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I started to build a page for a specific group of related affiliates.
I don't mind building, but it takes time. Is there a way to test greenwidgets as an affiliate category before spending time to build a site? I have a finite amount of time and want to use it wisely.
Thanks
I use it with clickbank, linkshare, cj.com, and even in-house programs.
[edited by: eljefe3 at 5:01 am (utc) on Jan. 12, 2007]
I always test with Google adwords first.. get about 100 clicks of highly targeted keywords, such as 'greed widgets', and then see if it converts.. if it doesn't, skip it..
Is 100 quality clicks good enough though?
I had one program that had a single conversion within 20 clicks. Then, nothing for the next 80.
Another one, that I was hopeful with, had two conversions in the first 50 clicks. Another 150 or so clicks later, nothing.
Another one, that I was hopeful with, had two conversions in the first 50 clicks. Another 150 or so clicks later, nothing.
Hmmm... After the two conversions, I raised my bid to boost the ad's position and hopefully get more clicks. I think I'll try lowering the bid amount to lower its position and see if that makes a dfference.
had one program that had a single conversion within 20 clicks. Then, nothing for the next 80.
100 won't be enough clicks for many merchants. But if you get *any* sales, at least you know they are tracking sales etc.
A word of warning: affiliate folklore says some merchants credit new affiliates with phantom sales to get them to stick with a program.
This has happened to me too. I got sales after the first few clicks so I thought great I'm onto something here. I raised my bids to increase position and then no sales for the next 100 clicks. Even worse I kept hoping that the longer I leave it the more likely I am to get a sale, kind of like a gambling addict really. In the end I spent $66 to earn $7.5 even though I earnt the $7.5 after spending $2.5
Yes, that's my story too. I was trying several different products for a couple weeks, and getting nothing. I'd wait for 100 clicks and then either drop it or see if there was something I could tweak to try to better reach buyers. Then, with a new product, I got a sale within the first couple dozen clicks. Then, another with the next couple dozen. So, I too thought I was finally onto something that worked and put a little more emphasis on that one. Then, I got a sale on another product. And, I was really feeling hopeful. Then, a sale on another product.
I thought I was making some headway, weeding out the ineffective products and reaping some good ones. And it seemed just a matter of time before I'd actually start making money at it, considering I was weeding out the chaff.
But, as the number of clicks grew, the sales did not. I've spent four times what I made. :-( Though, I guess that's a little better than your experience, with the exception that I wish it were only $66 I spent.
Yes, it's not too unlike gambling. But, two things stick out to me. First, doing the same thing and expecting different results is a sign of insanity. And that is a perplexion, since I know I made 1 or 2 sales from a certain ad, so why not more? And, if I keep changing the ad, am I just deluding myself that I'm trying something different, when really I should be trying a different product? The second thing is, I don't want to give up too soon, you know? If I can get a 5% CTR, I ought to be able to figure a way to get at least a 1 or 2% conversion rate, no?
On the other hand, maybe I would do better at a casino. At least there, I'll get a free meal even if I lose all my money. ;-)
Other things to consider:
* When are you testing?
* Day of the week matters!
* Never test on holidays or during a hurricane.
* If there is anything interesting going on on a national level, don't test. When people watch TV, they're not on the Internet (ex. Hurr Katrina, Super Bowl, 1st day of Gulf War, etc).
I always let my tests go from Monday through Thursday. Friday through Sunday's there is less traffic, plus there seems to be a drop in the conversion rate on weekends no matter what the program is, in my experience.
I've found that initially bidding PPC very low then gradually raising the bids to daily test profit margins helps.
I don't mind building, but it takes time. Is there a way to test greenwidgets as an affiliate category before spending time to build a site? I have a finite amount of time and want to use it wisely.
If the demand is good and keyword scope is broad enough, and based on your own abilities you feel you can compete with those already operating in the space, then go ahead and do a site, though limited in size to begin with. If not feasible looking for your particular current skill-set, forget it, put it on the shelf for future re-examination, and move on.
When (if) you do a bit of a site, write a lot of audience-oriented descriptive original text for the site, and as soon as some organic traffic starts to come in (which can easily be within 60-90 days), mine the logs/stats to see what phrases and specific searches or products people are using and looking for, and then do some more research and build out based on what your visitors are telling you.
