Cash back from Amazon: Smile vs. affiliate links

Amazon Smile is a program that allows Amazon shoppers to designate a certain 501(c)(3) non-profit and have ½% of their purchases go to that org. It’s certainly a nice sentiment, but there are a few things wrong with it:

1. People need to remember to go to smile.amazon.com in order for it to work. If they forget and order on the regular Amazon site, the non-profit won't get the money.
2. They only pay out ½% to non-profits vs. ~4–6% for affiliates.
3. Amazon is the entity making the donation, so they get the tax credit for it and the non-profit only sees Amazon as the donor. No matter how much a particular person generates through Smile, the non-profit will never know their name or magnitude of their contribution.

The savvy non-profit is a member of the Amazon Affiliate program, and they encourage their supporters to use their affiliate ID rather than Smile. It will generate nearly 10✕ the money for your org.

To be sure that every single order they make benefits you, you should create a help page that shows them exactly how to install an Amazon affiliate extension for their browser (like these for Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari) and add your org’s affiliate code.

Update: I’ve learned that if Amazon feels you are earning "too much" from your affiliate link, or if you are marketing it too heavily, Amazon can cancel your affiliate account. Best bet is to judiciously reach out to a few donors and get them to use your affiliate link, but for the masses push the Smile program. 

Also, don't forget that you can get 5% back for your org by getting a Prime credit card.

Comments

[p rab]

we received a take down notice from amazon affilates:

-You are using Content or Special Links, or otherwise linking to the Amazon Site, on, or in connection with, a browser plug-in, toolbar, extension, or other client-side software.

that seems to be counter to your recommendation for a browser extension.

[Dave Cortright]

Yes, it used to work but Amazon appears to be cracking down. One workaround you can try is to put up affiliate links on a page of your site and then direct supports to go through there. Adds more steps, but worthwhile for larger items.

[Lizzi]

Perhaps because the affiliate link was used in email? Specifically not allowed.