In our upcoming issue on affiliate marketing, we cover the top 10 lessons we've learned from affiliate marketing. That report (which includes months of research) will be published in the next week, but in the meantime, we present our top 5 lessons:
1. Don't think affiliates; think partners.
2. Focus. Focus. Focus. Forget the scattergun approach. Discover the profile of an effective affiliate, search for that profile, and concentrate your resources on helping them.
3. Five relationships that work are better than fifty that don't.
4. Serving affiliates requires more than sending a link. Give them multiple ways to maximize your opportunity. We have integrated syndicated reports and the opportunity for affiliates to build an email list of subscribers who will receive our reports with their embedded affiliate URL.
5. Talk with them often. Communication with your affiliates is essential.
Stay tuned for the full report on running an effective affiliate program.
Listen To Our Google Adwords Web Conference [09-24-03]
(Windows Media Audio - 3.1mg), (RealMedia - 7.6mg)
(Right click on the link and choose 'Save...')
BIO:
The Marketing Experiments Journal is published by Digital Trust Inc. (DTI). Dr. Flint McGlaughlin is the Director of DTI.
Dr. McGlaughlin is a pioneer in strategy and communications. His primary research is focused on discovering the most effective means to market intellectual assets across the Internet.
Dr. McGlaughlin has advised more than 1500 companies including AT&T, The Federal Reserve, Pitney Bowes, and Merrill Lynch. He has conducted over 2000 hours of keynote speaking. He has directed the development of more than 20,000 web pages.
Dr. McGlaughlin currently serves as the Co-Executive Producer of the new FOX Family series: "Courage" - hosted by actor Danny Glover. He also serves as a senior advisor or board member to twelve growing companies and four charitable foundations.
His writing and television production activities have, thus far, won two Tellys, an Edwin Murrough, and an Emmy.
Dr. McGlaughlin is quick to acknowledge that the research at MEC is largely dependent on the intense, focused efforts of the Lab's Leadership Team.
Key Links:
Affiliate Program
http://www.marketingexperiments.com/affiliate_offering.cfm
Membership(Lab Pass)
http://www.marketingexperiments.com/memb.cfm
Research Partnerships
http://www.marketingexperiments.com/research_call.cfm
URLs:
1. http://www.marketingexperiments.com/google_pagerank.cfm
2. http://www.tomshardware.com
3. http://www.surlatable.com
4. http://www.reviewcentre.com/
5. http://toolbar.google.com/
6. http://www.marketleap.com/publinkpop
7. http://www.linkpopularitycheck.com
8. http://www.dmoz.com
9. http://www.webworkshop.net/pagerank_calculator.php3
10. http://www.mastersyndicator.com/
11. http://www.prolinkz.com
12. http://www.mecgroups.com/mec_pub_log/archives/000416.html
13. http://www.mecgroups.com/mec_pub_log/archives/000130.html
14. http://www.awardsscoop.org/
15. mailto:administrator@marketingexperiments.com
(C.4) BONUSES
OVERTURE REPORTS PART 1 AND 2: http://www.marketingexperiments.com/overture.cfm
SPECIAL OVERTURE BLUEPRINT: http://www.marketingexperiments.com/downloadable/overture_timeline.doc
This is the link to the help file: http://www.marketingexperiments.com/overture_timeline.cfm
Reference Notes:
STATS ON GOOGLE
- Google receives 250 million searches per day.
- Google controls roughly 40 percent of the market. In February 2003, it received 83 million more searches than Overture, its nearest competitor. (*6)
- Google searches more than 3 billion web pages.
- Google attracts 73.5 million unique visitors per month (Nielsen/NetRatings 2/03).
- Google offers its results in 35 languages and 50 percent of its traffic comes from outside the U.S.
- Google has 800+ employees with 60 PhD's on staff.
NOTES ON SYNDICATION (FROM BRIAN ALT)
Several subscribers have asked what we are using to syndicate our content. For the full tables and articles, we are using a script called MasterSyndicator, available at: http://www.mastersyndicator.com/.
MasterSyndicator allows you to set up unlimited syndication feeds and then simply paste in the formatted content that you would like others to be able to syndicate. Other webmasters can then simply insert a short line of code onto their page to syndicate your content, which is updated automatically on their sites whenever you add new content to the feed.
