Check my strategy

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by matt5409

Does my strategy look good or am I missing anything?

What's your traffic-generation plan?

(I know that you already appreciate that publishing content just on your own site isn't really a traffic-generation plan ... but I don't understand what your plan is? Clearly, it won't be easy, through any kind of SEO, to compete with the huge "industry leaders" of whom everyone's heard?).

Originally Posted by matt5409

look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I don't know to what extent my thoughts will be welcome, Matt

... but the reason I got out of "travel-related niches" a few years ago, as an affiliate, was that I couldn't find a realistic way to resolve the huge "payment reliability/security" issues. My experience was that many people don't book and pay online, but want the security of making a phone-call, speaking to a "real person" and paying a deposit that way. I don't think affiliates often get paid, when that happens?

.

Thanks
1 reply

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matt5409

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

What's your traffic-generation plan?

(I know that you already appreciate that just publishing content on your own site isn't really a traffic-generation plan ... but I don't understand what your plan is? Clearly, it won't be easy, through any kind of SEO, to compete with the huge "industry leaders" of whom everyone's heard?).

I don't know to what extent my thoughts will be welcome, Matt

... but the reason I got out of "travel-related niches" a few years ago, as an affiliate, was that I couldn't find a realistic way to resolve the huge "payment reliability/security" issues. My experience was that many people don't book and pay online, but want the security of making a phone-call, speaking to a "real person" and paying a deposit that way. I don't think affiliates often get paid, when that happens?

.

Thanks Alexa. How do you mean "traffic generation" plan? I'm writing content and guest posting - that's content to index and links to make that content valuable. Does that sound right to you?

In terms of the commission, there is so much hearsay that I just need to test it out, and I'm not passionate enough about anything else to invest this time and money, so niche is unchangeable.

Can you elaborate on traffic generation methods? Do you think *more* blogger outreach would be needed? Thanks!

Thanks
1 reply

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Alexa Smith

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by matt5409

How do you mean "traffic generation" plan? I'm writing content and guest posting - that's content to index and links to make that content valuable. Does that sound right to you?

Guest posting is part of a traffic-generation plan, for sure: it's a type of article marketing. (Sorry - I didn't notice "guest posting" in the OP

).

Writing content isn't really a traffic-generator, in itself, Matt. The only traffic that's ever going to bring you is a little bit of gradual, eventual search-engine traffic, and that's very unlikely to be of much help to you in this market?

Originally Posted by matt5409

In terms of the commission, there is so much hearsay that I just need to test it out

Well, "hearsay" is exactly what you're inviting, isn't it, when you ask people in a forum to describe their experience?

Fair enough, though: I just hope you're a lot luckier with it than I was.

Originally Posted by matt5409

Can you elaborate on traffic generation methods?

Right here: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ffic-tips.html

.

[ 1 ] Thanks

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sunoy14

9 years ago

I like your post schedule. You have planned it out nicely in my opinion. I also like the way you integrated two blogger outreach per month into the the 5 days a week schedule.
I see that your marketing efforts are focused on blogger outreach and social media. Which is good. I think that guest posts should bring you nice traffic. I think social media is good only for the interested people who followed you through your blog (just my opinion. Got very little traffic personally

)
I learned that someone here on warriorforum uses a content syndication strategy. She builds a list of publishers and sends her articles to them to get published. I liked that idea too. Maybe you could try it out like once a month? Some people on the JV section here might have good offers too.

Thanks

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Randall Magwood

9 years ago

Originally Posted by matt5409

Thanks Alexa. How do you mean "traffic generation" plan? I'm writing content and guest posting - that's content to index and links to make that content valuable. Does that sound right to you?

"Traffic generation" simply means how will you be bringing traffic to your site. So, what are your plans? Will you pay for traffic (or visitors to you site)? Do joint ventures? Start an affiliate program? Do blogging solely? What will you do? Forums? Youtube? Video blog? Picture blog? PPC other than Adwords?

I know you want to focus on excellent content - which is good. But what good is it if nobody sees it?

Thanks
1 reply

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matt5409

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Randall Magwood

"Traffic generation" simply means how will you be bringing traffic to your site. So, what are your plans? Will you pay for traffic (or visitors to you site)? Do joint ventures? Start an affiliate program? Do blogging solely? What will you do? Forums? Youtube? Video blog? Picture blog? PPC other than Adwords?

I know you want to focus on excellent content - which is good. But what good is it if nobody sees it?

