Direct Linking OR Landing Site for PPC Affiliates

[Rysk]

Hello All!

I've just discovered this forum and I have to say i've been feasting on some of the tips given, the level of online marketing knowledge/experience here is very high.

I've been working as an online media buyer for the last 2 years, but am just about to start working as an independent affiliate (in my free time to start with).

For my vertical/niche I've developed a substantive site based upon independent reviews, related articles. Its got a proper domain, not a blog or wordpress etc.

Landing Site
- Landing site can pre-sell
- People here have had problems with landing page QS on direct linking
(can the adwords algorithim detect the affiliate code in the direct URL link?)

Direct Link
- Other people have had QS issues with landing page/sites. AdWords detects its an affiliate site and penalizes accordingly.
(However, my site does have original content 15+ pages, and isn't just a banner site)
- Better for tracking
(How can you track KW >> Landing Site >> Merchant)
- My URL is related but doesn't match the URL of the advertisers (its a review site). With Adwords making you match display and linked URL, I may not get the CTR on my ads.

It seems that Google neither likes direct linking by affiliates or landing sites. But which at the moment carries the greater risk??

Advice appreciated

[be strong]

start in yahoo and msn for now till google settles down if they ever do

affiliates are getting banned left and right for stupid issues which may come back to haunt google because pride will lead to a fall if they keep up with this attitude

[Rysk]

Thanks, I actually intended on starting with Yahoo for a soft landing, to learn the metrics for my niche/vertical, and not to get banned at the very start of my PPC efforts.

But surely there are PPC affiliates out there who are using one of the above 2 methods without getting banned?

[tryinhere]

Originally Posted by Rysk

Hello All!It seems that Google neither likes direct linking by affiliates or landing sites. But which at the moment carries the greater risk??

Advice appreciated

But surely there are PPC affiliates out there who are using one of the above 2 methods without getting banned?

i will try and answer that quickly - = rubbish , you can set up a land page / site and or direct link no problems google does not hate affiliates but it does hate some sites of some affiliates who promote rubbish

what you can not do is link to crap pages / sites, to singles bridge type pages, poor quality review sites, , crap mmo type sites. check G terms and conditions for full details

Most people complaining are those who want shortcuts, take the time and its now build land sites not land pages and if your direct linking if you direct link to quality sites you will be fine.

if you just want to drop up a 2 minute cpa offer or a 2 second land page only then yes go the yahoo / bing / ask option. good luck with your venture.

[gordi555]

Google always puts it's visitor first. You have to provide real benefits to be on the safe side with Google or they'll just slap you. If you're using landing pages, give the visitor something that will benefit them (free articles, report, downloadable ebook etc). Grab their email and send this to them.

[Rysk]

My landing site is fine - fresh content, 15+ pages, free application. So I think I can link to my landing site without any QS issues.

BUT - what tracking methods are there to track:
KW >> Landing site >> merchant
One of the main aff networks I'm using doesn't give pixel code to track actions.

Also, you are saying that you can direct link IF the merchant is reputable i.e. it has a history with AdWords and isn't some here today, gone tomorrow e-book or something, and that AdWords doesn't automatically penalize an affiliate tracker.

[be strong]

Originally Posted by Rysk

My landing site is fine - fresh content, 15+ pages, free application. So I think I can link to my landing site without any QS issues.

BUT - what tracking methods are there to track:
KW >> Landing site >> merchant
One of the main aff networks I'm using doesn't give pixel code to track actions.

Also, you are saying that you can direct link IF the merchant is reputable i.e. it has a history with AdWords and isn't some here today, gone tomorrow e-book or something, and that AdWords doesn't automatically penalize an affiliate tracker.

dude stay away from google till they get there act together...there are affiliates getting suspended left/right from adwords....and they are following terms of services/rules regulation to the t

prosper202 is a great free tracker tool and google analytics too

[AffiliateUrge]

Don't live in fear of Google.

Just understand the reality of things and conduct fair and accurate business practices and all will be fine.

I highly recommend that you use your own landing pages. More often than not you can get a campaign profitable with a landing page where you won't be able to by direct linking. There is so much more control with your own landing page.