MasterSyndicator is $99. MasterSyndicator Gateway, which allows you to specify which domains can pull your content feed (useful if you want to charge for the service), is $175.
We've just started using MasterSyndicator Gateway with our affiliate program. A new feature that the developer added to the script for us is the ability to send affiliate IDs (or other variables) to the script. The script then spits out the syndicated content with customized affiliate links for each affiliate.
We're currently syndicating full articles, research blogs, subscription forms, etc. to our affiliates.
MasterSyndicator Gateway also tracks impressions.
We are using a combination of My Affiliate Program and ProLinkz (http://www.prolinkz.com/) to track click-throughs.
The developer has also just added a free, feature-lite version of Master Syndicator: http://www.mecgroups.com/mec_pub_log/archives/000416.html
RSS syndication differs from the above, which uses JavaScript. It is detailed here: http://www.mecgroups.com/mec_pub_log/archives/000130.html
We are using a script called MasterSyndicator, available at: http://www.mastersyndicator.com/
MasterSyndicator allows you to set up unlimited syndication feeds and then simply paste in the formatted content that you would like others to be able to syndicate. Other webmasters can then simply insert a short line of JavaScript code onto their page to syndicate your content, which is updated automatically on their sites whenever you add new content to the feed.
MasterSyndicator is $99. MasterSyndicator Gateway, which allows you to specify which domains can pull your content feed (useful if you want to charge for the service), is $175.
Benefits of Gateway over MasterSyndicator:
- A new feature that the developer added to the script for us is the ability to send affiliate IDs (or other variables) to the script. The script then spits out the syndicated content with customized affiliate links for each affiliate.
- Specify which domains can pull the feed (“closed”) or you can allow everyone except certain blocked domains to pull it (“open”).
- Tracks impressions.
- You can schedule content to be activated in the future.
Important for PageRank: You must include a hard-coded HTML link in addition to the JavaScript. The JavaScript basically creates a dynamic page that cannot be indexed by Google.
We're currently syndicating full articles, research blogs, subscription forms, etc. to our affiliates.
MasterSyndicator Gateway also tracks impressions.
We are using a combination of My Affiliate Program and ProLinkz (http://www.prolinkz.com/) to track click-throughs.
The developer has also just added a free, feature-lite version of Master Syndicator: http://www.mecgroups.com/mec_pub_log/archives/000416.html
RSS syndication differs from the above, which uses JavaScript. It is detailed here: http://www.mecgroups.com/mec_pub_log/archives/000130.html
We received the following note from our friends at DealTime:
Hi all,
BIG NEWS
As of today, Monday, September 22, 2003, we have officially re-named DealTime, Inc. as Shopping.com, Inc. and launched a comprehensive new comparison shopping service at the URL Shopping.com (http://www.shopping.com).
Shopping.com, Inc. is growing, profitable and exceeding the expectations of its customers everyday. And yes, we are actually ADDING "dot com" back onto our name in a move that will mark one of the milestones of the "next-generation" (second wave) consumer Internet.
At Shopping.com, we have broken through with a comprehensive and memorable comparison shopping service that is focused on the essential comparison piece of online shopping, and delivers on the Internet's promised product and pricing transparency.
Our long-term goal is to offer people all of the relevant information on every product and store in the world.
MARKET SIZE:
Shopping.com represents the intersection of the rapidly growing paid search and e-commerce markets. We are now a leading provider of pay-for-performance marketing services, and enable merchants to reach more than 1.5 million visitors every day. The Company is well positioned to capitalize on the estimated $95.7 billion market for online retail and the $2.1 billion market for search-related advertising in 2003.
Please see the press release and related documents below, and email or call me of you have any questions. Thanks!
Best,
-Krista
415.640.0465
krista@shopping.com
________________________
P R E S S R E L E A S E
DEALTIME® RELAUNCHES AS SHOPPING.COM
New Brand and Website Reflects Industry Leadership and Commitment to Providing the World's Ultimate Shopping Experience
New York, New York and San Francisco, Calif. - September 22, 2003 - DealTime, Inc. the leading provider of comparison shopping services, today officially became Shopping.com, Inc. The company also debuted its new flagship website, Shopping.com (www.shopping.com), a comprehensive comparison shopping service that helps people use the power of information to make the best shopping decisions.