Well I said I won't be paying for traffic, and I'm an affiliate publisher so being a merchant wouldn't be profitable (or possible). I'm looking at blogging (inc guest posting) and social solely - is this, in your opinion, not enough?

Thanks

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Kevin McNally

9 years ago

Hi Matt

I have experience in this industry, firstly dont worry about being paid as most of the hotels you will promote will be on major affiliate networks such as CJ, Tradedoubler etc....Some of the big sites also have their own in house program.

If you are trying to target general search terms such as " Luxury hotels London" it will be pretty tough to get on page one as most of the big established sites appear with lots of authority, if you are trying to rank for the hotel keyword you will likely be competing with trip advisor and often the official sites. You also have hotels who have good seo appearing on google maps for many keywords.

However there a lot of long tail keywords and if your site has quality content over time you will start to see traffic. You need to know how these sites convert and the average booking to calculate your ROI if you are investing in unique content etc.....

For example a luxury weekend in Edinburgh may cost £400 with 5% cut so you make £20, the same luxury hotel may be £800 in London so you make £40 per booking.

Also consider this option, a family of 4 booking a luxury 14 night stay in Spain through a tour operator could spend £4000 with flights and hotel included and you could make £200 with this booking with some affiliate programs.

I have made as much as £200 per booking and as little as under a pound per booking with travel affiliates so this is pretty important.

A highly competitive market but luxury keywords and high end holidays is the way to go , all the best.

Thanks

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positivenegative

9 years ago

Originally Posted by matt5409

I'm building a website featuring luxury hotels which I'm going to link through to sites like LateRooms.com. There will be a nice filtered search enabling users to narrow down their choices, and there will also be a blog which I'll post to regularly with relevant content.

- 8 hotel reviews per month
- 4 blog posts per month
- 6 related attractions per month (essentially things to do near a hotel)
- 2 blogger outreach per month (essentially get guest posts)

Naturally I will have a Twitter and Facebook feed which I will publish my reviews and blog posts on, plus any industry news.

The above is all very well and good but it WONT get you anywhere near the level of traffic needed to earn reasonable money, or expand into an authority site.

There are blogs connected with aspects of the travel industry that pay you to write, and handsomely. The right blogs that is. You use the blogs (high profile, mega traffic blogs) via the links that accompany your article(s), to attract visitors to your website. Done correctly you will get several million views a week, consistently, and hundreds of thousands of hits to your website every week. Obviously you would also have the addition of social media traffic. You should then be monetising your site through visitors, and in particular by selling a range of your own e-books on your site.

The content you have on your site is all important. The last thing you want is run-of-the-mill dross about run-of-the-mill attractions that are near to the hotels you feature. There's a MUCH MORE NOVEL way to go about it, and this is a way that will provide you with numerous other income streams.

I'm investing just over £1k

Do you think it is reasonable to expect results after 6 months?

I'm aiming for commissions of £200-£300/month by this point.

You need 5-8k.

You can expect reults within 6 weeks.

You can anticipate earnings of £10k+ a month at that point. Probably substantially more.

[ 1 ] Thanks
2 replies

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Kevin McNally

9 years ago

Originally Posted by positivenegative

The above is all very well and good but it WONT get you anywhere near the level of traffic needed to earn reasonable money, or expand into an authority site.

There are blogs connected with aspects of the travel industry that pay you to write, and handsomely. The right blogs that is. You use the blogs (high profile, mega traffic blogs) via the links that accompany your article(s), to attract visitors to your website. Done correctly you will get several million views a week, consistently, and hundreds of thousands of hits to your website every week. Obviously you would also have the addition of social media traffic. You should then be monetising your site through visitors, and in particular by selling a range of your own e-books on your site.

The content you have on your site is all important. The last thing you want is run-of-the-mill dross about run-of-the-mill attractions that are near to the hotels you feature. There's a MUCH MORE NOVEL way to go about it, and this is a way that will provide you with numerous other income streams.

You need 5-8k.

You can expect reults within 6 weeks.

You can anticipate earnings of £10k+ a month at that point. Probably substantially more.

Virtually No chance you will earn £10k per month within 6 weeks, you would need to have sales revenue likely in the 500k range to earn that. If you sell £500,000 worth of hotel bookings you would be paid between 1-5% so thats going to take a lot of traffic to say the least, possible over the long term but unless you are top 3 in google for a buyers keyword you would need hundreds of bookings and without PPC thats hard to achieve in 6 weeks.

