Affiliate Marketing with Google Adwords

A lot of people have been effected to one degree or another by the Google Adwords changes. I've been able to implement strategies that have improved existing campaigns - significantly. And, honestly, I've had others temporarily obliterated.

As a result, I've been intently focused on doing what I need to do to build my business for long-term success.

I don't think I've ever shared it here, but my path to Internet marketing success started as an affiliate manager. I was pretty unsuccessful up to that point where someone put me in charge of "getting their affiliates to make more sales".

As a result, I was able to see who was making money and what they were doing - those details are for another time. Today, I want to share a little bit about the mindset - the thing that seperates the successful, full-time affiliate marketer from the hobbyist who makes the rare sale.

There's an important distinction that I recognize might be valuable to you.

Most affiliates fail because they leave the "business" up to the merchant. Just because the merchant collects the money and delivers the product, that doesn't mean you're Joe Nobody in the process. Or some guy/gal who just got lucky and had the right person at the right time click on a banner.

I trust you already recognize that putting up a banner isn't enough (or you wouldn't be reading about Adwords, would you?).

Ideally you buy the product (or get a free evaluation of it), review it and if it passes the test then you recommend and promote it. Affiliates are far more valuable in the selling process than either they or most merchants recognize. If you simply take an additional step or two - and reinvest some effort or a little money into ways that make people want to do business through you it will pay off.

The only difference between an affiliate marketer and a merchant is that the merchant handles the actual product - your business is generating traffic, and doing everything you can to increase the chances of a sale occurring. If you want to be successful, then YOU must accept responsibility for making sales happen.

For one product I promote using PPC, I offer bonus items to people when they buy through my affiliate link - I take a somewhat backwards approach to collecting their email addresses and have them email me their online sales receipt (ie, I get their email address). I produced 5% of ALL of company XYZ's online sales just for adding a little extra incentive to the customer - all digital products that don't cost me a nickel. They even receive the links from an autoresponder. BTW, since the Adwords change I've been a part of over 8% of ALL of their online sales (that's ~1000 widgets per month selling for $160).

How's this for a name squeeze idea . . .

STOP. Don't Buy Product X Until You See the Special Bonuses I'm Giving Customers Who Buy Through Me. Technically, You're Not My Customer if You Aren't on My Mailing List - so join below. Plus I'll Give You a Free Copy of XYZ Just for Looking.


I think the first thing every successful affiliate realizes - or takes on - is that they are responsible for a business transaction occurring. That customer who bought from the merchant is every bit as much my customer. It was ME that paid for that customer - I've done the company a favor by recommending them.

You don't want to mis-represent yourself, but you can follow-up with a bonus offer (I wouldn't try to sell anything in that follow-up - just give them something), an ebook, or users guide, or downloadable MP3 that adds value to the subject - an offer of support - or simply ask, "Hey Bob, are you satisfied with the product? Let me know if you need anything." Position yourself as their friend and advocate.

Every program, product, or service has a weakness. You can address that weakness by creating your own product. Many of you know William Shi. He's built his business on providing "how to" information for TE. He recognized the program doesn't contain good documentation for modifying templates. So he A) Has a product to sell and B) Has a pretty nice added bonus to offer as an incentive for people buy TE through him. That's smart.

NOTE: I probably don't need to say this here, but it's my blog so I will. William actually bugs the hell out of me because the only thing he ever posts in forums is "Go see my sales page about TE - I have all the answers there." So . . . back to the story.

You see, the merchants know that the LTV of that paying customer is worth significantly more than the 5-75% commission they might pay you. In fact, the higher the commission, the more likely that customer HAS a high lifetime value. That commission is a pittance to pay (ever wondered why more merchants don't throw themselves into PPC and disallow affiliates from competing on their terms)

So hey - I've been all over the place in this post and I hope it makes sense.

Best wishes, John