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A question about solo ads.

by affiliatecliff
22 replies
Hello, my name is Cliff Floyd. I am new to IM and began promoting a product using a solo ad to build my list. So far, I have 20 clicks, but no subscribers. The ad went up yesterday at around 6:00 PM EST. And based on what I have seen here, I think I should have shopped around for a better deal. I paid 40 dollars for my ad to be sent to 1500 people per week for the next month with 10% guaranteed clicks. I think I screwed up. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I know that I am going to make a few mistakes along the way, but I would like to minimize the mistakes where I have to invest money in my business...and money is tight right now.

Thank you.
#ads #question #solo
  • Profile picture of the author Coby
    Yeah, bro. Bad deal

    No worries though - there are legit solo ad sellers out there. You can check out at Reed Floren's Solo Ad Directory

    Normally clicks via solo ad should be delivered within 24-48 hours.
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  • Profile picture of the author James Foster
    So basically you spend $40 on 150 click guaranteed to be delivered over one month.

    Per click that's not a bad price, but I agree with Coby that the clicks should be delivered in a day or two.

    And by the sounds of it, you're going to want to test your squeeze page more... Even out of just 20 clicks you should have gotten opt ins.
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  • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
    Thanks for the reply Coby. I have 20 clicks so far, but no subscrptions yet after viewing my autoresponder....I am tracking the location where my clicks are coming from. I am on a tight budget...I might have to ride this one out and move to other promotion strategies.
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    • Profile picture of the author Coby
      Originally Posted by affiliatecliff View Post

      Thanks for the reply Coby. I have 20 clicks so far, but no subscrptions yet after viewing my autoresponder....I am tracking the location where my clicks are coming from. I am on a tight budget...I might have to ride this one out and move to other promotion strategies.
      Yeah, as James said, per click, not too bad. But seems odd that they are delivered over a month and also weird that after twenty visits you have no opt-ins...

      Might be a better investment for next time to invest the $40 in a Free WSO.

      However, there are some good solo sellers out there and even some in this very forum (classifieds section) so don't let it keep you down. Like you said - just ride it out Lesson Learned
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  • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
    @James: I will make some inquiries....everything on my squeeze page appears to be ok...I ran a test to make sure the autoresponder works and the test went fine. I did expect an opt-in or 2. But I have 20 clicks since 6:00 PM yesterday. Maybe sending out on a Sunday evening was not a good idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
    Since I am new here and still feeling my way around....can I mention the service that I used???
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    • Profile picture of the author James Foster
      Originally Posted by affiliatecliff View Post

      Since I am new here and still feeling my way around....can I mention the service that I used???
      I wouldn't recommend it.

      As far as your squeeze page goes... A good converter normally has a compelling, benefit driven, headline, a call to action, and some "trust indicators".

      With just those elements you should be able to get 40-50% conversions from a good solo ad
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  • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
    @James: The squeeze page is top notch containing all the elements that you mentioned with a video. I will keep monitoring and report back.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Chicas
    Paying for solos or running a PPC is a science of it's own and quite often it's a gamble with new products. I would say build you least every other way first and once you test the waters on what converts best and how then open up to using solos or PPC but even then if you are low on cash I wouldn't recommend this method.
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  • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
    Ok...I have my first opt-in ever...out of 40 clicks. I guess the first seed is planted. Now to craft a thank you email with a freebie.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fun to Write
    Maybe it's about what's on the squeeze page that is causing a lack of conversions. This is where testing and trying to figure out exactly what information people are interested in come into play.

    You may want to change the copy and see if that improves sign ups.
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    Focus+Smart Work+Persistence=Success

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  • Profile picture of the author robnoble
    Originally Posted by affiliatecliff View Post

    Hello, my name is Cliff Floyd. I am new to IM and began promoting a product using a solo ad to build my list. So far, I have 20 clicks, but no subscribers. The ad went up yesterday at around 6:00 PM EST. And based on what I have seen here, I think I should have shopped around for a better deal. I paid 40 dollars for my ad to be sent to 1500 people per week for the next month with 10% guaranteed clicks. I think I screwed up. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I know that I am going to make a few mistakes along the way, but I would like to minimize the mistakes where I have to invest money in my business...and money is tight right now.

    Thank you.
    So the way that sounds is... your ad gets sent 4 times, once per week for a month, and you get a guaranteed 10% clicks - so is that 4 times 150 clicks?
    If so that's one of those "too good to be true" deals!
    However if it does work out let me know.
    The chances are though at that price your ad is not being sent to a list but to social media traffic ie through twitter or facebook. It's a common scam.

