Here on DMB, we are quick to stress the importance of knowing your local laws in regards to gambling affiliate programs. The last thing I want to see is an individual lose all their earned revenue because they didn't understand the laws against gambling related advertisements.
That being said, Grand Gaming Group and Jon-Jon-Keegan to launch a G3 gambling affiliate program.
Looking for more info on this and what the G3 affiliate program has to offer, read here.
Saturday
Selecting an Affiliate Program
Yesterday, American Chronicle posted an article that discusses the ease of online marketing, compared to traditional methods. Traditional methods included brick 'n mortar businesses, where it was a sink or swim situation. Ths cost of entry was higher and while the stakes were higher as well, the pay off took much more time.
The article then goes on to discuss the ways to properly choose an affiliate program. Making suggestions such as knowing the history of said marketing group, weighing the advantages and disadvantages, and finally stressing that an informed choice is the best route to go.
Check out the entire article here.
The article then goes on to discuss the ways to properly choose an affiliate program. Making suggestions such as knowing the history of said marketing group, weighing the advantages and disadvantages, and finally stressing that an informed choice is the best route to go.
Check out the entire article here.
Friday
Webpage Accessibility and Google SERPs
Creating a site that generates traffic is a struggle and it's an even harder task to bring in organic traffic. Organic traffic are visitors that are produced through search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN. The ranking you hold in the SERPs(Search Engine Results Page) is directly related to how much traffic you receive from these search engines.
USWeb.com recenty published a press release stating the importance of Google's ranking methods and where it may be going, in regards to a sites accessibility. Google has long built their results page based on a number of hidden factors, including public ones such as page rank(PR). Now Google is adding another search function, which takes into consideration accessibility.
The ability of a site to remain at the top of one search function and not at the other lays in the hands of SEO(Search Engine Optimization) experts. What was once a level playing field, is not pitted against quality coding techniques and a sites ability to adapt to the needs of visitors.
Doing a search on Google for the term "Flowers" results in the site 1800flowers.com in the first position of the SERPs. However, once you do the same search through Google's accessibility function 1800flowers.com is not even located on the front page. The site that can be found ranking #1 is testco.com/flowers, a very well coded and user friendly site.
In addition, 2 of the top 3 sites for the search used USWeb.com as their search engine marketing firm. Not only were sites appealing to the eyes, offered function, but they were accessible. To take this test a step further we notice that a search for "Internet marketing" yields a position #8 for USWeb.com in regular search and a position #2 in the Google Accessible Search(GAS).
The results are startling for only a few of these keyphrases, but the impact will be wide spread. This will be especially true once Google Accessible Search catches on and it will be important to be diligent with your search engine optimization. Therefore, if your planning on choosing a search engine marketing firm to do your SEO work for you, USWeb.com is a safe bet, to keep that affiliate traffic rolling in.
USWeb.com recenty published a press release stating the importance of Google's ranking methods and where it may be going, in regards to a sites accessibility. Google has long built their results page based on a number of hidden factors, including public ones such as page rank(PR). Now Google is adding another search function, which takes into consideration accessibility.
The ability of a site to remain at the top of one search function and not at the other lays in the hands of SEO(Search Engine Optimization) experts. What was once a level playing field, is not pitted against quality coding techniques and a sites ability to adapt to the needs of visitors.
Doing a search on Google for the term "Flowers" results in the site 1800flowers.com in the first position of the SERPs. However, once you do the same search through Google's accessibility function 1800flowers.com is not even located on the front page. The site that can be found ranking #1 is testco.com/flowers, a very well coded and user friendly site.
In addition, 2 of the top 3 sites for the search used USWeb.com as their search engine marketing firm. Not only were sites appealing to the eyes, offered function, but they were accessible. To take this test a step further we notice that a search for "Internet marketing" yields a position #8 for USWeb.com in regular search and a position #2 in the Google Accessible Search(GAS).
