Webpage vs. Advertising

Setting up a webpage versus direct ads to merchant

[g118]

Newbie. I've been trying affiliate marketing for one month. Started placing Google Adwords with links to merchants. Little success, +$200, spent $50...trying to understand basics, etc. Have read a fair amount from these boards, thank you btw, and have come to the understanding that by having a web page with content, getting that page listed within page results on a SE like google, have a unique url...that you can dramatically increase your conversion ratio which equals higher sales. Key factors are that content is good, relevant and you are targeting a prospective buyer and putting them into a buying mode, also that it is niche targeted. So if I have this straight, my question(s):

1. How niche is niche? I know I won't get real examples here but using an example. If you had a website about digital cameras for grandparents. And this site had product reviews, links to products, etc...is that niche enough, too niche? I am trying to find a happy medium.

2. If you had 10 sites, each grossing $50/day, profiting $10/day X 10sites X 30days/month = $3K....that's all I am looking to ahcieve at this juncture. Realistic, wrong approach? Any feedback?

3. How much more would a webpage/website increase conversion? Versus google adwords. I woulkd think that a merchant's website (solid company) with better graphics, content, usability would convert better than any webpage I create. What makes me think a webpage about power drills that I create would do a better job of selling than Sear's website?

Thanks for your help.

[jomaxx]

1. That example seems needlessly narrow. You might have a site about digital cameras, but how different are the needs of grandparents from anyone else. Or you might have a site for seniors, but why only grandparents and why only digital cameras?

2. Sure it's realistic, but there's no avoiding the learning curve. You have to test different things, watch your site logs, watch conversion rates, seek out and listen (really listen) to feedback, and so on.

3. Totally depends on the situation, but frankly there are a lot of ways to add value to what any retailer offers. I go through the browsing, selection and checkout process for any merchant I affiliate with, and when I'm done I always have lots of ideas.

[skibum]

Generally speaking, the conversion rates (sales/AdWords clicks purchased) will not be higher if there is an intermediate page, however if you build a top-notch site you will be bulding a business and a resource that people will come back to and you won't have to pay for all the traffic all the time.

Building sites is a more long term strategy and probably better in the long term but sending traffic straight to the merchant sites provides faster keyword testing and also faster returns if you can find the right mix of keywords, bid prices and landing pages.

[jomaxx]

I agree that if you are only looking at PPC as a source of traffic, then there's no point having an intermediate page if it's not required by the merchant. Only 50% of the people who hit your landing page will continue on the the merchant site, give or take, so it's unlikely you can overcome that deficit no matter how good your sales pitch is.

[cagey1]

If you build your own page and your merchant bolts or doesn't convert, you can replace them with another program and not have to change any of your PPC URLs.

You can also add Adsense or some other ad server to your page to (potentially) increase your yield per click.

Finally, there's always a chance that your PPC page will get indexed and show up for good keywords in a non-PPC search.

[ideaguru]

it is ALWAYS a good idea to create a website, no matter how small, rather than directly linking to a merchant site with an affiliate link.

trust me on this.
always always always.

[Michael Anthony]

I would recommend sending the traffic straight to the merchant from PPC for testing, then build a site around it for long term if the PPC test works.

That way, you don't waste your time building sites around stuff that won't sell.

[g118]

Thank you for the feedback. I am not trying to complicate this but it would be interesting to see how developed this "website" would look like. One that targets a niche, places the visitor into buying mode, has relevant content with embedded links/keywords.

Of course the niche has to have an affiliate program that it can direct users to but if my goal is to turn a modest profit to start(i.e. 300-500 dollars per month), how much depth do you need to your site. If I have www.xyz.com, and it targets digital camera users. Focuses on prod. reviews, supplies, etc... with embedded links, etc...why should I depend on SEO or adwords to get me traffic if I am also competing with the affiliates I am partnered with? That is why I keep wanting to seek examples of a niche...and not one that is selling ebooks on getting rich with adwords,etc. Real solid products, etc...not meant to offend anyone who is cashing in on the whole ebook, biz opp thing.

thanks,

[tml89]

Michael, when testing a merchant with PPC, how many clicks should you send in order to get a good picture?