Affiliate link insertion: what works?

[Brett_Tabke]

We have a few sites with software archives and links on them. What is the best strategy for inserting affiliate links? Load the whole site up, or carefully "plant" them here and there. Surprisingly, this is my first foray into the affiliate game on a large scale.

[rcjordan]

I hate to say it, but the "load up the whole site" strategy seems to be the better of the two. I lessen the impact by keeping them right-screen and/or below the fold. This is still a percentage game, and you often just can't get the eyeballs you need when you start sprinkling them around.

[sean orourke]

One caveat to the load-them-up strategy:

Don't spread yourself so thin that you don't reach the minimum payment thresholds. This is not a problem with a network such as CJ that aggregates payments, but can be a concern elsewhere.

[msgraph]

I agree with RC. The more "clean clutter" you have the more money you roll in.

Also make good use of the mouseover tag on your links. I increased my CTR by using mousover tags so the wouldn't "see" that they would get redirected right away.

onMouseOver="status='Place Text Here!';return true" onMouseOut="status='';return true"

>We have a few sites with software archives and links on them.

I wish Download.com had a custom text link option for their affiliate section but I can see why they don't. Would be paying more to their affiliates than what they make.

[Drastic]

Just confirming some remarks already posted. I use the mouseover trick heavily, and my site is quite "loaded-up" with affiliate links.

I generally put the best performers where they are most likely to be clicked (top).

My site is a little different, though, since it is so lacking in general content, and most visitors are of the hit-and-run variety.

And sean makes a good point about not spreading yourself too thin, I learned this early on the hard way.