The results are startling for only a few of these keyphrases, but the impact will be wide spread. This will be especially true once Google Accessible Search catches on and it will be important to be diligent with your search engine optimization. Therefore, if your planning on choosing a search engine marketing firm to do your SEO work for you, USWeb.com is a safe bet, to keep that affiliate traffic rolling in.
Wednesday
Affiliate Content
Affiliating a product is easy, if you are familiar with the product you are affiliating. However, if you want to affiliate a product that you cannot easily create content for, free content is the way to go.
The Blackfox Article Directory provides a large list of articles that are free to use on your site. Assuming you keep all the live links, this content can be used beside your own or as itself to help compliment the products you are looking to sell.
Currently there are a handful of articles available in the general internet and more importantly internet marketing article category. Reading these articles can be informational for you or visitors to help you get a jump start on gaining traffic to your affiliate site.
The Blackfox Article Directory provides a large list of articles that are free to use on your site. Assuming you keep all the live links, this content can be used beside your own or as itself to help compliment the products you are looking to sell.
Currently there are a handful of articles available in the general internet and more importantly internet marketing article category. Reading these articles can be informational for you or visitors to help you get a jump start on gaining traffic to your affiliate site.
Thursday
Adsense is Affiliating
Apparently American Chronicle has a very lax definition for 'affiliate'. Their latest article compares Affiliate Marketing to Adsense, placing google as the medium for merchants.
Although there is some basis for their argument, Adsense is not affiliating. The first difference that sets Affiliating apart from being a publisher for Adsense is the fixed earnings. Adsense contextual ads fluctuate in how much you earn per click, due to a number of undisclosed factors.
Affiliating will produce the same results over and over for completing a specific action. For example, if you sell one magazine subscription you will receive $10. This example is true no matter what your pages content is, where the traffic comes from, your page rank, or any other variable.
The American Chronicle article does lead us to the goal, earning revenue. So, I encourage you to see what works best for you. I've seen Adsense whizz's make jack squat at affiliating and likewise for the opposite and it all boils down to knowing your audience.
Although there is some basis for their argument, Adsense is not affiliating. The first difference that sets Affiliating apart from being a publisher for Adsense is the fixed earnings. Adsense contextual ads fluctuate in how much you earn per click, due to a number of undisclosed factors.
Affiliating will produce the same results over and over for completing a specific action. For example, if you sell one magazine subscription you will receive $10. This example is true no matter what your pages content is, where the traffic comes from, your page rank, or any other variable.
The American Chronicle article does lead us to the goal, earning revenue. So, I encourage you to see what works best for you. I've seen Adsense whizz's make jack squat at affiliating and likewise for the opposite and it all boils down to knowing your audience.
Wednesday
Directory Submissions
Submitting your website to directories can be a long and daunting task, especially weeding through the ones that are worth your time. The Blackfox Directory Blog is a blog dedicated to covering link and article directories.
Are you owner of a directory and interested in how to gain traffic to your website, then check out getting traffic for your directory. This post covers free methods on how to build a solid base for when your directory launches.
After some hard work and persistance a directory can be a good source of affiliate marketing traffic. And, especially in the early days, your core audience will be webmasters. Take advantage of knowing your visitors, there is always something that a webmaster can use...espcially links.
Are you owner of a directory and interested in how to gain traffic to your website, then check out getting traffic for your directory. This post covers free methods on how to build a solid base for when your directory launches.
After some hard work and persistance a directory can be a good source of affiliate marketing traffic. And, especially in the early days, your core audience will be webmasters. Take advantage of knowing your visitors, there is always something that a webmaster can use...espcially links.
Tuesday
Hosticanna Affiliate Program
Hosticanna hosting is announcing a new affiliate program to focus on their unmetered bandwidth hosting packages. Their affiliate program has several unique benefits other than offering you, the publisher, monetary gain.
Hosticanna's affiliate program offers giveaways, in addition to monetary appreciation, such as iPods and iTune gift cards.
