10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Beneficial to link to the Opposition?

by tnob
9 replies
One of the guys I follow sent an email today that talked about his strong opinion on a current social issue. He mentions "most people still aren't getting it" which is a link to his podcast.

I was thinking, that could be an affiliate marketing opportunity. If he made that link to a post from a content provider with the opposing view, his followers would click that link thereby driving traffic to the opposition's site.

I realize some (perhaps many) of his followers would just read the opposition's article and get more aggravated and move on. However, I know that some people would want to follow that opposition as well.

Would there be any value to this as an affiliate marketer?
#beneficial #link #opposition
Avatar of Unregistered
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    When talking about current events or social media opinions...it sounds like he USED the 'opposition' to justify linking to his own opinion. Lot of that goes on in social media.


    In internet marketing - that would be linking to your competition....and I'd think twice about that. Also, in dealing with real products and brand names, you have various trademark, etc restrictions to consider.


    The times you might see the 'competition' mentioned is in a table or graph comparing the benefits of your product/brand over other product/brands.


    I know that some people would want to follow that opposition as well.
    How do you 'know' that? Have you tested it - or is it an assumption? In marketing wouldn't that transpose into sending customers to your competitors?
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Live life like someone left the gate open
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653690].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author tnob
      In internet marketing - that would be linking to your competition....and I'd think twice about that. Also, in dealing with real products and brand names, you have various trademark, etc restrictions to consider.


      The times you might see the 'competition' mentioned is in a table or graph comparing the benefits of your product/brand over other product/brands.
      Maybe I should clarify. I do not think this would be competition, what I mean is opposition.

      I will just give the actual context which is a social issue, but this is not intended to bring up any kind of political debate, just as a reference point.

      Email marketer "A-co" has position: COVID is not real.
      Other email marketer "B-co" has position: COVID is real.

      A-co and B-co do not share any competing products, they are in totally different niches. However, they do have opposing views on the subject of COVID, which they have openly discussed on their content sites.

      A-co sends email to followers about COVID not being real. In the email, A-co bashes and cites B-co's website blog post (or other content) that talks about COVID being real.

      Would there be any synergies here for affiliate marketing?

      I know that some people would want to follow that opposition as well.
      How do you 'know' that? Have you tested it - or is it an assumption? In marketing wouldn't that transpose into sending customers to your competitors?
      What I mean here is this:
      Follower A follows A-co and loves their products. Follower A has strong belief that COVID is real, unlike A-co's opinion. So when Follower A clicks link to B-co's site, they see that their opinion of COVID aligns with B-co, and decide to start following B-co. Down the road, Follower A decides to purchase a product from B-co.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653698].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
        Originally Posted by tnob View Post

        Would there be any synergies here for affiliate marketing?
        You need to remember that this is all marketing. The reason someone you follow takes a position on a controversial and ostensibly non-business-related social issue is to strengthen the ties with his tribe. He has assessed that the bulk of his followers feel a certain way and is using the issue to articulate their thoughts and prejudices. He's willing to accept the risk of a proportion of his fanbase jumping ship, but understands that those who remain are likely to become stronger and more loyal followers.

        He's not doing any of this for some one-off affiliate offer opportunity.
        Signature


        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653702].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Going to be blunt here - if you think that is a logical way to get to a 'sale'...eventually....you probably need to get a job. I've found the more complex an idea is...the less likely it will work.

    People bashing others and using 'opinions' to get signups or 'followers' is common....IMO you'd be wiser to focus on marketing YOUR products, building YOUR list, etc than in trying to manipulate using opinions and social media. That's just me.

    Sometimes when you think of an idea and throw it out there - you need to re-evaluate the idea rather than defending it.
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Live life like someone left the gate open
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653701].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author tnob
      if you think that is a logical way to get to a 'sale'...eventually....you probably need to get a job
      LOL, I thought all of internet businesses (IM in particular) are setting up for an eventual sell.

      I've found the more complex an idea is...the less likely it will work
      I have actually made my living on exploiting "complexity" where others are not willing to. So maybe that is why I am trying to find opportunities like this.

      Sometimes when you think of an idea and throw it out there - you need to re-evaluate the idea rather than defending it
      Not trying to defend, just trying to explore and learn. I don't know what I don't know.

      I really do appreciate this back and forth! It is what gets my wheels turning and helps me to learn. So, truly, thank you for your answers Kay!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653821].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Valentyna K
    I think it's more about getting attention. Human beings like to criticize a lot and write comments when somebody critisize others.

    For example if I was in Amazon affiliate program and write about some product that it's not good I shouldn't probably wait for much money from my partner links.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653720].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author agmccall
    Originally Posted by tnob View Post


    I was thinking, that could be an affiliate marketing opportunity. If he made that link to a post from a content provider with the opposing view, his followers would click that link thereby driving traffic to the opposition's site.
    And how would this generate any affiliate income??

    al
    Signature

    "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653787].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author tnob
      And how would this generate any affiliate income??
      This is the question I needed to get to. In my initial thought process, I was thinking sending traffic to somene else's blog/site would be adding value. But how do you monetize that?

      Is affiliate marketing sending traffic to a call to action where said traffic buys instantly? Or can it just be sending traffic to a site with an eventual sale? I guess a cookie would have to be tracked in that case?

      Again, trying to learn how this stuff works.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653823].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Serene Carmen
    Hi

    I'm not sure this would be as effective as directing traffic to a content provider with the same view. Generally, confirmational bias is a strong driver. i.e. it is easier to sell something to someone if you are telling them something they already believe to be true. People really want to be told, let alone admit their beliefs are 'wrong'.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11653943].message }}
Avatar of Unregistered

Trending Topics