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CPA: Are you direct linking or using landing pages?

by leo1
16 replies
Hi,

After doing some research on Direct Linking vs Landing Page methods of promoting CPA offers, I found the following:

Direct Linking:

Google: It seems that most people agree on the fact that direct linking is a big no-no when it comes to Google Adwords. Do you agree?

Bing: I've also heard that Bing Ads gives a low quality score to the traffic redirect pages used to act as an intermediary between the ad and the offer landing page. But others say that it is ok to use direct linking with Bing Ads. What do you think?


Landing Page:

Google: The obvious solution to any potential direct linking problem is using landing pages instead of direct linking. However, it is clear that Google also frowns upon them and calls them bridge/doorway pages. Google penalizes such pages by banning them or giving them a low quality score.

Bing: I'm not sure how Bing treats landing pages. What do you think?


In short: What is the best traffic source for using landing pages? What is the best traffic source for direct linking?

Thanks!
#cpa #direct #landing #linking #pages
  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    I think the easy answer is typically landing pages typically can convert better and gives you more control over the traffic, with that being said, i typically always split test a few lp's against direct linking
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    • Profile picture of the author leo1
      Originally Posted by ChrisBa View Post

      I think the easy answer is typically landing pages typically can convert better and gives you more control over the traffic, with that being said, i typically always split test a few lp's against direct linking
      Actually, I was not asking which one is better. I understand that having a landing page is better. But let us assume that I should forget about direct linking and only consider using landing pages due to their benefits.

      Therefore, since Adwords doesn't allow using landing pages, does Bing allow that?

      Use a landing page. then use any of these two methods to promote your offers...

      Bidvertiser
      Buy and Sell Ads

      You can also use facebook ads and plenty of fish they are the best for relationship, dating and women related offers
      Thank you for your suggestion. However, I was asking specifically about Adwords and Bing Ads.


      direct linking is a lazy way of doing it ... it's good for newbies when you don't know if your landing page would work or not
      Again, I was not asking which one is better. I understand that having a landing page is better.

      My question is: does Bing allow using landing pages or does it consider them to be bridge pages like Adwords?
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      • Profile picture of the author wealthy20
        Originally Posted by leo1 View Post

        Actually, I was not asking which one is better. I understand that having a landing page is better. But let us assume that I should forget about direct linking and only consider using landing pages due to their benefits.

        Therefore, since Adwords doesn't allow using landing pages, does Bing allow that?



        Thank you for your suggestion. However, I was asking specifically about Adwords and Bing Ads.




        Again, I was not asking which one is better. I understand that having a landing page is better.

        My question is: does Bing allow using landing pages or does it consider them to be bridge pages like Adwords?
        sry, why are you saying that adwords doesn't allow landing pages? Is it in their TOS or something?

        I'm asking cause I'm currently using adwords with squeeze pages and lps too.

        AFAIK Adwords won't let you do hypey ads, Capitalizations, using words like Top or Best (which are subjective) and stuff like this.

        If you do an objective ad to the point, they let you do squeeze pages as much as you want. In fact they even ranked my squeeze pages as "Above Average" Quality score.
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        • Profile picture of the author ahefner33
          I direct link if I can get the aff link direct from the advertsier rather through a offer network. That way I don't have to worry about redirects and offers being changed. Also look into MCC accounts with Adwords
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  • Profile picture of the author mark112
    Direct linking is not the best. It is wastage of money and traffic and it is simply supplying leads to the product vendor. Whether you are doing CPA or CPS it is all the same.

    Use a landing page. then use any of these two methods to promote your offers...

    Bidvertiser
    Buy and Sell Ads

    You can also use facebook ads and plenty of fish they are the best for relationship, dating and women related offers
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  • Profile picture of the author n3o
    direct linking is a lazy way of doing it ... it's good for newbies when you don't know if your landing page would work or not
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  • Profile picture of the author streamerguy
    Did you already answered yourself in the first few sentence?
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  • Profile picture of the author DIABL0
    I NEVER direct link...period, end of story. I have been doing this a long time and sooner or later, your going to wish you could change out a link! Also, if your direct linking, then I assume your not split testing and that's another big mistake!
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    You can direct link using Google but the risk of being suspended is much greater. The reason is many CPA offers are banned by Google. If you direct link, you have got no control over what the vendor does or not. If you us a landing page, you can try your best to adhere to Google's policies. Still it does not remove the danger of being suspended entirely.

    Originally Posted by ahefner33 View Post

    Also look into MCC accounts with Adwords
    Please can you tell us the advantages of having a MCC account.
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  • Profile picture of the author Davmac40
    Simple answer is how do you define a landing page? If it is simply a sales page then you will have a problem with Google. However if your landing page contains information of value and is not deemed a sales page Google welcome you.
    My experience is that if you post 300 to 400 words of original content together with some graphics or a video and simply link to a landing page Google have no problem. Sure they'd prefer you to link to an authority site as well but this isn't compulsory.
    Bing are far more forgiving than Google but you have to be aware they are both search engines seeking what they perceive as valuable original content for their searchers. So simply slide a link titled "Learn More" or "Check This Out" a couple of times in the original content and they're cool.
    A bit long winded but it's the best I can offer.
    Cheers,
    davmac40
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  • Profile picture of the author winnermarketing
    landing pages, because it converts better.
    But you can start direct linking, without pay a LP!
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  • Profile picture of the author GarrettThalamus
    Landing pages are a must if you are doing a media buy. Unless your homepage is already heavily optimized for conversions (which is not likely) it would make sense to A/B test different landing pages, along with the creatives.
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  • Profile picture of the author n3o
    directlinking is lazy method which works in short term
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  • Profile picture of the author RobinJennings
    I would go for landing pages for obvious reasons, but sometimes you can make direct linking work too, you just need to test it out to be honest.
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  • Profile picture of the author tacitinc
    Focus more on branding the Landing pages to get Google off your back - don't skimp on quality content either
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  • Profile picture of the author CharlesWells
    The rule of thumb is, landing page will always make you more profit in the long run but DL is not that bad, you can make some really nice dough with it..
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