Using PHP with Amazon AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) allows you to access Amazon's product data database, reformat the content, and display it directly on your website. AWS allows you to easily create your own online store, or themed bookstore (see sample).

 

Using Amazon’s AWS, you and Amazon can expand to any website - enabling your visitors to browse and search Amazon’s products. Best of all, you’re not restricted to just linking to the Amazon.com website. The Amazon Web Service lets your PHP web applications make queries to the huge database of products at Amazon and extract as much information as you need. The information you get in your application is exactly the same that is available on the Amazon website at that instant. The Amazon Web Service returns data in real-time, and updates automagically.

 

There are other PHP Amazon AWS scripts and tutorials available, however ours is a straightforward modification of several existing freely available applications with some simple, yet powerful enhancements. Download and see the README for information. No database required, just a standard PHP install, and an Apache web server that supports .htaccess and mod_rewrite.

 

This setup requires a Apache web server that supports mod_rewrite in order for the URL's to be SE friendly. If your setup doesn't allow this, you'll need to modify the URLs to use standard query string (e.g. .php?id=123 ).

 

Alternately, you may want to make some minor changes using our tutorial on Google and dynamic content, instead of the mod_rewrite method which we use to make things SE-friendly. Hopefully, the default setup should easily work on most PHP hosts.

 

Of course, you will need to register for an AWS subscription ID.

 

Here are some ways in which you can utilize PHP Amazon AWS script from Small Planet Online with your website:

 

Create your own niche website (using your totally customized design) listing specific Amazon products with all information, customer reviews and related products. The BUY buttons on these pages can be linked with Amazon using your Associate ID.

 

One of the major benefits to Amazon Associates is the ability to display latest ratings, reviews, product descriptions, prices and availability. With Amazon Web Services, you can have your site visitor better informed which in turn will lead to a wholesome and rewarding buying experience.

 

It can be used with a variety of development platforms, allowing for seamless integration.

 

Download our script, modify the head.php and foot.php files to match the layout of your site, "tweak" your .htaccess file, and you’re set.... for an example of what this should look like, see the Small Planet Online PHP bookstore here. You'll want to browse Amazon by category and determine the category ID (browse node) for your bookstore; it's the number after /browse/-/ in the URL. For example, if I browse down to Books > Subjects > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical, you'll see that the URL is:

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/2376/ref=....

 

I put the "browse node" in bold. You're better off with a small node that themes tightly with your website.