I may be stupid for doing this, but why the heck not?
No one else will show you this for free.
What I’m showing you here is how to properly setup an affiliate promotion that will stand the test of time.
It’s 100% legit, no trickery, and is a proven model.
The Site
The site can be found at The Merchant Account Online.
The domain name sucks, I will admit that, but it’s a keyword with search volume.
When working on an affiliate site, always strive to obtain a keyword rich domain.
The site itself is very clean. I’m using the Thesis theme.
I prefer the 3 column layout with content in the middle.
1. My affiliate link is always in the top left corner as that’s what I want the visitor to see first.
2. I then add Recent Posts and
3. Tags in that same column.
In the right column, I have my
4. Categories
5. Popular Posts
6. Important Links, and
7. Affiliate Status Disclosures.
The content is all unique and written by my staff writer.
Each site has at least 10 unique articles all written based on keywords I’ve provided my writer.
What you don’t see in this screenshot is my second call to action which is made possible by the What Would Seth Godin Do plugin.
The Conversion Process – Presell Video #1
In test after test, multi-page presell video promotions pull drastically better than links going direct to the advertisers site.
When you click on my affiliate link (item #1 from above), you are brought to presell video #1.
This is a direct response page with a headline, subhead, video, and call to action.
The call to action takes you to presell video #2.
Presell Video #2
This video directs people through what they need to do in order to complete the action (and of course, I’m getting paid when they do this).
It’s a very simple page with a headline, video, and another call to action.
One important thing to mention here…
None of my presell pages have links pulling people off the pages. The only links you will find are those that lead the prospect down the path I want them to take.
When analyzing clients sites, this is one of the biggest problems that I see.
That’s it, really.
A good rule of thumb is to find 5 offers that you want to promote.
Find offers with an EPC of an LEAST $1.00.
You will spend 1-2 hours on keyword research. We’ll get into that in another post.
You will spend approximately 4 hours getting the infrastructure installed (best to outsource this).
Another 10 min giving your writer directions on what keywords to write articles for.
And then move on to the next one.
A great promotional system is the Stealth Traffic System.
A strategy that I also like to follow is to begin my promotion with PPC traffic. I can quickly (within a week), see which keywords are creating action and which ones are duds.
I can take the winning keywords and apply the Stealth Traffic System to those.
Hope this helps you a bit,
Keith
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Keith
Many thanks for that process.
I’ve actually seen you do this as I tend to watch the “pros” doing thier conversions and it sure does work.
The key I guess is be able to create those great videos that will captivate and convert.
Thanks again for your valued advice
I wonder if that link you have on that blog would convert even better if it were a different colour! a little bit like that one that you have on this blog ( Stealth Traffic Banner in Blue)
I did notice as soon as I landed on this site – My eye went straight to your picture and then to the banner.
Take care
Hamant
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bringing the goods, once again. I’m going to immediately put this into place on some of the offers I’m promoting.
quick question: did you have the videos out sourced or were they provided by the product owner/ affiliate manager?
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Really nice to see a true example of someone who really knows what he is doing.
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Good concept and I really like the page layout provided by the Thesis theme. You might want to take a moment and edit your writer’s material – grammar, spelling, missing terms make an otherwise great page appear to be a bit amateurish. Otherwise, this is your typically good material.
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As always…gold. Thanks for the great info Keith; I’ve learned a ton from you.
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Thanks for giving me this peek into your site building process. Is the Affiliate Status Disclosure something you’ve started using because of the upcoming FTC guidlines? Have you noticed any impact on conversions by having it on the page?
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You’re going all out for that Karma thing
Nice. Again, precise, no fluff.
Are the presell videos yours (done by your team) or are they part of the merchant’s affiliate tools?
I thought I knew most of the good WP plugins but I’m finding more gems thanks to your last two posts.
BTW, if you would have put the 10 articles on the site, would they be in easy reach for the visitor, or they are more as SE food and we don’t want to distract the browser from our main purpose?
Thanks!
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Great Stuff.
Can you recommend a good place to get a “Compensation Disclosure” drafted?
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Gees I can never get enough of you Keith. Online or in person your top notch
Your the “Sir Keith The King of Overdeliver”
Thanks millions, Jim Ure
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Keith,
This is incredible information you are giving us! I know that you know Eric Louviere and he is a Great guy and he always over delivers to his customers but with you your not even selling us anything your just serving up pure gold!
I can tell you that your help is truly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Howard
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Awesome Stuff !!!
Incredible Content …Just as it was at the MB seminar
You sure over deliver, Can’t wait to Read on what more you have to say and Teach
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BRAVO!!!
Thanks Keith for this very useful analysis.
Everyone seems to be enjoying this incredible information.
Wayne
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Thanks for the tips. I shall look at putting one of these up soon.
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Thank you, it’s a good strategy.
When you have a plan, everything is easier.
Franck
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