Associate Programs Newsletter #66
As new affiliate programs pour on to the market, it amazes me that some amateurs think they can hurriedly slap up a rough looking website and expect affiliates to join their program.
They don't seem to have noticed that this is a highly competitive field.
This week, with a lot of help from Lois Robinson, I examine more mistakes merchants make.
CONTENTS:
1. Lots MORE mistakes merchants make
2. You can add a touch of Ireland to your site
3. AmericasHomes.com suspends payouts
4. PopularPosters not so popular
5. Do your affiliates – and yourself – a favor
6. “Ultimate” Marketing Guide – FREE
7. CreditMonster.com site down
8. Merchant accounts for overseas folk
9. Click here to make me rich, says Chip Rowe
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1. Lots MORE mistakes merchants make
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My article last week about mistakes made by companies which are running affiliate programs got Lois Robinson of www.creativecomputing1.com all fired up. She has noticed lots more things merchants are getting wrong.
Most of Lois's hints are useful for all web site owners.
#1. Optimize your graphics.
“One big gripe I usually have with merchants is that they fail to optimize their graphics,” Lois says. “When you optimize your graphics it allows them to load quickly. Keeping graphics small (byte size) is very important! I'd rather just post a text link than take up the space and time to load huge graphics.”
Here is Lois's list of online resources for optimizing your graphics:
GIF Cruncher, JPEG Cruncher – Free Image Optimizer
http://www.spinwave.com/
Web Site Garage's GIF LUBE
websitegarage.com
NetMechanic Image Optimization
http://www.netmechanic.com
The Online JPEG Wizard by Pegasus Imaging
http://www.jpegwizard.com
Web Reference's JPEG Wizard
http://www.webreference.com/services/graphics/jw/
#2. Use proper image tags.
Merchants should also use proper image tags when supplying graphic code (height, width, and ALT tags), Lois says.
“State the size of your graphics,” Lois says. “With sizing tags, a browser can download the text of the page, note the image sizes and know the page layout right away. Your page text will be visible to your visitors while the graphics continue to load. Many banner exchanges fail to use sizing tags, and therefore pages are blank while waiting for access to their servers.”
ALT tags should state a small description of the link, not the graphic name, she says. This lets your visitors identify your link. Place your ALT tag in brackets for the non-graphical browsers so they can identify your links.
Example:
img realrealsrc=”images/valid32.gif” src=”https://www.associateprograms.com/admin/images/valid32.gif” src=”https://www.associateprograms.com/admin/images/valid32.gif” width=119 height=28
alt=”[ HTML 3.2 Validated ] ” border=0 align=center
This example would allow the coding to be viewable by graphical as well as non-graphics browsers.
[UPDATE: Check your logs to see which browsers your visitors are using. This advice can be quickly outdated.]#3. Keep your graphic banners under 5K.
When supplying graphic links for others, state the size of the graphic in bytes. This helps us make a decision as to which graphic to use. If webmasters are following page size limitation guidelines knowing the bytes of the image is important.
#4. Offer small buttons, too.
Offer small buttons or icons which can easily be placed in various locations. This is an excellent way to scatter your links on many pages.
#5. Tell us how good you are.
Always offer a brief description of your product or service. Don't leave the catchy marketing phrases totally up to the affiliates. Offer examples which define your site.
#6. Validate your code.
This is important for all webmasters. Using HTML 3.2 coding is the surest way to have your sites viewable by the largest Internet audience. Use only coding which is viewable in all browsers.
#7. Double-check forms tags.
Opening and closing tags for forms are often misused within banner exchanges and in coding supplied by affiliate programs. “Many people fail to close an opening tag before closing a previous open tag,” Lois says. (I think I know what she means. Anyway, get the sequence right.) Others when using tables, put form opening and closing tags within various cells which are not interpreted correctly due to being embedded within the table. Be careful when using forms and tables and verify your coding to be sure it will function properly. To avoid problems always put the form tags outside your tables.
#8. Validation services differ.
