Thoughts on Paid Amazon Services?

[Envision]

Hey,

Just checking in with you guys to see what your thoughts are on promotional amazon services such as Zonblast and AMZtracker?

I am releasing my first product on Amazon around the end of this week and intend on spiking the algorithm through the connections I have alreadt established but I have read alot about using these services.

I also went through all of my competitors reviews and they are using the same services (you can tell because it states , " I received this product at a discount for my honest review" I am concerned with this method although everyone is doing it.

1. Will Amazon one day say, we are removing everyone that has these types of reviews because they are not truly honest.

2. If i dont use it, how can I compete in such a way that I spike the velocity of sales/reviews like my competitors?

Thanks guys

 

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[marklov]

I don't know what those services are but anything centred around
gaming the system for easy wins wont be around long or is a suitable way
to build your business long term.

Dont think amazon and these other platforms don't know about these services lol.

You're just one executive decision away from losing everything

 

[Envision]

I don't know what those services are but anything centred around
gaming the system for easy wins wont be around long or is a suitable way
to build your business long term.

Dont fool yourself thinking amazon and these other platforms don't know about these services lol.

You're just one executive decision away from losing everything

It's all within the terms and conditions and everyone is using them Im just not sure if thats the way to go - @Vigilante do you have any experience with these?

 

[JasonR]

I don't know what those services are but anything centred around
gaming the system for easy wins wont be around long or is a suitable way
to build your business long term.

That's not necessarily true. Many businesses were built when it was easy to "game" SEO - and have had success long term. There is nothing wrong with exploiting a strategy - but you need to adapt as the system changes and grows. If you can't adapt, that's when you're left high and dry.

 

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[Chris Veal]

Hey,

Just checking in with you guys to see what your thoughts are on promotional amazon services such as Zonblast and AMZtracker?

I am releasing my first product on Amazon around the end of this week and intend on spiking the algorithm through the connections I have alreadt established but I have read alot about using these services.

I also went through all of my competitors reviews and they are using the same services (you can tell because it states , " I received this product at a discount for my honest review" I am concerned with this method although everyone is doing it.

1. Will Amazon one day say, we are removing everyone that has these types of reviews because they are not truly honest.

2. If i dont use it, how can I compete in such a way that I spike the velocity of sales/reviews like my competitors?

Thanks guys

I have given some of those reviews thru services like SnagShout.com. I try to be honest but probably, usually, am biased towards liking the product.
I understand your dilemma. I don't think you should be held accountable if someone else is dishonest. That is a question for your own morality and ethics.
However, if you feel ok using those services then Amazon removes them later have you really lost anything? nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[Vigilante]

It's all within the terms and conditions and everyone is using them Im just not sure if thats the way to go - @Vigilante do you have any experience with these?

I haven't used them. Our business gained momentum before this became a thing.

My observations :

1. It is sanctioned by Amazon currently. Before you do it though, make sure you research the hell out of it to ensure 100% compliance with every aspect of Amazon policy in that regard

2. Smart consumers see through it

3. Dumb consumers don't see through it

4. I have contacted Amazon's executive team several months ago asking them to eliminate it

5. If I had a new brand and an unknown, unranked product I would probably try it

6. I have competitors that have used it --- some successfully and some unsuccessfully. The bottom line is you still have to have a GREAT product. While the majority of the paid reviews will be favorable, once real customers start buying it they will hammer you and the other reviews if the product sucks.

I don't like it, but my own purist opinion doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. I am old school, and we built things the old school way which gives them a firmer foundation. If I had to start over again today, I might use those types of tools to circumvent the lengthy process of building a reputation the hard way.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I try to be honest but probably, usually, am biased towards liking the product.

That's because of the Benjamin Franklin effect... These companies know if they are giving away their products, or deeply discounting them, the reviewer will feel somewhat obligated to give a better than reality review.

 

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[Vigilante]

That's because of the Benjamin Franklin effect... These companies know if they are giving away their products, or deeply discounting them, the reviewer will feel somewhat obligated to give a better than reality review.