“With HostICan, affiliate can feel confident that they are sending their traffic to a recommended host.” says Brian Lim from AffilateFuture “Every referral earning US$85 CPA commission, the company’s record-breaking growth pattern since 2003, and a great reputation for competitive pricing, affiliates will find HostICan offers an unbeatable web hosting offer.”
Friday
BlogKits Bought Out
Forge Corporation, LTD. has acquired Blogkits with a motive to bring advertisers and bloggers together. The union has been created with the best intentions, but will all end well?
There are already a number of services available that allow advertisers to work directly with bloggers. Blogitive and PayPerPost are a few that allow advertisers to make offers to bloggers in an attempt to gain linkage and market their products. This directly conflicts with the ideal that blogging is all about, unique opinions and owners own thoughts.
When big corporate is finally able to control a large amount of bloggers, it's essentially muddying the blog gene pool, so to speak(Please allow for improper grammar). There are no longer unique opinions ruling the blogosphere, but whoever has the most money gets the most buzz.
This is one affiliate venture I hope takes a nose dive and at the least does not become wide spread.
There are already a number of services available that allow advertisers to work directly with bloggers. Blogitive and PayPerPost are a few that allow advertisers to make offers to bloggers in an attempt to gain linkage and market their products. This directly conflicts with the ideal that blogging is all about, unique opinions and owners own thoughts.
When big corporate is finally able to control a large amount of bloggers, it's essentially muddying the blog gene pool, so to speak(Please allow for improper grammar). There are no longer unique opinions ruling the blogosphere, but whoever has the most money gets the most buzz.
This is one affiliate venture I hope takes a nose dive and at the least does not become wide spread.
Monday
Problems with Berries
As reported by AffiliateTip.com, apparently Berries is/was having problems with their affiliate program. The problem arrose from the coding in their website not properly tracking their affiliate referrals.
Therefore, they submitted a letter to all publishers. My concern stems exactly as the same as the author from AffiliateTip, how do you know if you missed out on some sales if they were not able to track it correctly?
Therefore, they submitted a letter to all publishers. My concern stems exactly as the same as the author from AffiliateTip, how do you know if you missed out on some sales if they were not able to track it correctly?
Due to a major website change in December 2005, which affected our ability to efficiently track business from affiliates, Shari's Berries International is terminating its affiliate program effective June 15, 2006. We truly appreciate your past support.If you anticipate you are eligible for any unpaid commission, please respond appropriately to affiliates@berries.com by June 30, 2006. If we do not hear from you by this date, we will consider the matter closed.
Sincerely,
Shari's Berries Affiliate Program
Affiliate Startup Plan
When designing a website and choosing an affiliate program it's important to have the basics down. Going in blind will most certainly lead to failure, if nothing else a lot of frustration. So, come up with a plan, learn the basics, and THEN go in feet first. To get things rolling Startup Nation has come up with a good basics plan to help get you started.
The Marketing 101 Article focuses on 6 key points. These points apply to almost any affiliate situation where a startup is involved.
The Marketing 101 Article focuses on 6 key points. These points apply to almost any affiliate situation where a startup is involved.
- Evaluate Marketing Channels
- Scrutinize Commission
- Focus on Retention
- Multi-teer Affiliation--
- Affiliate Measurement System
- Warning of Fraud and Spam
Saving Yourself Money - TheHandThatFeeds
Theft is one of the largest threats to automobile insurance companies. The replacement costs for stolen vehicles is what drives insurance higher and higher.
In a recent press release by CarInsurance.com, it states that California is home to 6 of the top 10 autotheft locations in the US. Because of such high theft numbers finding inexpensive auto insurance is difficult in this area. This finding was based on the latest report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau(NCIB).
What's the best way to protect yourself from paying high prices because of the thiefs that plague your area? The answer is simple, if you compare car insurance, your going to save money. In the CarInsurance.com press release it states that simply comparing insurance and finding the best deal can net you a great deal of savings. This is especially true when you are in high theft areas such as California.
