Too many Niches with not enough affiliate programs :s

13 years ago

Try looking at more than just Clickbank and you'll very likely find tons of affiliate products.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Discover how to have fabulous, engaging content with
Fast & Easy Content Creation
***Especially if you don't have enough time, money, or just plain HATE writing***

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4764358].message }}

Johnny Optimo

13 years ago

When you find out that this is the situation, it's the perfect time to start creating your own info products... the added benefit is that if there aren't a lot of existing clickbank products, you can add YOURS to fill the gap.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4764453].message }}

Aaron Doud

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Johnny Optimo

When you find out that this is the situation, it's the perfect time to start creating your own info products... the added benefit is that if there aren't a lot of existing clickbank products, you can add YOURS to fill the gap.

I agree finding a niche without solid products is a gold mine if you can fill that niche. I've always been a believer especially for new people that you should find a niche you know. That way you know how the person in that niche things and can market to them better.

For example a guy who beat premature ejaculation should be marketing in that niche and even creating products because he understands that niche.

Sure you can market any niche but can you market it well. And wouldn't it be better to get started in something you know vs. researching something? That way you can focus on learning to be a good marketer vs. learning about the niche. I hope that makes sense.

Thanks

Signature

Aaron Doud - Sales & Success

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4786842].message }}

Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

everytime I have a niche idea, the niche doesn't seem to have any more than 1-2 affiliate programs to sell.

As Tina says, there's no need to restrict yourself to just ClickBank.

I did, I admit, for more than 2 years when I started off ... and it does make things easy and convenient. But if I "had my time again" I wouldn't have waited as long before adding other things, I think.

Also ... maybe you could look at some niches a little bit bigger than the 1 - 2 product ones, but without hitting the "dating"/"forex"/"weight-loss" sort of markets which are certainly hugely competitive?

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

I've been educated to believe that I need to find niches that have enough products to be able to have the ability to sell more than one products to my list.

I do think this is a pretty good principle. I've found, overall, that "adding a second product" to an existing niche site has been about 10% more work for about 35% more income. And once you're building lists anyway (and nobody's selling many ClickBank products without doing that), it helps a lot to have more than one product to sell them. Once someone has got as far as opting in, you've done the difficult part, and need to maximise the return on that.

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

Am I misunderstanding how I should be looking for niches?

I don't think so; no.

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

What would you advise?

I think probably trying to identify some bigger niches that aren't "huge markets", which perhaps have a whole range of products (many of which you might not want to promote because their sales pages more-or-less disqualify them for serious affiliates anyway), a few of which might "look ok, in principle". Some sort of "in-between-sized niches"? There are plenty, surely? Or is that just the sort of useless comment that makes you instinctively say "No, of course there aren't, otherwise why would I be asking?"

This is a reflection on me and not on you, but I'm not quite clear exactly what your problem is, to be honest?

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4764508].message }}

UMS

13 years ago

You'll be amazed at just how many affiliate programs there are if you do a search for them, eg:

product affiliate program
product affiliates
product affiliate sign up

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

SECockpit - Get the world's most POWERFUL Keyword Research Tool for ONLY $1

Grab a LIFETIME Discount off Elegant Themes

Grab a LIFETIME 40% Discount off The Best Spinner

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4765487].message }}

WishfulDoing 13 years ago

I noticed the same thing as the OP. It just seems like its the same thing over and over again on ClickBank, even on the new introductions. When I tried to find some different niches there were products with very low commissions. I'm not sure it would be worth promoting those, considering all the work that's involved.

I know there are many affiliate networks out there, but you need an actual business set up and experience before they will approve you. As a newbie, I feel kind of stuck with ClickBank.

Any ideas for alternatives?
- [ 1 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4766040].message }}

RAMarketing

13 years ago

EVERY niche has affiliate programs, just not with Clickbank. Commission Junction, Amazon, or google affiliates will have something. Here's an example: billiards. I have no idea if there are more than 2 CB products on it, but I know that if I sell a $5000 billiards table through amazon, I get $200 (at least). CB is the beginning of searching for products, not the end.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4766059].message }}

WishfulDoing 13 years ago

Good idea. Too bad I live in one of the Nexus states. I've been looking at Skimlinks as an alternative to Amazon.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4766104].message }}

jgant

13 years ago

Check out:

CJ.com
ShareASale
LinkShare

These networks offer physical products, digital products, and software services. In fact, I promote far more products and services from these networks than ClickBank.

Also, if you're in a narrow niche, approach a company who doesn't have a publicized affiliate program if you think your site is a good fit. I've done this and the company was happy to develop a rerral arrangement with me which is proving highly lucrative (very little competition).

