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Not So Sure About Newspaper Advertising For Affiliate Products

by Jon Tees
4 replies
People have told me to advertise affiliate products in free or low cost classified sections of local newspapers, and present the items as though I am the actual seller as opposed to the middle man/affiliate, in order to save money. Although, I have sold a few things this way I have mostly attracted the attention of hard headed scam artists and time wasters, who have no intention of actually purchasing what is up for sale. Many of these people would rather play games of telephone tag by calling at odd times when I would unlikely to be available, and giving me incorrect phone numbers and times when they know they won't be available to call them back. I've given these people web addresses to go to and purchase the items, but they never purchase them and either keep calling and never responding when I call back or call once, don't leave a message and never call back. I'm beginning to have doubts about using this method and may cease and desist for products that I don't have 100% control over. Has anyone had any luck with selling affiliate or their own products and services by using newspaper and trade paper classifieds?
#advertising #affiliate #newspaper #products
  • Profile picture of the author R Hagel
    Hi Jon,

    Have you considered using a two-step method? Instead of selling an affiliate product directly, offer something for free to build your mailing list (either an email list or a snail mail list). Then follow up to close the sale.

    You're likely to get a better converison rate than straight-out direct response ads... especially if you're posting short ads (as there's not enough room to properly sell or pre-sell the product).

    Cheers,
    Becky
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  • Profile picture of the author TheDebtEliminator
    Greetings Jon,

    It really depends on how many unrelated niches you are currently working with?

    I would build a short report (you could use PLR as a template, but make it original) or have it outsourced. The length should be somewhere between 10 to 30 pages, that you could use for a giveaway or bribe ... to obtain the persons name and e-mail address.

    Then use an autoresponder, to send several meaningful messages or small articles that would tend to the build up your friendship and value with your new client.

    It would then be time to submit the offer, next send more free content, then follow up a few days later with another offer or a repeat of the one that you started with.

    Just try to keep sending out your offers with day limit of once a week, and continue to give the people content, so they will look forward to receiving your e-mails.

    Wishing you all the best ... Ron
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  • Profile picture of the author Margo Tuul
    Yes, advertising in local newspaper works. But you don't need to list your phone number there. If you are doing affiliate marketing, then you are not the product owner anyway. They will see it, when they buy this product. So why should you give them your phone number?
    Just get your website URL up and email. That's all. If they want to buy, they will visit your site.

    Don't only go with newspapers. Lets say your niche is fitness or weight loss, then advertise in local gyms. Get some kind of ad up there. I got a lot of sales like this. And if you use your brain...then you can do it in every niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeLiving
    Affiliate marketing through paper ads can most definitely be accomplished. We had a strange occurrence happen in my town. All of the movie rental places shut down within weeks of each other. I'm talking like four of them went out of business in a two month period.

    So I worked up a trusty sales letter and blanketed the town with flyers and newspaper ads. I was promoting a netflix offer and did quite well for myself. So it definitely can be done, but a little market research might be beneficial.
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