"Our transformation into Shopping.com reflects the complete integration of DealTime and Epinions, and marks the arrival of a new era in online shopping," said Daniel Ciporin, Chairman and CEO of Shopping.com. "We are absolutely committed to providing the ultimate shopping experience, where shoppers use the power of information to make the best shopping decisions."
Shopping.com represents the intersection of the rapidly growing paid search and e-commerce markets. The company is a leading provider of pay-for-performance marketing services, and enables merchants to reach more than 1.5 million visitors every day. It is well positioned to capitalize on the estimated $95.7 billion market for online retail and the $2.1 billion market for search-related advertising in 2003.
A Better Way to Shop
The new website, Shopping.com, is a comprehensive service that enables people to easily find, compare and buy virtually any product they want in just a few clicks. It is the only comparison shopping service that combines more than one million high quality consumer reviews with detailed price information on more than five million products from more than three thousand stores.
"Shopping.com delivers on everything we've learned over the past four years, including what people like - and dislike - about shopping," said Nirav Tolia, Shopping.com's Chief Operating Officer. "Our long-term goal is to offer people all of the relevant information on every product and store in the world. With Shopping.com, you won't have to go anywhere else to find, compare, or buy anything."
The core of Shopping.com is information: product information, such as in-depth reviews, buying guides, pictures and product specifications; and store information, such as prices, ratings, coupons and availability. In short, Shopping.com delivers all the information people need to make the best shopping decisions.
With Shopping.com, people can:
- Find the right product from a comprehensive selection of more than five million items.
- Compare products, prices and stores using more than one million helpful consumer reviews.
- Buy the right product with confidence from more than three thousand trusted online stores.
Shopping.com features several new innovations, including the Product Finder, which makes it easy to find the right product in just a few quick clicks, as well as the Store Finder, which showcases all important store information such as price, availability and ratings in one convenient location. The site's easy-to-use interface, streamlined navigation and powerful new search engine instantly deliver relevant results.
Shopping.com's consumer reviews are provided by the community of reviewers at the award-winning Epinions website (www.epinions.com). Epinions' more than one million helpful, in-depth consumer reviews help millions of people make informed shopping decisions each day. Epinions will continue to operate as an independent website, with its distinctive character, brand and URL.
The Story of Shopping.com
Shopping.com reflects the combined vision and expertise of two companies: DealTime, the leading shopping search engine, and Epinions, the leading consumer reviews platform. Since 1999, DealTime and Epinions have helped nearly a billion people make better shopping decisions. The e-commerce pioneers merged in May 2003 to go one step further: to create the world's ultimate shopping experience.
The new company is guided by the following core principles:
- People want to make their own decisions. Shoppers should control the process by using the power of information to make their own decisions.
- People expect a wide range of choices.
- Shoppers should be able to find exactly the products they want from any store in the world.
- People deserve to be treated fairly. Shoppers should come first, receive outstanding service and have their expectations exceeded.
Visitors to DealTime will be introduced to Shopping.com and encouraged to try it for all their shopping needs. Shopping.com, Inc. will continue to operate www.dealtime.com, however, the company's primary focus will be the growth and ongoing development of Shopping.com.
About Shopping.com
Shopping.com is the leading comparison shopping service committed to delivering the world's ultimate shopping experience, where people use the power of information to make the best shopping decisions. It is the only resource that combines more than one million in-depth consumer reviews with detailed price information on more than five million products from more than three thousand stores.
Shopping.com is the result of the May 2003 merger of two Internet pioneers: DealTime, the leading shopping search engine; and Epinions, the leading consumer reviews platform. Shopping.com, Inc. is privately-held and backed by key strategic partners including August Capital, Bain Capital, Benchmark Capital, Bertelsmann, Goldman Sachs, Israel Seed Partners and others.
Shopping.com and the Shopping.com logos are trademarks of DealTime Ltd. DealTime, DealTime.com, and the DealTime logo are registered trademarks of DealTime Ltd. Epinions, Epinions.com and the Epinions logo are registered trademarks of Epinions, Inc.
# # #
Media Contact:
Krista Thomas
415.640.0465
krista@shopping.com
FAQs:
What is Epinions?
