Automotive_site - 2:20 am on Nov 29, 2012 (gmt 0)

Interesting you say that, Clarence. I have been on various affiliate forums and they all say a good review/landing page is a must for increasing conversion rates. Yes, of course, owning the product (be it physical or informational),is better, but you can't just create a health product that people use for treatment and things of that sort. You could perhaps make information products and and list it on Clickbank, for example, but being in the health niche, its not easy to create a product other than informational, which is actually one of my to do lists for 2013.

Also, when you say people will just read a little and hit the back button, you could say the same thing about merchant's product page where people read a little bit and then hit the back button. But of course we know teh successful merchants convert at a good rate hence they use ppc campaigns.

Also, some affiliates may allow you to link directly to the payment processor page from your review page. You just need to perhaps mention under the 'buy button' that they will be taken to the merchant partner site.

I don't think Adwords, Microsoft Adcenter allow direct linking to merchant's page.

Whichever way look at it, affiliate marketing is huge and is growing every year. Affiliate partners therefore are selling. I know list is probably the best way because the subscribers are opted in so may like what you have to say.

Why would Adwords or Adcenter not allow linking directly to merchant page. Merchants link to their product page they are advertising through Adwords? How would Google know that you mightn't be a merchant partner? Is it the affiliate link?

As for cloaking, do you mean linking to the merchant page in the destination url in Adwords so is hidden? If so, this would result in instant closure of the Adwords account if they find out.