Moreover, many businesses have in-house affiliate programs. Look for a product/service you believe is a good fit and look around for an affiliate program. If there isn't one, as, them about entering into a deal with you.

Also, if you want to go really narrow, but with potentially high commissions, think local. You can approach local businesses and arrange a referral deal with them. Be sure the businesses you approach offer high-value services so that they'll be prepared to shell out big bucks for each referred customer/client. I've just sealed the deal with 3 local businesses and although I'm just getting started, the agreed commissions are higher than anything on ClickBank with maybe a few exceptions.

Affiliate marketing is essentailly referral marketing and if you have the skill to attract targeted traffic and pre-sell, your abilities are valuable. Although ClickBank proves lucrative for many marketers, there are many other options available to you.

Actually, when you go the local route, you don't have to do the referral thing. Talk to a local business about creating a site that uses their header/logo and for all intent and purposes is their site. Be sure to make it a unique site that perhaps focuses on a specific service they offer.

Thanks

Signature

How I hit $10,000+ per month very fast w/ 1 niche blog - Click Here to learn more (no opt-in).

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4766114].message }}

Miguelito203

13 years ago

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

Hi, I'm ready to choose my first niche.

I've been searching quite alot for several niches, using ClickBank Marketplace, and general google searches, then typing the buyer keyword(s) into traffic travis, google adwords tool, etc.

It seems as though if I'm not in the big league markets - weight, dating, dog care, etc that there aren't more than a few niche-relevant products on ClickBank :s

I've been educated to believe that I need to find niches that have enough products to be able to have the ability to sell more than one products to my list.

But everytime I have a niche idea, the niche doesn't seem to have any more than 1-2 affiliate programs to sell.

I'm not ready for big leagues yet. I just need a micro niche site with several products to sell to a list.

Am I misunderstanding how I should be looking for niches?

What would you advise?

- Thanks,

Heevy

Clickbank is only one of many. Perhaps, you could try Amazon (people in certain states can't become affiliates) or Pepperjam affiliate network. There's all kinds of stuff on there, including a lot of "As Seen on TV" programs that pay per lead rather than a percentage of the sale.

Good luck,
Joey

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Learn How to Snipe in 2015 and Generate $750+ per Month in Record Time (Product Launches) - Great For Back-to-School, Fall & Holiday Seasons!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4766309].message }}

Ti

13 years ago

I would say Clickbank makes you the most $$ by far. Constant 50% affiliate commissions seem to only occur on Clickbank. Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't you say that CJ and the like only have ~5%-~10% commissions? So why choose anything BUT Clickbank since it pays so much more?

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Affiliates Wanted --> http://Pwnboxer.com <-- Promote to your MMORPG/World of Warcraft Niche
Insanely Popular Software Lets You Play 5x WoW+ On 1 PC - 100% Legit Bliz Approves Multiboxing
Current Affiliate Stats: June 4th 2011: EPC = $3.50, Conversions = 10.2%, $23.50/sale

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4766331].message }}

Michael Oksa

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Ti

I would say Clickbank makes you the most $$ by far. Constant 50% affiliate commissions seem to only occur on Clickbank. Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't you say that CJ and the like only have ~5%-~10% commissions? So why choose anything BUT Clickbank since it pays so much more?

A lot of answers to that question were already answered in this thread.

What if CB doesn't have any products in the niche you want to get into?

What if CB doesn't have any DECENT products in that niche?

What if you can promote name-brand, nationally-known products for a commission through a place like CommissionJunction (credit cards, mobile phone plans, Wal-Mart, etc.)?

What if you want to sell physical products?

Also, you may earn a higher % on most CB sales, but there are also a lot of refunds in some niches, and there is also the risk of people sidetracking your affiliate link.

So, while CB may be like a hammer in your marketing toolbox, sometimes you need a screwdriver or pliers.

All the best,
Michael

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

"Ich bin en fuego!"

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4766376].message }}

Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Ti

So why choose anything BUT Clickbank since it pays so much more?

Payment per sale isn't the most valid way to compare these things, Ti.

Which is better, to send your traffic to the sales page of a ClickBank product which retails at $47 and pays 60% commission with a conversion-rate of 1% (which many people consider a very acceptable conversion-rate for ClickBank), or send it to an Amazon product which retails at $47, pays 6% commission and converts at 15%?

Even if generating the traffic for these two attempted sales costs you exactly the same, the Amazon one, with its far lower commission, is clearly producing you over 50% more income, isn't it? And that's even without allowing for the fact that when your customers go to Amazon, you also earn a commission on anything else they buy there within the next 24 hours.

