Yep...that's what the experts say - just find an audience hungry to buy a product, and supply them with that product. Heh!
Who is this audience?
Where can they be reached efficiently?
What do they want? Something new? Something they already buy?
How are others selling to these folks
Why will this audience want this product?
Kudos to Ken Pruess for the above guidelines of the Warrior Forum!
So...how do we find these things out?
Check out forums around the thing the audience wants...or around the audience itself
Yahoo Answers, questions/concerns raised in forums.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
It seems like the name of the game is creativity - find that way to market a program that others haven't thought of yet, and work it work it work it.
The problem - once enough people find out about a new method, especially the easier ones - the less lucrative they become. Take articles for example.
There probably was a time when article marketing was the best, per this ad:
So, when you find an affiliate program that looks interesting enough to you, think about creative ways to get eyeballs on it. Eyeballs connected to a person who will take the action to get you paid.
It's not enough to get a click (unless you find a coveted pay per click instead of the more typical pay per action). But that's another story altogether.
The problem - once enough people find out about a new method, especially the easier ones - the less lucrative they become. Take articles for example.
There probably was a time when article marketing was the best, per this ad:
Article Marketing is By Far the BestArticle marketing is still probably lucrative, if you're already a professional ad copy writer.
I won´t go into all of these methods because it would take too long. But I will focus on one particular method – article marketing. Article marketing is the best affiliate marketing method because it allows you to utilize your talents as a writer using powerful keyword phrases, and at the same time you pay absolutely nothing. There are some guidelines you need to follow in order to become a successful article marketer. The first thing is, never sell in your article. Your article writing should be informative. Articles that merely put lots of links in them are called SPAM. Also, people want information about things online. The last thing they want is to be "sold" on something. The key is to sell in a way that is not obvious. First you pick your topic. Then you pick your audience, and then you research your keywords. Keyword research is very important. There is a science to it. It´s not hard at all, but you do need a keyword research guide so that you pick phrases that people are actually searching for. Once you´ve picked a couple of keyword phrases, you´ll want to write your article around those keywords but in such a way that the article reads fluidly.
So, when you find an affiliate program that looks interesting enough to you, think about creative ways to get eyeballs on it. Eyeballs connected to a person who will take the action to get you paid.
It's not enough to get a click (unless you find a coveted pay per click instead of the more typical pay per action). But that's another story altogether.
PR: 
LD: 
I: 
Rank: 
CY: 
I: 
YCat: 
I: 
Top: 
I: 
C: 
Monday, April 6, 2009
Finding decent affiliate programs to join
I found a neat tool call affspy.com.
It's basically an affiliate program aggregator - they find programs, do some research, and show the networks offering the programs.
Why is this helpful - many affiliate network list sites don't update their data, and you end up finding programs that just don't exist any more - very frustrating.
It's basically an affiliate program aggregator - they find programs, do some research, and show the networks offering the programs.
Why is this helpful - many affiliate network list sites don't update their data, and you end up finding programs that just don't exist any more - very frustrating.
Affiliate Marketing Isn't Tough...If You're Willing To Work At It
I'm amazed at the successful folks who are willing to share their insights into affiliate marketing.
I almost said "secret" to affiliate marketing, but it appears there aren't any...it's all common sense stuff you already know.
Just sell lots of what other people want to buy.
Here's some inspiration from Chris:
I almost said "secret" to affiliate marketing, but it appears there aren't any...it's all common sense stuff you already know.
Just sell lots of what other people want to buy.
Here's some inspiration from Chris:
At 23, I earn a passive (and growing) six-figure income from affiliate marketing, and I do it while travelling the world with my wife.
I’m not being braggy or arrogant, though. I fully realize that shit can, and does hit the fan once in a while. Even the “top dogs” can face-plant every now and then.
And I’m not “above” starting over if need be - but what I can say, with confidence, is that even if that happens - what I’ve learned over the past 9 months will always empower me with the ability to create a truly amazing amount of passive profit from the internet marketplace - in any economic state, and regardless of “trends”. What a crazy thing…
I’m going to tell you what I’ve learned - what I’ve discovered.
And it ain’t rocket science, folks.
But most of you will be disappointed by what’s to follow.
You’re probably all hyped-up right now, thinking that I’m going to reveal some amazing new traffic source, secret money-making method or otherwise some crazy method.
Even though I do have a few tricks up my sleeve - some “confessions”, if you will
- that’s not what’s made the REAL difference in my business - the tricks are just a means to the end. (They’re not even necessary for the long-run, whatsoever.)
