Amazon have just emailed those testing their aStore to let them know of three ways to integrate it into their website.
1. Link to your aStore as a stand-alone store (this is what they were offering previously and is as simple as having a link (like this) to your aStore.
2. Embed your aStore using an inline frame – where it will appear as though the aStore is a part of your site and they can shop without leaving your shop (as in the picture above/left).
3. Integrate your aStore using a frameset – placing the aStore in one frame and your site’s navigation into another – also making it seem like it’s part of your site (below).
Instructions for each method are in the ‘get link’ section of the aStore menu.
It’s nice to see Amazon taking their stores in this direction – it answers a lot of the concerns expressed by publishers when they were announced.
Thanks for the update, Darren. After your first post about it, where someone else had embedded it into their site, I decided to go for it myself, and by the time I got there, they had the iframe option. Works beautifully in wordpress sites when not using the WYSIWYG editor (turn it off!).
I love this new option from Amazon, and set up an aStore for one of my niche sites. The only thing that bothers me is that it seems you can only have one aStore per account. I have several niche sites that I would love to use this on… but I’m not seeing the option to set up different stores. At the moment I am stuck just setting up one…
I just set up a store for one of my sites and it look wonderfull. With a 4-6% commission it is hard to make serious money, but I don’t mind promoting via free means for an extra few hundred a month.
The site can tie in nice as a link from a blog. Already in 3 days I’ve seen increased actuvity and few sales.
This is great!
and I am the one who said that Amazon would never go for this!
I guess the went for the “embrace” option.
Tried it out at my site and I think it works out well at first glance. I made a separete PAGE with only the bookstore to try it out.
http://gaijindo.com/blog/bookstore
It is nice to see that Amazon seems to listening to some of the feedback. When I created my store, the standard link was the only option and that is what I am still using.
I’ll need to test the iframe version out and see if that will fit well within my WordPress theme. It might require some customization to make everything fit properly. It should be fun to test out the different options though to see what works the best.
I’m a new reader to your site Darren, very informative. I just tested this Amazon estore with my teaching English in Korea blog on Blogger. I only have a link to the store though. Keep the posts coming, cheers.
Gdog
My new choice: Yes it can be a problem to fit the amazon store in your wp theme. I made a separate template for the PAGE where I have my bookstore where I took out both of the sidebar and just fitted the store,
Kris, I was actually thinking of doing the same thing with my WP theme as opposed to trying to fit it in my current page template. On my site, I was thinking of removing my two vertical bars to have just the content area. Although I guess that isn’t too different than just having the page the way I have it now.
I will check out your site to take a look at how you have it integrated. Thanks for the comment.
Kris .. that’s a good idea .. You should blog about how you did that!
*nudge,nudge say no more* … I’m in the same position .. having 3 column templates and this aStore just doesn’t fit if you have the 9 featured products and sidebars.
Thanks in advance (hopefully!)
For publishers who have several niche sites. It is easy as 123 to open several different stores with only one amazon account. You have to be a little creative. Visit my aStore and get lots of ideas for your aStore. Notice my site opens in the Cell Phones & Service. And look at the menu. Got questions blip me at my blog.
Dear Darren
I want to start a niche blog. It is pretty academic and related to my discipline. Iwoud like to us both Google (for their depth) and AStore (for their specificity eg: books, equipment etc..). Could I use both of them on my blog? Is there a conflict of interest?
hi,
I am thinking of starting a niche blog. It is pretty academic and related to my discipline. Iwoud like to us both Google (for their depth) and AStore (for their specificity eg: books, equipment etc..). Could I use both of them on my blog? Is there a conflict of interest?
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I am thinking of starting a niche blog. It is pretty academic and related to my discipline. Iwoud like to us both Google (for their depth) and AStore (for their specificity eg: books, equipment etc..). Could I use both of them on my blog? Is there a conflict of interest?
Glad this post is still open for comments… Does anyone know how to get more than 9 books per page?
There is 4th way: give your aStore own domain name and customize its appearance using simple html templates at Storebrander free on-line service.
This is a late post as this thread started several years ago but was wondering if anyone is actually making money from an aStore. I was thinking about starting one to complement my bbq ribs blog and / or even just as a source for backlinks.