As you can see, there are many other factors to take into account: no point in comparing on the basis of commission-rates only.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4768445].message }}
- Liam Hamer 13 years ago
  
  Up until quite recently, I only really promoted Clickbank products and CPA products/offers on my affiliate sites but as others have said, there is so much more out there. Amazon would be a great place to start as it is nice and easy to find products, and even a few small sales will help to build your confidence. It's good that you are putting so much thought into this process, when I got started I was seduced by the $25 - $35 per sale Clickbank offered for a lot of the products on there.
  
  What you are doing is such an important part of the process when you get started - niche selection, product selection, keyword selection - so take your time and give it lots of thought There are thousands of niches and products out there.
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4768710].message }}

heevyhivy

13 years ago

Thanks to everyone who is replying to this thread.
Btw Alexa, it's funny but I tried PM'ing you first, but couldn't because I didn't have permission. Worked out eitehr way lol.

I think the mutual replies from others experiencing my problem (e.g. WishfulDoing) with finding enough niche products for the small/medium league markets, explains my situation.

I didnt anticipate I would be complaining about anything CB related lol.
I was first led to believe finding that first niche shouldn't be allocated much time, but something tells me it's not the best idea to target CB stuff as it would take years to rank a keyword in those big league niches.

I guess it boils down to:

1). How hard is it to find an in-between niche or a decent profitable niche as a first experiment?

2). What can I use to find these? (At the moment, I can only think of finding general frustration/anger management forums to inspire ideas for niches to attempt the buying keyword and affiliate program searches)

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4768828].message }}

Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

Btw Alexa, it's funny but I tried PM'ing you first, but couldn't because I didn't have permission. Worked out eitehr way lol.

I think you need to make 50 posts to send p.m.'s. Or join the "War Room", for $37 for 20 years membership, which you need to do anyway (in just your first half-hour in there, you can download information worth several hundreds of dollars - though actually that probably isn't the best way to start, there ...).

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

I was first led to believe finding that first niche shouldn't be allocated much time, but something tells me it's not the best idea to target CB stuff as it would take years to rank a keyword in those big league niches.

This isn't a reason not to target CB stuff, though: it's (possibly) a reason not to target some CB stuff by SEO (unless using very long-tail, non-competitive keywords).

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

How hard is it to find an in-between niche or a decent profitable niche as a first experiment?

When I did my first experiments, I didn't even try. I started off promoting some high-gravity products in quite competitive niches, and they had vendors' opt-ins on their sales pages, too. Like many people, I earned almost nothing for my first 2 - 3 months because of this, and I recommend it to nobody! You're thinking about it more than I did, at that stage, because you know more to start with than I did when I started. I was too busy "taking action" to understand how anything works, so all the action I took was inevitably misguided and misdirected. It did help me to learn what doesn't work, but even then I didn't really understand why until later.

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

2). What can I use to find these?

Here are three different approaches ...

(i) Go to a big newsagents' shop and write down a list of 40 subjects on which people are spending their money on buying magazines because they have an interest (this list will typically be a mixture of "markets" and "niches"). Have a look through the magazines and see what there are articles on (these will typically be niches). When you get home, put each of those words into the "search" function inside ClickBank's Marketplace and see whether any products are listed whose sales pages apparently satisfy the criteria set out in this post;

(ii) Do the same by writing out a list of subjects/areas/niches you know anything about, if helpful using something like a list of over 2,000 forums as a "prompt", and then do the same thing;

(iii) Just search inside ClickBank's Marketplace, clicking on every sub-category, or using "advanced search" to identify products with gravities under (say) 20, and $-per-sale over (say) $25 (those search parameters alone bring up over 2,000 different products), looking quickly through the products and noting down any niches that look interesting, using those terms for later searches.

Niche-selection and product-selection are time-consuming. I try to spend 20 - 30 minutes per day looking at them, and over 3 years that adds up to a lot of time. But that's a really important part of how I'm making such a good a living.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4770495].message }}

LarryC

13 years ago

There's always eBay and Amazon, which have products in just about any niche you could think of.

Thanks

Signature

Content Writing, Ghostwriting, eBooks, editing, research.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4770593].message }}

Dex88

13 years ago

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

Hi, I'm ready to choose my first niche.

I've been searching quite alot for several niches, using ClickBank Marketplace, and general google searches, then typing the buyer keyword(s) into traffic travis, google adwords tool, etc.

It seems as though if I'm not in the big league markets - weight, dating, dog care, etc that there aren't more than a few niche-relevant products on ClickBank :s

I've been educated to believe that I need to find niches that have enough products to be able to have the ability to sell more than one products to my list.

