I Never Had Any Luck With Clickbank - Any suggestions?

27 replies
Okay so I have been into Amazon associates for a while now.. and made some money with it. I have always wanted to make money from Clickbank, but I never got a single sale. Ever.
Here's what I have done so far:

I have tried setting up PPC campaign in facebook for few days, no sales.

I have tried setting up a product review page and SEO, ends up getting lots of click with no sales at all for 4 months since it went live.

I have tried putting my links in a bulletin sent by a relevant youtube channel to its thousand subscribers.. no sales.

Maybe I'm not trying hard enough, or are my methods just not good enough? Did I miss something?

Thoughts would be appreciated.
Andrew


EDIT:
Originally Posted by 25/6/2011:

Hey guys I finally made my first comission with clickbank!

It's only $26 but it removes my mental block and I am really happy now
#clickbank #luck #suggestions
  • Profile picture of the author techservice
    Yes - Don't stop trying! thats it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by andrewpgpg View Post

    Did I miss something?
    It's really very hard for people to know this without seeing everything you've done, Andrew.

    Briefly, making steady money from promoting Clickbank products depends on three main things:-

    1. Selecting the right products to promote in the first place (if you get that wrong, then no matter how well you do everything else, you can't make a living. My suggestion for selecting products are here, if they help you);

    2. Effective pre-selling to targeted traffic;

    3. Building lists and establishing relationships with your subscribers, so that they trust and respect you, and buy on the strength of your recommendations.

    They're not "optional": you really do need to do all three of these things, to make any "real money" as a Clickbank affiliate.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dimitris Skiadas
    Have you done a proper market research to see if the product you are trying to promote is in demand from the market?Is your squeeze page set up correctly?In the Facebook PPC campaign you have set up, did you target the right people?People interested in this niche?

    Ask your self these questions and try to re-evaluate the situation..It needs some time before the sales start rolling in.Do not give up,try more

    Dimitris
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    • Profile picture of the author andrewpgpg
      Originally Posted by Garage667 View Post

      Have you done a proper market research to see if the product you are trying to promote is in demand from the market?Is your squeeze page set up correctly?In the Facebook PPC campaign you have set up, did you target the right people?People interested in this niche?

      Ask your self these questions and try to re-evaluate the situation..It needs some time before the sales start rolling in.Do not give up,try more

      Dimitris
      I went to quantcast and check the demographic of the sales page of popular product in clickbank, then put them in facebook targeting, as suggested by a WSO I read. Thanks for the encouragement by the way


      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      It's really very hard for people to know this without seeing everything you've done, Andrew.

      Briefly, making steady money from promoting Clickbank products depends on three main things:-

      1. Selecting the right products to promote in the first place (if you get that wrong, then no matter how well you do everything else, you can't make a living. My suggestion for selecting products are here, if they help you);

      2. Effective pre-selling to targeted traffic;

      3. Building lists and establishing relationships with your subscribers, so that they trust and respect you, and buy on the strength of your recommendations.

      They're not "optional": you really do need to do all three of these things, to make any "real money" as a Clickbank affiliate.
      Thanks Alexa, will check it out. I don't really have any experience of pre-selling and building relationship with my list (maybe that's why I have better luck with Amazon). However I realized that those things are very important; so I'm really looking to improve myself in these area.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by andrewpgpg View Post

        Thanks Alexa, will check it out. I don't really have any experience of pre-selling and building relationship with my list (maybe that's why I have better luck with Amazon).
        I would think so.

        In the case of Clickbank, one is (largely) selling products to people on the strength of one's relationship with them and the trust and confidence that they have in one. (Of course, they have to be people with a specific interest or problem in "that niche" to start with, otherwise one's trying to convert untargeted traffic, which is a forlorn task indeed, with most Clickbank products).

        With Amazon, I think one is much more "trying to be the person to whom a commission becomes payable over a sale which was probably going to occur anyway, one way or another", i.e. the targeting of the traffic is even more significant but "the strength/credibility of the relationship" often far less important.

        So they're really two very different marketing processes (albeit perhaps with some similarities, too), as I see it.
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        • Profile picture of the author Dax Brathwaite
          I've sold a few clickbank stuff which all turned out to be scams from what I'm hearing. So you have to be careful in that arena. I would say if you build a list and promote something to it, make sure the product you are promoting works or your list might view you as the scammer even if it's not your product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Eduardo2
    I'd ask you these questions:

    WHO are you trying to sell to?
    WHAT is their problem which you want to suggest a solution?
    WHERE do they hang out on the web?

    you need to think why on earth would someone want what you are selling and adjust your sales funnel to it.
    in your sites did you presell, put a banner, or did a "sales copy"?

    in your traffic campaign, did you target specific demographics or likes\interests?
    what did you do for an adcopy and your title?