Epinions is a thriving online community and the Web's premier consumer reviews platform. The Epinions community of informed shoppers contributes hundreds of helpful product reviews each day, helping people make the best decisions about what to buy and where to buy it.
Does Shopping.com include Epinions' content?
Yes; Shopping.com integrates millions of reviews and ratings from Epinions. New content is integrated across the site as it is created and rated by Epinions' community of smart shoppers.
What is happening to Epinions, Inc. and www.epinions.com?
Epinions, Inc. was acquired by DealTime in April of 2003 and is operated by the Shopping.com team. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, Epinions will retain its distinct character, brand and URL.
Can consumers post ratings and reviews on Shopping.com?
Epinions powers all review writing and rating functionality across the Shopping.com Network. Visitors to Shopping.com who want to contribute a review will be linked to the appropriate section of Epinions, where they can register, join and write their review. Once a new review has been rated by the Epinions community, it is integrated across both Epinions.com and Shopping.com.
What is happening to DealTime.com?
Consumers going to DealTime.com will be offered the opportunity to go to Shopping.com instead, to meet all their shopping needs. Shopping.com, Inc. will continue to operate DealTime.com during a transition period as consumers learn about Shopping.com. However, the company's efforts will be focused on growing and continually improving the Shopping.com experience.
The following resources are from our upcoming research report on affiliate programs:
RATING SYSTEM
These sites were rated for usefulness and clarity, but alas,
the rating is purely subjective.
* = Decent
** = Good
*** = Excellent
**** = Indispensable
Guides:
Affiliate Handbook ****
http://www.affiliatehandbook.com/
AssociatePrograms.com ****
http://www.associateprograms.com/
Associate Programs Forum **
http://associateprograms.com/discus/index.php
ClickZ Affiliate Marketing Archives ****
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/archives.php
ReveNews ***
http://www.revenews.com/
How Affiliate Programs Work ***
http://howstuffworks.lycoszone.com/affiliate-program3.htm
Finding and Attracting Affiliates **
http://www.affiliatehandbook.com/art/cj_200101.html
Dr. Wilson's Report on Affiliate Management Software **
http://wilsonweb.com/ebooks/affilisoft.htm
A Point and Click Sales Force **
http://www.businessweek.com/reprints/99-26/b3635042.htm
Affiliate Manager's Guide to Running an Affiliate Program **
http://www.affiliatemanager.net/
How to Inspire Loyalty and Increase Affiliates' Sales **
http://www.associateprograms.com/search/affiliate-loyalty.shtml
How Do I Start an Affiliate Program? **
http://www.associateprograms.com/search/howto.shtml
Regulating Chaos, Part 1: Adware and the Affiliate Code of Conduct **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1566491
Regulating Chaos, Part 2: The Affiliate Networks' Dividing Line **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1573771
Regulating Chaos, Part 3: Adware, Merchants, and Affiliates Speak Out **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1580691
Regulating Chaos, Part 4: Affiliate Markets Adapt Standard s **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1588581
Fewer Leads, Better Quality ***
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1556431
Commonsense Web Design for Affiliates **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1496551
The Four Myths of Affiliate Marketing **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1457551
When's an Affiliate Program Not an Affiliate Program? **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1454461
Reports of Affiliate Programs' Death Are Greatly Exaggerated **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1451111
Coping With SSS: Seven Seconds to Seducing Affiliates **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/1144041
Are You Writing Enough Checks? **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/822861
Affiliate Marketing Comes of Age **
http://www.internetretailer.com/article.asp?id=9872
ClickQuick.com **
http://www.clickquick.com/
The Ten Affiliate Commandments *
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/comm/article.php/840421
Reboot Your Affiliate Program for Greater Success **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/comm/article.php/830801
Affiliate Programs: Getting More for Less *
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/comm/article.php/837201
Experience the Field of Dreams in Your Affiliate Program *
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/comm/article.php/832281
Ensure the Success of Your Affiliate Program *
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/comm/article.php/829371
Super Affiliate Handbook *
http://superaffiliatehandbook.com/
Affiliate Guide **
http://www.affiliateguide.com/
Affiliate Knowledge **
http://www.affiliateknowledge.com/
