Associate Programs Newsletter #77
“Your Top 10 list is useless,” an angry visitor to AssociatePrograms.com wrote and told me the other day. “It doesn’t have anything in it that I want to sell.”
That hurt – and it got me doing some serious thinking about the products in my Top 10 list. The list is based on actual revenue AssociatePrograms.com earns from promoting those products on the site, in this newsletter and around the Web. It’s not vague theory. It describes what works – what pays for the groceries.
Today I give 17 reasons why marketing manuals dominate my Top 10.
CONTENTS:
1. Which programs should I sell? And 17 reasons why
2. Refreshingly honest apology from Brian Welch
3. Affiliate Wire adds useful content
4. Affiliate programs book in German
5. Bookstores reviewed
6. WebSponsors sets the record straight
7. CJ.com adds search box
8. Has your site disappeared from AltaVista?
9. Who’s right? Amazon or eToys?
10. Be Free announces IPO
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1. Which programs should I sell? And 17 reasons why
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Internet marketing books or courses are the best associate programs to promote.
Here are 17 reasons why.
* If you choose carefully, these guys have EXCELLENT PRODUCTS. Marlon Sanders’ “Amazing Formula”, for example, so delights his customers that he now has 100 pages of rave reviews on his site.
* Marketing manuals nearly always pay HIGH COMMISSIONS. For example, Marlon pays 60% commission on his $67 “Amazing Formula” and Corey Rudl pays $65 or $75 on his massive course. You don’t have to sell many to make useful money.
An exception is Ken Evoy’s incredibly low-priced book, which has a smaller commission to match. However, because I use Ken’s step-by-step advice on pre-selling, 10% of the people I send to him buy, so it’s a very easy one to sell.
[UPDATE: I did achieve a 10% conversion rate to start with, but I can’t maintain that rate in the long term. Ken’s SBI still sells very well.]* Expert marketers have sites that SELL – powerful, uncluttered, effective sites, using tried and tested selling methods. So you’re not wasting time sending thousands of visitors to an ineffective, amateurish site.
* These guys are WINNERS. Corey’s websites attract 3.2 million visitors a year. Michael Campbell generated $750,000 in sales in just over a year. Ken Evoy has succeeded in more fields than it would seem possible for one guy – but it’s true. I checked. When you associate with these guys, you have proven expertise supporting you. You’re not wasting your time with learners.
* These guys WORK HARD to help you. They’re eager for sales, they know how to get them, and they’re keen to help you succeed – so that they will too. For example, Michael’s associates receive a series of articles giving easily understood advice from Michael and associate programs consultant Declan Dunn. Yesterday I received one giving examples of how to weave links into text to boost your sales.
* Internet marketers boost associates’ sales by providing PROFESSIONAL MARKETING MATERIAL which gets results. Have you seen the text and graphics, outlining features and benefits, which the Declan Dunn/Patrick Anderson team provides to promote Michael Campbell’s “Nothing but “Net”? It’s superb. It will make your selling much easier.
* They usually also encourage and help you via regular NEWSLETTERS. Months before I read it anywhere else, Corey was telling his associates that banners were the worst way to promote his product. Ken has three powerful newsletters in which he tells his associates, in careful detail, exactly how to boost their sales.
* Their WEBSITES give associates even more help. Marlon, for example, has an online manual for his associates, giving specific, practical guidance. If you haven’t visited Corey’s site recently, you’ll be amazed at how it has grown, including a huge section of useful advice on associate programs.
* With one book – Ken’s – you also get the BEST MANUAL FOR AFFILIATES – 224 pages packed with powerful ideas – totally FREE. Want examples of how to promote programs in discussions lists? This manual has them.
* These guys are innovative and MOVE FAST. On the Internet, the winners are the ones who know what works best today, not last month. You don’t want to be stuck with a lumbering giant which has to hold a series of board meetings and appoint committees before it does anything. In Ken’s newsletters, you can read his associates’ success stories the week those successes occur.
* You can rely on these expert marketers to provide reliable tracking, reliable ONLINE SALES STATISTICS, and usually also notification by e-mail when a sale is made.
* Business on the Internet will top the $500 billion mark this year, up from $301.4 billion in 1998, a University of Texas study says. All those companies need excellent marketing advice. It’s a MASSIVE MARKET – and these businesses know they must never stop learning. You can sell to them.
* You’ve probably read the comment: “All the information you need is available free.” Well, it’s not exactly free. You can waste several months and thousands of dollars in time hunting for it, and still not find the most useful, innovative, best advice. Sensible business people know it’s far cheaper and faster to go straight to the experts. You can sell to the sensible ones.
* These experienced marketers usually have TWO-TIER programs. That may not be very important with many associate programs, but it’s important when it’s backed up by the practical guidance these guys give their associates. You know your sub-associates are being well trained.
* Naturally, you get a money-back guarantee from these experienced marketers, but I’d be amazed if you thought you needed it.
* Internet marketing manuals can be sold on just about any site. If you think marketing manuals don’t fit the theme of your site you can still place an “Internet marketing tips” (or something stronger) link in the index on your main page, linking to your endorsements inside.
* I’ve saved one of the best reasons for last. The PRODUCT ITSELF HELPS YOU SELL. When you buy an Internet marketing manual to enable you to write an accurate, honest endorsement, you find that it’s jam-packed with tips on how you can increase your sales. I’ve read all the products I’ve mentioned here. What I’ve learned has been worth hundreds of times the cost of the books.
