Associate Programs Newsletter #191
I have something different for you this week – an opportunity for you to have your input into the future direction and content of this newsletter – and a valuable gift.
CONTENTS:
1. Fabulous free gift for you – “Yahoo! Exposed”
2. Tricks and traps with pop-under traffic
3. Corey Rudl’s new product – real-life success stories
4. LinkShare can sell your business info
5. LinkShare members must have privacy policy
6. Ask permission before framing merchant site
7. CJ appoints new president
8. Popular articles you may have missed
9. Useful free resource: Creating a Web Site
10. Thought for today: Take a little risk
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1. Fabulous free gift for you – “Yahoo! Exposed”
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I have a valuable free gift for you which will help you make more money by increasing traffic to your web site.
You can receive a brand new breakthrough report,”Yahoo! Exposed” just for taking part in an anonymous,four-minute survey.
This ebook, by Neil Shearing, is so new it’s not even on the market yet – but you can get it free.
“Yahoo! Exposed” explains exactly how to get a number one listing at Yahoo! for your key phrases in just 14 days.
Neil shows you how important it is to think about each step from the very beginning. For example, he indicates what you need to include in your domain name, and even what should (and shouldn’t) be on the domain name record!
There have been several books written about how to get a top listing in Yahoo! but Neil’s ebook has several important advantages…
Yahoo! changed late last year the way it decides who gets listed at number one late. Instantly, most of the other ebooks about getting into Yahoo! were out of date. Neil’s ebook is written specifically for the “new Yahoo!” and this is the first time he’s made it available, anywhere.
Neil has taken a mechanism tutored to him personally by one of the top search engine experts and followed it faithfully, taking screenshots and notes at every stage. Every single detail, from taking a domain name, to the final listing in Yahoo! is meticulously detailed.
The ebook is short, compact and meaty. There’s no fluff or filler, just an exact step-by-step blueprint the likes of which Neil is famous for.
Now that Yahoo! has changed to a $299 annual fee, getting your listing right is critical. Neil’s ebook will help you get your listing right and profit from the recent changes at Yahoo!
To get this valuable report free, just click here and take part in the survey:
[UPDATE: The survey has been completed.]Taking part in this survey will help me provide you with the newsletter articles and reports you want.
Please do it right now.
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2. Tricks and traps with pop-under traffic
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If you’re considering buying pop-under traffic,here are a few things to consider:
Will it harm your image?
How will you design your special landing page?
How targeted is the traffic?
Are you paying for unique traffic?
How much should you pay?
Should you arrange individual deals?
The theory behind pop-under pages is that they’re not as intrusive as pop-ups.
However,many people DO object to pop-ups and pop-unders – the Opera browser version 6 even has a “Refuse Pop-up Windows” option. So the first thing to consider is whether you want to get involved in this kind of marketing. Will it harm your image?
If you do decide to buy pop-under traffic,you probably won’t want to send the traffic to your main page.
“It’s essential that advertisers create a ‘Hit and Run’ page,” says Keith Baxter of https://www.EasySiteHits.com .
“They need to grab the attention quickly and make the customers respond to ONE THING ONLY.”
Use a powerful, benefits-laden heading.
Jay Goth of Yournewsletterplace.com agrees. Last week he bought 10,000 unique visitors in one day from https://www.WebHitsDirect.com with disappointing results.
“I wish that we had read your article (last week’s newsletter – Semi neglected websites ) before we did the traffic surge, as we sent people to our web page but should have created a more enticing page just for the pop-under,” he says.
“You really need a HOT page to send them to or they won’t even wait for the page to load!”
Jay also ordered traffic from https://www.I-Web-Marketing.com and isn’t happy with the company.
“I have yet to receive a confirmation or scheduled launch from I-Web-Marketing even though I have e-mailed them three times requesting a status update.”
When you’re comparing possible sources of pop-under traffic,look carefully into how targeted the traffic will be.
For example,https://www.Fastclick.com ,a large network, was quick to respond to our e-mail and recommended two categories which would be most suitable for AssociatePrograms.com. Fastclick also gave us URLs of sites in those categories.
“You can target down to the sub-category and even site (though the site is identified only by a unique number) once the campaign has started,” says Alexis Brown of Fastclick
“If you can place a tracking pixel Fastclick provides,then you can really narrow your targeting down to only those sites/ categories that are actually performing. For example, if you place the pixel on the confirmation page of a sale, the pixel will report back which sites and categories inspired the sale.”