Thanks
1 reply

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positivenegative

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kevin McNally

Virtually No chance you will earn £10k per month within 6 weeks, you would need to have sales revenue likely in the 500k range to earn that. If you sell £500,000 worth of hotel bookings you would be paid between 1-5% so thats going to take a lot of traffic to say the least, possible over the long term but unless you are top 3 in google for a buyers keyword you would need hundreds of bookings and without PPC thats hard to achieve in 6 weeks.

I NEVER said it was through hotel bookings, so BEFORE you mouth off be sure of your facts.

I've helped several people on WF turn no-hoper travel orientated websites into very successful business's, and it's simply with the addition of something that can be allied to the travel industry.

FYI, I've personally sold in excess of 500k with the ideas and products I'm talking about, and have the sales copies, receipts and figures to prove it. I can also point to categoric online proof where many of my articles are, but . . .

(a) I don't have to prove it to you, or on an open forum

and . . .

(b) Just because YOU are incapable of doing something similar, it doesn't mean others can't do it.

Originally Posted by Kevin McNally

Can you share these travel blogs that generate millions of visitors with guest posts ?

You're welcome to PM me with a view to corresponding, but why exactly would I want to cripple my own market by sharing my methods and blogs to all and sundry on WF?

Thanks
1 reply

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Kevin McNally

9 years ago

Originally Posted by positivenegative

I NEVER said it was through hotel bookings, so BEFORE you mouth off be sure of your facts.

I've helped several people on WF turn a no-hoper travel orientated website into a very successful business's, and it's simply with the addition of something that can be allied to the travel industry.

FYI, I've personally sold in excess of 500k with the ideas and products I'm talking about, and have the sales copies, receipts and figures to prove it. I can also point to categoric online proof where many of my articles are, but . . .

(a) I don't have to prove it to you, or on an open forum

and . . .

(b) Just because YOU are incapable of doing something similar, it doesn't mean others can't do it.

Sorry you took my reply the wrong way no offence was intended but I stick by my opinion that a new website will struggle to earn 10k per month within 6 weeks, you also said there are travel blogs that can produce several million visitors with guest posts so feel free to share these urls it would help everyone in this niche.

Just for the record I have made over 10k per month previously in my best months with travel affiliate programs so I know what I am talking about.

Thanks
1 reply

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positivenegative

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kevin McNally

Sorry you took my reply the wrong way no offence was intended

None taken.

Originally Posted by Kevin McNally

you also said there are travel blogs that can produce several million visitors with guest posts so feel free to share these urls it would help everyone in this niche.

Wrong again. I said there are blogs connected with aspects of the travel industry, NOT travel blogs. There is a difference.

Originally Posted by Kevin McNally

Just for the record I have made over 10k per month previously in my best months with travel affiliate programs so I know what I am talking about.

If you're happy with that, then fine.

Affiliate programs should reflect just a tiny percentage of your overall income when operating travel related websites. There are numerous other very good methods for monetisation.

Thanks
1 reply

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Kevin McNally

9 years ago

Originally Posted by positivenegative

None taken.

Wrong again. I said there are blogs connected with aspects of the travel industry, NOT travel blogs. There is a difference.

If you're happy with that, then fine.

Affiliate programs should reflect just a tiny percentage of your overall income when operating travel related websites. There are numerous other very good methods for monetisation.

No problem, I think the OP is looking to promote luxury hotels as an affiliate so he needs traffic that will convert. If you know of some sites that can generate millions of views per article feel free to share the url, not your actual article or post of course.

[ 1 ] Thanks

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Alexa Smith

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by positivenegative

There are blogs connected with aspects of the travel industry that pay you to write, and handsomely. The right blogs that is. You use the blogs (high profile, mega traffic blogs) via the links that accompany your article(s), to attract visitors to your website. Done correctly you will get several million views a week, consistently, and hundreds of thousands of hits to your website every week. Obviously you would also have the addition of social media traffic. You should then be monetising your site through visitors, and in particular by selling a range of your own e-books on your site.

Now that is what I call a traffic-generation plan.

.

Thanks
1 reply

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Kevin McNally 9 years ago

Hi

Can you share these travel blogs that generate millions of visitors with guest posts ?
- [ 1 ] Thanks
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matt5409

9 years ago

Well this thread turned a bit sour. I think what we're after is practical, actionable tips - not ideas shrouded in mystery. I'm really not interested in marketeers closely guarding their secrets but just giving enough away to make others self-doubt; that's the opposite of cool, and the opposite of helpful.

Positive negative and Alexa, as much as I appreciate you taking time to input, it isn't useful to me because nothing about it is tangible. You're speaking in a rather veiled way about quite ethereal concepts, and peppering it with shiny possibilities about high earning in short spaces of time. Anybody would think you've got something to sell.