In a recent press release by CarInsurance.com, it states that California is home to 6 of the top 10 autotheft locations in the US. Because of such high theft numbers finding inexpensive auto insurance is difficult in this area. This finding was based on the latest report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau(NCIB).
What's the best way to protect yourself from paying high prices because of the thiefs that plague your area? The answer is simple, if you compare car insurance, your going to save money. In the CarInsurance.com press release it states that simply comparing insurance and finding the best deal can net you a great deal of savings. This is especially true when you are in high theft areas such as California.
Saturday
Caution Easy Money Affiliates
CaveJunctionNews has a good article on being aware of pyramid schemes on the net as opposed to legit home based businesses. Warning that the idea of easy money rarely exists anywhere, let alone on the internet where there are predators looking to make a quick buck.
The article sites where most easy money schemes are produced through 'affiliate' style programs. However, the real bread winners are the ones who create the scheme and are not created to benefit the actual publisher of the program.
So, if your looking to start up an affiliate program and become a publisher make sure you know the ins and outs of the program you are affiliating for. Rushing into a program without knowing it's background can definately hurt you in the long run and basically be a waste of your time. No sense in making the big money for someone else unless you get your fair share.
The article sites where most easy money schemes are produced through 'affiliate' style programs. However, the real bread winners are the ones who create the scheme and are not created to benefit the actual publisher of the program.
So, if your looking to start up an affiliate program and become a publisher make sure you know the ins and outs of the program you are affiliating for. Rushing into a program without knowing it's background can definately hurt you in the long run and basically be a waste of your time. No sense in making the big money for someone else unless you get your fair share.
Affiliating Nonsense
Pending legislation, it's possible you can be busted for affiliating gambling sites. I've touched on this notion before, but not to the extent that our friends over at 5 Star Affiliates have. Citing that it's possible for law enforcement to freeze assets, shut down your site, and possibly even face stiffer fines.
There is a fine line when promoting gambling in the United States and as such is gray area right now. Probably the most notable experience was when the Travel channel was advertising PokerStars.com. The federal government seized all the money that was paid to the Travel channel to do those advertisements.
You may notice that instead of advertising PokerStars.com the Travel Channel now advertises PokerStars.net. PokerStars.net is a free, no money exchanging hands, Texas Hold'em game. It's massively online multiplayer is attractive to those who are wanting to 'practice' their game. However, whenever they are ready to step it up and gamble real money, they are directed to PokerStars.com. This is how the Travel Channel now gets away with advertising for a gambling site.
Just a word of warning and make sure you are uptodate with all the legal procedings. The last thing you want to happen would to have all your assets taken away after you have made your affiliate so much money.
There is a fine line when promoting gambling in the United States and as such is gray area right now. Probably the most notable experience was when the Travel channel was advertising PokerStars.com. The federal government seized all the money that was paid to the Travel channel to do those advertisements.
You may notice that instead of advertising PokerStars.com the Travel Channel now advertises PokerStars.net. PokerStars.net is a free, no money exchanging hands, Texas Hold'em game. It's massively online multiplayer is attractive to those who are wanting to 'practice' their game. However, whenever they are ready to step it up and gamble real money, they are directed to PokerStars.com. This is how the Travel Channel now gets away with advertising for a gambling site.
Just a word of warning and make sure you are uptodate with all the legal procedings. The last thing you want to happen would to have all your assets taken away after you have made your affiliate so much money.
Thursday
The Hand that Feeds
How many of you are creating online Affiliate Sites in the hopes of creating more money? I'm willing to bet that everyone does, it's not just for fun, and even hobbies make money sometimes. But when it gets right down to it, scrilla is why we are here, unfortunatley because its worth a lot less now than it used to.
It's been noted, that things are not becoming more expensive, rather the value of the dollar is being dimenished. The green yummies that used to buy so much more and quickly buying less and less. The real value is found in physical items, such as silver, gold, and buillon coins.
