I love SixApart and everything they do so I’m not sure if I’m bitching about this, or disapointed, or just noticing but when reading Blork’s (excellent by the way) post this morning I clicked on the link to Amazon that he had included and realized something. There’s an associate number in the link and it’s for SixApart!
Amazon has an associate program where you can register you site and get a little kickback every time someone clicks on links from your site (if you’ve built the links for that) and buys the book/cd/dvd. I’ve been doing that for a while in the hopes of paying for a bit of the hosting cost but considering my somewhat limited traffic and the fact I rarely review books, mostly just link them on the right, I’ve had… microscopic returns.
I’m wondering, does Typepad use the SixApart ID by default when you don’t fill in your own or do they ask? I’m sure it’s the former but I thought I’d check. The reason I mention it though is that Typepad is a paying service, isn’t it a bit weird that they are adding revenue based on your traffic without asking? They could have simply put a standard link in there. Anyway, to those linking a lot of books in Typepad, you might want to take the time to get your own ID. Although… you could always leave it as is, to pay for my free use of Movable Type, another SixApart offering ;).
7 Comments
Yeah, by default, the ID is set to sixapart. You can change that very easily in the Profile tab of your TypePad Control Panel. You can also add all your IM client addresses, boatloads of information really, which I suppose you can reveal or not simply by using MT tags.
I was aware that Six Apart would get the revenue. It bothers me that (as far as I know) I don’t have the option of setting it with my ID, as the link is generated automatically. On the other hand, TypePad is new and probably not yet rolling in dough, so I don’t begrudge them whatever extra revenue they can get. Particularly because, like you, any benefit I would see would be microscopic.
Oh jeez, I just noticed AJ’s post that says I can easily change it. Well, there you go! (But I won’t bother…)
Six Apart has VC investors. Ben, Mena and Anil probably aren’t kajillionaires yet, but they’re not starving either…
So,Ed, you might as well give yourself a hand and put in your Amazon Associates ID – they’re not paying your mortgage, are they? :)
No, but frankly, I like the work they’ve done and they can have the 15¢ a year that I generate for them. Especially since I never use Amazon. OK, I did once, this past Xmas, but only because I couldn’t find the CD I was looking for anywhere else.
I dunno, maybe I’ll set it up. They only link to Amazon.com. Can I transfer points from there to Amazon.ca?
I don’t think you can switch it from one to the other although I haven’t tried it. I’m wayyyyy away from enough points to buy a book so I haven’t looked at all that many details.
ah, the amazon affiliate program. trust, any VC who thinks they’ve got a worthwhile exit coming up for a business based around amazon affiliate clicks can say au revoir to their money…