At BigRated.com, we're all about transparency and making sure you're in the know about everything we do. This includes how we generate income. So, let's talk about affiliate links, especially those through Amazon. If you're wondering what an affiliate link is and how it works, you've come to the right place. I’ll break it all down for you in simple, easy-to-understand terms.
What is Amazon Affiliate Marketing?
Amazon's affiliate program, also called Amazon Associates, allows us to earn a small commission when you click on one of our Amazon links and make a purchase. It’s Amazon’s way of saying “thanks” for helping connect you with products you might like. It doesn’t cost you anything extra. Whether you buy through our link or go straight to Amazon, the price remains exactly the same for you.
Here's a quick breakdown:
- Affiliate link: A special URL that tracks clicks and purchases from our website.
- Commission: A small percentage of the sale that goes to us as a reward.
- No additional cost: You won’t pay a penny more than the original product price.
How Does This Affect You?
It really doesn’t. The beauty of affiliate links is that you get the exact same shopping experience on Amazon, but with the added bonus of knowing that you're supporting BigRated.com without spending anything extra. Your trust is crucial to us, so we only link to products we believe in.
Why Do We Use Affiliate Links?
Affiliate links are one way we can keep BigRated.com free and continue delivering helpful content to you. It covers the cost of running the site, paying for web hosting, and creating the reviews, guides, and other content you enjoy.
Here's a table to summarize how affiliate links work:
| Action | What Happens |
|---|---|
| You click an Amazon link | You are redirected to Amazon’s website. |
| You purchase a product | We earn a small commission. |
| Your cost | Stays the same – no extra charge for using the affiliate link. |
| Our benefit | Helps keep BigRated.com running with no extra cost to you. |
Do Affiliate Links Influence Our Recommendations?
Absolutely not! Honesty and integrity are at the core of what we do. We only recommend products we genuinely believe will bring value to you. While we might earn a commission if you buy something through our links, we never allow that to influence our product reviews. Our goal is always to recommend the best products—whether we earn a commission or not.
When Do We Use Amazon Affiliate Links?
We use Amazon affiliate links in several types of content:
- Product reviews: When we review a product and find it worth recommending, we'll include an affiliate link to the exact item.
- Buying guides: Our curated lists of top products often feature Amazon links so you can easily purchase items we’ve vetted.
- How-to articles: If we mention a specific product in a tutorial, you'll find a link to it in case you're interested in buying.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
So here’s our official Amazon Affiliate Disclosure:
BigRated.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
This means every time you buy something on Amazon through one of our links, we earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this site running, and we appreciate your support.
Is My Information Safe?
Yes! When you click on an affiliate link and purchase an item, Amazon handles everything, including the transaction, shipping, and customer service. We don’t have access to any of your personal or payment information. Rest assured, your data is safe.
Benefits of Using Affiliate Links
You might be wondering, "What’s in it for me?" Well, besides getting easy access to the best products, using our affiliate links can have a few indirect perks:
- Convenience: We’ve done the hard work of finding quality products, so you don’t have to waste time searching.
- Support for the site: Without paying anything extra, you’re helping us continue to provide valuable content.
- Exclusive deals: Sometimes, we might partner with brands to bring you exclusive discounts or promotions through affiliate links.
Things to Keep in Mind
There are a few things to remember when it comes to Amazon affiliate links:
- We don’t set the prices: Amazon controls all product pricing, and we have no say in price changes or promotions.
- Cookies are used: When you click on an affiliate link, a cookie is placed in your browser to track your purchase. This cookie typically lasts for 24 hours.
- Not all links are affiliate links: Some links on our site may just be regular links. We’re not earning from every link you click on.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens if I return the product?
If you return a product you purchased through our affiliate link, we don’t earn the commission. Amazon will reverse the commission once the return is processed.
2. Do I pay more by using an affiliate link?
Nope! You pay exactly the same price as if you went directly to Amazon. The commission comes out of Amazon's cut, not your wallet.
3. How can I tell if a link is an affiliate link?
Affiliate links are usually trackable and contain some unique identifiers. But don’t worry; we’ll always let you know when a link is an affiliate link in our content.
4. Are all products on BigRated.com linked to Amazon?
Not necessarily. We might recommend products from other retailers too, but Amazon is our main affiliate partner.
How Can You Support Us?
If you love the content on BigRated.com and want to support us, the best thing you can do is use our affiliate links whenever you're shopping on Amazon. It's a win-win situation: You get great product recommendations, and we get to keep delivering awesome content without charging you a dime.
Feel free to bookmark any of our product pages or even this page for future Amazon shopping trips. Every purchase helps, no matter how small!
Final Thoughts
We believe in being 100% transparent with our audience. Using affiliate links helps us continue to provide the high-quality, useful content you expect, without cluttering the site with annoying ads or paid reviews. We appreciate every click and every purchase made through our links—it’s what keeps us going.
Thank you for supporting BigRated.com. Happy shopping!