SiteCash.com *
http://www.sitecash.com/
Customer Acquisition: Affiliate Programs-Evolution of the Performance Marketing Landscape **
http://www.jupiterdirect.com/bin/report.pl/93973/921
The Practical Guide to Creating and Managing a Profitable Affiliate Program **
http://www.affiliatetoolkit.com/practicalguide/
Books:
Successful Affiliate Marketing for Merchants ***
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0789725258/
The Complete Insiders Guide to Associate & Affiliate Programs **
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930336020/
Winning the Affiliate Game **
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930336039/
Affiliate Selling: Building Revenue on the Web **
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471381861/
The Affiliate Marketing Plan Builder eBook **
https://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/kowabookorder.asp
Directories:
Affiliate Handbook List of Directories **
http://www.affiliatehandbook.com/dir/directories.html
Refer-It ****
http://www.refer-it.com/
2-Tier Affiliate Program Directory ***
http://www.2-tier.com/
EarnFind.com **
http://www.earnfind.com/
Click Affiliate **
http://www.clickaffiliate.com/
Affiliate Programs Directory *
http://www.affiliate-programs-directory.com/
Affiliates Directory *
http://www.affiliatesdirectory.com/
100 Best Affiliate Programs *
http://www.100best-affiliate-programs.com/
WhichAffiliate.com *
http://www.whichaffiliate.com/
Affiliate Programs Guide *
http://www.affiliate-programs-guide.com/
Internet Affiliate Programs *
http://www.internet-affiliate-programs.com/
WebmastersHelpCenter.net *
http://www.webmastershelpcenter.net/directory/Affiliate_Programs/
RevenueMakers **
http://www.revenuemakers.com/
AssociateSearch **
http://www.associatesearch.com/
AffiliateWorld Directory **
http://www.affiliateworld.com/
Affiliates4U **
http://www.affiliates4u.co.uk/
ClicksLink.com **
http://clickslink.com/
Top 5: The Affiliate Program Source **
http://top5news.hypermart.net/
Adbility *
http://www.adbility.com/
ClickQuick.com **
http://www.clickquick.com/
Money Making Index **
http://www.moneymakingindex.com/
Events:
Affiliate Summit **
http://www.affiliatesummit.com/
eTail 2003 **
http://www.wbresearch.com/etail2003/
Casino Affiliate Convention *
http://www.cac2003.com/
CJU 2003 *
http://www.cj.com/corporate/cju.jsp
AD:TECH 2003 **
http://www.ad-tech.com/
Affiliate Handbook Directory of Conferences **
http://www.affiliatehandbook.com/dir/conferences.html
Vendors:
Outsourced Affiliate Management ***
http://www.affiliatehandbook.com/dir/outsource.html
Affiliate Network Providers ***
http://www.affiliatehandbook.com/dir/networks.html
CGI Resources Overview of Affiliate Program Management Solutions ***
http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Programs_and_Scripts/Perl/Website_Promotion/Affiliate_Programs/
My Affiliate Program ***
http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/
Kowabunga Technologies ***
http://www.kowabunga.net/
Vedor Spotlight: My Affiliate Program **
http://www.clickz.com/aff_mkt/aff_mkt/article.php/843231
Be Free, Inc. **
http://www.befree.com/
Performics **
http://www.performics.com/
LinkShare **
http://www.linkshare.com/
Commission Junction **
http://www.cj.com/
ClickBank **
http://www.clickbank.com/
LeadHound **
http://www.leadhound.com/
Active Marketplace (Declan Dunn) ***
http://www.activemarketplace.com/
QuickPayPro *
http://quickpaypro.com/
Fusion Quest **
http://www.ultra-affiliate-software.com/
AffStat **
http://www.affstat.com/
YOURsoft **
http://www.yoursoft-tm.com/
MyReferer **
http://www.myreferer.com/
AffiliateManagerSystem.com **
http://www.affiliatemanagersystem.com/
Interneka Affiliate Program Tracking Software **
http://www.interneka.com/
Managed Affiliate Program Software *
http://managedaffiliateprograms.com/
Super Affiliate Generator **
http://www.makelinks.com/
Arelis **
http://www.axandra.com/arelis/index.htm
Affiliate Traction **
http://www.affiliatetraction.com/
Affiliate Tracking Network **
http://www.affiliatetracking.net/
ProTrack Affiliate Tracking Software *
http://www.affiliatesoftware.net/
AffiliateShop.com **
http://www.affiliateshop.com/
AffiliateTrends **
http://affiliatetrends.com/
AffiliateGuerilla **
http://www.affiliateguerrilla.com/
CyberAffiliates (DGM Australia) **
http://www.cyberaffiliates.com.au/
ClickXChange **
http://www.clickxchange.com/
Groundbreak - Ultimate Affiliate **
http://www.groundbreak.com/
PHP Affiliate Pro **
http://www.thephpsite.com/
CyberTrakker **
http://www.cybertrakker.com/
WebGenie Site*Sponsor **
http://www.webgenie.com/
DirectTrack **
http://directtrack.com/
ClickAffiliate **
http://www.pariswater.com/perl/clickaffiliate.php
PDG Software **
http://www.pdgsoft.com/
Commercial Networks **
http://www.commercialnetworks.com/
The following point will help increase the effectiveness of your Yahoo Store:
1. Turn on the customer feedback option in your store and make sure that you give great customer service. You want and need a 5 star rating.