    Regards
    Rob
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  • Profile picture of the author aminur
    Good to hear you are taking the right path as most of us keep the list building task on the last to do list which is wrong. Did you find out what niche you purchased the solo ad on, did you ask the person about the best converting topic or offer which converts the best with his/her list?

    It' always best to do little bit research on the list before you put up any opt-in page with offer or free content.
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  • Profile picture of the author RobKonrad
    Hey Cliff,

    What are you offering on your opt-in page?

    Cheers,
    Rob
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    This blog is awesome: http://www.robkonrad.com/blog. Read it.
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  • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
    Thanks for the responses and guidance everyone. This place is where I need to be!! Right now as it stands, I have 1 opt-in out of 48 clicks. Not good at all. Now I know to come here to purchase my solo ads or use another reputable source.
    @Fun to Write: The squeeze page is good (the video is top notch)..I did not create it...I have not developed that skill yet. Should I say the product that I am marketing??
    @robnoble: I think I was jipped...also I did not inquire with the service as to means by which the ad will be dispersed and to whom. Lesson learned on that one...I will not be making that mistake again.
    @aminur: I have been doing research and I know for a bonafide fact that I have to build my list first as it serves as the very foundation for my business.
    @RobKonrad: The opt-in page offers a free viral list building system with an option for a paid upgrade.
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  • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
    Like I stated in a previous post...my ad budget is tight as I am starting out. I won't be able to afford another ad for at least 2 weeks. I will have to take a hit on the chin with this one and see how it goes. I will start researching and implementing other list building strategies in the meantime and come here for help because I will need it. This is new to me and the information overload is a doozie!!
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  • Profile picture of the author James Foster
    You keep saying your squeeze page is 'top notch' but it's not converting well... so I'm going to have to disagree.

    Unfortunately, just because something looks nice doesn't mean it converts. And conversions are really all that matters.

    I'll send you a PM with my email address in it. You can shoot me a link to your squeeze page I'll take a look at it.
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    • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
      Originally Posted by James Foster View Post

      You keep saying your squeeze page is 'top notch' but it's not converting well... so I'm going to have to disagree.

      Unfortunately, just because something looks nice doesn't mean it converts. And conversions are really all that matters.

      I'll send you a PM with my email address in it. You can shoot me a link to your squeeze page I'll take a look at it.
      James, thank you. I just sent you an email with the link. I am new to this so I will say that my ability to fully evaluate squeeze pages is limited.
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    • Profile picture of the author robnoble
      Originally Posted by James Foster View Post

      You keep saying your squeeze page is 'top notch' but it's not converting well... so I'm going to have to disagree.

      Unfortunately, just because something looks nice doesn't mean it converts. And conversions are really all that matters.

      I'll send you a PM with my email address in it. You can shoot me a link to your squeeze page I'll take a look at it.
      now that's a generous offer right there.

      Affiliatecliff can I suggest that you make your thanks public by clicking on the thanks button at the bottom of james' post.

      We have only a few ways to judge our fellow warriors when it comes to buying WSO's, considering affiliates, JV's etc and one of the ones I look for is whether members are being involved and helpful enough to others on the forum to be thanked.

      Just a thought
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  • Profile picture of the author gazutz
    Hey Don't get upset till the end of the month and see what your final numbers are..... If you come out on top do it again and if not move on...... ROI is king
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  • Profile picture of the author JoeHughes
    It's likely that they are sending you low quality traffic possibly from traffic exchanges where the opt ins are very low but the traffic is high. You need to research what sort of traffic they are sending you before buying. I would check out safeadswaps as it protects you.
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  • Profile picture of the author affiliatecliff
    Thank you everyone for your assistance. James...especially because he took out the time to look at the squeeze page which in his opinion is not completely optimal for getting opt-ins. But I have no way to change it. And I have already dropped 40 dollars for the solo ad and 20 dollars (recurring) for the membership. I am wondering what my next step should be. Should I keep promoting the product??? And in regards to traffic and the solo ad....the metrics are showing me that it is being to clicked on around the world....half in the US....a large amount in non-English speaking countries....drat!!

    Like I said previously....I will purchase my solo ads from here or a referral from here from now on. But I will continue to monitor the metrics....1 opt-in from 50 clicks...not good. But should I keep promoting based on editing the squeeze page being out of my control??? I don't feel good about this right now. But I am not giving up.
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