having "www.amazon.com" is ok also.

    Lastly, you may use Amazon in the ad itself.
     
    GeneKavner, Jan 28, 2007 IP
    bizhobby likes this.
  4. Nite

    Nite Active Member

    Messages:
    440
    Likes Received:
    22
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    68
    #4
    Brilliant.

    Thanks a lot!
     
    Nite, Jan 28, 2007 IP
  5. livingingermany

    livingingermany Active Member

    Messages:
    311
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    58
    #5
    Wonderfully explanatory post here, thanks both of you for making a confusing matter a lot clearer.
     
    livingingermany, Feb 27, 2007 IP
  6. GeneKavner

    GeneKavner Peon

    Messages:
    59
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    My pleasure!
     
    GeneKavner, Feb 28, 2007 IP
  7. maliboo

    maliboo Peon

    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    Use something like myoffer.com/amazon and you're fine.
     
    maliboo, Mar 6, 2007 IP