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Affiliate Marketers...Are You Shooting Yourself In The Foot?

by Steven Wagenheim
10 replies
** Disclaimer ** The following is my opinion and NOT fact. Please use
due diligence to test these things out for yourself.

Yet another thread just recently popped up about yet another affiliate
program that bit the dust and suddenly people are in a panic as if their
livelihood just got flushed down the toilet.

I have been affiliate marketing for over 6 years. I have seen it all. The good,
the bad and the ugly. I'm not going to even attempt to try to make a "how
to do affiliate marketing post" here because it would fall woefully short of
being of any real use to anybody. There is just way too much involved to
being a good affiliate marketer. I am just going to touch on a few things that
you could be doing that might not be the best course of action. Some of
these I have no doubt many will disagree with. That is why I say, this is
just my opinion. Test for yourself.

1. Selection Of Products - This is probably where most people will not
agree. You hear many of the knowledgeable marketers say to focus on
one area and get good at it. There is something to be said for this. If
you really know one niche and one product really well, you can become a
true authority on it. The problem with this narrow approach is that if that
product should happen to go belly up, your stream of income is literally
shot over night. And there is always a possibility that a whole niche could
be shot to hell with the advances in technology.

This is why I promote between 20 and 30 products in various niches. If
one closes up shop, I don't even feel it. Yes, this means I have to
diversify my promotional resources and makes it hard to really become an
authority in any one area (making videos, blog posts, reviews, building
lists, sending newsletters, and so on) but as I said, the upside is that you
don't have to worry if one niche goes sour on you.

2. Selling In The MMO Niche - IMO, if you're selling a make money
product, especially one being sold through Clickbank, you are making things
harder on yourself. Between Clickbank's liberal refund policy and the fact
that most people buying these products know that they can purchase
through their own affiliate links, there is a good chance that you won't
get as good a return as with non IM niches. I do much better selling non
make money products than make money ones...even though my main
expertise is in the MMO niche. Says something.

Having said that, if you're going to sell MMO products, offer incentives
and bonuses that others don't in order to get that person to buy from
you even though they know they can purchase through their own link.

Also, try finding products that have in house affiliate programs that don't
allow people to buy through their own links.

In the non MMO niches, you really don't have to worry about this. Most
people looking for an acne cure probably don't even know what an
affiliate program is. Heck, you probably don't even have to cloak your
links in these niches, though Clickbank now does do this for you
automatically. About time.

3. Building Lists - This is where I'm going to get a lot of slack. Don't
bother building lists in niches where there is really no free info to give and
where the solution is so obvious and so in demand that your cold
conversions are 5% to 10% or higher.

I sell in several niches where I wouldn't even bother building a list. For
what purpose? The product is so hot and so many people need it that
the conversions are insane. Just make a good review of the product on
a blog, send the prospects to the review and be done with.

As somebody who has over 5,000 subscribers, you don't always have to
build a list. Don't do it blindly just because somebody says you have to.

You could actually be losing money either because you've given them
too much free info or the info you do give them makes them think that
you don't know what you're talking about. This is all too true in niches
where the affiliate really knows nothing about it.

Which brings me to my biggest point.

4. Sell What You Know - Yes, I know...you don't have to be an expert in
every niche you tackle in order to sell a product in it.

But let me ask you a question.

Who is going to have the advantage here?

Somebody who just sends a prospect to a sales page hoping for a sale,
or somebody who sends prospect to a comprehensive review of a product
or even a video showing the use of the product?

My money is on the person who really knows what they're talking about
and not the lazy affiliate who just uses a redirect to a sales page.

Every product I sell, and I mean every product...I have at least a basic
understanding of it and a basic understanding of the problems that niche
is having. In other words, I can talk intelligently about the product to
anybody.

There's more...lots more. But I'll stop here.

Please take a look at some of the things you're doing as an affiliate
marketer and make sure that they're as optimal as they can be.

As I said, the above is just my opinion based on 6 years plus of my own
experience. You need to test out my theories and opinions for yourself
to see if they make a positive difference in your efforts.