It is important to test your pages with several validation services and to understand exactly how they are testing your site. Several validations services test only for usability with Netscape or Internet Explorer, neither of which complies to standards. There are many other browsers being used today running across various platforms. “I have yet to find a validation service online which is 100% accurate, so using several will help to locate and fix any improper coding on your page or site,” Lois says.
#9. What's up Doc?
Unless you provide “DOCTYPE” and “Content-Type” commands in your meta tags, some services may not know the standard being used on your site. Be sure to state the correct standard being followed on your site. Some WYSISYG programs are stating HTML 4.0 but then using tags not valid for that standard.
#10. DJ Delorie has excellent tests.
“I highly recommend using DJ Delorie for being able to see how your coding will read in non-graphical browsers,” Lois says. “He has several excellent tests you can run on your site. An excellent way to test your coding for use by all visitors.”
http://www.delorie.com/web/
#11. Webmaster's best friend.
“I highly recommend for a commercial validation program the use of Talicom's HTML PowerTools – a webmaster's best friend for sure,” Lois says. “This is a very accurate validation program and has various web design tools.”
http://www.tali.com/
#12. Don't make us guess
Explain exactly how your tracking system works, Lois advises. Many people do not accept cookies. Many Internet travelers do not enable java or javascript in their browser.
This makes it important for potential affiliates to know exactly how you are going to be tracking sales. “I've had offers to join programs and then when I questioned how their sales were tracked they could not provide answers,” Lois says.
#13. Keep affiliates informed
It seems blindingly obvious, but companies get it wrong: Don VanZant adds that some affiliate program managers have changed hosts or web addresses without notifying affiliates. Maybe they don't want you to find them . . .
Visit Web Magic for more validation services and recommendations
Webmagic.hypermart.net
Here's some fascinating further reading, describing how a site re-design at IBM boosted sales 400%.
Good Web Site Design Can Lead to Healthy Sales
nytimes.com/library/tech/99/08/cyber/commerce/30commerce.html
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Want to comment on these articles or want to add useful info? Please click over to the Associate Programs Message Board and have your say there.
http://AssociatePrograms.com/discus/index.php
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2. You can add a touch of Ireland to your site
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Can't afford a trip to Ireland this year? Why not bring a bit of Ireland to your web site instead?
The Information About Ireland Site offers affiliates free access to its Gallery of Irish Coats of Arms images and family histories.
“All you have to do is host a simple 1K web page which will make it look as if this great content is located on YOUR site,” Michael Green says. The page that you generate will have a number of links to CGI files. These will generate the pages “on the fly”.
Webmasters can modify the page to suit the look and feel of their sites.
The Information About Ireland Site sells customized Irish family coats of arms screensavers as well as a number of other unique Irish screensavers. Affiliates earn 33% commission on the screensavers and on popular reports: “How to Start the Search for your Irish Roots” and “Ireland – The Complete Travel Guide”.
http://www.ireland-information.com
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3. AmericasHomes.com suspends payouts
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Americashomes.com has temporarily switched to offering free listings – and therefore stopped paying affiliates – Bret Garrett has told affiliates.
He is doing this in an effort to improve the directory's image and its usefulness by boosting the number of listings in the directory. He hopes the suspension will last only 30 to 60 days. The full message which affiliates received is on the Associate Programs Message Board. (Look under A.)
https://www.associateprograms.com/discus/index.php
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4. PopularPosters not so popular
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The PopularPosters.com online store, which sold movie and celebrity posters, has closed. Scott Wainner of PopularPosters told one affiliate that he had dozens of affiliates but they achieved very few sales. “Plus, given the low profit margin of the posters, we decided to shut the store down, Scott said. “Sorry.”
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5. Do your affiliates – and yourself – a favor
==============================================
Ken Evoy and his family enjoyed a holiday at the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel – but Ken's busy brain didn't take a holiday. He carefully analyzed all the faults in the famous hotel's website and explained to his affiliates exactly how they could use his analysis to make THEIR sites sell.