    Looks for good models around, look at what competitors are doing, and where are they advertising...
    when you work something out look for the first couple of sales. once you get some sales you know you're on to something and keep on going from there.

    The secret in internet marketing is the MARKETING thingie.
    That's what i would suggest for you to strengthen up in
    Don't go bashing your head on a wall, look at what professionals do and learn from them.

    hope this helps
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    Clickbank is a big trial and error game.

    It depends on many factors, the product itself, their landing page, YOUR landing page/pre-sell, your web site visitors.

    Some products convert 1:50 or on avg. 1:80...and in some tough niches it can take to 1:500 or worse to convert, eg. for very over-saturated niches like weight loss.

    Tip:

    Choose a product which solves a problem, for example a health remedy or a software which solves a computer problem. They do pretty well for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        To the OP. Please read Alexa's reply and take it to heart. She really hit the
        nail squarely on the head.

        And I'll add one other thing.

        Learn to write well.

        Marketing all comes down to one thing...communication.

        If you can effectively communicate with your target market, provided that
        you...

        1. Know who they are
        2. Know what they want
        3. Know what hot buttons to push

        You can sell to them, even products that, sadly, may not even be that
        good, though I don't recommend it.

        Why?

        Because people buy on emotion, not logic. That's why there is an old
        saying..."Features tell...stories sell."

        You want to appeal to these people on an emotional level and the best
        way to do that is by gaining their trust.

        Let them get to know you.
        Show some REAL proof that the product works.

        For the second one, if you can demonstrate the product in video form,
        that would help greatly.

        Why do you think all those TV infomercials work so well? You can actually
        SEE the product being used and can SEE that it works.

        For example, if you're selling a product that shows people how to get
        massive views at YouTube, actually showing them a video that YOU made
        that got massive views is a GREAT selling tool.

        Think about it. If you can't show people that you've achieved results with
        the product, why should they believe you.

        I could go into a lot more detail but I don't want to turn this reply into a
        book.

        But the problem is NOT Clickbank. The problem is HOW you're promoting.

        And as Alexa said, without knowing EVERYTHING that you've done, there
        is no way to tell you what you're doing wrong.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joe Benjamin
    Steven and Alexa really nailed it.

    The only thing I would add is, to compliment Stevens
    post, is to learn how to sell...and sell *well*.

    Selling and marketing IS the cornerstone of profits...

    rather you like it or not (and most people don't).

    i had the EXACT same problem you have with click-
    bank doing the EXACT same thing you did to do it...

    using product review pages and SEO.

    Then something clicked. I started WRITING my sales
    messages that tapped into what I knew would drive
    people to BUY the products I was selling.

    And, clickbank sales went through the roof.

    It was a combination of right targeting and and sales.

    Some people get REALLY good driving traffic, but are
    no good in sales.

    Some are GREAT at sales, but have no idea how to
    target.

    When you blend BOTH you'll send a ton of clickbank
    products...even what some what tell you are "over-
    saturated".

    Nothing's *over-saturated*. People STILL buy on
    emotions, feelings, and relationships.

    Study human psychology. Take notes from masters
    at it like Tony Robbins and top marketers like Frank
    Kern...

    and Alexa and Steven .

    As Steven also said...

    when you get to the point, if you're persistent
    enough, where you can sell ice to an eskimo...

    don't. Resist the urge to USE peoples psyche for
    less than positive reasons.

    Grab *How To Make Friends And Influence People*.
    A POWERFUL book and lesson on human psychology.

    Soon...you'll make so much money with clickbank or
    any other *bank* you'll wonder why you struggled
    trying to figure it out.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ti
    The key to making cash off of Clickbank, hordes of cash, is this:

    Find a niche product
    Build a matching niche content site
    Promote niche product on your niche content website

    Seriously, it is that simple.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nail Yener
    The first money I have ever made online was with Clickbank. I am not a Clickbank expert but from what I've learned up to now, if you really want to succeed with Clickbank, you need to pay attention to the following things:
    • Have a personal interest in what you will promote.
    • Buy and try the product before attempting to promote it.
    • Don't try to sell it on your landing page, compose an honest review about it and recommend it.
    • Offer bonuses to those who buy via your link. Even a simple short report work wonders.

