Affiliate Pre-selling Tips – 4 What Not to Do’s
Recently, I had an affiliate send a significant amount of traffic to a product via her email list (not an Internet Marketing Sweetie product, just so you know) and the conversion rate really stank.
Since then, I’ve done tests of the conversion rate – through Google Adwords and email as well and the conversions were decent. Now, I’m not going to blame the affiliate and say it’s all her fault. If we run an affiliate program (and this is a new product, so we’re just getting started), we need to do what we can to convert traffic, no matter where the traffic comes from and we’re walking on improving that.
Still, there are some things that you can do, as an affiliate; to make sure your conversions are better.
Let’s start with things not to do:
- Avoid all the pretty banners with no call to action, unless they have been proven to convert.
So many banners have nice graphics a bit of text, but they don’t tell the website visitor to click. Don’t underestimate the power of a “click here” to get people do just that.
Also, ensure the graphic has really concise and very benefit-oriented copy.
- Don’t just say, “My friend XXXX has just released….” and tell them to check it out. I’ve been guilty of this before. Sometimes people trust your judgment where they’ll take your friendships as a sign of quality people with quality products, but other people will look on it with suspicion and think you’re just promoting because they are your friend. It may work for you, but it might also backfire. Back up your recommendation of your friend with good solid info about the product.
- Don’t bother with affiliate promos on pages that aren’t targeted. You’re wasting precious real estate when you post a bunch of graphics in the menu of your site and they’re not targeted to specific pages of your website.
Use that space to get a subscriber to your mailing list or offer a product specifically relevant to the content of each specific page.
For example, a page about growing the perfect daisies would probably sell an eBook about growing daisies better than a general gardening guide.
- Don’t go overboard in your praise. Sure, there are great products out there, but no product is perfect and not every product is for everyone on your list or visiting your site.
I’ll be back tomorrow with 4 things you SHOULD DO in your affiliate pre-selling efforts. See you then!
Since then, I’ve done tests of the conversion rate – through Google Adwords and email as well and the conversions were decent. Now, I’m not going to blame the affiliate and say it’s all her fault. If we run an affiliate program (and this is a new product, so we’re just getting started), we need to do what we can to convert traffic, no matter where the traffic comes from and we’re walking on improving that.
Still, there are some things that you can do, as an affiliate; to make sure your conversions are better.
Let’s start with things not to do:
- Avoid all the pretty banners with no call to action, unless they have been proven to convert.
So many banners have nice graphics a bit of text, but they don’t tell the website visitor to click. Don’t underestimate the power of a “click here” to get people do just that.
Also, ensure the graphic has really concise and very benefit-oriented copy.
- Don’t just say, “My friend XXXX has just released….” and tell them to check it out. I’ve been guilty of this before. Sometimes people trust your judgment where they’ll take your friendships as a sign of quality people with quality products, but other people will look on it with suspicion and think you’re just promoting because they are your friend. It may work for you, but it might also backfire. Back up your recommendation of your friend with good solid info about the product.
- Don’t bother with affiliate promos on pages that aren’t targeted. You’re wasting precious real estate when you post a bunch of graphics in the menu of your site and they’re not targeted to specific pages of your website.
Use that space to get a subscriber to your mailing list or offer a product specifically relevant to the content of each specific page.
For example, a page about growing the perfect daisies would probably sell an eBook about growing daisies better than a general gardening guide.
- Don’t go overboard in your praise. Sure, there are great products out there, but no product is perfect and not every product is for everyone on your list or visiting your site.
I’ll be back tomorrow with 4 things you SHOULD DO in your affiliate pre-selling efforts. See you then!
2 Comments:
Very good points, Alice. They're helpful for affiliates and managers alike.
If I ever read one of those, "My good friend" emails again, I think I'm going to puke.
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