Affiliate and Search Marketing News and Discussion
Hi Tony,
I tried to create an ad in Google Adwords for the first time. In the Destination URL box I used http://xxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx.hop.clickbank.net/ the domain name Clickbank told me to use.
Google adwords came back with this message “URL ends with an invalid top-level domain name”.
I have no problem using my clickbank url destination in Yahoo Sponsored Search but my first try with Google Adwords ran into a definite roadblock.
Hey everyone,
I ran this by Tony and he gave me the go ahead to make a post about a great resource I came across.
When I started affiliate marketing a few months back the first book I read was “Affiliate Millions.” As you all know, it is an outstanding book and the information within got me off to a great start. I still refer to it when I get stuck or when I lose focus. I am also continually researching the internet for more info to help me be as successfull as possible. If you have been doing the same, you know that a lot of the information is rehashed over and over again and doesn’t come close to the resource that Tony’s book is. I did, however, come across a great website called “Wealthy Affiliate.”
After a bit of research, I joined Wealthy Affiliate and I’m glad I did! It is exactly what I had been looking for to help me take that next step. When you join the website, you are given all of the tools you need to be successful. They have guides, tutorials, case studies, online courses, support, coaching, and they now even provide free webhosting to members. When you first join, they encourage you to go through their 8 Week learning course. Every week they lay out tasks and learning objectives that will lead you to success…if you put the work in! I have found that by far the best thing about it is the support you get from the other members in the forums. It amazes me how much time some of them put into the forums to help out aspiring affiliates. You can even get help and support from the two owners, Kyle and Carson.
I could go on and on about how good it is, but the best way to know is to take a look for yourself. So you know, it is $29.99/mo to join, but I really believe you’ll find it a good investment if you’re serious about this business. If you decide early on that it’s not what you thought, they are great about refunding and you can cancel at any time.
So if you’re interested, here’s the link: www.wealthyaffiliate.com
I hope this helps everyone out!
Thanks,
Adam
I just picked up your book. Great concept. Being a writer with good experience in print adcopy, I would like to give this a spin. I did some google searching on affiliate marketing and was deluged with a bunch of circa 2005/6 listings talking about Google changing the rules for affiliate direct search engine marketers, in effect making it harder (i.e. only one marketer per unique URL, no direct links to advertiser’s domains, using intermediate landing pages instead).
Pretty scary stuff, but I don’t recall seeing any mention of this in your book.
Can you explain what the sea change in the industry was about a year ago and what the practical ramifications are for someone like me looking to get my feet wet placing affiliate ads in search engines?
thanks,
-gb
Hi Tony,
I have just had my first few commissions and though its not much, its a good start. yay! I would like to know if we can put some sort of limited offer in the ad text, like, “Buy before xxx date!” even though there are no special promotions from that vendor.
Regards,
Shazli
Hello Tony.
Your book is a breath of fresh air. I’ve spent the last year buying so many products on affiliate marketing, building sites, & seeing no results. I bought Google, Yahoo, etc. ads for my sites, but the performance was disheartening. I even put off purchasing your book for a few weeks after hearing of it - I thought it was more of the same old stuff. I was pleasantly surprised!
Your willingness to share information, and to help your customers via this discussion board, is impressive. Thank you so very much.
If I may - I do have a few questions.
1 - Is there a way to understand where the untapped markets exist? For instance, do I perform searches myself and note where not many sponsored ads return?
2 - How can I tell when an ad market is saturated? Are those the ones with the highest keyword bids?
I apologize in advance if the answers are in the book or on this DB and I’ve missed them. Thanks again Tony!
Twyla
Hey Toney,
I tried to become an affiliate of Overstock.com but my application was rejected. The reason was because the only website I could put in the blank was the ultimate wealth website which I paid for before I knew any better, which does not allow you to do very much to it. I tried Commission Junction but I didn’t even try to put that website in that blank. So it appears I may have to get a real website. I don’t really want to because I have no idea what the website will be about. I do not understand why I just can’t use paid search in Google or Yahoo. Just thought I would pass this on to other newbies who do not have a real website yet, and the problems they may encounter when applying to become an affiliate.
Great book thanks so much again. Rookie question, I’ve been accepted to Affiliate Fuel. All programs I see give me banner and text links. When I am constructing my ad on Google what do I cut and paste? Your example for Amazon in the book is perfect. Please a little help, I’ve left a message for AF but no response. I sure can’t seem to find the proper steps from the book. Thanks!
