Has Anyone Achieved 200 Affiliate Clickthroughs?

[Christina90]

I've found this thread very useful.

I started the monetization module in The Challenge a week or so ago. I launched my first affiliate ad on the 24th and only managed to get 6 clicks (no sales). When I started the first day of the last module and realized I needed 200 clicks to my affiliate ad, I looked at my own stats and realized that I was no where near that number. To get that far, it would probably take a month of just running the affiliate ad. I'm receiving 70 visitors per day to my site at this point, so with with only a couple of clicks per day, I was beginning to wonder whether I'm doing this whole thing wrong. Maybe I'll try making more affiliate ads or promoting a product in a blog post itself. Right now, my only affiliate ad is on the sidebar.

Anyway, I'm rambling. But the main point was - I started reading this thread somewhat frustrated and a little downhearted. I finished reading this thread inspired and motivated to make changes. So my next action steps are: 1) create another ad but make it more visible above the fold, and 2) Write a blog post related to the subject of the ad and link to the product within the post.

Hopefully once I've completed those two steps, my numbers will increase. I admit that the first ad is for a product around $700, so maybe this one wasn't very cost-effective (though the quality is there and it's a product necessary for the niche I'm in). My next ad will be for a product more on the cheaper end ($10-20). And the other product I'm thinking of is also a necessity for my niche. I'm assuming the price will make a difference in the number of purchases, though not necessarily how many clicks the ad will receive.

[DeanRichards]

First of all, step back and take a bow! You've started from scratch; you did the keyword research, you built the site, and you got it ranked and you're getting traffic. You've created something of value from the sheer force of your will. That's awesome!

Ok, now that we're done partying, it's time to start stepping up your game and start working on conversions. It isn't enough to get traffic, you have to convert visitors into buyers, or into link clickers if you're doing affiliate marketing. You can't just write articles, you have to inspire people to take action.

You have to remember that Google doesn't know the difference between good writing and terrible writing. As long as it all looks relevant in terms of keywords, that's "good" writing for Google. Humans are much pickier. People buy with their emotions and while it seems simple to say, "speak to their emotions," it's much harder in practice to actually do that in an effective way. This is where studying salesmanship comes in.

Everyone who comes to your site already wants what you have. We know this because the way they found you was by actively searching for what you have. So forget the product, they already want it. What you need to do is to inspire them to take action NOW, pull the trigger and buy that widget!

The only thing people ever buy is happiness. Sell the happiness. Click here for happiness now.

[Christina90]

Thank you Dean! I have to admit, I'm pretty terrible at this marketing thing. I think the main problem is that I'm just writing content with the sole purpose of providing information. I'm not really selling anything in my posts - I'm not getting my readers emotionally involved.

I did write a post yesterday before reading your comment, where I linked to three different affiliate products in my post as they related to the subject. I received a few clicks on those, but I just don't think I'm doing enough. I merely suggested the products here and there... offering no real reason why anyone should buy them. And so I didn't receive any sales.

After reading what you wrote, I think I'm going to turn things around entirely. Instead of just making links more visible, I'm going to start giving visitors reasons to buy. Monday I'll post up a review of sorts, reviewing the product in the first ad I placed on my site. I'll make it persuasive but not too pushy. I'll tap into their emotions and make them actually want what I offer by showing them the benefits of the product, not just the features. I think that was my problem - I was too hung up on features.

I've been doing a lot of reading about marketing and crafting ads lately. I'm going to start putting that information to use! Then I'll see where that takes me.

It won't be easy - marketing has never come naturally for me. But it's a challenge I won't shy from. And at the very most, I'll learn something from it.

Christina

[DeanRichards]

Also, don't forget the "call to action." You need to tell people what to do.

Here's my basic format (culled from other's)...

I had a problem and I tried a couple of ways to solve the problem and they didn't work.

Then I discovered this particular solution to the problem and I tried it and it worked and now I'm happy.

If you want to be happy like I'm happy then click on this link and find the happiness like I did.

Like I said, people already want what you have. But another way to think about that would be to say that people already believe that what you're offering will make them happy. Your job is to reinforce that belief and when you provide "features and benefits" then you are reinforcing that belief. But you can't stop there, you have to tell them straight out that if they want the happiness, they can't just read about it, they have to take action and click that link.

There are lots of different ways to do this sort of thing. One of my favorite approaches is simple enthusiasm. "Oh man, I just found out about the new purple widgets and I can't wait to get my hands on one. I have a red widget now and I love it but I can see how those new cooling fins on the purple widget are going to really make that bad boy scream! Here's the best deal on purple widgets that I've been able to find. Mine's on the way, is yours?"

Plus a simple "How can I improve conversions?' search will yield lots of ways to get started on improving your conversions.

[Christina90]

Wow - thanks Dean! This was very helpful. I'll be working on a post today that incorporates some of the tips you described here.

By the way, I did a search for improving conversion rates, and the results have been TREMENDOUSLY useful. My mind is reeling with all sorts of action steps I want to implement on my own niche site. Well, I have a lot to do in the next few days!

Thanks for this.

Christina

[patrickdownes]

I'm on 15 click through's so far after 2.5weeks, which is pretty good considering the traffic my site is getting - something like 20-30 unique's a day. While I'm not at the 200 required to test whether or not its a go or no-go I'm forging ahead as my Google adsense ads have been doing really well at this early stage (high CTR). I think the key is not to expect the world straight away - keep plugging away, and your site does slowly build.

[DeanRichards]

Well done, Patrick!!

[rentalsalesrep]

No, only 14. But 2 sales for a whopping $1.80 on Amazon. Looking for ideas in how to increase traffice, clicks and of course $

[rentalsalesrep]

58 so far, but 25% conversion

[DeanRichards]

That's awesome, rep!