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[c55dax]

Newbie question:

Which works better when using Adwords for affiliate marketing:
Either having the destination URL go directly to a merchant page or the destination link going first to your own web site and then visitor might click a link on your site to reach merchant page?

Thanks

[ByronM]

Go right to the merchent if you can do it that way.

1 click is hard enough
2 clicks is asking for way too much :)

[vanderbolt]

ByronM is right.

However, there are disadvantage when you have the clicks go directly to the merchant page. The merchant will have all your stats and the KWs you are using. What is to stop him/her from using your KWs from their log?

Best thing is an arrangement with the merchant where you can clone merchants page, with links going from the cloned page to merchants webpages.

[skibum]

It really depends. If you build a killer resource site with great affiliate programs then you are building a business and awareness of your business when you buy AdWords and link them to your site. In the short term, probably less of the AdWords trafic you buy will click through to a Merchant, however more people will be exposed to your site and your "brand" and you'll have an asset that gets repeat traffic that you won't have to pay for.

If its just click through promo pages that are going to be put up, and nothing that people whould have a reason to return to, then going straight to the merchant might be best.

[eWhisper]

There is also a thread around here that I can't find at the moment about sending affiliate pages to your website, and all your website does is redirect the person to the merchant page.

That way you can track some adword stats, and all the merchant sees is that they came from your website.

I think skibum makes a great point that should not be overlooked. If you have a chance of repeat visitors because of your content, brand your site instead of the merchants.