Hi, a little help for total newbie here please. I filled out the application to join the Amazon Associates program, but the day after Amazon wrote me that my application was refused because the website URL contained the word 'Kindle'. I did not know that it was not allowed, I was just trying to build a niche website. I thought it was allowed because there are many websites out there with the word 'Kindle' which are full of Amazon ads. One of these sites (with Kindle in the URL) has even been sold on Flippa for $800 with attached the revenue sheets from Amazon as a proof! I do not understand why there are affiliate websites with Amazon-related trademark words in the URL yet my application has been refused.
The amazon approval process is fairly basic. They just ask for one website and providing that has no trademarks, you will get accepted. So try again with a different URL, and if you want to promote the "kindle" url then do so. Keep in mind however that using potentially copyrighted URLs can open a can of worms. I have got away with one for a few years but it could quite easily be taken away by the company themselves or, potentially worse, Amazon could take action and freeze your affiliate account.
Thanks! So if one feeds them a generic website just to get approved and then do whatever he/she wants, don't they see where the clicks (amazon-trademark-domain-name.com) come from? A bit silly really, but ok for me... As far as trademarks in the name, I understand the risks, then again, the biggest kindle community for example, kindleboards.com, is 40k on Alexa and PR4 on Google....
As already mentioned above, you run the risk of getting your account closed for using a URL with trademarked name in it. There are lots of affiliates who register with another site but later get a new domain but start advertising on that as well (with trademark in the name). These affiliates, however, would notice that their click through could be high, but the conversions are always low. Any product sold through trademarked ULRs do not count - simple. I would suggest you also read up on their Terms Of Service. Good luck
yea that sucks. We all have found some great domains but one keyword trademarked and then you take a risk host it invest time and then end up getting it taken away. That sucks lol. Good luck on a new domain
Yes, you can actually just use any website address (of a domain that you own) and you should get approved. I would just reapply but take out the Kindle domain and put in something else. When I first applied, all I had was a personal website that I did about my own horses. I think they just didn't like using one of their trademarked items in your domain. And as already mentioned, it can lead to big problems. Good luck and let us know how you made out.
I'd guess that Kindleboards got some special exception from Amazon after they were big enough. Imagine going to Kindleboards.com and seeing ads all over it for the Barnes and Noble and Sony readers and e-books...