    These are not requirements to make money with Clickbank but they will help a lot.
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  • Profile picture of the author Khoa
    Andrew,

    Yes, you tried hard to make money for YOURSELF, but you probably forget creating/providing good stuff for people.

    You can't make any money unless you help people achieve their goals and solve their problems.
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    • Profile picture of the author goindeep
      Originally Posted by Khoa View Post

      Andrew,

      Yes, you tried hard to make money for YOURSELF, but you probably forget creating/providing good stuff for people.

      You can't make any money unless you help people achieve their goals and solve their problems.
      Spot on! I think many business people forget this. Begin doing this and you'll win some eventually
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  • Profile picture of the author jcolon
    All good answers and useful information _ I will also take absorb all this advice and put it to good use
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    • Profile picture of the author goindeep
      You need to keep trying different things. Also keep in mind that you need literally thousands of people looking at your content and then clicking on the hop links in order to have them convert. Its all numbers.
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      • Profile picture of the author andrewpgpg
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        I would think so.

        In the case of Clickbank, one is (largely) selling products to people on the strength of one's relationship with them and the trust and confidence that they have in one.

        With Amazon, I think one is much more "trying to be the person to whom a commission becomes payable over a sale which was probably going to occur anyway, one way or another", i.e. the targeting of the traffic is even more significant but "the strength/credibility of the relationship" often far less important.
        I see you are referring to the 'conduit method' on the Amazon part there, do you suggest it could work with Clickbank as well?

        Originally Posted by diggdug View Post

        I've sold a few clickbank stuff which all turned out to be scams from what I'm hearing. So you have to be careful in that arena. I would say if you build a list and promote something to it, make sure the product you are promoting works or your list might view you as the scammer even if it's not your product.
        Thanks for the enlightenment, I just tried forum posting/forum marketing; and some people actually replied to my posts saying the product is a scam and they refunded it.

        Originally Posted by GeorgR. View Post

        Clickbank is a big trial and error game.

        Some products convert 1:50 or on avg. 1:80...and in some tough niches it can take to 1:500 or worse to convert, eg. for very over-saturated niches like weight loss.
        1:500 sounds pretty bad for me. Does this also happen to products with either high popularity or high gravity?

        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Learn to write well.
        Marketing all comes down to one thing...communication.

        Because people buy on emotion, not logic. That's why there is an old
        saying..."Features tell...stories sell."

        You want to appeal to these people on an emotional level and the best
        way to do that is by gaining their trust.

        Let them get to know you.
        Show some REAL proof that the product works.

        For the second one, if you can demonstrate the product in video form,
        that would help greatly.

        Why do you think all those TV infomercials work so well? You can actually
        SEE the product being used and can SEE that it works.

        For example, if you're selling a product that shows people how to get
        massive views at YouTube, actually showing them a video that YOU made
        that got massive views is a GREAT selling tool.

        Think about it. If you can't show people that you've achieved results with
        the product, why should they believe you.

        I could go into a lot more detail but I don't want to turn this reply into a
        book.

        But the problem is NOT Clickbank. The problem is HOW you're promoting.

        And as Alexa said, without knowing EVERYTHING that you've done, there
        is no way to tell you what you're doing wrong.
        Thanks Steve, that's really eye-opening stuffs you got there.

        Originally Posted by WhoIsBenjamin View Post

        The only thing I would add is, to compliment Stevens
        post, is to learn how to sell...and sell *well*.

        Selling and marketing IS the cornerstone of profits...

        rather you like it or not (and most people don't).

        i had the EXACT same problem you have with click-
        bank doing the EXACT same thing you did to do it...

        using product review pages and SEO.

        Then something clicked. I started WRITING my sales
        messages that tapped into what I knew would drive
        people to BUY the products I was selling.

        And, clickbank sales went through the roof.

        It was a combination of right targeting and and sales.

        Some people get REALLY good driving traffic, but are
        no good in sales.

        Some are GREAT at sales, but have no idea how to
        target.

        When you blend BOTH you'll send a ton of clickbank
        products...even what some what tell you are "over-
        saturated".

        Nothing's *over-saturated*. People STILL buy on
        emotions, feelings, and relationships.

        Study human psychology. Take notes from masters
        at it like Tony Robbins and top marketers like Frank
        Kern...

        and Alexa and Steven .