So here it is - the six figure, life-changing discovery…
JUST SELL WHAT LOTS OF PEOPLE BUY
Now, that’s a popular saying. I think John Reese said something like that once. (What does he know, eh?
)But instead of just wagging some intrinsic advice in front of your face and leaving you to your own devices to try and “interpret” it enough to translate the “theory” into action…
…let me break it down for you, step by step, word by word.
And in this case, it actually makes sense to start with the last word in the phrase.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Where am I today
Adwords Account: Check
Joining Affiliate Networks: Working on it
Lined up keyword research resources: Check
Developed initial strategy: CPA Link based ads, on search engines, appropriate classifieds
Came up with an initial strategy
as to testing proposed ads before
they go on the pay networks: Check
Got buy in from the family: Check
Find someone or some group who is already good at this stuff to help out: CHECK
This last one is key, and can be done in many ways. (actually, all of these are key, I think)
Go buy a course like eCurrency Arbitrage, know someone in the business who will help you learn (my sister, I found out, happens to be a website designer and marketer...SCORE), find a community of experts (I found one of these too. Very encouraging, always ready with tips, advice, mentoring and motivation...SCORE...thank you Warrior Forum!!).
Joining Affiliate Networks: Working on it
Lined up keyword research resources: Check
Developed initial strategy: CPA Link based ads, on search engines, appropriate classifieds
Came up with an initial strategy
as to testing proposed ads before
they go on the pay networks: Check
Got buy in from the family: Check
Find someone or some group who is already good at this stuff to help out: CHECK
This last one is key, and can be done in many ways. (actually, all of these are key, I think)
Go buy a course like eCurrency Arbitrage, know someone in the business who will help you learn (my sister, I found out, happens to be a website designer and marketer...SCORE), find a community of experts (I found one of these too. Very encouraging, always ready with tips, advice, mentoring and motivation...SCORE...thank you Warrior Forum!!).
What I learned from my ecurrency arbitrage research
CPA search engine/classified marketing is a great way to get started in all this.
What is it (according to me): you join an affiliate program, and get an affiliate link. You then find creative ways to post the link such that others will find it, click through the link, and take some action. Sounds easy, huh?
Well...if it was that easy, we'd all be doing it (or not). The first hurdle is getting into an affiliate program. In the past (say 5-10 years ago), you just supply your name, address and an email address, and POOF you're in!
These days, major advertising networks that offer affiliate programs screen applicants...sometimes by phone!
This is where I am today...trying to apply to affiliate ad networks.
OK...so once that's done...what next?
You need to find places to place your affiliate links. Not all affiliate programs let you do this...be sure whatever program you sign up for (I don't mean the advertising network, like Commission Junction, for example, I mean the programs within Commission Junction).
OK...back track...so you got accepted to an advertising network and signed up for an affiliate program that allows search engine marketing via click through links. And you've decided (like me) that you want to give this a whirl.
Now, go open a Google Adwords account (Microsoft and Yahoo have their own versions of this program that you could sign up to as well).
Set up a 'test' campaign, just to see how it all works - there are lots of articles on the web on how to do this.
Now the real fun begins -
Picking keywords
Here's an interesting article I found...and here's some text from that article:
Writing good ad copy (I've found out that this is what professional ad copy writers call writing an ad...I guess just calling it 'writing an ad' doesn't sound nearly as cool as 'creating ad copy'). This is another skill to master...even for those teens Google AdWords ads.
I found this link Ad Writing 101 that may prove to be helpful
So...you have an AdWords account and funded it, learned a little something about writing ad copy (I'm cool now too), joined an advertiser's affiliate network.
You gotta do your homework on the keywords - Will they attract people? Will the attract people that will do what you want them to do once they click through your link? The latter is the important part. It looks like simply attracting people will quickly deplete you Adwords funds, as people will click through the link, and then not do anything on the other side.
Imagine this - you've set up all the various accounts, and chosen 'American Idol' as a keyword. But your affiliate link is for health insurance. Sure...lots of people will click through it, expecting to see American Idol stuff, and will not do what you want on the affiliate landing page.
So...do your homework on keywords!!
What is it (according to me): you join an affiliate program, and get an affiliate link. You then find creative ways to post the link such that others will find it, click through the link, and take some action. Sounds easy, huh?
Well...if it was that easy, we'd all be doing it (or not). The first hurdle is getting into an affiliate program. In the past (say 5-10 years ago), you just supply your name, address and an email address, and POOF you're in!
These days, major advertising networks that offer affiliate programs screen applicants...sometimes by phone!
This is where I am today...trying to apply to affiliate ad networks.
OK...so once that's done...what next?
