Contents
- Overview
- Methodology
- Examples
- The Visualisation
- Associates
- Registriation
- How it works
- Disclaimer
- Press
Overview
Figure 1
This is a beta version of amascore, a robust scoring algorithm for book searches based on customer reviews. The scoring algorithm will present your search results in a better, more reliable ordering. The score is visualized together with a confidence interval which represents the reliability of the score. In contrast to search engines like Google you should phrase your search such that it generates many (>20) results.
Methodology
The amascore server calculates a score for each book bases on a diversity of data, e.g.
- Customer reviews
- Reliability of customer reviews
- Popularity
- Age (as an optional criteria)
In addition to the score itself the reliability of the score (confidence interval) is given. In general: The higher the score the better the book, the smaller the confidence interval the more reliable the judgement.
The amascore methodology is superior to the calculation of a simple mean customer review and results in much more reliable assessment of the book, see Figure 1.
Examples
The relative scoring is particularly effective if the keyword search returns many result. The keyword thus should be not too restrictive. Examples for "broad" keyword searches are:
- What are the best books by Franz Kafka?
- What are the best books by John Steinbeck?
- What are the best books on Java?
- What are the best books on Cooking?
- What are the best books by Charles Bukowski?
The Visualisation
Figure 3
Figure 2
The Score
The score is visualized together with a confidence interval (reliability of the score) within a horizontal bar. The level of the score is additionally represented by colors, where green denotes a high scoring and red denoted a low scoring book, see Figure 2.
The Score-Price-Space
The results may be visualizen in a diagram showing price against score, see Figure 3. This diagram allows you to find the best book for a given budget.
Associates
If you participate in Amazon's Associates Program and link to an amascore search (using a HTML link or HTML form) we allow for setting your tracking ID in approx. every second link on the result page. We will use your tracking ID for the links of products on even places 2, 4, 6 and so on.
We reserve the right to change or end the described functionality without notice.
The assocates program is in beta testing. The actual functionality may differ from this description. The service is offered "as is". During beta testing (and possibly beyond) we generate the result page with a higher percentage of your tracking IDs, currently 100%.
Registration
You are registrated by using this service, ie. by transmitting your Amazon tracking ID as described in Section "How it works". By this you have implicitly accepted the Disclaimer below.
How it works
The URL for Queries is www.amascore.de/query.jsp. The keywords have to be set by a parameter named keywords, e.g. like www.amascore.de/query.jsp?keywords=Java. To transmit your Amazon tracking ID you have to append it as additional parameters named as following:
| Store | Parameter Name |
|---|---|
| amazon.com | amazonPartnerID_com |
| amazon.de | amazonPartnerID_de |
| amazon.co.uk | amazonPartnerID_uk |
You may also transmit your trackng IDs to be used in the HTML form on the amascore home page. Just append the above parameters to www.amascore.com/index.jsp (see also the examples below).
Examples
The following examples use tracking IDs amascore-21, amascore-20 and amascore-20b for amazon.de, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk respectively.
Link to a Query
- HTML Code
- <a href="http://www.amascore.de/query.jsp?keywords=Java&amazonPartnerID_de=amascore-21&amazonPartnerID_com=amascore-20&amazonPartnerID_uk=amascore-20b">Die besten Java Bücher</a>
- Result
- Die besten Java Bücher
HTML Form for a Query
- HTML Code
- <form action="http://www.amascore.de/query.jsp" method="get" name="search">
amascore search:
<input type="text" name="keywords" size="40">
<input type="hidden" name="amazonPartnerID_de" value="amascore-21">
<input type="hidden" name="amazonPartnerID_com" value="amascore-20">
<input type="hidden" name="amazonPartnerID_uk" value="amascore-20b">
<input type="submit" name="submitButton" value="Search">
</form>
- Result
Home Page
- HTML Code
- <a href="http://www.amascore.de/index.jsp?amazonPartnerID_de=amascore-21&amazonPartnerID_com=amascore-20&amazonPartnerID_uk=amascore-20b">Amazon Keyword Search Scoring (amascore)</a>
- Result
- Amazon Keyword Search Scoring (amascore)
Disclaimer
We reserve the right to change or end the described functionality without notice and we do not guarantee the availability of this service. We will not be liable for indirect, special, or consequential damages (or any loss of revenue, profits, or data) arising in connection with this service, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. We make no express or implied warranties or representations with respect to the Program or any products sold through the Program. In addition, we make no representation that the operation of the amascore.com, amascore.de, amascore.co.uk Site will be uninterrupted or error-free, and we will not be liable for the consequences of any interruptions or errors.