Your own Amazon Store
If you are using Amazon’s affiliate program to add products to your site or if you want to create an online store for your site there is now an easy way. Associate-o-matic is a php application built for amazon associates. Below is an outline of the installation and set up process
1) download the file from associate-o-matic.com (Also register with Amazon’s associates program if you haven’t already).
2) unzip the files to your local hard drive. view the read me file for a link to AOM install instructions.
3) ftp the files to your server - set the chmod settings per the instructions
4) Using your browser open the admin.php page. Here you can customize the look of your store to match your site. You will need to get the Node-Ids from Amazon for specific product categories. You can find these at Amazon in the URL for the products you search for or get some help at www.browsenodes.com.
5) Add the link to your new store. example: yoursite.com/shop.php
6) Market your site and new store.
On a scale of 1-5 this is about a 3 providing you are familiar with ftp, basic html, color, and are willing to play with the various colors and limitations of the admin panel. The advanced user can add CSS style sheets but some items can not be controlled due to coding within the page creators. The cost of the license is only $99 or you can download a free lite version which takes 1 out of 10 of your sales. (Buy the license).
How can you use an Amazon Store?
Let’s imagine you have a love of outdoor life and spend your free time kayaking. You even write a blog about great kayak locations in a geographical area. The Amazon store would allow you to offer Books, videos, and other products related to your favorite sport. Your readers shop with you and you get a commission from Amazon.
You are not limited to books, you can sell any products, even used and collectible items, Amazon offers. There are even additional boxes if you want to add links to other information or products from other affiliates. One might even be tempted to ad adsense banners or adboxes.
The program comes with 4 prebuilt layouts and even 1 that allow you to insert your own HTML. Most of the colors can be edited, and even the position of some boxes can be controlled left or right.
If you have been wanting to create an online business or add a shopping cart to your site, this is a relatively easy method. You can not add your own products unless you add them to Amazon.com. If you want help adding a store to your site I offer my services as a consultant and developer using associate-o-matic or other applications.
You can see a working application I have built at biz-story.com