Kevin - mind if I PM you later to discuss further?

Thanks again all

Thanks
1 reply

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Alexa Smith

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by matt5409

You're speaking in a rather veiled way about quite ethereal concepts, and peppering it with shiny possibilities about high earning in short spaces of time.

Not so. I made absolutely no reference to high earnings at all. On the contrary, in fact: I told you that I had, myself, abandoned your niche mostly over payment difficulties and because I wasn't earning from it (or, at least, not being reliably paid).

You asked for people's experiences. I offered mine and was rather surprised to see it dismissed, within minutes, as "hearsay", which left me wondering why on Earth you'd asked and how anyone's opinion - offered in a forum in response to a request - could possibly be anything other than that.

Originally Posted by matt5409

Anybody would think you've got something to sell.

Then "anybody" would be mistaken: I have nothing to sell or promote here at all, and never have done. I've never even done a WSO. I was simply trying to help. "Selling something" is one thing you can't accuse me of. Well, you can if you want, I suppose, but people will (rightly) laugh at you.

I have absolutely no idea at all where your sudden and most unexpected hostility came from, but on the assumption that you were "just having a bad day" (which can happen to anyone), I'll just leave it there and wish you well.

.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

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matt5409

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

Not so. I made absolutely no reference to high earnings at all. On the contrary, in fact: I told you that I had, myself, abandoned your niche mostly over payment difficulties and because I wasn't earning from it (or, at least, not being reliably paid).

You asked for people's experiences. I offered mine and was rather surprised to see it dismissed, within minutes, as "hearsay", which left me wondering why on Earth you'd asked and how anyone's opinion - offered in a forum in response to a request - could possibly be anything other than that.

Then "anybody" would be mistaken: I have nothing to sell or promote here at all, and never have done. I've never even done a WSO. I was simply trying to help. "Selling something" is one thing you can't accuse me of. Well, you can if you want, I suppose, but people will (rightly) laugh at you.

I have absolutely no idea at all where your sudden and most unexpected hostility came from, but on the assumption that you were "just having a bad day" (which can happen to anyone), I'll just leave it there and wish you well.

.

Well I was clearly talking about Positivenegative when I referred to high earnings.

But Alexa I mean this is in the nicest possible way - your response was not so helpful (though I do appreciate the bit about telephone booking). You can't simply ask what my plans for traffic generation are, when I've laid bare my plan in the opening post. What I want now, from helpful and experienced members of the community, is input on areas I have missed. Whilst I realise there is value to counter-questioning; to making people think, this is not really what I've asked for. If traffic generation appears to be a flaw, give me your actionable points on this.

Kevin's response was useful; he provided figures, he spoke candidly and he modestly dropped in how much he has earned and what he believes he can earn.

Let's be humble, and supportive, and not vague or heated in our communications.

(Which reminds me that I too, should be spending more time on here offering my support as a web developer.)

Thanks
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Alexa Smith

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by matt5409

If traffic generation appears to be a flaw, give me your actionable points on this.

I won't. I offered input. It wasn't what you wanted to hear. Most bizzarely, you dismissed it as "hearsay" (how could it not have been?!); you turned hostile; you misquoted me; and then you even had the gall to accuse me - ridiculously - of "trying to sell something"! And now you're telling me we need to be "humble" and "supportive"?

You can ask others for help (and in your position, I'd definitely be asking PositiveNegative rather than Kevin): for myself, I've had enough of your behaviour in this thread.

.

Thanks
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Kevin McNally

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

I won't. I offered input. It wasn't what you wanted to hear. Most bizzarely, you dismissed it as "hearsay" (how could it not have been?!); you turned hostile; you misquoted me; and then you even had the gall to accuse me - ridiculously - of "trying to sell something"! And now you're telling me we need to be "humble" and "supportive"? <b>You can ask others for help (and in your position, I'd definitely be asking PositiveNegative rather than Kevin):</b> for myself, I've had enough of your behaviour in this thread.

.

lol that sums it up Alexa you have no idea who is better qualified to offer advice in this area yet you couldnt resist it.

Matt I will PM you some info.

Thanks
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positivenegative

9 years ago

Originally Posted by matt5409

I'm really not interested in marketeers closely guarding their secrets

Positive negative and Alexa, as much as I appreciate you taking time to input, it isn't useful to me because nothing about it is tangible. You're speaking in a rather veiled way about quite ethereal concepts, and peppering it with shiny possibilities about high earning in short spaces of time. Anybody would think you've got something to sell.

