Forum Moderators: skibum
(1) Such braggadocious (sp?) ramblings will sound "spammy" to some ears; and
(2) Thereby subject me to suspicion as a huckster.
Why would someone in that position post information like that? If you are making big money you keep quiet about it.
But I also see a lot of people on here speaking in terms of $/day as a benchmark. For example, if they are having trouble with Google Adsense and their earnings are down, they might talk about how their numbers have fallen off.
But if I ever hit it big, I may tell people--just not how much or exactly how.
Of course, that's a big IF at this point.
I do have to say, it really helps if you go to the pubcons and meet people face to face. You get a much better feel for whose telling the truth and whose selling something.
I also, just as frequently, run into people here who poo-poo things that are posted simply because they couldn't do it themselves. What works for one person will not for another and you should never completely disregard any advice. Always, always, always the best way to make money as an AM is to listen to what other people say, analyze all the aspects of that advice and come up with a creative approach that is all your own.
In the AM world, if someone is ready to sell it to you, then the money from it is already gone.
Frup, you must be living in an alternate universe from me. In real life you meet people who make a lot of money and are perfectly happy to brad about it, and the same thing happens online. Only difference is that is easier to lie about it online.
There are plenty of people saying they make a lot of money who do make a lot of money....
Blackhat websites? Isn't that a term used for websites that put viruses, worms and other malicious scripts on the user's PC?
Gruntled, I think kiladen was trying to pull a few legs there. ;) I hope so, at least, regarding the black hat sites.
IMVHO, the mods on this site do a great job of cutting out the spammers in the open forum. If someone brags about how well they do but doesn't ask me for any $ to learn how (either in a thread or by sticky), I might take what they say with a grain of salt but wouldn't consider it spamming.
Blackhat websites? Isn't that a term used for websites that put viruses, worms and other malicious scripts on the user's PC?
In the SEO world, blackhat means that the person promotes their site through means that the search engines do not like (i.e. they game the search engine system). Example of black hats tactics have included blog spamming, doorway pages, keyword stuffing and cloaking. Just for the record, most of the tactics just mentioned do not work any more.
Blackhat is not something for the weak of heart. The pay offs are big, if you can find a hole in the system, but these tactics can get a site banned. In cases where the blackhatter is particularly wily or so large, search engines have been known to activly and agressivly track down sites owned by these blackhatters.
Blackhatters have been known to make a six figure income one month and $0 the next. Yes, there are many people here who are or have been in the past blackhatters.
Hannamyluv...you're right on the money. I don't say what I make to brag (I don't give exact figures anyways..). I talk about it because a year ago I would not have thought it possible...and quite frankly I'm giddy about it. Not bragging, just excited :)
I have been doing affiliate marketing strictly through PPC and make a nice profit. Mostly from bidding on trademarked terms 8)
Welcome to Webmaster World. Your question is the one everyone wants answered. Unfortunately if someone posted the answer here the opportunity would be immediately gone, as competition would devour the niche.
Try searching for less competitive areas where you can take one market niche and develop hundreds of keywords for it.
[Disclaimer]: I don't have any site optimized for "affiliate network", so don't worry, I'm not leading her to any of my sites whatsoever.[/Disclaimer]
Dave.
You see where Im going with that? Spend 50 bucks, see how it works for you. May be you'll make $80, may be $45, some people make $200 or even more.
Keep testing and revising your ads and cost per click. No need to be number one on Adwords, you just need to be profitable.And you can do it! Good luck, it's really no rocket science :) Hope this helps.
First, when folks click your PPC ad, do you send them direct to the merchant -- or to your own landing page where you presell them and persuade them to click an affiliate link to the merchant?
Second, I know one has to do lots of research and testing of what products/services to offer. But could you share which affiliate networks you have found most and least best/profitable for you -- and thus which might be best for someone new to PPC with limited funds for testing to do their "prospecting" in?
Most of all, thanks a bunch for sharing as you do, Davewray. It's very helpful to those new to PPC to at least know there is indeed a real, legitimate payoff if one keeps at it and doesn't get discouraged or run out of money for testing and give up before finding what will work.
Best wishes to everyone,
Louis
Hi, and thanks for your questions: Here are my answers, others may disagree:
Q. Do I send PPC traffic to merchant or landing page?
A. Both. It depends on how "lazy" I am and how much more I figure I could profit from it if I create my own landing page. If I think I can get more cheap clicks by producing my own landing page (more competative areas), then I will. If I'm promoting a merchant that not many others are and figure I will get a good number of clicks without my own landing page, then I will do direct to merchant.
Q. Which affiliate networks are the best/worst, most/least profitable?
A. I generally go with the bigger, more established networks. Ones that have a good track record of paying on time and having good and accurate tracking. Sometimes I'll do a direct deal with a company if I feel I can get a better payout than going through an affiliate network. Generally in that case I will target only large, established companies. Most, if not all, networks are profitable if you sell the right products.
Other comments:
Yes, you can make good money with PPC, but it's a big learning curve from when you start out to when you start making good money. As always, persistence and hard work will do you wonders. If you keep at it and have a desire to succeed then you will...eventually! I always say to those starting out though, start slow while you are learning so you don't make huge mistakes and lose a boatload of money. Losing a lot of money sours a lot of individuals and causes them to quit. Increase your budget/bid amounts only when you are showing a profit, and even then, make sure you maintain a good ROI.
Cheers.
Dave.
Take care,
Louis
