Is CPA where IM is moving...Hmmm?

I agree, it is an increasing trend. However, even though people may end up trying to get into CPA, it isn't as easy as it is for IM/Clickbank.

Obviously in CPA there are rules to follow, and if you don't you're screwed. The type of promoting for IM won't even be tolerated by most advertisers. These are big companies we're talking about, not Joe Shmo with his "Internet Marketing Secrets" eBook he just threw on Clickbank.

The approval systems of CPA networks keep out a lot of competition in my opinion. Of course, the ones who are accepted are much tougher competition themselves.

The "guru's" are like the media, imo.

They go on about Clickbank for ever, that's where all the monies are to be made.

Then that get's worn out so they turn to Adwords, then Yahoo! search, then PPV, now it seems CPA is the next big thing.

If you only follow the guru's, or even just follow this forum (Because inevitably it goes in cycles because of the guru's as well), then you'd think that Clickbank is dead and CPA is the only possible avenue anymore.

CPA will make you ten times more - but it's not as willy nilly, don't mind my Canadian expression, as Clickbank.

You get them bad leads, you don't get paid, your leads may get scrubbed, you need to be deal with products changing constantly etc,.


Whether you pimp products via Clickbank or through a CPA network there is no difference in how you get your traffic, right?

That's what you should really be focusing on.

Say you rank for a weight loss term and get 4,000 uniques a month. Cool.

...now it's your choice whether to promote fatloss4idiots or a CPA offer to make your cash.

The guru's make it out to seem like you can only make money promoting this certain type of offer. But in reality no matter what you do you won't make anything without traffic.


CPA is more profitable - but it is also riskier. (Do you really know what your promoting?)

I don't care if your throwing 10 clicks a day at an offer or 10,000 you need to be prepared and armed in terms of legal stuff.

By this I mean:

1) Hosting stuff off shore. (Not in the reach of the FTC.)

2) Having an actual disclosure policy. (This goes for ANYTHING you promote. Be transparent.)

3) Protecting the Who is info.

I guarantee the FTC won't touch you regardless. (Or anybody else...)

But these are practices you need to start putting into practice as Google and the current administration gets a little cuddly.

I don't think, in the near future, the internet will be as 'free' as we would have hoped. And although that sucks there's nothing we can truly do about it.

Anyway I'm way off topic.

But my point is that those Clickbank products where they show they made 3,000 in a day is nothing. Guys are pulling in 6 figures every single day, in profit, with CPA offers.

When you join CPA networks your rolling with the big guys and with that comes a lot of added responsibility on your part. You need to protect yourself, your traffic, and your identity.

Don't think for a minute that CPA networks and or the advertisers who run with them will protect you if and when you ever run into problems.

My advice is to get the traffic and start making a little money through Clickbank. Once you know what your doing a bit move into CPA, I didn't say you had to be earning a lot - just know the base rules, then watch your sales quadruple. (Or much more, seriously...)

...The reason I say to start with Clickbank is because you want to have something to offer CPA networks before joining. You need them to want you instead of you wanting them.

When you join a CPA network your AM will be all over you, happy, and trying to get you to run offers and make them some money.

But when they realize you don't really know what your doing and have nothing to offer them they ignore you - and when you ask questions the e-mails won't end with smiley faces anymore. ;-)

You want to start with a CPA network and instantly be making at least a few sales a day. (Meaning 60-100 bucks at the normal 32 buck payout.)

This isn't a lot, compared to those making a few hundred times more then you, but your AM will be impressed. Throw in the white lie that you run only 25% of your stuff with that particular network and their attention will be all yours...

...expect weekly calls kissing your ass.

And as you grow, and as your income grows, you'll get access to the higher ups in the network, weekly wires, and higher payouts.

IMO you'd be better off starting small and growing big then starting with nothing and then getting big. Simply because if you don't do anything with CPA for a few months then you start hitting big numbers your AM will be like WTF who's this guy, again?

Anyway enough of my wild ramblings!

CPA is amazing, and the amount of money you can make from it is startling. But with the big money comes big responsibility. You NEED to protect yourself, even though there really shouldn't be a need to protect yourself.

It's just part of the game.

Now go get 'em,

Zach

P.S - My favorite networks are Copeac, Ads4dough, and Neverblue.

Zach,

Bro, way to go deep and in it my man... I sense you have a keen affinity for CPA and it shows. Definitely, a caveat for all those looking to engage in CPA marketing need to know the pitfalls, and dirt bags who lurk coyotes waiting for the weak to appear. I really appreciate the post my man...Nice!

No problem, glad I could help a little bit.

Reading over my post I hope it didn't scare any off of CPA.

...You just need to jump into it the right way to really get rolling. (And of course protect yourself properly...)

Zach

Great thread. This is a tough industry but the rewards are beyond belief.

The thing I like about CPA is that it is good for people of all risk tolerances though.

For high risk high reward people, they can do media buys and pump a lot of testing into ppc to try and find some campaigns that they can optimize. If successful, they make crazy amounts of money per day. If not, they lose their shirt.

On the other hand, lower risk tolerant people can approach the same offers but use different traffic. They can use free methods and bum marketing to make a steady 100-200 per day.

There are sketcky rebill type offers that are potentially very very lucrative and for those not comfotable with those type of offers, their is the solid eharmony dating type straight up non sketchy offers.


The industry is very wide and can be good for all types of people!

Exactly, bro.

It's getting better though. Before just pimping something I ask for the EPC's and all from my AM and along with that i'll actually ask, "What's the situation on the re-bill?"

...meaning, "Is this a 'i'll charge ya $80 tomorrow' type of deal, or a i'll do what is ethical."

And she'll tell me straight up whether it is or not.

Always good to ask.

Zach

Kenster,

I'm with you, boss...Great thread for the sheer fact we have people with experience per se giving the good, bad, and ugly. I for one know about the ugly in which can occur to anybody...no one is 100% exempt, but it's a gratifying feeling knowing that guys like Mike Hill come from a totally different angle and inject needed hope for all those wanting to explore what CPA from a creating point of view. Hope to keep this thread going and hearing from some more good peeps. Love & Light!

Kevin

Yes there is good, bad, and ugly in this industry. But, in the end you get to pick which of those three angles you want to pursue!


And yes Mike Hill is awesome. Met him for the first time at the Arbitrage Conspiracy vegas event and through Maverick Business Adventures. Great guy and I reccommend more people follow him!

Give Zach a thanks by clicking the "thanks" button!

CPA can be very lucrative but I think the idea that the 'IM industry is moving towards CPA" is overblown guru hype (like always).

The most important thing is to find what works out for *you* the best and what type of IM plays to your personal strengths and do it. Like the other posters said if you like taking risks CPA can work for you if you do it right. But be prepared to spend money finding out which offers are profitable.

There are however other (free) ways that effectively drive traffic if you don't like spending...

I like cpa field because the conversion ration is quite high compared to the clickbank products and i think many of the IM thinking like that but yeah I am agree that some sometime i think that its overhype.

I believe CPA will last long :-) So don't worry because there are a lot more people turning to CPA right now...