        As Steven also said...

        when you get to the point, if you're persistent
        enough, where you can sell ice to an eskimo...

        don't. Resist the urge to USE peoples psyche for
        less than positive reasons.

        Grab *How To Make Friends And Influence People*.
        A POWERFUL book and lesson on human psychology.

        Soon...you'll make so much money with clickbank or
        any other *bank* you'll wonder why you struggled
        trying to figure it out.
        I have read the book several times over this past few years, in two languages and in two different editions
        Thanks, I think I begin to realize where my strengths are; I really have much to work on improving my sales skill.

        I think I have to work on my landing page; I put a product review written by a warrior on the landing page and I really don't make any conversion out of it. The keyword is the name of the product, and it is in the health niche.
        Maybe I should try writing my own landing page.

        Originally Posted by Ti View Post

        The key to making cash off of Clickbank, hordes of cash, is this:

        Find a niche product
        Build a matching niche content site
        Promote niche product on your niche content website

        Seriously, it is that simple.
        Yes I know it is that simple.. however, the trial and error to achieve those hordes of cash sometimes tackle the journey. Otherwise all people would be rich Anyway, I like the K-I-S-S approach, I always see things that way too. Thanks!

        Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

        Try Adsense. You don't need to pre-sell. Just concentrate on choosing a good range of keywords (some don't even do this) and get writing and churning out the content.
        Thanks, I have always thought that AdSense = autoblogging.. turned out to be wrong. I begin to see how to promote with AdSense after reading some posts on this forum; I might try reading further on this later.

        Originally Posted by Nail Yener View Post

        The first money I have ever made online was with Clickbank. I am not a Clickbank expert but from what I've learned up to now, if you really want to succeed with Clickbank, you need to pay attention to the following things:
        • Have a personal interest in what you will promote.
        • Buy and try the product before attempting to promote it.
        • Don't try to sell it on your landing page, compose an honest review about it and recommend it.
        • Offer bonuses to those who buy via your link. Even a simple short report work wonders.
        These are not requirements to make money with Clickbank but they will help a lot.
        Nail, thanks for the tips!

        Originally Posted by Khoa View Post

        Andrew,

        Yes, you tried hard to make money for YOURSELF, but you probably forget creating/providing good stuff for people.

        You can't make any money unless you help people achieve their goals and solve their problems.
        Khoa, thanks for the great advice; I will always remember this!

        Originally Posted by Andrei Rotariu View Post

        You need to keep trying different things. Also keep in mind that you need literally thousands of people looking at your content and then clicking on the hop links in order to have them convert. Its all numbers.
        I see, maybe I am so used looking at Amazon's conversion rate that I thought Clickbank simply does not convert; I just need more people clicking on the link!

        Thanks for the responses guys, I will try harder (and smarter) in doing this.

        Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author tristatemedia
    i am going with the approach of picking a clickbank product and marketing it offline>>>>
    sending people to my landing page.
    will keep you guys postecd:
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Originally Posted by tristatemedia View Post

      i am going with the approach of picking a clickbank product and marketing it offline>>>>
      sending people to my landing page.
      will keep you guys postecd:
      Cooking and recipes, Green Products, and Home and Garden niches in particular do well with small classifieds or even short articles in magazines and newspapers. You should have more than a simple landing page, however. Long presell pages with a prominent optin form have better pulling power.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vastidious
    Another way to find out well a Clickbank product is, is using Brad Callen's new CB surge plugin for Firefox. I just started using it and it's really handy. It's a free tool but I have an affiliate link in my signature if you upgrade to the elite version.

    The tool shows you how well the product has done in the past, it shows you how competitive the product is on the internet and whole bunch more. That might help you with choosing your products.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrea Wilson
    LOL Andrew looks like someone has helped you to revive your hopes in being a clickbank affiliate. Which proves one thing- real efforts are paid off. Congratulations to the awesome feeling of first sale!

    Andrea
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    • Profile picture of the author Michelle.
      You need targetted traffic for a start, then a good review page. Don't try to sell too hard (that's the merchant's job not yours) maybe you're picking bad products, are you choosing products with low gravity?
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  • Profile picture of the author Kyle Stankiewicz
    I personally prefer CJ.com (Commission Junction). The products are far more "Legit" and trusted, they come from sources that people identify with and the product websites look far more professional.
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  • Profile picture of the author dslfarms
    If you go clickbank be sure to brand your link so you do not lose your commissions to the thieves out there waiting for new offers to make their own.
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    get the seo training you need from one of the masters!
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