Never blindly follow what anybody says to you.
#affiliate #foot #marketersare #shooting
  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    Hi Steven,

    I like your initial caveat (no chance anyone will think you're stating it as fact).

    For product selection I thought I'd also point out that in most niches there are actually several products worthy of mention, so if you do your prospects the service of informing them (or reviewing each) of the options, if one goes bust, they can just pick another and you're not stumped for a product to tell them about.

    A lot of people think as an affiliate you just have to pick one product to promote, but that's usually not the case and not even the best thing to do anyway.

    Andy
    Signature

    nothing to see here.

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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

      Hi Steven,

      I like your initial caveat (no chance anyone will think you're stating it as fact).

      For product selection I thought I'd also point out that in most niches there are actually several products worthy of mention, so if you do your prospects the service of informing them (or reviewing each) of the options, if one goes bust, they can just pick another and you're not stumped for a product to tell them about.

      A lot of people think as an affiliate you just have to pick one product to promote, but that's usually not the case and not even the best thing to do anyway.

      Andy

      Yes, the authority or conduit method that Chris Rempel made a into
      a household name.

      It works very well. The key is to have your reviews really sound unbiased
      and honest. I try to find products that are absolutely horrible to review
      and actually warn people against buying them.

      Actually testing out the products makes this method credible.

      The downside, unless you can get free copies from the creator, is that
      it can get quite expensive.
      Signature
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      • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Yes, the authority or conduit method that Chris Rempel made a into
        a household name.
        Haha, yeah - I forgot people keep coming up with new names for the same things.

        I've been doing affiliate marketing for 10 years and not much has really changed, but every now and again there's a big fuss as someone renames an existing practice and people talk about the 'new' system.
        Signature

        nothing to see here.

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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

          Haha, yeah - I forgot people keep coming up with new names for the same things.

          I've been doing affiliate marketing for 10 years and not much has really changed, but every now and again there's a big fuss as someone renames an existing practice and people talk about the 'new' system.
          Andy, I think they call that marketing.
          Signature
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        • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
          Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

          Haha, yeah - I forgot people keep coming up with new names for the same things.

          I've been doing affiliate marketing for 10 years and not much has really changed, but every now and again there's a big fuss as someone renames an existing practice and people talk about the 'new' system.
          :rolleyes:
          Signature

          Bare Murkage.........

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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Ellis
      Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

      Hi Steven,

      I like your initial caveat (no chance anyone will think you're stating it as fact).

      For product selection I thought I'd also point out that in most niches there are actually several products worthy of mention, so if you do your prospects the service of informing them (or reviewing each) of the options, if one goes bust, they can just pick another and you're not stumped for a product to tell them about.

      A lot of people think as an affiliate you just have to pick one product to promote, but that's usually not the case and not even the best thing to do anyway.

      Andy
      Which is where the benefit of a list comes in...

      Throw up a review page and a buyer is likely only going to make one purchase. A list allows you to promote to the same person multiple times (same product or different).

      I agree with Steve, a list isn't good for all niches, but it REALLY makes a difference to the bottom line for many. (if done correctly)

      Mike
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  • Profile picture of the author Truffle
    thanks for sharing your thoughts on it, they do make a point, don't know if everybody will feel the same way though

    thanks again,
    jobic
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  • Profile picture of the author athibaul
    I found you post quite interesting and instructive.

    It raises some questions though .

    In order to promote 20 to 30 products, do you need other people to work with you or are you able to do this all on your own? Even if you don't target at becoming a true authority in each domain, it might requires a lot of efforts to promote many products at the same time.

    When you say that you sell in several niches where you don't need to build a list before starting selling the product, does it mean the product has to be complementary to other products you are selling? So you can use an already built list?

    You also suggest to sell products you know enough about. You say that you prefer to send prospects to a review of a product or to a video showing the use of the product. Do you expect this material to be provided to the product's owner? Or do you build your own material?

