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Using Internet Marketing to promote real products?

by MattVit
10 replies
Hi all,

Clickbank and similar sites of course promote digital products.

I have a electronics and gadgets retail store which is not doing nearly as well as I'd have hoped.

I'm wondering if there's an affiliate network which will promote these products for X amount commission.

I tried finding people to sell the products at $10 commission on freelancer dot com, I even gave them a 5% unlimited-use coupon to help pursuade potential leads.

The site is ChinaStore .com.au any tips on promoting this site would be fantastic. And hey, I'll give you a 5% coupon if it's a good idea! (haha...)
#internet #marketing #products #promote #real
  • Profile picture of the author clarktr2
    Hey dude - There are a few affiliate networks out there for physical products. Commission Junction is probably the biggest and most well known. They're at CJ.com. I work for a supplements company and I've been trying to convince my employer to get on there.

    You won't immediately start getting affiliate knocking down your door to sell your products just because you sign up though.

    You need to offer a high commission, and then you need to make it easy for people to promote your product by creating banners, email blasts, sample blog posts etc.

    Then it'll give you a leg up if you promote your affiliate program to large sites that are already in the niche.

    Hope that helps, bro!
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  • Profile picture of the author Buddha94
    That's a good idea to help promote your new product. Tell them what they should point out about the products, that will make others want to buy it and since it's not a digital product it sucks to have to give them low commission T.T
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    • Profile picture of the author MattVit
      Thanks for the tips!!

      Yeah that's the problem, Buddha94. The entire angle of 'ChinaStore' is, of course, China-like prices and charging too much defeats that effort.

      However I don't see why I couldn't increase the prices to include commission for the affiliate.

      What percent would you guys expect to receive on $100 or $200 dollar physical products? 30%? 50%? I know you're not the ones selling, haha, but it'd be nice to get an idea of what would really motivate people to promote these products.


      Hey dude - There are a few affiliate networks out there for physical products. Commission Junction is probably the biggest and most well known. They're at CJ.com. I work for a supplements company and I've been trying to convince my employer to get on there.

      You won't immediately start getting affiliate knocking down your door to sell your products just because you sign up though.

      You need to offer a high commission, and then you need to make it easy for people to promote your product by creating banners, email blasts, sample blog posts etc.

      Then it'll give you a leg up if you promote your affiliate program to large sites that are already in the niche.

      Hope that helps, bro!
      Big thank you for the CJ.com tip!! Exactly what I was looking for.
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  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    If your a merchant and looking to sign up with CJ play the "hard to get" angle. Eventually they'll make you a deal you can't refuse. I saved the company nearly $5000 big ones doing this on sign up.

    You should also check out ShareASale. A good network with strong affiliates if you pony up with the commissions.

    Do you currently have a newsletter? If you don't you need to get one now. Offer a discount for sign up, and ensure you add all of your buyers to your list. Then in a few months (Christmas anyone?) off your previous customers a new discount to come back and shop.

    Facebook? You NEED to be using this. Build up your fans like your list, offer a discount, free gift or whatever. Then every time you need to promote something special hit your Facebook Wall hard.

    What does your SEO profile look like? Do your inner pages (product pages) have strength so that you rank high and get sizeable traffic? If not, this is something you need to work on. If you have copied product descriptions (from the manufacturer) you need to go in and change those NOW.

    Man I could go on and on. Are you drop shipping or stocking product?
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    You're going to fail. If you're afraid of failure then you do not belong in the Internet Marketing Business. Period.
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    • Profile picture of the author MattVit
      Originally Posted by BloggingPro View Post

      If your a merchant and looking to sign up with CJ play the "hard to get" angle. Eventually they'll make you a deal you can't refuse. I saved the company nearly $5000 big ones doing this on sign up.

      You should also check out ShareASale. A good network with strong affiliates if you pony up with the commissions.

      Do you currently have a newsletter? If you don't you need to get one now. Offer a discount for sign up, and ensure you add all of your buyers to your list. Then in a few months (Christmas anyone?) off your previous customers a new discount to come back and shop.

      Facebook? You NEED to be using this. Build up your fans like your list, offer a discount, free gift or whatever. Then every time you need to promote something special hit your Facebook Wall hard.

      What does your SEO profile look like? Do your inner pages (product pages) have strength so that you rank high and get sizeable traffic? If not, this is something you need to work on. If you have copied product descriptions (from the manufacturer) you need to go in and change those NOW.

      Man I could go on and on. Are you drop shipping or stocking product?
      This is a lot of quality info and suggestions. Thanks a bunch. Where to start...

      No newsletter yet, I have a few email addresses but not many. Will start encouraging newsletter subscription, maybe an instant coupon for 5% after sharing it?

      Not currently using Facebook for this particular site. Will jump on that tomorrow.

      SEO is currently terrible... need to fix that up too.

      Yep using generic manufacturer desc. and title for 80% of products. And yeah it's dropshipped products.

      You've created a virtual to-do list for me... Thankyou!! Let me know if you want a coupon or the dropship source as a sign of my gratitude.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kerry Finch
        As you in Australia selling physical products, I recommend a new affiliate network - Commission Factory Commission Factory Affiliate Network | Start an Affiliate Program (not an affiliate link). Zane and Mario will look after you.
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      • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
        Originally Posted by MattVit View Post

        You've created a virtual to-do list for me... Thankyou!! Let me know if you want a coupon or the dropship source as a sign of my gratitude.
        Just hit the "Thanks" button so my ego has a nice easy Sunday! lol jk.

        I work as an SEO for an online retailer. Original descriptions have helped us out a ton. There really isn't much you can do with the title, but if you can move words around and it still makes sense you can try it.

        With electronics, you may want to add item numbers into the Title to at least give you an "original content" edge.

        As for off-page strategies? You really need to invest in your own blog network, more likely discussed as a "pumper network" on the various forums. That way you can build up your own link profile, in your own way, without having to deal with any thing else.

        A 5% coupon would be great for your list, and always remember to email them at least monthly with new products, tips on how to use products, etc. First and foremost TALK to your potential customers differently than you TALK to your previous customer's. Any auto-responder can split these up for you on sign-ups and check outs.

        Build relationships to strengthen your brand.
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        You're going to fail. If you're afraid of failure then you do not belong in the Internet Marketing Business. Period.
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  • Profile picture of the author happyday
    Anyday,anytime;what makes affiliates jostling over themselves is to make them see that their work is justified by their commissions.
    You can also check some other physical companies using affiliates,check out Amazon.
    Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author Celeste Green
    Rather than raising the price (which is contrary to your business strategy of offering low prices) in order to pay your affiliates more, consider a tiered commission incentive - the more business your affiliates send to you, they more they make (and the more you make too).

    Don't discount the value of your existing clients too. Definitely get them signed up on an email list. Online or offline, existing customers are easier to sell to vs getting new customers. Plus, people always love feeling like they're in a club & you can get them that feeling by offering incentives like coupons for people that sign up for your newsletter.

    FB is another great way to get your happy customers to advertise for you. Plus you can promote local events and specials that way too if you play it right & keep active w/your updates.
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