Amazon.com Wishlist UI

Amazon.com recently announced the release of their new browser plug-in that acts as a universal wishlist.  While this isn’t an in depth analysis of the plug-in, I thought the user UI used to explain how to install the plug-in was worth mentioning.  While most early-adapters are very familiar to browser plug-ins, average users will find plug-ins confusing to install.

Image representing Amazon as depicted in Crunc...
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Amazon uses a simple process to make installation of their browser plug-in easy for users to understand. Instead of supplying a number of instructions for all the browsers that can use the new plug-in, Amazon uses a simple java script code to read what browser the viewer is using and then just display the instructions for that browser.

Brilliant customer service and use of technology.

Firefox Instructions

Firefox Instructions

Internet Explorer Instructions

Internet Explorer Instructions

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Amazon’s Askville Duplicate Answers

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Image via CrunchBase

What happens if you ask “Cheapest place to buy Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter” on Amazon.com’s website Askville?

If the response is positive (and most likely from an Amazon staff member), then the answer will be duplicated to all network adapters that support XBOX 360.

We noticed this interesting Amazon SEO propagation researching in-bound links from Google Webmaster Tools.

The identical post followed by the Askville results.

Amazon Askville Duplicated "Answer"

Amazon Askville Duplicated

I’m pretty amazed at the technology Amazon must be running to propagate ads like this based on a long tail keyword linking that links so many products. I would love to know if its category based, tagged, or if its based on organic or internal search results and indexing.

http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=AIR+PCI352+Wireless+Aironet+Adapter+11Mbps
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=AIR+PCM352+Wireless+Aironet+Adapter+11Mbps
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=AIRLINK+100Mbps+NETWORK+ADAPTER+PCI
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=ATT+Wireless+enhance+3G+network
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Air+compressors+manufacturer+supplier
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Airport+Ready+Wireless+Internet+Network+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Belkin+wireless+network+adapter+work
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Cheapest+place+buy+Solberg+FS+10+050+Miniature+Filter+Silencer+Breather+Compressors+Blowers
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Compaq+310488+B21+Serial+Network+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=EtherPower+SMC9432VFL+Network+Adapter+SMC
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=GW+US54Mini2W+Wireless+designed+Adapter+PLANEX
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=HP+Buys+Wireless+Network
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=HP+Network+adapter+Channel+Fibre
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=HP+decided+buy+wireless+network
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=IBM+10Base+T+Network+adapter+PCI
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=IEEE802+11g+GW+US54GXS+Wireless+designed+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Linksys+Instant+Gigabit+Network+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Linksys-WUSB300N-Wireless-N-USB-Network-Adapter-Xbox-360-Router-WRT150N-Wireless
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Myricom+Myrinet+Network+adapter+PCI+X
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=NWD+170N+ZyXEL+Network+adapter+CardBus
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Network+Adapter+Intel+1000+PRO
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Pokemon+FireRed+W+Wireless+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=PowerLine+Linksys+Network+Adapter+PLE300
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Powerline+NETGEAR+Network+Adapter+XE103
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Robotics+Wireless+Adapter+USR5417+U+S
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=SANblade+QLA2212F+QLogic+Network+adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Tachlite+HP+Network+adapter+Channel
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Technology+Hawking+PN102TX+Network+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Tire+Gauges+Compressors+Porsche%C2%AE+Parts+Porsche
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=WL110+Wireless+Pccard+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Wireless+150N+Hawking+Hi+Gain+Network+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Wireless+N+RangeMax+WNDA3100+Adapter+Dual
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Wireless+Netgear+Network+Adapter+WN311T
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Wireless+SNC+M3W+Network+Camera+Audio
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Wireless+g+Adapter+Module+Strip+Mount
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=XBOX+360+ELITE+ADAPTER
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Xbox+360+Wireless+Network+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Xbox+360+Wireless+Racing+Wheel
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Xbox+RF+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=Zonet+ZEW2500P+network+adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=designed+cowboy+shop+silk+scarves+product+shown
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=difference-air-compressors
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=extend-distance-wireless-network
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=find+high+quality+air+compressors+affordable+price
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=find-product-manuals-shop-force-air-compressors
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=included+dress+shop+hop+jc+product+shown
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=notebook-network-adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=put-usb-adapter-xbox-360-free-wireless-internet
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=recent+happenings+HP+Buys+Wireless+Network
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=recommend+buy+Xbox+360+Wireless+Network+Adapter
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=strongest-wireless-adapter-market
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=wireless+Network+unavailable++locate+signal
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=wireless+network+increasingly+unavailable+poor+consumers
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=wirless–G-network-hard-switch-wireless-N
http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=xbox+live+360+wireless+internet
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Amazon, Best Holiday Season Ever

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In article in the Los Angeles Times, Amazon.com once again touted its best year ever.  Amazon attributed there high holiday sales to increase in orders.  Orders rose 17% to 6.3 million items, while shipments rose to 5.6 million units, up 44%.  What is missing from Amazons carefully crafted press release is a corresponding revenue amount or average order value. Without these metrics it is difficult to tell how profitable the holiday shopping season was for Amazon.

In a May 2008, Fortune magazine article, How Jeff Bezos Rules the Retail Space, there’s an interesting graph entitled Building a Retail Powerhouse. The graph shows Amazon’s growth and success throughout their history. It took Amazon six years to finally turn a profit. In 2000 alone, Amazon recorded sales of $2.762 billion and total losses of $1.411 billion. in 2007, sales were $14.815 billion and profit was $476 million.  Any backward slide for Amazon.com’s profitability would be disasterious for a company whose total stock valuation is double Wal-Marts.

Fortune Article

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