Monex is one such company that has suggested to invest a certain percentage of your stock portfolio in physical wealth, ie gold and silver. Recently, they have released a 'Press Release' that discusses the devalue of the American dollar(USD) and why not more than ever its important for gold investing.
Therefore, to start your investing out right, take some tips provided by Monex. Buy some Gold Bullions and live wealthy.
It's been noted, that things are not becoming more expensive, rather the value of the dollar is being dimenished. The green yummies that used to buy so much more and quickly buying less and less. The real value is found in physical items, such as silver, gold, and buillon coins.
Monex is one such company that has suggested to invest a certain percentage of your stock portfolio in physical wealth, ie gold and silver. Recently, they have released a 'Press Release' that discusses the devalue of the American dollar(USD) and why not more than ever its important for gold investing.
Therefore, to start your investing out right, take some tips provided by Monex. Buy some Gold Bullions and live wealthy.
NetEnforcer Hoax
What's the latest affiliate marketing buzz? A hoax, an embrassment to hosting providers and Amazon Affiliates worldwide.
NetEnforcer, an online entity that supposedly represents major manufacturers, has been sending letters filed under the DMCA that states that a website is breaking the law and using copyrighted information. Citing examples of such infringement leads to the Amazon Affiliate link, which provides images and products specs.
As opposed to looking into such allegations some hosting providers are immediately taking sites offline. This down time has robbed many honest ebusiness professionals of money they would normally be making from their affiliate links.
Read More on The Affiliate Hoax
- Dathorn Forums
- Amazon Announcement
- Net Enforcer Homepage
- 5 STar Affiliate Article
NetEnforcer, an online entity that supposedly represents major manufacturers, has been sending letters filed under the DMCA that states that a website is breaking the law and using copyrighted information. Citing examples of such infringement leads to the Amazon Affiliate link, which provides images and products specs.
As opposed to looking into such allegations some hosting providers are immediately taking sites offline. This down time has robbed many honest ebusiness professionals of money they would normally be making from their affiliate links.
Read More on The Affiliate Hoax
- Dathorn Forums
- Amazon Announcement
- Net Enforcer Homepage
- 5 STar Affiliate Article
Monday
Ebay Contextual Advertising
Well, it's happened, the auction monster eBay has decided to enter the Adwords style market. This will put eBay entering the market slightly later than the other major three that have already launched their contextual advertising product.
Google of course has Adwords, MSN has adcenter, and Yahoo has their publisher program. Lord knows the market will be saturated and advertisers won't know where to turn. I forsee this being detrimental to contextual publishers, due to advertisers being able to spread their money thinner amongst other mediums. Am I wrong?
Ultimately, I feel the price per click will go even lower, rather than higher. Still, the winners will be the home companies, ala eBay and the big G and others mentioned here.
Google of course has Adwords, MSN has adcenter, and Yahoo has their publisher program. Lord knows the market will be saturated and advertisers won't know where to turn. I forsee this being detrimental to contextual publishers, due to advertisers being able to spread their money thinner amongst other mediums. Am I wrong?
Ultimately, I feel the price per click will go even lower, rather than higher. Still, the winners will be the home companies, ala eBay and the big G and others mentioned here.
Friday
Adsense & Affiliating
It's been touched on before, but being a publisher of Google Adsense also has other benefits. Google offers several products in which you can affiliate for, but the payouts vary greatly.
Google Packs - You can earn up to $2.00 per user that installs the google pack software.
FireFox - Earn up to $1.00 per user who installs Mozilla Firefox who did not have it previously installed.
Picasa - Earn up to $1.00 per user who installs this photo management software by google.
Google Adsense - Any user who signs up to be a publisher through your affiliate link will earn you $100 dollars, if they reach the $100 mark within 3 months.
Google Adwords - Earn $100 whenever a user signs up to their Adwords Advertising campaign and spends $100 in keywords.
While the spread of earnings is large, the potential for affiliating and running adsense can pay off. Using a good assortment of affiliate links and CPC can maximize your earnings potential.
Google Packs - You can earn up to $2.00 per user that installs the google pack software.
