Affiliate theory

[ukgimp]

I have been looking into trying to make a site with a view to gaining money from affiliate referrals. I have a few queries/concerns.

“Which One?”
With the range of options, ppc, ppl, pps, with my preference being on the sale option but I suppose that depends on the suitability of the site/affiliate.

I am based in the UK so I would want to get £Sterling.

I read a post this morning talking about going for niche markets but at this stage I am into the theory not the actual topic of the venture.

“How does one go about linking to the affiliates?”
I don’t mean identifying yourself with the added affiliate ID, I mean does one create good content and a sticky site and then in one of the detail pages drop links to the aff’ site?

Is anyone willing to share an example of a site with me, either off or on thread?

“ROI?”
Is this a line of work that can produce good rewards, I hear of the major players who make thousands a month, but what are the likely revenues from such a site. I know people may not wish to divulge that sort of info and the range is vast but I am curious. Could it be done as full time job?

“Recommendations?”
Any good UK resources for this sort of thing, or could I look worldwide. Are there implications being UK and doing a world wide site?

Regards

[Nick_W]

“How does one go about linking to the affiliates?”
I don’t mean identifying yourself with the added affiliate ID, I mean does one create good content and a sticky site and then in one of the detail pages drop links to the aff’ site?

I'll take this one, 'cos it's easy ;)

Depends on the site friend!
Product site? Info site?

what is it?

Nick

[ukgimp]

Dont know which yet. Still on the theory but I can see they might have differing approaches

So Both :-)

[Smiley]

I’m no expert but here are my experiences.

Choose a topic you enjoy and have some knowledge about as it will make writing the content more interesting. If this topic pays good referral %’s then all the better. PPA, PPC, PPL doesn’t matter as long as your partner can convert.

Whatever scheme you choose try to go “under the radar”. The get rich quick schemes are very competitive; look for a relatively untapped market.

Think in terms of finding a prospective “buyer” to point in the right direction. Use your SEO knowledge to pull this targeted prospect from the search engines. Use your log files to see what people are looking for and optimise to this.

If something works – build on it. It something doesn’t work move on.

Spread you risk – don’t concentrate on only one website/domain or search engine.

I try to get the prospect only to visit one page of my site, they come in from a search engine, find what they are looking for and leave to make their transaction. Trying to balance this with a great content site that will attract repeat visitors is difficult. I’m sure it’s possible but I haven’t managed it yet.

Yes it can be full time job, the more you put in the more you get out. Good luck and prepare for a roller coaster ride!

[Drastic]

>“Which One?”
Depends completely on the topic/product/service. First you pick a topic, then find good merchants that fit your site/topic and complement your content. Don't worry so much about the commission structure or type as long as you can earn from it. PPC is pretty much dead in the affiliate world, though.

>“How does one go about linking to the affiliates?” ...does one create good content and...
You've pretty much got it. The more you can weave affiliate text links into your content, the better.

>“ROI?”
>what are the likely revenues from such a site
A very wide range - I know people who barely make their server costs per month, and I know some who are doing very, very well.

>Could it be done as full time job?
Absolutely, but it ain't easy. People who quit their day jobs to run affiliate sites have spent considerable time, energy, effort, and lots of brainpower to get where they are.

[Ross]

Drastic,

I'm curious why you've said that "PPC is pretty much dead in the affiliate world, though.".

If you're referring to the difficulty of getting SE's such as Overture to accept affiliate sites you'll find it's a totally different situation here in the UK....The UK version of Overture will accept anything so long as they make money.

If you're saying that bids have now gone so high that it's impossible to make money I'd disagree, but would be the first to agree that you need to keep a very close eye on ROI.

Ross

[Smiley]

Ross,

I think Drastic meant PPC as a form of the affiliates revenue not a method of generating traffic.

I run a hybrid PPC / PPA affiliate scheme for a company and I must stay PPC from a merchant point of view is very hard control. It allows the affiliates to set up high traffic links that don’t convert.

With regard to PPC as a source of traffic for an affiliate I agree Overture UK accept most sites but how long will it be before they adopt the US standpoint?

Smiley

[Drastic]

Smiley is right, I was replying to your first question: "“Which One?” With the range of options, ppc, ppl, pps..."

PPC commission is rarely an option for affiliates today. In PPC's heyday, fraud was rampant and most merchants had to abandon it.

[Iguana]

Why do you want fees in Sterling?

I get much better returns from my US affiliate programs than my UK ones, even though my bank charges £4 to cash a dollar cheque.

[ukgimp]

I wanted to try an avoid paying the bank anything. They thieve and rob from me all the time :-)

Are they quick to send out cheques etc or are they in various forms. I suppose I want to ensure I get paid, or at least take reasonable steps towards getting paid.

[Iguana]

All I can say is that Amazon.com are like clockwork with their payments.

I would only trust the bigger companies and networks like Commission Junction.