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Ask Shawn Collins: Web Sites More Profitable Than PPCs for Affiliates?

February 25, 2006 by Shawn Collins

Q: I have been running a couple of PPC campaigns via Google Adwords with mixed success. I do not own a Web site and hence I have been trying my luck as an affiliate via Google Adwords. Having read some advice on clixGalore, I am aware that it is more profitable to own a Web site and promote merchants via the Web site. I have not the faintest clue how to go about this. I would like to create a Web site through which I could promote merchants. Any pointers with regards to resources I could use to help me achieve this wish? Also just wondered if you had any tips regards choosing a successful merchant to run an Adwords campaign for and advice regards which affiliate network hosts the most profitable merchants.

Shawn CollinsA: Wow – you squeezed a lot of questions in there. I’m not sure who’s giving the advice at clixGalore, but you should take it with a grain of salt. There is no absolute rule on a Web site being more profitable than PPC arbitrage for affiliate marketers.

In my opinion, running a Web site is certainly more of a long-term play, and can net a steadier income than PPC, but like working with Adwords, you’ll need to invest time, strategy and money into a site to realize a profit.

Figure out a niche that really interests you, and work up a marketing plan to build a site around it. There are many ways to build a successful affiliate site, including the cultivation of a community, authoring unique content, and leveraging data feeds.

However you do it, you will need to add in your own unique value proposition to make your site a destination.

As far as getting started, I’d suggest checking out the Affiliate Classroom. This is a great resource for learning the ropes.

After you’ve gotten your affiliate site established, I’ve posted dozens of affiliate tips to market your site.

With regards to the merchants best suited to being promoted through Adwords and which affiliate network hosts the most profitable merchants, there is no black and white answer.

Any merchant that is selling a popular, desirable product or service can be worked successfully through PPC arbitrage. It’s all a matter of testing. Also, your results can vary based on the rules for any given merchant – be sure to read the terms to avoid violating the agreement.

There are many networks out there, and they all have their share of fantastic affiliate programs and dogs. My personal experience has been that programs that pay per lead work better for PPCs than those that pay per sale. But again – test all sorts of programs, copy, etc. to determine what’s best for you.

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