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Marketing tips with no affiliates - more buyers?

by Yuvalee
7 replies
Hi guys! I own a very good "product", it's actually a website - marketplace with tons of quality and cheap templates. Very similar to Themeforest or Graphicriver.
I opened it for web designers like myself, who wants to sell their works easily online.

I got a lot of sellers, and ways how to attract them, but how do i attract more buyers?
Since i can't use affiliate marketing for now (because i'm getting only 10% from each sale and i guess nobody would like to promote it for such a small fee)

My buyers are most likely small business owners, or warriors with products, or developers.
What kind of creative solution can you recommend me on?
I'm doing solo ads, i have a list, i have a nice newsletter with tons of freebies but...as always, the freebies always attract freebie seekers - i want to attract buyers.
PS, I have money to invest in paid traffic - any recommendation?

Thanks!
#affiliates #marketing #tips
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by Yuvalee View Post

    My buyers are most likely small business owners, or warriors with products, or developers.

    Thanks!
    Who already has the attention of small business owners, warriors with products or developers?

    How can you add value to those people with your marketplace?

    How about sites related to business blogging, lead generation, content marketing, etc. Can you develop positive relationships with them through contributing valuable blog comments or guest posts?

    In a nutshell, how can you "borrow" the audiences of sites that already have the attention of the people you seek?

    The same applies offline. Can you do a free seminar at your local library or chamber of commerce? Have someone video the event and post it on YouTube/Facebook. Then look for people to share the video, rather than looking for people to promote you directly.

    It's all about reaching the right eyeballs.
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  • Profile picture of the author rachelamitsharan
    Great suggestions from John about building relationships with leading sites in your niche. For some quick results, you can try buying banner ad placements on those sites. Some may not allow though if your products directly compete. All the best!
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  • Profile picture of the author Antares330
    If you do want to move into allowing people to be affiliates, check out udemy's system...

    They have a system that the seller can agree to allow affiliates to sell for them, but if a affiliate does sell it, they seller gets less on that purchase only, but it's still free money for the seller!

    It could take a lot to setup, but it is a option!
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Yuvalee,

      To me, the obvious answer is to change your pricing structure. Asking your sellers to only give 10% to have you do their marketing and produce interested buyers seems waaaaay overly generous. I don't think you can sustain that model. I get it that you want to attract as many sellers as possible, but you don't have to give away the farm in order to do that.

      You are right, no one that is a good affiliate is going to be excited about such a small commission.

      I wouldn't speculate about what you should be charging because I don't know your market and your competition. Doing your initial market research should have given you clues as to what the market will bear and what a reasonable split ought to be.

      Steve
      Signature

      Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
      SteveBrowneDirect

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  • Profile picture of the author Yuvalee
    Thank you guys. Some great tips. My website selling themes and templates, so lot's of people need those again and again ...

    What i think i'll do is:
    - create a scale of earnings for the sellers: if you have 100 sales a month, you get 70%. if you have 500 sales, you get 80% and so on...
    this way, i can try to set up affiliates.

    I'll also offer the buyers free credits on every purchase that they can use it in their next purchase... this way, i'm hoping to create loyal buyers - because they can go somewhere else if they have nothing special to gain from buying at my place again. It's also a nice psychological effect, these "unused credit" is just lying in their account... they have to do something with it

    Also, I've been thinking to promote it with some place like Groupon.

    Arghh, I'm doing all of this alone. with outsourcing of course. It's tough!!
    Good to have this forum, to get such a good advices. Thank you guys.
    Any more creative thoughts?
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by Yuvalee View Post

    Hi guys! I own a very good "product", it's actually a website - marketplace with tons of quality and cheap templates. Very similar to Themeforest or Graphicriver.
    I opened it for web designers like myself, who wants to sell their works easily online.

    I got a lot of sellers, and ways how to attract them, but how do i attract more buyers?
    Since i can't use affiliate marketing for now (because i'm getting only 10% from each sale and i guess nobody would like to promote it for such a small fee)

    My buyers are most likely small business owners, or warriors with products, or developers.
    What kind of creative solution can you recommend me on?
    I'm doing solo ads, i have a list, i have a nice newsletter with tons of freebies but...as always, the freebies always attract freebie seekers - i want to attract buyers.
    PS, I have money to invest in paid traffic - any recommendation?

    Thanks!
    I think after awhile promoting some of your Products to Warriors who have a need for designs. templates etc.. for their Sites would be highly recommended.

    Im sure with a very honest and straight forward Sig you could help a lot of people here as long as your products are top quality



    - Robert Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author Yuvalee
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      I think after awhile promoting some of your Products to Warriors who have a need for designs. templates etc.. for their Sites would be highly recommended.

      Im sure with a very honest and straight forward Sig you could help a lot of people here as long as your products are top quality



      - Robert Andrew
      Hi, do you mean like logos or landing pages templates?
      The problem is, that it's a PSD source, and lot's of people don't know how to edit those files..
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