    Alain,
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Alain, some excellent questions. I'll try to answer them from my own
      experience and perspective.


      In order to promote 20 to 30 products, do you need other people to work with you or are you able to do this all on your own? Even if you don't target at becoming a true authority in each domain, it might requires a lot of efforts to promote many products at the same time.
      I work alone. My system is simple for each product. I put up a blog with
      a review of the product, write a few articles that I submit to EZA and
      have the resource box point to the review. At the end of the review I
      have my affiliate link. That's it. If I want to put in a little more effort, I'll
      make a video review of the product and submit it to YouTube.

      When you say that you sell in several niches where you don't need to build a list before starting selling the product, does it mean the product has to be complementary to other products you are selling? So you can use an already built list?
      It can be complimentary to a list you already have OR it can be a product
      you have no list for at all. I sell many products that I have no list for and
      don't build one for. See above for how I do it.

      You also suggest to sell products you know enough about. You say that you prefer to send prospects to a review of a product or to a video showing the use of the product. Do you expect this material to be provided to the product's owner? Or do you build your own material?
      I expect nothing. I do all the work on my own. It's what separates me
      from most affiliates.
      Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    Yet another thread just recently popped up about yet another affiliate
    program that bit the dust and suddenly people are in a panic as if their
    livelihood just got flushed down the toilet.
    Actually, that turned out to be a false alarm. Still, your point remains valid because you never know when an affiliate program, or even a particular product, may vanish.

    1. Selection Of Products - This is probably where most people will not
    agree. You hear many of the knowledgeable marketers say to focus on
    one area and get good at it. There is something to be said for this. If
    you really know one niche and one product really well, you can become a
    true authority on it. The problem with this narrow approach is that if that
    product should happen to go belly up, your stream of income is literally
    shot over night. And there is always a possibility that a whole niche could
    be shot to hell with the advances in technology.

    This is why I promote between 20 and 30 products in various niches. If
    one closes up shop, I don't even feel it. Yes, this means I have to
    diversify my promotional resources and makes it hard to really become an
    authority in any one area (making videos, blog posts, reviews, building
    lists, sending newsletters, and so on) but as I said, the upside is that you
    don't have to worry if one niche goes sour on you.
    This is where some online marketers tend to steer away from "real world" sales and marketing. With single product marketing (unless it's your own), you're stuck in a "take it or leave it" position where you don't have to be. If someone visits your site, doesn't like the product you offering, you don't get a sale. But, if someone visits your site, and you have a selection of products, you have a better chance of getting a sale, because if they don't like one product, they might like another.

    Say, for example, 1 out of 10 people like Product A and 1 out of 10 prefer Product B. If you only offer Product A or Product B, you'll get one sale out of every ten people. But, if you offer both Product A and Product B, you can double your number of sales by getting one sale from every five people (which is 2 sales for every 10 for the mathematically-challenged).

    And, if Product A becomes unavailable, you still have Product B to offer. Maybe even Product C. If you only promoted Product A, you'll be missing sales until you find a Product B to offer. Either that or you'll have to fold that particular website and lose all that you have invested in it (articles, backlinks, etc.)
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    • Profile picture of the author athibaul
      Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

      This is where some online marketers tend to steer away from "real world" sales and marketing. With single product marketing (unless it's your own), you're stuck in a "take it or leave it" position where you don't have to be. If someone visits your site, doesn't like the product you offering, you don't get a sale. But, if someone visits your site, and you have a selection of products, you have a better chance of getting a sale, because if they don't like one product, they might like another.
      Dan,

      From what I read so far, I thought I would be getting a better conversion rate by selling only one product at a time.

      Of course, I could use thank you pages to try to sell other products, but I was under the impression that each product should have its own Web page.

      Am I wrong?

      Alain,
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by athibaul View Post

        Dan,

        From what I read so far, I thought I would be getting a better conversion rate by selling only one product at a time.

        Of course, I could use thank you pages to try to sell other products, but I was under the impression that each product should have its own Web page.

