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Ads on your Website and getting an Autoresponder

by ENVERX
6 replies
Hey all!

So I've pretty much got my site sorted and was wondering about ads.

I don't want random ads to appear on my site but rather a custom banner graphic (that I've made) that links the person to a customized "store" on another website (i.e. Amazon) filled with promoted products of my choice (like a wishlist).

Now, I have a reason behind this thinking as I'd like to promote products that are being used in the article/blog post I'm writing about. For example: If it's an article with a video about Snowboarding - I'd have my custom banner (ad) linking them to a customized store that featured the camera/similar cameras used in the video, and snowboarding products within that video (if not similar products at the least) with possible some other products I choose to list. Personally, I think it would be worth spending the extra 10-30 minutes per article searching for products to put into a store, related to the article, that people would be more likely to buy, because of the featured video. Feel free to tell me otherwise if you're more experienced. But at this time, is this possible to do? And if it is, what is the "program" called?

I've heard good things from Amazon Associates, but I've never used them and haven't looked too much in to it. Can I use it to do like I mentioned above? And while I don't like the 24 hour limit for someone to buy a product for you to get the money, I do like that no matter what they buy on site within that 24 hours, you can get a commission on something.

Any other good things I can use to maximize revenue? Eventually I'll have my own store and upsells, but until then I'd like to focus with ads. How is Google Adsense? (Bare in mind I don't want too many ads on my site/per page, so I don't know if I can set a limit or what?)

What other "affiliate" programs are out there that you guys and girls could recommend?

My site/niche is mainly Action Sports and Adventure, so I'd like to promote products around that. (E.g. Lightweight Cameras/GoPros, Travel equipment, action sports products).

Also, if anyone could recommend an autoresponder, that'd be awesome! I'd like a free one to start with if possible, with the option to upgrade as my site gets more users/opt-ins and such!

Thanks in advance!
#ads #autoresponder #website #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author Jen Eick
    Well, I use Aweber. It's only $19/month to start (first month for $1, I think)...not a lot. And if you can refer others to it, that helps pay for it. I wouldn't recommend a free one, because as your list grows, you will want an autoresponder with more features. And if you already have a ton of messages in one and have to shift them all to another...ugh. That just sounds like a pain in the --- to do.

    I have one site using Ad-Sense and haven't made a dime with it yet, LOL. But then, it's getting mostly organic traffic and I've not really played with targeting the results inside AdSense. You could try other ad/CPA networks like AdFly, Commission Junction, etc…or market select Clickbank products. If it really has to be physical products you're promoting (and not, say, how-to digital products), heck, even Wal-Mart has an affiliate program. There are plenty you could research and utilize.
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    • Profile picture of the author ENVERX
      I've been looking at MailChimp, since it has a "Entrepreneur" plan where you can send 12,000 emails to 2,000 subscribers for free. Looking a little deeper you can apparently export contacts, so if I get to the 2000+ Subscriber point I could always swap to aweber? Assuming I can import contacts Which if I can do this way makes it better for starting out with?

      Ahh that's not so good haha
      I could look into Clickbank again, but yeah I'd rather sell physical products at this time as it's action sports dominate. But I could always find travel related ebooks to sell down the line.
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Good for you to get things going like you have !!


        Yep, I recommend trying $1 test of Aweber. It is worth the extra money per month to utilize.

        Also, you can use Amazon. But you might try other Affiliate Programs like Commission Junction that pay higher commissions than Amazon's very paltry payout


        - Robert Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    I suggest you see if you can get traffic to the site before you get too carried away.

    My site/niche is mainly Action Sports and Adventure, so I'd like to promote products around that. (E.g. Lightweight Cameras/GoPros, Travel equipment, action sports products).
    Develop a killer freebie and offer it to visitors (if you get any) in exchange for completing a short questionnaire about their interests. Don't try to guess what they will buy, ask them.
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    Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
    All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
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  • Profile picture of the author munir ahmed
    Hi
    I personally used mail chimp and had few issues with it. When time goes on you want to set a auto-responder so you don't have to sit there and write and send emails and can get confusing when too many people start to optin and you have to follow up what day you have to send which email depending on how you planned it.

    I used Aweber and find it great but i also use get-response and that for me works very well and I am using that for myself. To get started its 30 days free.

    My advice to you would be its great to see you are going to be writing a blog then promoting a product according to the blog niche. I have tried that but not really worked so great for me, then I found a better way that works for me.

    Rather then trying to send them to sales page direct from the blog, why don't you try to opt them into your list by giving them some value on the niche blog your writing on.

    For example if you got a blog on Bike, then Give them some valuable information or and e-book solving problems on bikes, that bikers might be interested in. That way you get them to optin and you know your target niche.

    Have a auto-responder in place where they will start getting emails on daily basis already set up and build a relationship with them. After that, promoting a product in their niche will be more effective and you will get more sales if the followup emails are done correctly.

    Just keep it simple and just keep adjusting and fixing the auto-responder and keep testing. You will find out that this way your sales can double or may be triple to rather just promoting cold traffic that don't know you and very unlikely they will buy.

    Hope that made sense and I would be happy to help on more info
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    • Profile picture of the author ENVERX
      Cheers all so far! I've looked around a bit more and will most likely use Aweber (like pretty much everyone suggested), MailChimp didn't have the feature I wanted without buying something anyway, and I heard some bad reviews about GetResponse's customer service not being so... Responsive

      "Rather than trying to send them to sales page direct from the blog, why don't you try to opt them into your list by giving them some value on the niche blog your writing on."
      I didn't think of that, thanks Munir
      When I get aweber, does it come with a plug-in/code I can use to insert an opt-in form underneath my posts?

      Definitely think I should get the e-mails first to build my list up before selling something right away! Although I might add in Adsense soon, and experiment with that to see if it has any use on my site..

      "I suggest you see if you can get traffic to the site before you get too carried away."
      Cheers Brent, I've got a few views so far, no huge numbers as of yet but good ol' Analytics has been keeping track. Also with the freebie thing, I'll think about getting some e-book made that might fit in well with my blog, I could give that in return for some extra people subscribing to my list.

      EDIT: Also, thanks Robert! I'll check out some other Affiliate programs too. Amazon's payout wasn't great but I just hear the name and get the sense of trust from them. Never had an issue with any service from them! haha

      I'm not sure what the rules are for posting your website on this forum are? I've seen people do it but don't want to risk it without some kind of back-up from anyone.
      Is it OK to post the URL to my blog in this Thread? I just want an opinion of my blog posts so far.. I know I need to work on my writing skills a little but any tips and help would be nice
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