But everytime I have a niche idea, the niche doesn't seem to have any more than 1-2 affiliate programs to sell.

I'm not ready for big leagues yet. I just need a micro niche site with several products to sell to a list.

Am I misunderstanding how I should be looking for niches?

What would you advise?

- Thanks,

Heevy

This is my dilemma as well!

Thanks

Signature

Unique and great quality articles just for $0.75 per 100 words!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4770647].message }}

David McKee

13 years ago

heevyhivy...

Here is my "little" masterlist of affiliate networks - it is by no means complete, and most likely not up to date as I am sure some of these have passed into oblivion, however I believe that if you search all of these in any niche, you should be able to find a product or 10.

512media.net
adbonus.com
adchase.com
adoptimal.com
adquantum.com
adreign.com
adreporting.com
adtegrity.com
adviva.com
affiliateboss.com
affiliateclicks.com
affiliatecrew.com
affiliatenetwork.com
affiliate-program-marketing-center.com
affiliatesuccess.net
affiliatewindow.com
aifind.com
allclicks.com
amazingmedia.com
ampiramedia.com
aptimus.com
associatesales.com
azoogleads.com
bamstrategy.com
bannerspace.com
bannerstart.com
bclick.com
budsinc.com
bulkclicks.com
bulletads.com
burstmedia.com
casalemedia.com
checkmystats.com.au
cibleclick.co.uk
cj.com
click2Sell.com
clickagents.com
clickbank.com
clickbooth.com
clickcash.com
clickslink.com
clicksor.com
clickxchange.com
clikthrutraffic.com
compactbanner.com
constantclicks.com/affiliate/
contextweb.com
coregistrationservices.com
cpaempire.com
cpaffiliates.com
cpase.com
customoffers.com
cyberbounty.com
darkblue.com
debtleadaffiliates.com
depotnet.com
digitalarrow.com
digitalgrit.com
directclicks.com
directresponse.com
dkads.com
dotomi.com
drumcash.com
eadexchange.com
ejunkie.com
envisionads.com
excessvoice.com
exitcity.com
exitfuel.com
ezyads.com
fineclicks.com
floppybank.com
focalex.com
focusin.com
free2try.com
getrelevant.com
goclick.com
goldaffiliateprogram.com
gorillanation.com
heragency.com
hitvendor.com
hunt7.com
icommissions.com
incentaclick.com
incomeaccess.com
innovationads.com
interevco.com
internetfuel.com
itimemarketing.com
joetec.net
jpeadvertising.com
leadcrunch.com
leadermarkets.com
leadfactory.com
leadhound.com
leadseffect.com
leadsponsors.com
linkmo.com
linknearn.com
linkprofits.net
linkshare.com
listopt.com
loudcash.com
lynxtrade.com
mailbits.com
mailcreations.com
mammamediasolutions.com
marketleverage.com
maxonline.com
myreferer.com
narrowcastmedia.com
nesletternetwork.com
netklix.com
newsletter-directory.com
newsletternetwork.com
nextwavemarketingstrategies.com
nichecommerceaffiliates.com
nitroaffiliates.com
offerdownline.com
offerisland.com
offersquest.com
offerweb.com
omnipoint.com
opt-media.com
overpro.com
paidonresults.com
partnerweekly.com
paypopup.com
performermedia.com
performics.com
permissiondirect.com
platinumpartner.com
plimus.com
popupad.net
popuptraffic.com
postmasterdirect.com
precisiontargeting.com
primaryads
primaryads.com
primeq.com
qujo.com
realtechnetwork.com
reddbrix.net
revenuepilot.com
rextopia.com
search4clicks.com
searchfeed.com
searchtraffic.com
servetraffic.com
shareasale.com
shareresults.com
sitecash.com
site-promotion.com
specialitymatch.com
specificpop.com
supertaf.com
textlinks.com
thankyoupages.com
totalaccessonline.com
tradedoubler.com
trafficsynergy.com
tribalfusion.com
ugo.com
ukaffiliates.com
unitedclick.com
vayanpays.com
veracash.com
websponsors.com
xuppa.com
yesadvertising.com
zonify.com

-DTM

[ 3 ] Thanks

Signature

Are you an affiliate marketer? My site has tons of free stuff and 14,000 pages of Clickbank research. www.affiliatesledgehammer.com
Buy a Freedom Bulb! Don't let the government tell you what kind of light bulb you can use!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4770796].message }}

heevyhivy

13 years ago

I wish I had mentors like this in college. Thanks so much Alexa and David, and everyone else who has contributed.
It's times like these when I envisage my future 20 years down the line on career day, all the parents will be giving boring lectures about business and parking in uniforms. I'll be talking about domain parking, but hell I'll be doing it in a bathrobe

"Just when I think I'm out they try to pull me back in"

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4771928].message }}

Michael Oksa

13 years ago

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

I wish I had mentors like this in college. Thanks so much Alexa and David, and everyone else who has contributed.
It's times like these when I envisage my future 20 years down the line on career day, all the parents will be giving boring lectures about business and parking in uniforms. I'll be talking about domain parking, but hell I'll be doing it in a bathrobe

"Just when I think I'm out they try to pull me back in"

Sounds like you'll be overdressed. (Let's just say nobody would want to stop by my place on "casual Friday")

~M~

Thanks

Signature

"Ich bin en fuego!"