        Am I wrong?

        Alain,
        Conduit sites, selling more than one product, when put together properly,
        can be very effective.

        Either method will work.
        Signature
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      • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
        Originally Posted by athibaul View Post

        each product should have its own Web page.
        Each product CAN have it's own web page.. essentially. But, if you combine a list of 3 or 4 (or 20 if you like, that's how I do it) products on the one site.. you can put yourself in a real good position.

        A list of products page, that links to each individual product page, one at a time.

        When people make buying choices, they often prefer to feel like they are making the decision by themselves. Allow them this courtesy by having various options for them to take.

        Each option is an affiliate sale for you, so it becomes a win-win situation.

        Just recently, on top of other commitments, I've opened 3 new sites containing over 15 affiliate products each, and they are pulling sales in a matter of days because of the highly targeted nature of each individual product page, but with an open feel to the whole site.

        Each site has plenty of variety for people to take their time with and feel comfortable making a decision along the purchasing cycle.

        Peace

        Jay
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        Bare Murkage.........

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        • Profile picture of the author Jagged
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          This is why I promote between 20 and 30 products in various niches. If one closes up shop, I don't even feel it. Yes, this means I have to diversify my promotional resources and makes it hard to really become an
          authority in any one area (making videos, blog posts, reviews, building lists, sending newsletters, and so on) but as I said, the upside is that you don't have to worry if one niche goes sour on you.
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          Every product I sell, and I mean every product...I have at least a basic
          understanding of it and a basic understanding of the problems that nicheis having. In other words, I can talk intelligently about the product to anybody.
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          I work alone. My system is simple for each product. I put up a blog with a review of the product, write a few articles that I submit to EZA and have the resource box point to the review. At the end of the review I have my affiliate link. That's it. If I want to put in a little more effort, I'll make a video review of the product and submit it to YouTube.
          Hi Steven,

          For each of the 20 - 30 products you promote, do you actually purchase each...in order to post reviews on your blogs?
          To some people...laying out the cost of 20-30 products can easily over-extend their budgets...causing them to abandon the "multi product" approach....or post "bogus" reviews, based on hearsay alone.

          In your opinion, could one write a proper review soley by reading up on the product, or through product spec's?

          Thanks,
          Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author Kunle Olomofe
    Steve,

    I don't agree with your opinion re: don't build a list for every niche.

    Yes, if a product is hot, you could just send people to the sales letter from your review page and make money, but, what happens when ANOTHER hot product in that exact niche comes to the market place?

    If you had a list of people who had shown interest previously all you do is mail them and clean up and then you can look for newer prospects as well. If you have no list for that particular niche you have to build traffic again from scratch like you did the first time.

    Say this happens 6 times in 6 years you do the same thing over and over? That's very labor intensive not to talk of other valuable resources like time and likely money you're wasting doing it this way assuming you had to.

    It would be wiser in my own opinion to always build a list if you can whether it be before or after you have made the sale. Always keep a contacts list of interested prospects or even previous buyers. It's only cost effective.

    If you're thinking having a list means sending free content to that list all the time, then you're wrong cos not all niches need that kind of relationship building before the prospects therein will rush to buy from you.

    So bottom line, I'll repeat for the sake of newbies especially, you can never go wrong when you have a way to stay in contact with someone you just met, you can however feel pretty silly if you then need that contact and you didn't bother to keep their details before and/or after the sale.

    I'm talking from real world experience selling in multiple niches, and I've found it's always smarter to cover your rear, 'cos no one else will.;-)

    And oh by the way, if a particular niche has a HOT product and you just do a one off review or marketing strategy, you ARE leaving SOME cash on the table because that same niche is connected in one way or the other to ANOTHER niche, even if you can't sell them ANOTHER niche product (which you should be able to), you can sell them more products in the same niche, hot or not, since you have their details before or after a sale (before is probably better but maybe not for all niches), you can make more money from the same group of people over and over.

    Just my 2 cents,

    Kunle Olomofe
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