Ken writes not one but two newsletters for his affiliates, and keeps producing practical, useful advice. Every issue is a gem.
You can have Ken working for you, teaching your affiliates, FREE. Just tell them that to get Ken's excellent 224-page manual for affiliates, and the ongoing benefit of his experience, all they have to do is sign up for his 5 Pillar Program. And joining that is free, too. Your affiliates need this guy.
https://www.associateprograms.com/affiliates
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Join today. It's FREE!
Visit promo.nexchange.com/1342.asp
[UPDATE: Nexchange affiliate network closed.]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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6. “Ultimate” Marketing Guide – FREE
====================================
A group of Internet marketers got together, invited a few dozen more, and created “MCNN's Ultimate Marketing Guide”, which is now online.
Responsible were Renee Kennedy, Didier Boneville-Roussy and Eva Almeida.
Renee says the guide contains 37 articles by “promotion, design and marketing experts”. There's an wonderful range of topics. Here's a sample:
“Is Your Web Site Costing You Sales?” by Steve Maclellan.
“Writing to persuade: Who is you?” by Ron Scheer.
“What's Your Site For?” by David Handlos.
“K.I.S.S. – Graphic Design on the Web” by Terry Kent.
“Single Most Effective Way To Advertise on The Web” by Gary Christensen.
“Affiliate Programs – How To Turn Failure Into Success” by Allan Gardyne.
“15 Top Tips For Effective Email Communication” by Jon Keel.
“Autoresponders: What are they and how or when to use them” by Paul Robison.
“100 Doorways to More Traffic” by Willie Crawford.
“How to Maximize Your Traffic with Goto.Com” by Michael Wong.
“Prescription for Ezine Publishing” by Eva Almeida, Bsc(Pharm).
“10 Golden Tips for Advertising on a Zero Budget” by Dirk Dupon.
“Tips To Grow Your List In Just Seven Hours” by Dr MANI Sivasubramanian, M.D.
“How to Lurk – An Introduction to Schmoozing in Online Discussion Groups” by Monique Harris.
“How to Create E-Books and Drive Traffic to Your Site” by Shelley Lowery.
“How to Use Traditional Media to Market Your Web Site” by Joan Stewart.
“How to Write Press Releases That Work And Get Free Publicity for Your Business” by Cathy Stucker.
“Using the Usually Unused Usnet” by Dr Michael Fortin.
Networking Your Way to Business Success by Nancy Roebky.
. . . and a lot more . . .
This marketing guide is a wonderful illustration of how the Net can be used in a collaborative effort to produce something useful which benefits everyone. If you're thinking of launching a similar project, be warned: Be tough on the rare participant who tries to use it for blatant advertising.
And is it REALLY the “ultimate” marketing guide? Perhaps it should be called the “The Jolly Good Marketing Guide”. There's a heck of a lot of useful, interesting, well written info there. It's FREE.
[UPDATE: This product is no longer available.]==============================
7. CreditMonster.com site down
==============================
Charles Heflin of CreditMonster.com says the site is down and he's looking for someone who wants to buy the domain and take over the project.
I've written asking if affiliates will be paid.
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8. Merchant accounts for overseas folk
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Many merchant account companies provide facilities only for American businesses. Here's one that is different. Universal Merchant Services has launched a new merchant account program for international businesses which wish to enable their Internet site for e-commerce. “Our primary goal with this program is to provide merchants with the competitive rates that Visa/MasterCard USA provide compared with those of the international banks,” says Managing Director Anthony Buttino.
Affiliates will earn $300 (US) for each sale.
[UPDATE: This program has closed.]=============================================
9. Click here to make me rich, says Chip Rowe
=============================================
Are you in the 2% of affiliates who make 98% of the money? If you're not, this entertaining article by Chip Rowe will give you plenty to think about. (And you'll probably wish you had persuaded Salon magazine to print an article like that – referral links included.)
salonmagazine.com/tech/feature/1999/08/30/affiliate_addict/index.html
All the best
Allan Gardyne
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