An advertiser must watch out for sites that bomb viewers with repeated ads, warns Jim Reardon of https://www.freecenter.com .
It makes more sense to have a campaign span a set amount of time. If you see that the advertising network offers a “frequency cap”, that’s good.
“The frequency cap serves to increase your reach,” explains Mishele Vieira of Fastclick. “By making sure that the same user does not see that same ad more than once every seven days, we put your ad in front of more users.”
Some advertising networks will give you a choice between paying for “raw” or unique visitors.
Fastclick determines the uniqueness of a user via the combination of cookie and IP address.
“Is it better? We think so. We think it is the best of both worlds and helps us be more effective for our clients. The concept seems to be working given that we have an 80% return advertiser rate with our pop-under clients,” Mishele says.
Pop-under traffic varies hugely in price.
For example, EasySiteHits’ prices are on the high side at $8 to $13.33 CPM (per 1,000 visitors). You would hope that the traffic was highly targeted at that price.
“It’s pretty easy to spend $1 to $2 CPM and get unique pop-ups,” says Jim. “This is on average what I sell pop-unders for on my sites ( https://freecenter.com and https://sitegadgets.com ).”
Fastclick sells pop-unders for $5 CPM,or $7.50 CPM for unique visitors.
Jim says it’s important to be the ONLY pop-up on the page.
“Some companies will spawn many windows. This is not good traffic. It’s a waste of money.”
The most important thing when advertising is the quality of sites on which you’re advertising.
“Unfortunately, dealing with networks… you go in blind,” Jim says. “If they place your ads on gray-area web sites, or if they place your pop-up on a site spawned from a pop-up you run the risk of not only wasting money, but of giving yourself a bad name, and annoying potential customers.”
One option is to approach reputable sites individually to organize deals. That way, you know exactly where you’re advertising, and you can ensure that your pop-under content complements the site on which you’re advertising.
However, hunting down sites on which to advertise is hard work. Phil Tanny finds that only about one web site in 50 will even respond to his e-mails, let alone work with him.
I described this in my article,”Want traffic? Go out and get it” – Successfully build traffic . Beware of hype.
Some web sites selling pop-under traffic say things like this:
“If x number of people see your page now and 1% buy, then imagine how many more sales you’ll make if 10,000 extra people see your page.”
If only it were that simple!
Is someone visiting your site from a pop-under ad likely to be in a buying mood? Probably not. They’re more likely to be cynical and skeptical.
So start cautiously and test everything you do. You need to be able to measure how many sales or newsletter sign-ups result from the traffic you buy.
COMING SOON:
In a future issue of this newsletter, I’ll report on the pop-under tests I’m doing.
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3. Corey Rudl’s new product – real-life success stories
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Corey Rudl, one of the most successful Internet marketing experts online, has launched a new monthly publication which I’m sure you’ll love.
He gives you real-life examples of “real people making real money” and the exact step-by-step details of how they’re doing it.
These are highly professional interviews in which hard questions are asked, and answered in detail.
The people Corey interviews often seem fairly ordinary – but they’re generating incomes in excess of $100,000 to $600,000 online every year – most of them working from home.
In the first two months, I’ve seen only one super affiliate interviewed. The others include:
Anthony, who is making over $250,000 every year selling only one product.
Ellen, a work-at-home mom who generates a great income by simply selling her home-made soaps from her site.
Ken, who made $300,000+ IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF BUSINESS by teaching people how to daytrade on the Internet… all from his beachfront condo in Hawaii.
Andy, who makes $600,000 a year educating others about the hair-loss industry and showing people how he managed to reverse his own hair loss.
You can read all these in-depth interviews on Corey’s new private web site – and they’ll be two additional interviews every month.
“These are not the typical amateur interviews,” Corey says. “You will hear these people answer some extremely tough questions about the exact strategies, software, and tools they used to start, build, and grow their businesses to their current success. You’ll even hear about the mistakes they made, and how they suggest you avoid them.”
As Corey says,these are real web sites built by real people making real profits online. They’re fascinating,and you’ll pick up heaps of tips to help you boost your sales.