Hi Tony:
I’m starting to understand what you meant by “Ad copy is King.”
Based on my ad performance, I’ve discovered that my ad-copy writing skills are…well…less than great.
I’m wondering if you would suggest ways that I can improve my writing skills in a hurry.
Thanks for your time,
- Andrew Hymers
PS. I’m also wondering if you could recommend someone who is interested in mentoring a newbie like me.
Hi Tony,
First of all I have to say your book has not left my hand in the last week and a half. I have read, reread and am rereading it constantly.
I do have one question. How long should a new search marketer wait before seeing any commissions? Basically my questions is at what point does one begin to worry things are not working properly?
Thank you
Aaron
Hi Tony,
In CJ I’m noticing a discrepancy in the EPC chart under the general ‘My Advertisers’ section (where it shows all your Advertisers) and the EPC in the specific Advertiser’s Keyword Link pop open window. It one case the Keyword Link EPC was 1/2 the other and in another case it was 1/4. This is a significant difference when assessing your max bid amount. Is there a reason for this and which is correct?
Best Regards,
Michael
Hi Tony,
Thanks for the products you suggested to sell as it does make sense now and I have change the products I want to sell to products who’s commission is based on user registration and trial leads.
I’ve been advertising on Adwords for almost two months now and I have noticed that having Max CPC of less than 8 cents does not result in many impressions, let alone click rate. This happens when I target the US audience. Targeting worldwide audience does not give this problem and I get a high number of clicks. But the problem is, most of the products are targetted specifically to the US market. Is there a way of having low max CPCs targeting products to the US markets? Could it be related to my maximum daily budget?
Regards,
Shazli
Hi Anthony,
As promised I have another question. There have been a number of affiliate programs that I want to join but there’s something in their Usage Recommendation area that confuses me. I’m frequently seeing ‘Affiliates may NEVER use sitename.com (insert various companies in the sitename.com) for any URL listings within paid search placement.’ Another Link Detail for a different affiliate program stated you could not use sitename.com in the display URL. The Keyword Links were blue and available so I’m assuming they allow paid searching but I’m not allowed to show where the ad will send you if you click on it. This seems counter productive because, in my opinion, part of the power of the ad comes from the branding of the landing sites’ name. Am I missing something on this?
Best Regards,
Michael
Hi Anthony,
Thank you for writing your book and sharing your life’s adventure. I’ve been searching for something…didn’t know what…but I think I found it after reading your book. I stumbled upon your book by sheer accident at the Chapters bookstore in Ontario Canada. Read it that night from cover to cover and have re-read it twice now (did I say I purchased the book on Wednesday of this week!) I have applied to and been accepted by Commission Junction, rejected by Advertising.com and waiting to hear back from AzoogleAds.com. There’s a few extra steps and paperwork to fill out (a little thing called taxes) but I hope everything goes well. My account at Google Adwords and MS adCentre are open and awaiting my first ad.
I’d also like to thank you for creating this website/blog. You have gone above and beyond by giving us access to you directly. This is an amazing service you’re providing and I’m confident with your help, we can all become successful affiliate marketers. Dare I say make Affiliate Millions?
Now to my questions…
You talk about having multiple ads within an Ad Group within a campaign grouped by relevance. I’m a little confused by a couple of things. If I have multiple ads, why would I use the same keywords/phrases for them all? Are you suggesting multiple ads for the same affiliate program (not specific products within that program?) If so, why?
I’m having trouble figuring out how much to spend on my first ad campaign. I completely understand the ‘don’t set your maximum budget higher that the amount you are actually prepared to spend.’ What I’m unsure of is what is a good actual minimum amount to get a reasonable barometer of that ad. Is $500 for a month enough…too little? You mention in one of you examples a $3000 limit. This is more than I’m willing to loose. I’m hoping I’m not already limiting my chances for success.
Finally…although I’m sure I will have other questions in the future…do you have any old successful ads that are no longer running that you could share with us?
Again thanks for…well…everything.
Best Regards,
Michael
Hi Tony:
Does this look familiar? “These characters are not allowed: [space]”
I get this error when I try using a built link from Amazon in the destination URL.
I’m not sure why I can’t just copy and paste the URL that Amazon provides me….any ideas to address this?
Thanks!
- Andrew Hymers
Here’s another question, can you use the link in a banner or text link ad for your search marketing, or do you have to use the link that is generated when you click on keyword links in CJ? I was thinking of trying various ads with different landing pages.
