11 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
11 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

'how to' sites converting?

by MonopolyMan
9 replies
I started a couple of 'how to' niche sites a few months back and with things slowly dripping through they're starting to rank now.

So I've taken three of them to start with.

1) 2.6k+ uniques dog training (growing quickly)

2) 1.5k+ weight loss

3) 1k self help

That's the traffic they're getting per month so far and they're all 'how to xxxxxx' keyphrases. They are all sitting position 3-5 at the moment and I'm trying to work out if it's worth the work to push them to #1.

The problem is I've tried the Google Sniper style review with a Clickbank product and the same thing with Amazon products. Both targeted but it's not converting.

I know I should be building a list with them, and I'm starting to do that, but I'm getting next to 0 sales with these. I see the benefits to having a list but if it's not going to convert on organic searches at all I'm not sure a list is the answer.

Is this traffic too low to really test the niche or is a 'how to' just never going to convert for me?

Thanks in advance for any help.
#converting #sites
  • Profile picture of the author matt5409
    Hi there, how much traffic per day/week/month are you getting - I assume you've listed totals here?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3864586].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MonopolyMan
    1) 2.6k+ uniques dog training (growing quickly)

    2) 1.5k+ weight loss

    3) 1k self help

    Uniques per month at the moment. There's more at the #1 positions but I'm trying to determine if it's worth the effort to try and get there.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3864604].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Vanessa Reece
    I have some how-to sites too and I list build with them. They're not even big lists either, but they still work for me. But I have to work at them. Meaning, if I don't give I don't get anything back.

    Occasionally I get a sale through the site directly via a product review but sales tend to happen when you offer more 'juicy exclusives' through an opt-in. Give them something very cool for free, do an auto-responder series and use that to sell through. With anything its testing, trying, and testing again Heck I'm still learning too.

    I think you have something great going on though - so good luck

    V
    Signature


    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3864615].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MonopolyMan
    Thanks for the reply ITS-V.

    Looks like I'll need to finally get into email marketing. Time for an Aweber account, an overlay plugin and at least a few headaches I'm sure.

    It seems strange that they'd convert when offered through email but not when they come looking for the exact product I'm selling. I'll start testing and see how it goes.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3864780].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Vanessa Reece
      Originally Posted by MonopolyMan View Post

      Thanks for the reply ITS-V.

      Looks like I'll need to finally get into email marketing. Time for an Aweber account, an overlay plugin and at least a few headaches I'm sure.

      It seems strange that they'd convert when offered through email but not when they come looking for the exact product I'm selling. I'll start testing and see how it goes.
      Well I dunno if I'm being fluffy but I find once I'm giving people on my lists some extra juice it gets their wallets pumping a bit more. Like I said, I'm still testing and I'm by no means rolling on a heap of dollar bills (or British currency in my case ) but I've found email very effective for lots of things. Not just CB stuff but my own little ebooks and coaching.

      Many successful IM'ers will say that lists build trust and I agree (as long as they are not abused by the owner). Trust encourages sales. I know there are some IM'ers who's lists I'm on that have shared so much great free info I have no hesitation buying something if I need it for a project.

      I also would ask too if you've actually purchased the products you're trying to review? Personally I think it adds more weight and you are more likely to be objective which is great to be when reviewing. Of course there are ways around and exceptions to that, as with anything, but it maybe something to bear in mind.

      If you need any help just pm me. I'd be more than happy to share things that have worked for me.

      You are most welcome.

      V
      Signature


      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3864816].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rich8169
    You may want to consider other affiliate programs or incorporate other advertising programs like Kontera or Infolinks which is less intrusive but might increase ur stream of IM revenue...

    Cheers!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3864820].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JamieSEO
    Originally Posted by MonopolyMan View Post

    I started a couple of 'how to' niche sites a few months back and with things slowly dripping through they're starting to rank now.

    So I've taken three of them to start with.

    1) 2.6k+ uniques dog training (growing quickly)

    2) 1.5k+ weight loss

    3) 1k self help

    That's the traffic they're getting per month so far and they're all 'how to xxxxxx' keyphrases. They are all sitting position 3-5 at the moment and I'm trying to work out if it's worth the work to push them to #1.

    Is this traffic too low to really test the niche or is a 'how to' just never going to convert for me?

