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Recommending a product at the end of an article on a blog

by Anton543
7 replies
I have been tempted in doing that or/and use a strong call to action like the use of 'buy now' to try and boost my conversion rates (at the moment just have links to the products). I don't know for sure but I always feel this would compromise the impartiality of the blog. I know some would argue having product links at the end of some articles is a compromise, but I feel actually recommending something so strongly (as in wording it) after what is supposed to be an impartial article, takes this too far. It would definitely improve CTR to the product page, and recommendation would be sort of a presell.

Reviews are an altogether a different matter of course. You are expected to use call-to-action wordings in reviews.
#article #blog #end #product #recommending
  • Profile picture of the author JeffMitchell
    Just integrate the link into the article passively. And at the end give the ol' "If you are interested in this xxxxx click the link to find more information. The reason people came to the blog post is because they have interest.

    They are going to buy the product from someone....might as well be you!

    Jeff Mitchell
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    HELP NEEDED! My Mother And Her Brother have been taking care of the mother with the help of Hospice. He just had a Massive Heart Attack while taking a short vacation. My mother had to go to Florida from Indiana to be with her brother and is not financially stable from being off work to be with grandma. Any Help Would Be Appreciated. http://www.gofundme.com/vg5kt4c

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  • Profile picture of the author Diice
    If they were not interested in the product they probably wouldnt be reading your article, so adding call to action words and links to the product should not be a problem.

    -MonsterSEO
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Anton543 View Post

    I have been tempted in doing that or/and use a strong call to action like the use of 'buy now' to try and boost my conversion rates (at the moment just have links to the products).
    I stopped doing this, long ago. It didn't work for me. I'm an affiliate, not a vendor: the last thing I want is to be seen to be "selling".

    Originally Posted by Anton543 View Post

    I don't know for sure but I always feel this would compromise the impartiality of the blog.
    Exactly right.

    And from my perspective, it would deprive me of almost all my traffic, too, because nobody's going to syndicate an article that mentions a product or looks as if it's selling something. (I appreciate you weren't meaning that, and were talking only about your own site.)

    Originally Posted by Anton543 View Post

    I feel actually recommending something so strongly (as in wording it) after what is supposed to be an impartial article, takes this too far.
    I agree completely. It destroys the impartiality (and hence the credibility) of the article, and therefore of yourself.

    Originally Posted by Anton543 View Post

    Reviews are an altogether a different matter of course. You are expected to use call-to-action wordings in reviews.
    I'm not expected to (by myself or by my readers/visitors/subscribers, and that's part of the reason they choose to be there). And I don't do it. I sell more that way. I do recommend products more strongly in about a third of my emails, though, having built up credibility, respect and trust with the objectivity of the site, the "free report" and in the other two thirds of the emails.
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  • Profile picture of the author SarahSalah
    I think you should recommend a product that you already tried and worked for you!
    Also might as well mention that it's an affiliate to be honest with the readers. I think they will appreciate you being honest.
    It builds more trust between you and your readers if this is high quality product and it will actually work for them like it did to you.
    It will be more likely in emails after publishing your Article like a followup or something.

    I always do that and it works for me.

    Sarah
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    • Profile picture of the author Benjamin Ehinger
      Originally Posted by JeffMitchell View Post

      Just integrate the link into the article passively. And at the end give the ol' "If you are interested in this xxxxx click the link to find more information. The reason people came to the blog post is because they have interest.

      They are going to buy the product from someone....might as well be you!

      Jeff Mitchell
      Yes and no. The idea is right, but instead of saying "If you are interested in this xxxxx click the link to find more information", I would use a benefit. For example, If you want to cure blah blah, click the link below". Try both, however, as every product and niche is different. You may have to test some before you find the best.

      Originally Posted by SarahSalah View Post

      I think you should recommend a product that you already tried and worked for you!
      Also might as well mention that it's an affiliate to be honest with the readers. I think they will appreciate you being honest.
      It builds more trust between you and your readers if this is high quality product and it will actually work for them like it did to you.
      It will be more likely in emails after publishing your Article like a followup or something.

      I always do that and it works for me.

      Sarah
      To add to what Sarah is saying, you can also add a bonus for them. Just ask them to email you a copy of their receipt once they order through your affiliate link and they will get the bonus.

      Benjamin Ehinger
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      • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
        I had long ago a ranting blog, I had just divorced so you can imagine.

        I started adding posts around products. For example, an ebook about picking up women.. the post would be about how thy are decoding us, and stuff like that.

        I had a lot of views, lots of social interaction - even when I never promoted it, but no sales.

        I started creating not so "eager" articles in the same tone, and chose one product to promote. In the site you only saw banners of Sambazon, they sold only **** related products by then, and I LOVE **** (especially "a la tijela" after surfing in Brazil... yum!).

        Sold a bunch of them.

        LOL I had forgotten all about that blog... I just checked and it is still up. I can´t believe it, I thought I had let go of that domain...
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        Coloring book niche? I have a proposal for you.
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        • Profile picture of the author myob
          You do lose a lot of marketing momentum by trying to directly sell products in an article. Ideally, articles can have a cumulative effect in positioning yourself as a credible specialist within a niche.

          For example, if you sell security or alarm systems, position yourself as a security specialist by writing articles for businesses on crime statistics, how to secure their premises, protect their employees, internal procedures, community resources, etc.

          Having demonstrated your knowledge within this niche, you may be conferred by implication the title "security specialist", with subtle but very powerful credentials to your website for additional resources, tips, product reviews, etc. If done in a non-salesy approach, it will happen frequently that readers will visit your website.

          Resulting traffic at this point most likely can be converted to sales, but what I do is take it a step further. Buyers are incentivized to opt-in for "exclusive" industry news, information, tips, etc. These subscribers are subsequently offered "recommendations" for incrementally higher end products.

          Email promotions based on previously established credibility, trust, and respect result in consistently high conversion rates. This type of marketing model; recommendation-based promotion, beats the competition all-to-hell.
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