That was the basis for my complaint to Amazon.

Unless your product flat out SUCKS, you'll average 4**** - 5***** reviews when you give someone something they ask for --- for free.

 

[DrkSide]

I have used products like these in the past but dropped them all for 2 reasons.

1. The review quality that you get SUCKS. They are normally short reviews and most of them you can tell they didn't use the product.

2. Much better success and review quality when I ran a Facebook ad campaign to a landing page and got the customers email to send them a discount code.

You want to get your product in front of REAL CUSTOMERS not just a group that (for the most part) wants free stuff. You will also always have people reselling the items that they received.

 

[Envision]

I haven't used them. Our business gained momentum before this became a thing.

My observations :

1. It is sanctioned by Amazon currently. Before you do it though, make sure you research the hell out of it to ensure 100% compliance with every aspect of Amazon policy in that regard

2. Smart consumers see through it

3. Dumb consumers don't see through it

4. I have contacted Amazon's executive team several months ago asking them to eliminate it

5. If I had a new brand and an unknown, unranked product I would probably try it

6. I have competitors that have used it --- some successfully and some unsuccessfully. The bottom line is you still have to have a GREAT product. While the majority of the paid reviews will be favorable, once real customers start buying it they will hammer you and the other reviews if the product sucks.

I don't like it, but my own purist opinion doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. I am old school, and we built things the old school way which gives them a firmer foundation. If I had to start over again today, I might use those types of tools to circumvent the lengthy process of building a reputation the hard way.

This is exactly what I've been thinking as well. I guess my main concern is using a service like this due to the market saturation (in compliance with current Amazon rules and Amazon coming back to me in 8 months after changing this loophole and saying, "You used X service you are not allowed to sell with us because it is a form of manipulation".

I have used products like these in the past but dropped them all for 2 reasons.

1. The review quality that you get SUCKS. They are normally short reviews and most of them you can tell they didn't use the product.

2. Much better success and review quality when I ran a Facebook ad campaign to a landing page and got the customers email to send them a discount code.

You want to get your product in front of REAL CUSTOMERS not just a group that (for the most part) wants free stuff. You will also always have people reselling the items that they received.

You have two really good points and this doesn't always guarantee positive reviews or truthful reviews. The main reason I am entertaining the thought of using a service like this is to spike the algorithm to actually be seen by organic customers. I do have a FB page of about 9k people in my niche and I think I am going to test with a landing page/ fb ads before I go and use a service to gain sales.

That's because of the Benjamin Franklin effect... These companies know if they are giving away their products, or deeply discounting them, the reviewer will feel somewhat obligated to give a better than reality review.

It's true, I was reading through many of my competitor's reviews and they are so generic its painful to read and that's not something I want to do.

For reference what I am looking into using is AMZTracker. Not only does this allow you to gather reviews from people who want to review your product for a discount - it actually shows what their average rating is so you can accept or reject their offer.

It's got a couple other awesome perks like tracking competitor sales, metrics, and the best keywords.. Im not affiliated but my roommate uses it and I have discussed this a lot with him and he see's nothing wrong with it.

 

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[Vigilante]

Top level reviews (regardless of content) can drive overall impression, affect ranking, and cause people to buy. If an item has 50 5***** reviews, that might make the purchasing decision for the consumer, and they might never even read the reviews. That's what you are looking for using that model, so it really doesn't matter that the reviews are generic. You're after the star ranking, not necessarily the product commentary.

 

[Envision]

Top level reviews (regardless of content) can drive overall impression, affect ranking, and cause people to buy. If an item has 50 5***** reviews, that might make the purchasing decision for the consumer, and they might never even read the reviews. That's what you are looking for using that model, so it really doesn't matter that the reviews are generic. You're after the star ranking, not necessarily the product commentary.

Very true. When you release a product do you have a specific launch sequence you run or does the base of your brand/company carry the product out and gather organic sales from the get-go?