Selling a particular product...

Do I promote just one company, or several?

[crobb305]

I have been running a very successful affiliate site for over a year now. However, I often wonder if my revenue would increase if I were to dump some of my merchants and concentrate on just one or two. Right now, I promote about 5 merchants who sell the same product. Would I perform better with just one or two? (i.e., are visitors more likely to purchase when only shown one or two options and feel overwhelmed by more?)

Thanks!

[fathom]

hmmm... interesting question.

Selection is good, too much is whelming.

As far as merchants, are they distributed evenly across a large region or concentrated locally.

In addition, of the customers you have received are purchases distributed evenly or to a specific few (this also could be the manner in which they are listed (e.g. in a column the top would normally receive the most). I am actually referring to area/region diversity.

If all merchants are in a regional cluster and carry the same products, you may want to drop the ones with the lower conversion. This could represent poorer customer service.

If distributed regionally this is improving your market reach since visitors would likely select a merchant closer than farther away. (e.g. - shipping time).

You should however, look at this from many different points of view before coming to a definitive decision.

customer's view first,
merchant's view second,
and your's last.