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4772159].message }}

David McKee

13 years ago

Originally Posted by heevyhivy

I wish I had mentors like this in college. Thanks so much Alexa and David, and everyone else who has contributed.
It's times like these when I envisage my future 20 years down the line on career day, all the parents will be giving boring lectures about business and parking in uniforms. I'll be talking about domain parking, but hell I'll be doing it in a bathrobe

"Just when I think I'm out they try to pull me back in"

Ahhh... better not show up in school wearing just a bathrobe... I'm just sayin!

Let me give you one more really useful piece of advice, which has always helped me: "Go after the hard things... because most will not. See them for what they really are (and you will know them because when you first think about doing them you will want to run away!). The successful are usually the people who are willing to do the things that the unsuccessful are not willing to do.

-DTM

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Are you an affiliate marketer? My site has tons of free stuff and 14,000 pages of Clickbank research. www.affiliatesledgehammer.com
Buy a Freedom Bulb! Don't let the government tell you what kind of light bulb you can use!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4776164].message }}

ebusinesstutor

13 years ago

Assuming your niche is large enough with people hungry for solutions, the low ClickBank products could be to your advantage.

Most other people looking at the niche will pass it by because of a lack of products, giving you an edge. You don't make money by doing what everyone else is doing, you make money by exploring new territory.

A great opportunity, as others have said, to develop your own products. You can also set up your own affiliate program for them and then you can have thousands of other people selling YOUR products on commission instead of just being one more person selling on commission yourself.

Thanks

Signature

Garland Coulson, "The E-Business Tutor"
Internet Mentorship
Internet Marketing Speaker
Internet Marketing Help Blog

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4772589].message }}

johFF

13 years ago

There are the huge number of affiliate products for avery niche. Start with affiliate, and if things going good, create your own product. But, always first check market with some affiliate, don't spend time creating product if you are not sure that it will pay off.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4783435].message }}

maruxz

13 years ago

Some niche products may earn 2 buck per sale, some - 500, so please pay attention to the revenue and competition. I doubt you can make easy money from Forex, just because the huge competition, while there are some unpopular services which may bring you income faster and easier.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4783448].message }}

art72

13 years ago

You may find that locating a specific affiliate product will get easier, especially, with the huge list of affiliate programs out there, like the examples David provided above. (Thank-you David!)

As such, do yourself a favor early on, and keep track of the programs, products, and log-in information you used to sign-up. You'll be surprised how fast that 'inventory' will grow.

I cannot tell you how many times I found myself searching through several email accounts and 1000's of emails trying to find my log-in details for a specific product or affiliate program.

On a different note, keep in mind, that there has been many times, I have stumbled upon a quality product, and contacted the actual manufacturer to find out "if" they had an affiliate program?

In most cases, the majority already do have such a program in place, but for those who do not, there could be an excellent opportunity to help them create one and get greater exposure to their goods. This is a win/win as you can promote a more lucrative product, and be handsomely rewarded at the same time exposing it to other potential affiliates.

All the Best,

Art

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Atop a tree with Buddha ain't a bad place to take rest!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4783611].message }}

heevyhivy

13 years ago

Originally Posted by art72

In most cases, the majority already do have such a program in place, but for those who do not, there could be an excellent opportunity to help them create one and get greater exposure to their goods.
Art

I contacted one of these companies and they said they were interested if I was willing to set one up for them as they have many affiliate requests as of late.

How do I set one up, I have no idea where to start

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4790691].message }}

erob

13 years ago

You can also do a search for venders that sale using the RAP system they often have sites with different niches

Thanks

Signature

GooRoo's System For 100% Free Traffic 'Super Hack' Click Here To Get Started

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4786785].message }}

Too many Niches with not enough affiliate programs :s

Trending Topics

Google Ads, landing pages, and Clickbank links

Carry out better target audience research

YouTube gets shopping display tools and affiliate partnership updates

A Very Strange Internet Problem

Membership area with multiple income streams