Heather Paulson
04-28-2005, 01:30 PM
:: Hello ::
These are the 2 top affiliate rookie mistakes from my Affiliate tutorial, I hope this helps you to become more successful in affiliate marketing!
Top Rookie Affiliate Mistakes. by Heather Paulson
1) Going into CJ.com (or anyother network) getting excited and joining all the programs
Signing up for more then 3 programs? This is the biggest rookie mistake; affiliates build a giant shopping site or have a site that isn’t even finished, sign up for every program in the book and fill up their site with banners that no one will likely see, or products that are so diverse the consumer market niche is too broad and the affiliate wonders why they do not make any sales.
Do you really think you can sell over 100 different products on 1 website?
Relax, think about your life experience what products do you believe in? What is truly needed in your community, security systems for seniors? Or are there new homes going up in your area that would be interested in home automation? Or are you going to try and peddle $12.00 collectible figures to Aunt Edna for a $5.00 bounty?
Tip: Join 1 – 3 programs that meet the best criteria, offer the highest commission and have products you know you can sell – Electronics for example do you really think you can sell that beauty crème to this market? Become a success with 1 thing before you take on more. Each website you own should be dedicated to one consumer category more then 3 and you are out of the game! Focus on products that you have a passion for or know something about, create a website with a domain dedicated to the product line! Which merchants should you be an affiliate for? Create a web focused business instead on 1 product line or program. When you are making money THEN you can invest in other programs that you believe will be profitable.
Remember pre-selling is an important part of becoming a successful affiliate content is king!
2) Selling brands instead of products
Just because the program merchant is in the news a lot, and just because they are a popular brand name does NOT mean you will be able to sell their products in your affiliate business model. Sure the consumer knows the top names and sure you want to look important and have those big name banners on your website.
Remember you are in the game to make money not showcase top brands that have brand specific banners and creative not directed or pointing to any type of real offer or saving for a specific product. Sell the product NOT the brand! (Especially when the merchant only offers you a 7 day cookie, and the consumer is taken to thier website where the phone number will steal the sale)
Tip: Advertising branded banners that do not focus on a specific product or category is pointless, work with merchants that have high commissionable payouts and products that are easy to sell and have landing pages directed towards the product they are selling, focus on that 1 merchant, focus on becoming an expert and learning more about the products they sell. Banners that go to a company’s home page on the website and banners with no specific incentive or “Offer” are branded advertising banners and have the lowest CTR and the lowest conversion rate in the industry. (Free advertising for the merchant however!)
Stick with merchants who are paying serious commissions, commission that you are able to recoup any initial investment losses from your e-commerce business model, work with merchants who offer you tools such as an affiliate phone sales line, free websites etc. 10% might seem like a lot for example, but if the product lines minimum price point is in the thousands good luck trying to get a large sale like that online. Choose merchants like for example who commission you 30%-40% for an easy to sell low price point item with an average ASP (Average sales price) of $79.99!
Programs with consumer incentives such as "Buy 1 Get 1 FREE" or "50% Off Sale" work better then any old branded campain.
Thank you
Heather Paulson
Affiliate Marketing Director
s: www.X10-Free-Website.com
e: Heatherp@X10.com
p: 1-253-437-3878 Ext 2236
TF: 1-888-590-2763
These are the 2 top affiliate rookie mistakes from my Affiliate tutorial, I hope this helps you to become more successful in affiliate marketing!
Top Rookie Affiliate Mistakes. by Heather Paulson
1) Going into CJ.com (or anyother network) getting excited and joining all the programs
Signing up for more then 3 programs? This is the biggest rookie mistake; affiliates build a giant shopping site or have a site that isn’t even finished, sign up for every program in the book and fill up their site with banners that no one will likely see, or products that are so diverse the consumer market niche is too broad and the affiliate wonders why they do not make any sales.
Do you really think you can sell over 100 different products on 1 website?
Relax, think about your life experience what products do you believe in? What is truly needed in your community, security systems for seniors? Or are there new homes going up in your area that would be interested in home automation? Or are you going to try and peddle $12.00 collectible figures to Aunt Edna for a $5.00 bounty?
Tip: Join 1 – 3 programs that meet the best criteria, offer the highest commission and have products you know you can sell – Electronics for example do you really think you can sell that beauty crème to this market? Become a success with 1 thing before you take on more. Each website you own should be dedicated to one consumer category more then 3 and you are out of the game! Focus on products that you have a passion for or know something about, create a website with a domain dedicated to the product line! Which merchants should you be an affiliate for? Create a web focused business instead on 1 product line or program. When you are making money THEN you can invest in other programs that you believe will be profitable.
Remember pre-selling is an important part of becoming a successful affiliate content is king!
2) Selling brands instead of products
Just because the program merchant is in the news a lot, and just because they are a popular brand name does NOT mean you will be able to sell their products in your affiliate business model. Sure the consumer knows the top names and sure you want to look important and have those big name banners on your website.
Remember you are in the game to make money not showcase top brands that have brand specific banners and creative not directed or pointing to any type of real offer or saving for a specific product. Sell the product NOT the brand! (Especially when the merchant only offers you a 7 day cookie, and the consumer is taken to thier website where the phone number will steal the sale)
Tip: Advertising branded banners that do not focus on a specific product or category is pointless, work with merchants that have high commissionable payouts and products that are easy to sell and have landing pages directed towards the product they are selling, focus on that 1 merchant, focus on becoming an expert and learning more about the products they sell. Banners that go to a company’s home page on the website and banners with no specific incentive or “Offer” are branded advertising banners and have the lowest CTR and the lowest conversion rate in the industry. (Free advertising for the merchant however!)
Stick with merchants who are paying serious commissions, commission that you are able to recoup any initial investment losses from your e-commerce business model, work with merchants who offer you tools such as an affiliate phone sales line, free websites etc. 10% might seem like a lot for example, but if the product lines minimum price point is in the thousands good luck trying to get a large sale like that online. Choose merchants like for example who commission you 30%-40% for an easy to sell low price point item with an average ASP (Average sales price) of $79.99!
Programs with consumer incentives such as "Buy 1 Get 1 FREE" or "50% Off Sale" work better then any old branded campain.
Thank you
Heather Paulson
Affiliate Marketing Director
s: www.X10-Free-Website.com
e: Heatherp@X10.com
p: 1-253-437-3878 Ext 2236
TF: 1-888-590-2763