For more details, see:
[UPDATE: This private site is no longer available. Here’s another really good source of Internet success stories.]========================================
4. LinkShare can sell your business info
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I hope you’re not too busy to read the new LinkShare affiliate agreement. It contains some nasty bits you need to know about.
The new policy came into effect on January 8.
“It has a few clauses in it which might raise a few eyebrows,” says Pearl Sanborn of https://www.LittleCountryVillage.com .
Here’s a scary bit…
The new agreement says:
“Our Use or Disclosure of Information About You
“LinkShare does not warrant or guarantee that your private communications and personally identifiable information shall not be disclosed to third parties…
“LinkShare may use and make available to… other third parties any information about you that you provide to us or that we otherwise obtain, including your identity,domain names and URLs, postal and e-mail addresses, telephone number and other contact information and information about the kinds or volumes of business and activities that you conduct through any Network…
Not content with wanting the right to sell information about the business you do with LinkShare and its merchants, LinkShare also has permission to sell your e-mail address.
The agreement says:
“…LinkShare may make its database of user information (including email addresses) available to other persons for promotions of and solicitations for their goods or services that may be of interest to the LinkShare community.
“You understand that your uploads and transmissions may be intercepted and used by third parties, and that all the risk associated therewith is solely yours.”
So if you’re promoting a LinkShare merchant, it now claims the right to tell other companies how much you’re earning and how you do it. It can also sell your e-mail address.
As far as I can see,you have three choices:
Accept this iniquitous agreement.
Dump LinkShare merchants.
Negotiate a new agreement.
Here’s the offending agreement:
Network Operating Policies for Affiliates
https://www.linkshare.com/networkoperatingagreement.shtml
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5. LinkShare members must have privacy policy
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If you’re a LinkShare affiliate, make sure your site has a privacy policy.
The new LinkShare agreement says:
“…you represent and agree that you have and shall keep a privacy policy posted on each of your Website(s) that is easily accessible to visitors and that, at a minimum, states “What personally identifiable information is collected “What organization is collecting the information “How the information is used “With whom the information may be shared.”
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6. Ask permission before framing merchant site
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Have you designed your affiliate web site to resemble an affiliate merchant’s site?
Does your web site frame a merchant’s site?
If you’re doing either of those things you could be breaking an affiliate agreement.
For example, the latest LinkShare affiliate contract says:
“Your Website(s) shall not, in any way, copy or resemble the look and feel of any Website of LinkShare or any Network Merchant, create the impression that any of your Website(s) is a Website of LinkShare or any Network Merchant or frame any page on any Website of LinkShare being viewed by a user of your Website(s).”
https://www.linkshare.com/networkoperatingagreement.shtml If you want to use either of these tactics, it would be a good idea to ask permission first.
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7. CJ appoints new president
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Affiliate network Commission Junction has appointed a new president, Jeffrey A. Pullen, 46, who joined CJ last year.
His career has included senior executive positions in operations and finance at a variety of companies including ChemConnect, Inc., an Internet-based marketplace that provides auction and exchange services to the chemical industry; IMX Exchange, Inc., an Internet exchange serving the wholesale mortgage industry, and Baker Petrolite Corporation, a specialty chemical company with about $770 million in annual revenue.
“This announcement follows the successful rollout of Commission Junction’s open marketplace in July 2001… and the company’s achievement of positive operating cash flow (EBITDA) in the fourth quarter of 2001,” CJ says.
CEO and co-founder Lex Sisney will assume the role of chairman of the board and will focus on long-term strategic planning, enterprise sales, and business development for the company.
CJ announcement:
cj.com/corporate/press_6407.asp
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8. Popular articles you may have missed
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Are you new to affiliate programs? I highly recommend the FREE “Affiliate Masters” course.
Download the 10-day free course here..
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9. Useful free resource: Creating a Web Site
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Karen Jessett has some good ideas on how to create a neat,easy to understand, easy to navigate web site.
Creating a Web Site
https://www.jessett.com/
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10. Thought for today: Take a little risk
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“What crazy idea do you have down deep inside that makes people chuckle or laugh every time you bring it up? However wild it may be,no matter how many scoff at it, risk a little time and a few bucks. You may be able to demonstrate you were right after all. And you’ll be on your way to success.”
– Bob McElwain
Sitetipsandtricks.com
All the best
Allan Gardyne
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