Newbie looking for some advice

by dem0x7
23 replies
Hello all,

I am new to the whole Internet Marketing scene. I am a website designer, but I want to do something else, I want to get in to affiliate marketing, run some campaigns, design some awesome landing pages, etc. I want to do more than just design websites for other people who will be making money, and I only get a small one-time fee.

I've read a LOT. I've read so many blogs, articles, videos, podcasts, webinars, e-books, etc. The only thing I need help with is that starting point.

I tried to apply for all the top affiliate networks, but I got denied because I don't have experience. I also didn't know what to put for my website URL. I don't have a main website, I was planning on designing unique landing pages for each offer.

I don't want to use Clickbank to promote e-Books or anything, I really want to try the CPA offers.

So, since I got denied to all the networks, I decided to try marketing e-cigarettes, since I saw that everyone can apply. It is called GreenSmoke, they have a nice system, and they give you excellent banners of all types and sizes to put on your website.

I created my own domain, and got a nice design going.
SafeSmokeCigs . com

I went to go try some PPC, and set up some campaigns, but both Facebook and Adwords will not allow that type of ad. That really brought me down, since I was willing to invest in some money to test out some campaigns, but now that I can't do that, I'm not too sure what to do. I know I need to write articles, I'm just not sure what keywords to attract and all of that, I don't want to invest money for people to write articles for me, but have everything be wrong.

I don't even think my site is right. When you go to SafeSmokeCigs, it is basically just information on the GreenSmoke product, along with some Promo Codes. I display advertisements so they can click on it and actually get the product. Should I do this differently? I think sometimes maybe someone will go to the site, but not have any idea what to do since there is no "Order Now" button, I just expect them to click on the advertisements.

So next, I should get articles written, right? I can set up a blog, the site is under Wordpress. Do I write articles on How to Stop Smoking? Why to switch to E-Cigs? What keywords should I target? E-cigarettes? How many articles should be written?

Is there anything else I should do? I don't have any mailing lists, or things to offer in exchange for their Name & E-Mail. Is that something I should do?

Sorry for the long post and so many questions!! I just feel like I have a great start with a nice looking website, well laid out, I just need help on the technical aspect, such as targeting the correct keywords and ways to get traffic to the website, where they can click on the ads or somehow get to my GreenSmoke referral ID.

Thanks so much everyone.
#advice #newbie
  • Profile picture of the author dem0x7
    Also maybe some advice for some networks to get in to as a beginner, since I seemed to have gotten denied for all of them! And what to put as the Site URL, if I plan to create custom landing pages for each product, so I don't have one main website.

    Thanks!
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    • Profile picture of the author eric w
      hi..apply to markethealth network

      as far as your site goes..the colors are nice, but that's not a reason for visitors to do business with you....there's no incentive for people (your market) to click or buy from you

      you say you're new to the "internet marketing scene" and you've read alot of blogs, etc...

      well, you should know that your site needs a headline with the best benefit of whatever you're selling

      you say "no tar" and "no smoke"..these are features..the benefit of "no smoke' , for example, could be "keep your lungs healthy and your breathing in tact" or something like that

      but, even before that you need to do good research 1st before getting domains and setting up campaigns

      when you intend to market a product in a particular medium, like facebook, for example..you should 1st check to see if anyone else is advertising the same, or similar, product in facebook..if not, then you can pretty much rely on losing money if you pursue it in that particular medium...look for another place where people are advertising it

      you've got to understand market research and testing..especially as a newbie....these 2 things can be the difference between you making alot of money or losing alot

      search this forum for threads about finding profitable markets and since you've chosen a product, search this forum on that particular niche you're in

      i know you're excited about making money with cpa offers, but slow down and stick to the internet marketing fundamentals, some of which i've mentioned, and you'll make money

      also, you may want to look at your skill of designing websites and ramp that up a bit for more profits

      you could market videos of easily setting up a website or sell website templates and graphics as a plr package..there are plenty of warriors that need this service

      doing a plr package will allow you to make more money than just designing a website for someone because you're multiplying your efforts

      you do it once and sell to many as opposed to spending time on 1 website for 1 customer

      that's just my 2 cents..i hope it helps

      eric
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      • Profile picture of the author dem0x7
        Thank you very much for the advice.
        I'll definitely check out the MarketHealth Network as well!
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  • Profile picture of the author RobertZuma
    Ecigarettes may not be the best choice because there is a lot of compitition for smoking related searches, and also because physical products are generally more difficult to promote than digital ones for a variety of reasons.