Your attitude is really beyond belief. Do you honestly think that anyone is going to come on a popular public forum and give successful marketing methods and practices out to all and sundry.

Perhaps if you'd taken the time to enquire discreetly for further details with a PM, then you'd now be excitedly setting about implementing new methods to increase both your traffic and productivity - as opposed to alienating yourself to many on here with rude, dismissive behaviour towards those trying to help you.

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

You can ask others for help (and in your position, I'd definitely be asking PositiveNegative rather than Kevin): for myself, I've had enough of your behaviour in this thread.

Originally Posted by Kevin McNally

lol that sums it up Alexa you have no idea who is better qualified to offer advice in this area yet you couldnt resist it.

Wow, rather peeved aren't we that Alexa thinks that someone else's advice is preferable to yours. You can't hold a candle to the number of "thanks" received for useful posts and help provided on the forum by Alexa, and are also so far up your own backside with your inflated sense of importance on the subject of travel sites, that it's completely clouded your judgement.

Just because you've worked within the travel sphere it in no way makes you an expert within this field. You've also several times in the thread completely misquoted me (I could refer to it more impolitely as "downright lies"), yet are still so arrogant as to believe you are right and others are wrong.

FYI, I've been a member here for over 10 years. Under my previous username (the clue is in my user title) I helped numerous writers on the forum discover a way to vastly increase exposure to their work via many of the highest traffic blogs in the world. I'm also a successful self- published author of over 80 travel related titles, including several best-sellers, and know more about the writing and publishing industry (and associated marketing of such) than you could ever dream of learning. Perhaps this is why Alexa thinks I'm better qualified to give advice on the subject, Mr McNally.

I know a lot of other WF members who could have helped both yourself and the OP in many small but significant ways. The chances of that happening now are zero as you've succeeded only in gaining a reputation for stupidity.

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Kevin McNally

9 years ago

Sure Matt, feel free to PM me.

All the best

Thanks

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matt5409

9 years ago

Alexa and Positivenegative - you're both basically WAY too up yourselves.

Veteran forum users. Well-respected. Etc.

You win trust with half-truths, sensationally written to excite and confuse those without experience. It's really quite an interesting strategy to behold, but it's not going to work on me unfortunately. Unlike starry-eyed marketeers susceptible to all kinds of discombobulation, I prefer my discussions to be frank, honest and backed up by evidence. Neither of you do this. So I don't need your kind of help, thanks.

I'll PM you now, Kevin.

Thanks
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positivenegative

9 years ago

Originally Posted by matt5409

You win trust with half-truths, sensationally written to excite and confuse those without experience. It's really quite an interesting strategy to behold, but it's not going to work on me unfortunately..

Win trust? Half-truths? Sensationally written to excite? WTF medication are you taking, because you're talking like a simpleton who's under the influence of something.

I sell nothing on here, and never have. I link to nothing, and never have. I stand to gain absolutely nothing for any advice I offer.

It seems you obviously have some mental deficiency that refuses to let the following information register:

I stated that I knew of methods to gain extremely high traffic.

I stated that you could anticipate high earnings.

I stated that high profile blogs were the main source of the traffic.

I stated that I could provide categoric proof of the success of these methods.

I stated that I was NOT willing to explain these exact methods on a public forum.

I provided sufficient information that if you were further interested you could have contacted me and I would have happily pointed you in the right direction and given you all the relevant details.

Do you honestly believe for one minute that I should have listed that information here, where thousands can read it and use those methods, subsequently saturating those markets for myself and others who currently benefit from them. If so you're a complete clown.

To knock those of us simply because some are vastly more experienced than you, have the answers that you evidently don't and they won't relay them to you on an open forum, is a clear sign of extreme immaturity coupled with a degree of petulance that points to the reasons why YOU are asking the questions, and OTHERS have the answers.

I use most of any time spent on WF in the OTF. The reason why? . . . because there are a few educated people in there who can hold a decent discussion, and because on my rare visits to the main board there's always a strong possibility of encountering an obnoxious fool like you - sadly a far more frequent happening than it used to be.

I'd like to wish you good luck for the future but with an attitude like yours you'll need far more than luck alone.

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pilot47

9 years ago

It was interesting to see how people fight over one guy... as to whom should give him advice...
I almost grabbed a popcorn.

In my opinion, advice should be welcomed at all time and from everyone... and then make up your mind if it's useful or not... not try to judge it even before you got it...

Thanks

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