You need to find places to place your affiliate links. Not all affiliate programs let you do this...be sure whatever program you sign up for (I don't mean the advertising network, like Commission Junction, for example, I mean the programs within Commission Junction).
OK...back track...so you got accepted to an advertising network and signed up for an affiliate program that allows search engine marketing via click through links. And you've decided (like me) that you want to give this a whirl.
Now, go open a Google Adwords account (Microsoft and Yahoo have their own versions of this program that you could sign up to as well).
Set up a 'test' campaign, just to see how it all works - there are lots of articles on the web on how to do this.
Now the real fun begins -
Picking keywords
Here's an interesting article I found...and here's some text from that article:
There are two kinds of keywords- the kind that people search for and the kind that people do not search for. A keyword can be defined as a word or phrase that someone would enter in to a search box at Google or Yahoo. It is the search term or query. This keyword is very important for you to know as an online business owner.
You must know this search term for two reasons. 1) You must have a page that is dedicated to that search term. Choosing search terms is rather easy. Just ask yourself what word or term you would use to find your product or service. 2) You must know if it is possible for you to rank well at search engines for that keyword or search term. Determining if you can rank well is very difficult. After all, no one knows the exact algorithms Google, Yahoo, MSN or any other search engine uses to rank websites.
Let's throw in some examples. I have a website dedicated to strength training for women. I can safely assume that "fitness" is a word that people use as their keyword or query at Google. So I have now picked my keyword. Simple enough. However, I need to rank well for that search term. Otherwise what is the point? If no one is going to see my page on fitness then why create a page using the keyword "fitness"?
I can check out my competition by doing a quick search at the major search engines. If I type the word "fitness" (without the quotes) into the Google search box, it returns 799,000,000 search results. Gulp. How can I ever compete for a position in the first 3 pages of Google? The chances of me ranking well for the keyword "fitness" are very, very slim.
The fact of the matter is that most generic terms are going to be difficult to rank well for. You need to narrow your search terms down. You need to get nichier with your terms. You can spend most of your day picking search terms and then checking the competition numbers. This eats a lot of your valuable time. I built my online business by using a hosting company that completely eliminates this tedious process of keyword and search engine ranking data mining.
Writing good ad copy (I've found out that this is what professional ad copy writers call writing an ad...I guess just calling it 'writing an ad' doesn't sound nearly as cool as 'creating ad copy'). This is another skill to master...even for those teens Google AdWords ads.
I found this link Ad Writing 101 that may prove to be helpful
So...you have an AdWords account and funded it, learned a little something about writing ad copy (I'm cool now too), joined an advertiser's affiliate network.
You gotta do your homework on the keywords - Will they attract people? Will the attract people that will do what you want them to do once they click through your link? The latter is the important part. It looks like simply attracting people will quickly deplete you Adwords funds, as people will click through the link, and then not do anything on the other side.
Imagine this - you've set up all the various accounts, and chosen 'American Idol' as a keyword. But your affiliate link is for health insurance. Sure...lots of people will click through it, expecting to see American Idol stuff, and will not do what you want on the affiliate landing page.
So...do your homework on keywords!!
Why I didn't sign up to eCurrency Arbitrage
I did my research. I certainly could have afforded it - $297 is worth it just to check out.
I may still buy it later on.
Here's what I found out about the program.
It's basically a teaching course that walks you through the steps of IM, starting with CPA search engine ads, and ends up with you creating affiliate linked web sites. The whole time, Paul Jenkins apparently teaches you everything about CPA search engine marketing, how to find good affiliate programs, how to find keywords, etc. He has videos, one on one training, and weekly conference calls.
The people who take action and do what Paul says apparently are happy with the product. They may not be making gazillions of dollars, but by and large they sounds satisfied.
The complaints come from people who appear to try to return the product. These folks bitch to high heaven about how hard it is. However, there are others who say "if you follow the return instructions, it's easy. Don't call them or try to send emails to the company."
I may still buy it later on.
Here's what I found out about the program.
It's basically a teaching course that walks you through the steps of IM, starting with CPA search engine ads, and ends up with you creating affiliate linked web sites. The whole time, Paul Jenkins apparently teaches you everything about CPA search engine marketing, how to find good affiliate programs, how to find keywords, etc. He has videos, one on one training, and weekly conference calls.
The people who take action and do what Paul says apparently are happy with the product. They may not be making gazillions of dollars, but by and large they sounds satisfied.
The complaints come from people who appear to try to return the product. These folks bitch to high heaven about how hard it is. However, there are others who say "if you follow the return instructions, it's easy. Don't call them or try to send emails to the company."
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