    My number one piece of advice is to pick something to promote based on research and a plan, and then to not deviate. If you start chasing every good-looking-thing (bright shiny things) you will never be successful.

    Your plan of attack ought to look something like this:
    1) Research - what are you going to promote? How are you going to get converts (people to buy/sign up)?
    2) Build your site/blog/whatever; keep it simple
    3) Drive targeted traffic
    4) Work the backend.
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  • Profile picture of the author KevinDasilva
    Hey,

    I would focus on building an audience in a specific niche!

    Then you will be able to market CPA offers for free.

    Also, I would try...

    1. Amazon
    2. CJ.com
    3. MarketHealth.com

    And there are more that will give you instant approval. And try putting as a website...

    www.anywebsite.com

    And then explain that you use PPC to drive traffic and NOT websites... Instead of giving an ugly website address.

    I know this is not much BUT I Hope this helps...

    Your Friend,
    Kevin
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    • Profile picture of the author willard
      The main reason you are getting denied is because they want to see your website.
      They are looking to see if it is relevant to their market and how high of quality it is. You need to let them see your site, and if that does not work e-mail the affiliate manager, that usually works.
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  • Profile picture of the author dem0x7
    Thanks Kevin! Every post helps a lot. I appreciate everyone who is replying.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andie
    In the CPA,etc forum there is a Sticky Post
    Big List of CPA Networks

    probably a bit more specific advice over there if you are focusing on the CPA area.

    best of luck to you

    Andie
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  • Profile picture of the author dem0x7
    Thanks Andie for the list, definitely useful I'll check it out. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum!
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  • Profile picture of the author peterphillipps
    Its tough when you are new, "Which Way DO I Go" I have tried lots of things and what i have had the most success with is and my main focus today is creating mini sites with wordpress on well researched domains in micro niche's. They are one page sites that i can get onto the front page of google in no time at all "weeks" I set them up with adsence so when I'm getting traffic i'm making a few cent's or dollars I then set them up with affiliate programs and there heaps out there. I build about 6 to 25 a week depending on other work loads however I'm about to automate this to some degree so that I can build sites as fast as I can register research and register domains. i have three content writers that write a 600 page article-front page for my site for between 7 and 10 buck so each site costs less that $30 depending on the domain cost. I'm in the process of building 400 site. My aim is to make $10.00 per week per site, affiliate and adsence income and I am right on track so far. You do the math. Very simple effective and google friendly and if you need cash you can flip a couple on site which I have done and been able to pick up $200.00 to $400.00 per site if they are making a couple of bucks a week. i hope this is of assitance and if you need any more info ask or contact me. By the way I'm not selling anything.
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  • Profile picture of the author zoobie
    well try click bank first. They are the entry level affiliate network I would say. Just get yourself a decent looking and apply they will easily accept everyone which don't like any CPA companies
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  • Profile picture of the author dem0x7
    Peter,

    That's interesting. So you have to buy a domain for each site, and also pay to have an article written? How often do you have to maintain them? 400 sites seems like a lot to deal with.
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  • Profile picture of the author peterphillipps
    I don't maintain them. If you set them up right at the start you leave them until you get some adsence revenue and go back and monetize them. You then have a site with traffic. Ya 400 is a lot to build but I have worked in the real world for a long time and that repetitive as well. When this is done its done for ever. Since the last post I have researched and come up with another 47 domains that i know i can get on the front page of google with a one page web site and make money. I can get on the front page in a couple of week if there is less that 2,000,000 indexed google pages. Like I said before if the site only made a couple of bucks a week "worst scenario" thats $100 a year for a 30 buck site and you would be able to sell it for $200.00 to $400.00 whenever you like.

    Simple stuff
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    • Profile picture of the author JayYamada
      Hello, I'm also new to IM. I'm trying to start up a niche website now and be a affiliate for a niche product, although I might get rejected. But I'm working hard to make my website SEOptimized so that I'm an attractive partner to them.