2. Make sure that all of your page titles and section titles are descriptive. Modify the RTML templates to change the headings on the pages from an image to text.
3. Make sure your product copy has legitimate keywords that are popular search terms for the given type of product. In other words, the product description needs to be effective and coherent sales copy that contains multiple instances of as many keywords as possible.
4. The number of products that you have for a given product type will also have an impact on the effectiveness of keywoards.
The following points will help you improve your landing pages for email, search engine, or other ad campaigns. In testing, these points have proven to raise conversion rates.
1. Reassure your visitors that their personal information will not be shared with others.
2. Use credibility indicators such as testimonials, awards, third-party verifications, etc.
3. Avoid extraneous graphics or animation that distract from your primary objective.
4. Don't include regular site navigation on the landing page. This will only distract your visitors from the objective of your landing page.
5. Your landing page copy should correspond to the copy from the ad that visitors came from. The same offer should be presented so as not to confuse the visitors.
Here is a general rule to live by:
MEC MAXIM: "The best retailers are good publishers; the best publishers are good retailers."
A good publisher must be a good retailer because:
> A publisher cannot eke out even a modest profit, if he does not sell something... and in this Internet environment, he had better sell more than advertising.
A good retailer must be a good publisher because:
> Repeated contact with your prospects can increase your site traffic and your conversion ratio.
> Repeated contact with your customers can increase their annual value and reduce their acquisition cost.
Notice the difference that an email capture element can make for a $5000 advertising expenditure:
| PAY SEARCH ENGINE CAMPAIGN | ||
|---|---|---|
| ITEM | CAMPAIGN A | CAMPAIGN B |
| Click Throughs | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Cost Per Click | $ .50 | .50 |
| Conversion Rate | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Customers | 150 | 150 |
| Average Sale | $ 39 | 39 |
| Immediate Sales | $ 5850 | 5850 |
 | ||
| Email Capture Ratio | 0 | 10% |
| Email Addresses Captured | 0 | 1000 |
| Additional Customers (8 Mailings over 120 days) | 0 | 30 |
| Additional Sales | $ 0 | 1170 |
| ||
| Total Cost (*) | $ 5000 | 5000 |
| Total Sales | $ 5850 | 7020 |
| Gross Profit | $ 850 | 2020 |
***> What you need to UNDERSTAND: If you add up the intangible costs of time, and landing page preparation, CAMPAIGN A was unprofitable. But CAMPAIGN B netted 238% more than CAMPAIGN A. The difference was the email capture.
Capturing email addresses is a fiscal imperative. But before you rush off to implement your email capture program, a few clarifications are in order.
Within our own affiliate program, the sample reports that we allow our affiliates to syndicate are quickly becoming the affiliate promotion of choice. This is because the sample reports are a good preview of what people will receive when they purchase a lab pass. The conversion rate of clicks that come in from syndicated articles is much higher than general clicks sent to the home page.
We recommend using informative and relevant content to pre-qualify both your affiliates and the traffic they send to your site. Our upcoming full report on running an effective affiliate program will cover this topic in more detail.