I quite often get beginners to affiliate marketing asking me questions via MSN, email or on various forums. Now I don't mind this at all. Here is my top 8 questions and answers that I get asked most often.
1. What is the best affiliate program?
Now how am I supposed to answer this? The "best" affiliate program will differ from site to site. Lets say that my best performing affiliate program right now is William Hill Bingo, because I feature it heavily on my bingo site. Does that mean you should promote it on your blog for digital cameras? Of course not! Instead try asking these questions..."What is the best performing affiliate program in the electrical sector, specifically digital cameras". Then drill down and ask why, does the program offer a high CPA? Maybe it has a zero reversal policy or just converts damn well. This is the information you need to find out.
2. What is the best affiliate network?
As above, impossible to answer. If I was a finance affiliate for example then I would maybe pick OMG who are pretty much a niche network working in the financial sector. So great if you are in finance, but not so great for my bingo site. Again ask which network is the best for say high street brands, Buy.at is the answer btw. Or maybe the best network for a wide range of smaller merchants and a very proactive staff? Webgains. What about a mix of the above 2? Affiliate Window.
3. What is a good CTR for Google AdWords?
As long as you are making money it doesn't really matter. Seriously, people obsess about this but at the end of the day if you are making money then that's what counts. I have some campaigns that have CTR rates at 70% but earn very little, some at 2% that earn me enough for a new car. It doesn't matter.
4. How many clicks should I send to a merchant to see if they convert?
500. Not 10, not 100 but 500. Some people will argue that it should be lower but I always send at least 500 very targeted clicks via a ppc campaign before I give it a hit/miss.
5. Are there any eBooks I should read to learn about affiliate marketing/PPC/SEO?
No, none. I've never read any and don't know any successful affiliate marketeers who have either. Instead read blogs and forums and most of all, just do it! Nothing beats good old fashioned trial and error.
6. What is the best niche to promote? What makes the most money?
Again, impossible to answer. I operate in a few niches now that are very profitable to me - but only because I have been here for years and have a loyal user base, established sites and good traffic. For a newbie to enter would be very hard and would involve a lot of cash - for ppc. Even then there are no guarantees. Instead, don't pick a market to promote just because you think you can coin it in. Instead build a site about something you are passionate about and knowledgeable about. Thats all it takes.
7. I don't know anything about HTML, PHP, coding, web design, graphic design, datafeeds or anything remotely technical. So how can I build a website and make money?
Neither do I! Thanks to Blogger, and Wordpressyou can now have a site up and running in literally minutes. Yes you young 'uns have it easy. Back in the day, I had to learn how to use MS FrontPage and hard code my sites from scratch.
8. Should I pay for a SEO company to optimise my site?
No. Waste of money in my opinion. I think on-page SEO just isn't that important at all. Instead trawl the web and find out what makes a site rank well. Learn about link building, directory and article submissions. But more importantly just build a good site that people will *want* to link to. Thats all there is to it.
Anybody got any more questions?
What I'm listening to right now: Prince - "Sometimes it Snows in April" I'm going to see him again tomorrow!
8 questions and answers for Affiliate Marketing beginners
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about me
Welcome to my blog. My name is Kieron Donoghue and I am the founder of ShareMyPlaylists.com, ContentNow.co.uk and some other stuff. I have no idea why I'm blue on this photo though but I like it!
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A couple of questions for you
What’s the best way to spot a niche or a market you can dominate in Organic SEO and PPC?
How can you run a test adwords campaign on a new market without blowing hundreds of pounds?
Thanks
Ed
great post! stumbled. i found you via John Chow. thanks for the tips. i think people might want to hire a pro SEO (thinking about tip #8) for the same reason they might want to hire a pro financial adviser, they lack the inclination or time to learn about search.. just my two cents. keep the inside info coming..
nice stuff! really cool, thanks for the tips!
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great post Kieron…
Quite a few AM blogs talk about sending traffic direct to merchant, is this something you do? Can it still be profitable taking in to consideration Google’s constant QS tweaks?
Great post and blog Kieron. It shines like a beacon across a landscape of endless sh**e peddled these days. I was wondering whether you still do a lot of direct to merchant? Also, how do you track your converting keywords – do you use any software for example?
Another great post Kieron!
I just wondered what software you use (if any) to start, monitor and keep in touch with all your PPC campaigns?
You see so many adverts and sales pitches for keyword this, Google Cash that and I thought it might be useful if a seasoned pro would shed some light on how to keep in touch with it all.
Great work – keep it up!!
Damn good post Kieron. In the right hands, I’d call that a business plan.
Hi Kieron!
This is a great site I found with great tips!
I am a master student doing my research on affiliate marketing.
I would like to ask you for some advice.
1. Could you tell me what is the best performing affiliate program in the travel and tourism sector, specifically for online travel agencies?
And why does that program offer a high CPA?
2. which network is the best for online travel agencies?
Thank you!!!
Jas
Jamie – yes you can, I would ask their permission first though. The only thing to watch out for is that if Google don’t like their site/landing page then obviously you can’t change it as it isn’t your site.
Mel – thanks for your comments. I do some direct to merchant ppc, but not much as I prefer to build my own sites and control my own content. As for keyword software, I don’t use any.
BigH – none, just an excel spreadsheet. Don’t waste your cash!
Jas – I don’t operate in the travel sector I’m afraid. I do know that Tradedoubler, Affiliate Future, Buy.at and Affiliate Window have lots of travel merchants though.
What do you mean SEO isn’t important? You say you spend thousands of dollars each month on PPC.
Claudia, I said on-page SEO isn’t important, not all SEO. And yes I pay hundreds of thousands of dollars per month on PPC. Thats because I can get a PPC campaign up and running in 5 minutes and have more control of it, wheras I couldn’t with SEO methods.
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really nice article, no frills…that’s what people wants to read
I absolutely second the trial and error, I tend to stick with the error side of things….but that’s absolutely the best way we have to learn
Nice article . Didn’t know you could use a blog as a landing page.
I learned so much here,I will do the trail and error method.Thanks for your help.
AWESOME POST… I appreciate you sharing your knowledge, it was great content, and very helpful!
Hi Kieron … Seen this reply comment from you WoW that amount of investment is mind boggling … I’ve wanted to get into googles ppc by really understanding it … But find it very difficult to control … So my question is where would be the best place to get some insider mentoring to make this task with ppc a doddle like you are suggestion or making it read like its a doddle here in your reply??
Claudia, I said on-page SEO isn’t important, not all SEO. And yes I pay hundreds of thousands of dollars per month on PPC. Thats because I can get a PPC campaign up and running in 5 minutes and have more control of it, wheras I couldn’t with SEO methods.
Rergards
Phillip Skinner
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…great article. as for me the beginner to an affiliate marketing. thanks for share!
Hi,
I’ve recently been dabbling in PPC and have in the past week got about 100 clicks onto my site and only 12 of those have actually landed up at the merchant page. At what point do I call it a day. Are you saying that I should wait until 500 actually go through to the merchant. I’m just worried that I actually run out of cash before I reach that 500 and what would I have learnt?
tanks for the 8 tips. im going to these to use asap.
I just began in affiliate marketing … very useful information … keep the post coming. Thx