      This way is also scalable since I can produce a website within a week though slow, I'm happy if I can eve bring in 1k per month.
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      WayOfSeduction.org - My First Niche Website
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  • Profile picture of the author dem0x7
    Yeah, hell $1,000 per month will work for me as a starting goal.
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  • Profile picture of the author chooch
    Hi...

    It sounds like you want to do the same thing as Scott Davenport with his MY HOME WEALTH SYSTEM and Ewen Chia with his new 24 HR INTERNET BUSINESS. They each start with 10 website in different niches, but they use ClickBank ebooks. That way you just do the work once and drive customers to the site. A lot less work that away.

    Evidently it works. Or they wouldn't be selling their program. So it sounds like you have the idea, now you just need a product to put with each site that requires no work on your part.

    Good Luck with your project!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author peterphillipps
    Ya I have heard of these guys, not familiar with their programs. You guys after a $1,000.00. you need a lot of sites to generate that income from adsence, however if you get a few going and they make a few bucks with adsence you can sell them. Type in Freestyle Watch Bands (google) I registered freestylewatchbands.com on the 10th of Jan this year and it no 5 on google and makes money every day. Not heaps but turns out a few bucks a week and I can build that site in an hour. My sites are all the same, just different colors and headers. I can make 6 of these a day most days and I still run my day business. Depending on the topics I collect email addresses, run exit splash to sell the odd product or ebbook and i'm not too far off running a new plug in that will allow me to sell banner, links and advertising to other people that want ads displayed on my sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author shousley
    I was also denied from all affiliate networks I applied before for all same reasons - "site under construction" or "site criteria has no match to merchant lists" . I was down, but I haven't stop from there, instead I changed my site niche, put more contents, and drive more traffic. After a month, I re-applied to the affiliate networks and booomm, they accepted me! I'm already earning some dollars from affiliate programs

    So, do some niche research, spend time, put related contents on your site (most affiliate networks examine first if your site has rich contents), drive traffic and after few weeks apply again on the affiliate networks. You'll be surprise that you'll be accepted .

    I think Commission Junction(cj.com) is easy to apply with.
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  • Profile picture of the author blue_Tiger
    Thanks Peter Phillips

    You know I started IM with website flipping and bought a WSO here about website flipping. but after months I have to give up with no success.. I was good in many things .. but my problem was: How to get traffic to the websites quickly? and how to make the website earn some bucks weekly? because the buyers always ask for these two things: TRAFFIC and REVENUE .. once your website has traffic and revenue then that is 200+ value..
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  • Profile picture of the author Jude.A
    Originally Posted by dem0x7 View Post

    Hello all,

    I am new to the whole Internet Marketing scene. I am a website designer, but I want to do something else, I want to get in to affiliate marketing, run some campaigns, design some awesome landing pages, etc.

    I tried to apply for all the top affiliate networks, but I got denied because I don't have experience. I also didn't know what to put for my website URL. I don't have a main website, I was planning on designing unique landing pages for each offer.

    I don't want to use Clickbank to promote e-Books or anything, I really want to try the CPA offers.
    You're getting turned down by these CPA networks because you're presenting yourself as a newbie.

    These companies will take you a lot more seriously if you apply from the

    perspective of a professional company and not a small individual marketer.

    Use your web design skills to create a 'media buying website'.
    You can model your site from these ones:

    internext-marketing.com
    intechmediasolutions.com

    Visit the websites above and note down their internal site structure. You can also Google 'media buying agencies' and browse through a few sites so that you have a good idea of how these sites are structured.


    I can guarantee if you apply with any CPA network with a website like any of those above, you won't get turned down.
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  • Profile picture of the author macchiavelli
    The thing I would reccomend newbies is start with the big niches.
    Dont go for weird niches about taking care of frogs or stuff like that.

    Weight loss sells so promote weight loss.
    You will make money by doing this.
    Wish I had known when I started out...lol
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    • Profile picture of the author dem0x7
      Thank you all!
      I visited those two links, they both seem to be dead. I did google Media Buying though, to get an idea .. but what would I do with this site? I'm a little confused.
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  • Profile picture of the author ArtFlipper
    Bump for Markethealth network...thx for the advice...
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