    Thanks in advance for any help.
    Good traffic + low conversions =

    a) The traffic is not relevant - check both your bounce rate, time on site and traffic demographics (age, gender, country, etc)

    b) Your keyword is not a "buying" keyword - eg. "how to trim your toe nails"

    c) Your traffic is not interested in the product type being offered

    d) Your traffic is not interested in the specific product on offer

    How do you figure out where the problem is?

    Dead easy - ASK!

    On your site throw an exit popup or banner in your sidebar for visitors to complete a quick survey to be entered into a draw to win an amazon gift voucher/free ebook/whatever. Create a quick multiple choice survey:

    1 - How did you find this site? google/forum/etc
    2 - How often do you visit this site? once/monthly/weekly/etc
    3 - Why did you visit this site? looking for info/wanting to buy/etc
    4 - Do you find the content on the site useful? yes/no
    5 - How could the content be improved for you?
    6 - How many products have you purchased about this topic in the past 12 months?
    7 - How many FREE products have you downloaded about this topic in the past 12 months?
    8 - Are there any other products you would like to see on this site?
    9 - Any other comments?

    After 1 month use a random number generator to draw a winner out of the entries.

    Use the info you get from the survey to refine your site.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3864976].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MonopolyMan
      Originally Posted by ITS-V View Post

      Well I dunno if I'm being fluffy but I find once I'm giving people on my lists some extra juice it gets their wallets pumping a bit more. Like I said, I'm still testing and I'm by no means rolling on a heap of dollar bills (or British currency in my case ) but I've found email very effective for lots of things. Not just CB stuff but my own little ebooks and coaching.

      Many successful IM'ers will say that lists build trust and I agree (as long as they are not abused by the owner). Trust encourages sales. I know there are some IM'ers who's lists I'm on that have shared so much great free info I have no hesitation buying something if I need it for a project.

      I also would ask too if you've actually purchased the products you're trying to review? Personally I think it adds more weight and you are more likely to be objective which is great to be when reviewing. Of course there are ways around and exceptions to that, as with anything, but it maybe something to bear in mind.

      If you need any help just pm me. I'd be more than happy to share things that have worked for me.

      You are most welcome.

      V
      One I bought and review copies for the other two.

      Thanks for the advice, I'll need to make sure I get some good information on the auto responder.

      Originally Posted by rich8169 View Post

      You may want to consider other affiliate programs or incorporate other advertising programs like Kontera or Infolinks which is less intrusive but might increase ur stream of IM revenue...

      Cheers!
      Thanks for the advice, I think if I was going to try ppc I'd start with adsense though. It's competitive niches so the cpc is decent at least, but the traffic is pretty low for ppc I think.

      Originally Posted by JamieSEO View Post

      Good traffic + low conversions =

      a) The traffic is not relevant - check both your bounce rate, time on site and traffic demographics (age, gender, country, etc)

      b) Your keyword is not a "buying" keyword - eg. "how to trim your toe nails"

      c) Your traffic is not interested in the product type being offered

      d) Your traffic is not interested in the specific product on offer

      How do you figure out where the problem is?

      Dead easy - ASK!

      On your site throw an exit popup or banner in your sidebar for visitors to complete a quick survey to be entered into a draw to win an amazon gift voucher/free ebook/whatever. Create a quick multiple choice survey:

      1 - How did you find this site? google/forum/etc
      2 - How often do you visit this site? once/monthly/weekly/etc
      3 - Why did you visit this site? looking for info/wanting to buy/etc
      4 - Do you find the content on the site useful? yes/no
      5 - How could the content be improved for you?
      6 - How many products have you purchased about this topic in the past 12 months?
      7 - How many FREE products have you downloaded about this topic in the past 12 months?
      8 - Are there any other products you would like to see on this site?
      9 - Any other comments?

      After 1 month use a random number generator to draw a winner out of the entries.

      Use the info you get from the survey to refine your site.
      I don't run analytics but I like the idea of the survey thanks. I think I'll try to get that one put together.

      As for the traffic it is certainly the exact thing they're looking for, it's completely relevant for all three. I do know that 'how to' is not a buying keyword but at least two of them I would consider a 'desperate' niche.

      Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll start building a list on all three and see how that goes.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3865152].message }}

Trending Topics