Here’s where to find these “must-have” marketing manuals:
Marlon Sanders – one-tier, big commissions, easy to sell:
https://www.associateprograms.com/marlon
Corey Rudl – two-tier, big commissions, several products:
https://www.associateprograms.com/corey
Michael Campbell – two-tier, a great success story:
[UPDATE: Product no longer being sold.]
Ken Evoy – two-tier, lifetime commissions (UPDATE: Read the terms and conditions):
https://www.associateprograms.com/ken
Two of the programs allow you to save money by joining the associate program first and then buying the course through your own referral link:
https://www.associateprograms.com/coreys
UPDATE: Second one discontinued.
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2. Refreshingly honest apology from Brian Welch
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Brian Welch of business directory BizBot says most of his affiliates have had trouble earning much money with his associate program. He has apologized to them “for the lousy tools and support that we have been providing you”.
Brian has also given affiliates good news. BizBot is creating a new affiliate support center. The marketing materials now offered include a choice of attractive new search boxes. Improvements include a private forum where affiliates can share ideas, ask questions and give feedback.
BizBot’s first and second-tier commissions are:
- 2 cents (1 cent on the second tier) per unique click-through
- 20 cents (12 cents) for every new ezine subscriber
- 25% (15%) of any banner or button advertising you sell
- 25% (15%) of any newsletter advertising you sell
- 25% (15%) for every “Get More For Your Advertising Dollar” book
- 25% (15%) for every piece of software you sell
If you want to test an advertising program for only $50, BizBot can help you.
I like Brian’s approach. BizBot is worth keeping an eye on.
[UPDATE: BizBot closed.]=====================================
3. Affiliate Wire adds useful content
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Brian Clark of Revenews.com has set up a news service for affiliate marketing news – AffiliateWire.com.
In a few minutes you can add “Affiliate News” pages or Java- powered news tickers to your site, a useful free service for affiliate program directories, e-merchants, affiliate resources and e-commerce focused websites.
Collaborating with Brian are what he describes as “some of the most trusted voices” in affiliate marketing, Rick Bier of 2- Tier.com, Ola Edvardsson of AffiliateTips.com and Glenn Sobel of AffiliateAdvisor.com.
Brian, Rick, Ola and Glenn often provide astute advice and commentary, but I’ve strongly disagreed with Glenn’s conclusions at times.
Over all, Affiliate Wire looks a useful service. I’ve added it to the main page at AssociatePrograms.com.
Does it make sense to add a news wire to your site and tempt people to click away instead of buying something? I’m not sure. Perhaps the usefulness of the content offered outweighs the risk of losing your visitors.
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4. Affiliate programs book in German
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Stefanie Puetz-Lehmann, the editor of the German language Partnerprogramme.com directory, has written the first German language book on affiliate programs and affiliate marketing.
It costs only $13.99. I haven’t learnt German so I haven’t read it.
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5. Bookstores reviewed
======================
Stefanie has also written an English language document reviewing the affiliate programs of more than 30 bookstores. It takes a close look at her results with these in the third quarter 1999 (she referred more than $30,000 in sales, earning over $2,000 in commissions).
The report costs only $4.99 and it’s set out so that you can skim through it quickly looking for the facts you want. If you’re planning to set up a bookstore on your site – or want to see if you agree with Stefanie’s conclusions – you couldn’t go wrong spending $4.99 on this 10-page report.
You can also join the Fatbrain associate program and earn 20% commission selling the report.
[UPDATE: Fatbrain was swallowed up by Barnes & Noble.]=======================================
6. WebSponsors sets the record straight
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Whoops! WebSponsors goofed. It has announced that it made a mistake in describing its referral program on its site. The original description made it look as though you wouldn’t receive second-tier payouts unless you had earned $15 yourself that month.
Here’s the correct picture.
Your account must accrue $15 before a check is sent. Unpaid earnings will be rolled over into the next month until $15 has accrued.
“Referral fees are counted in this account balance. You will always be paid for those accepted sites that you refer into our network, regardless of whether your site, or those that you have referred, earned $15 for the month,” WebSponsors says.
That ought to make it easier for you to earn the 10% fees from the monthly earnings of any sites you refer.
(Today the WebSponsors site still carried the old, incorrect advice.)
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7. CJ.com adds search box
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Commission Junction has added a search box to the promotion tools which affiliates can use. You receive 5 cents for each search from your site, $1 for each new affiliate who signs up through this link, plus an additional 5% of that affiliate’s commissions for life.
https://www.associateprograms.com/cj
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8. Has your site disappeared from AltaVista?
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If you’ve been having trouble getting a new website listed at AltaVista, you’re not alone. The search engine hasn’t been accepting submissions since early September. Even worse, a lot of sites appear to have disappeared from the listings.
You can check to see if your site is still listed by typing url:yourcompanyname.com
into the search box.
Here’s a good article explaining what’s happening:
news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-202-1426414.html
Danny Sullivan had a much fuller report in his newsletter:
https://www.SearchEngineWatch.com
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9. Who’s right? Amazon or eToys?
================================
Amazon.com and eToys are both led by shrewd pioneers and are treading wildly disparate paths – niche versus mass market. This is a fascinating analysis:
msnbc.com/news/330300.asp
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10. Be Free announces IPO
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Affiliate network Be Free has announced an initial public offering of 5.6 million shares at $12 a share. Merchants in the Be Free network include Barnes & Noble, Network Solutions, and a lot of other big names.
befree.com/docs/news/ipo.htm
[UPDATE: Be Free merged with Commission Junction.]All the best
Allan Gardyne
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