The missing link

[leerob]

I know it's suppose to be a no-brainer. You just select the html code from the advertiser, copy, highlight the text within your blog, click the chain link, paste the code, select open in a new window, click insert, et voila, zee case is solved. Except it didn't work. What now? Anyone? Anyone?

[IMStrong]

I know it's suppose to be a no-brainer. You just select the html code from the advertiser, copy, highlight the text within your blog, click the chain link, paste the code, select open in a new window, click insert, et voila, zee case is solved. Except it didn't work. What now? Anyone? Anyone?
The mistake you made here is pasting HTML code where only the affiliate URL should go.

[ishabluebell]

The mistake you made here is pasting HTML code where only the affiliate URL should go.

The problem is that Amazon give you HTML code and not a straight affiliate URL. I get it by going to the Amazon page I want to link to, then clicking on the strip at the top where it says "Link to this page". And Amazon then give me a *very* long piece of HTML code.

Is there another way to do it?

I'd prefer not to use the HTML version for posting to my blog because basically I don't know what I'm doing - I'm completely new to HTML.

[IMStrong]

I am an Amazon affiliate. I have not used the strip yet.
Can you PM me the html code? I have ways of getting workable links out.

[ishabluebell]

I got a friend to get the "workable links" out (good name for them), but the issue is that there's other stuff in the code that I think is to do with Amazon's tracking.

My problem at least partly stems from the fact that Amazon's picture is a stupid size for where I want to put it in the post, so I've resized it. The result is that I can't use Amazon's link to their picture.

If anyone comes along who can explain how I could use their code but resize the picture, or anything else that would have the same effect, I'd be interested to read that. There might be a way I can do it without the strip, but the way it's shown in the 30dc training video seems to have changed.

Meanwhile, my picture link leads to the correct page and has my tracking ID in there somewhere, so I *think* it would be ok.

Anyway I have no traffic so it's not a great issue yet :D

PS I originally posted to explain what leerob's problem might be. I thought that there might be quite a few of us having the same problem.

[IMStrong]

If my recollection serves me, you can pretty much customize your Amazon widgets inside the Affiliate area.

[ishabluebell]

Perhaps it's changed. The Widgets area offers 15 standard widgets, all of which use Amazon's own images. There's no customization of the product photos in there.

What I want is the ability to link to Amazon's pages using my own photos.

In the Links and Banners area you get exactly the same options as you get with the stripe, so that's no good either. They like to make out that you can customize but that's just a wee exaggeration - they always link to their photo of the product. I need to find out how I can do it myself.

:D

[cincheville]

I'm still floundering myself with building my site, but I saw how this was done in Ed Dale's 30 Day Challenge Day 4. It gives you a free website to do the resizing of your image, picnik.com
Hope this helps.

[IMStrong]

What I want is the ability to link to Amazon's pages using my own photos.

:D

All you need isw the affiliate link. The page the customer goes to after clicking the link. You first put your photo in and then add the link to it.

[ishabluebell]

All you need isw the affiliate link. The page the customer goes to after clicking the link. You first put your photo in and then add the link to it.

That's what I did Roy, but as I said, it means that some of the info that's in the html is lost that way.

I saw how this was done in Ed Dale's 30 Day Challenge Day 4. It gives you a free website to do the resizing of your image, picnik.com
Hope this helps.

Cincheville, I have no problem resizing my image. I can do that standing on my head. My problem is to do with the fact that I would not then be using Amazon's html that they expressly ask me to use.

[beebee17]

I entered the link to my affiliate on Friday it was working. When I looked at it on Sunday it was gone. My click opened to a new blank window. Any suggestions.
I entered the information a second time. The link took me into my affiliate. A little later I'm getting the blank window again.

[WildAmbitions]

My problem is to do with the fact that I would not then be using Amazon's html that they expressly ask me to use.

If you have your affiliate link, that is all you need. You do not have to use the Amazon photo link. ALL the code that you need and that Amazon needs for correct tracking is the part that has your affiliate information in it; the "workable link" as you called it. Trust me, that is all you need, just like Roy said... no pertinent html code is lost.

[lognor8]

I am only on day 7 of the challenge so I don't know if putting the link in manually has been covered this year. As WildAmbitions said, you don't need all of the code. Just a portion. They showed you how to do this last year.....here's the vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVLwRCfq7B4

Amazon has changed the page layout from last year but you should be able to follow along.

Hope this helps.