FireFox - Earn up to $1.00 per user who installs Mozilla Firefox who did not have it previously installed.
Picasa - Earn up to $1.00 per user who installs this photo management software by google.
Google Adsense - Any user who signs up to be a publisher through your affiliate link will earn you $100 dollars, if they reach the $100 mark within 3 months.
Google Adwords - Earn $100 whenever a user signs up to their Adwords Advertising campaign and spends $100 in keywords.
While the spread of earnings is large, the potential for affiliating and running adsense can pay off. Using a good assortment of affiliate links and CPC can maximize your earnings potential.
Thursday
Deep Links & Affiliating
Often times becoming an affiliate for a program will be ho-hum. As in, we like a certain product for a program, but the basic creative they provide only links to the programs homepage and not to the product in question. There is a fix to this and it is called 'Deep Linking'.
Deep Linking is not allowed by all Affiliate Programs, but they can prove a valuable tool so that you can gear your visitors directly to product you know they will be most interested in. Often times Deep Linking is as simple as adding the page url you want after the affiliate url, ie. &url=.
Just a reminder, make sure that the program that your affiliating for allows deep links, otherwise you may just be losing credit for your sales.
Deep Linking is not allowed by all Affiliate Programs, but they can prove a valuable tool so that you can gear your visitors directly to product you know they will be most interested in. Often times Deep Linking is as simple as adding the page url you want after the affiliate url, ie. &url=.
Just a reminder, make sure that the program that your affiliating for allows deep links, otherwise you may just be losing credit for your sales.
Friday
Affiliate Links Hurting Page Rank?
I've noticed a few questions coming through the popular webmaster forms of users questioning the affect on PR(Google Page Rank). The idea is logical and most definately will affect your PR and rank in SERP's. However, is it enough to even worry about?
The web has, is, and will always be a scary place...but why should we worry about who we link to. I say this as long as moderation is used. As a webmaster you should always be focused on linking to quality sites. That is the only guideline you should be concerned with when linking out to other neighborhoods.
Don't force the web backwards, embrace diversity and link freely, but responsibly. Don't hate thy fellow webmaster, embrace their success and achievements. Linking has to start somewhere, why not with you?
The web has, is, and will always be a scary place...but why should we worry about who we link to. I say this as long as moderation is used. As a webmaster you should always be focused on linking to quality sites. That is the only guideline you should be concerned with when linking out to other neighborhoods.
Don't force the web backwards, embrace diversity and link freely, but responsibly. Don't hate thy fellow webmaster, embrace their success and achievements. Linking has to start somewhere, why not with you?
Thursday
Repeat Visitors are Worth More
Building a quality site can not be placed second to affiliate or any type of ad placement. Your visitors must be the soul reason you are building your site, because if you don't please them, they won't please your pocket book.
By building a quality site you are accomplishing a couple different things. First you are providing a worthwhile resource for your visitors that they will want to come back and use. In addition, the quality of the content on your site speaks loads to a potential customer and lends its hand to brand marketing. The more professional a website the more likely a visitor will want to purchase something from you or one of your affiliates.
One of the latest articles from WebSideStory was that repeat visitors actually produce 800% higher conversion rates. This means a lot to affiliates and goes back to providing quality content and a pleasing site. The goal is to provide your visitor with all the quality content about the product in question, so that they feel comfortable moving onto the next step...purchasing.
By building a quality site you are accomplishing a couple different things. First you are providing a worthwhile resource for your visitors that they will want to come back and use. In addition, the quality of the content on your site speaks loads to a potential customer and lends its hand to brand marketing. The more professional a website the more likely a visitor will want to purchase something from you or one of your affiliates.
One of the latest articles from WebSideStory was that repeat visitors actually produce 800% higher conversion rates. This means a lot to affiliates and goes back to providing quality content and a pleasing site. The goal is to provide your visitor with all the quality content about the product in question, so that they feel comfortable moving onto the next step...purchasing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
