I hate ClickBank (or, what am I doing wrong?)

by 33 replies
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As a graphic designer, most of the "sales pitch" pages I've previewed make me want to vomit.

Who has success with ClickBank?

Do you sell other people's eBooks or your own?

Anyone really turned off by the pitch pages as well?


Sorry for the total n00b posting ... I tend to jump in first, check the pool for water later.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #clickbank #ebook #hate #wrong
  • Banned
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    • [2] replies
    • Hi freelief,

      If you'd checked the pool, you'd have found that it has no water, but a plentiful supply of graphic designers lying on the bottom with broken legs.

      Hopefully they will break your fall :rolleyes:

      You're looking at the pages through the eyes of a graphic designer, which is the absolute opposite of the eyes of someone who has never done any graphic design, but is so desperate for a solution that when they read all about the acme horse racing system, they are so transfixed on the words that tell them what their life will be like once they part with $47, that they wouldn't even notice if the border image was nausea inducing psychedelic 1960s wallpaper.

      You really aren't the first person to ask this here (understatement - the pool is full - but at least you didn't call all marketers idiots). :rolleyes:

      That type of site has one focus - the sale - hence the wording is of utmost importance. Minimal professionally designed graphics can help with this goal, but any marketer worth their salt will split test their pages and often you will find that the reason that the site is pig-ugly, is because the pig-ugly version won and continues to win.

      Hope this helps
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    • That couldn't have been farther from the truth... What data do you have to backup this? What successful earners? Don't help people limit their ideas of IM - your limitation is bad enough to have an extra one.
      • [1] reply
  • For instance, I look up something dear to me: horses.

    I skip through dozens of horse racing betting items to find two *realistic* options on horse training.

    I look at the pitch pages and cringe. I would have to find a complete horse n00b to "sell" to ... I'd be embarrassed to recommend either to a friend.

    There are a few eBooks I've been inclined to write, but if I have to use these types of marketing techniques to sell them, I'd rather not bother!
  • You'll find that it's not always about looking good - the most important aspect is that you're providing something that people are looking for, and are willing to pay for. If you're in a crowded niche, then sometimes graphics will help you out. But it's mainly about the product and the pitch. - mho
  • I can understand your point. However, it often turns out that a sales page that makes me cringe is actually selling a product *very* successfully.

    The secret to a good sales page has something to do with talking to the visitor in a way they feel comfortable with. The graphics can support this conversation, but is NOT an end in itself.
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  • Quick question freelief have you ever purchased an ebook? If so why did you buy it? As a Graphics Designer I would like to get your opinion on this Clickbank website Fat Loss 4 Idiots / Weight Loss and Diet Center The reason I ask is who is your market and are you able to communicate with them?
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    • Yes, I've bought a couple of eBooks. Both with regard to success with Squidoo.

      Second, replying not as a designer but as a human, I don't consider myself an idiot (ignorant, sure, but not an imbecile) so I would be immediately turned off by that.

      However, from what I've seen on the sparse amount of TV I watch, mainstream America is not only totally fine with calling themselves dummies, they seem to revel in it.
      • [2] replies
  • Blunt + dark sarcasm. I'm in like with you already.
  • CICKBANK does make it a challenge to start out with. I hope you get your head round it
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  • Yes, there is this old saying:
    "When in Rome - do as the Romans!"

    -- Which is what successful marketers have learned. If you want to be a marketer in a mainstream market it is do that - or die.
  • Try promoting others products ist. get experience about niche and then start your own project.
  • As a general rule whenever I find myself agreeing with the majority I immediately
    re-think my position.
    As far as what's good and what actually sells...
    2 words...
    Brittany Spears.
    • [2] replies
    • Let's say there are 10 successful marketers there, all giving 60% to their affiliates + ClickBank combined. So that's already $400k per day. Or $40k per marketer per day. I'm doing it just to put things into perspective. $40k a day per person is $1.2 million a month for that person... so you tell me that is BIG money? The facebook guy is big money. The Google guys are big money. As far as direct marketing the only big guys are behind Agora as far as I know, which of course is seriously questionable.

      Nice tactic
    • Does it follow that I have to stoop to the level of Britney Spears to sell in the mainstream marketplace?

      If I were to produce an eBook of my own and sell it on ClickBank, I wouldn't want my pitch to include any of the asinine things I've read in some of the "top performing" pages.

      If Bob tells me he's got a proven horse training trick from the 1800s that will turn any wild Mustang stallion into a kids' show pony in 2-3 hours I am going to run, not walk, in the other direction. I don't feel quite right about selling Bob's book to Susie who doesn't know any better and have Susie's kid get a busted up leg for trying to whisper to Ol' Rowdy.

      See, it's not just the LOOK of the pages. I'm not cool with directing people to sales pitch pages that try to convince them they've got microscopic lizards infesting their bowels. I exaggerate (only a little) but I'm not sure ClickBank is for me.

      Let me back up and try to introduce myself.

      I like Commission Junction. LinkShare is okay. Pepperjam Network is frustrating me. I haven't gotten into Shareasale yet.

      I'm into Squidoo, but not as much as when it was new and shiny (went crazy with it early last year, but my infatuation faded) and I am twitterpated with CafePress ... getting a four figure check this month from November's sales and another next month for December.

      I mostly hope to learn how best to use Facebook, Twitter, etc. to market my CafePress shops, and learn best practices for Squidoo that involve less time-consuming updating.

      Hi.
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  • Based on so much stuff already mentioned...

    ...why not just have the pictures?



    Thomas
  • I have a PM I can't reply to unless I make 5 more posts (now 4) and it's driving me nuts.
  • In other news, I've gained a few Twitter followers today.
    • [1] reply
    • freerelief,

      Have you considered picking just one aspect of horses as your focus? I see you say there is a lot.

      You know, regardless of your topic, there will be people who disagree with your tactics. That doesn't necessarily mean they aren't all right or wrong. There can be more than one right answer. For example, getting a horse into a trailer - will likely depend on the particular horse, the handler, and anything in that environment that can make the horse obey or not obey.

      I wouldn't worry too much about those disagreers. (don't think that's a word though ). Just take your subject one area at a time, get up to speed and then move on to another area. Talk to real experts to fill in the gaps.

      It can be done.

      Sylvia
  • "Pretty" sales pages are not what makes the sale, as a general rule. Meeting a need as well as compelling ad copy that taps into people's emotions (particularly fear of loss, which is a more powerful motivator than pleasure of gain) is what makes the sale.

    Some of the most effective and profitable sales pages and websites are often not very attractive. In fact, some are just plain ugly. But they work. While subconsciously aesthetics may play a small part in someone's decision making (depending a lot on the target market and what they are looking for), in online sales it is often only a pretty small part overall, if any.

    FatLoss4Idiots, IMO, is a perfect example of that. I've never liked the sales page, in terms of its graphics or the fact that the buyer had to make several clicks to finally buy it, yet it has been a hugely successful product. But the idea of losing 9 lbs in 11 days (if I recall correctly) goes straight to the heart of someone who is desparate to lose weight, has failed on other diets, and wants to lose it fast.

    As others have pointed out, you are thinking like a graphic designer (which is totally understandable, as that is what you do) rather than an internet marketer. (And your post wasn't offensive, IMO...you were expressing your opinion based on your background and experience, nothing wrong with that.) Welcome to the Warrior Forum!
    • [1] reply
    • Hi freelief,

      Sadly, yes.
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