Almost ready to get started

jtheodas · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

Hi Rosalind and everyone here,

I'm Jacques and fairly new to the Internet Marketing world.

Sometime in late 2003, I read about affiliate marketing and did a little test marketing as an Ebay affiliate. I signed up with Commission Junction and then placed Google adsense ads that sent people directly to Ebay's website. It took me one evening to set all this up.

Result, during a 2 week period I made $30 in commissions but spent $50 in adsense advertising. At that point I stopped my advertising to do some real research on how to better approach this so I don't waste too much money through trial and error. After that some life changes made me put all that on the back burner until now.

So, that little test back then is proof to me that I can definitely generate income online. I just need to learn how to do it profitably.

A little tidbit on Commission Junction. Since I just stopped cold and left my account with no activity, they closed it and for some reason have a policy of keeping your email address associated with that closed account. So, I have to create a new email address in order to create a new account with them.

I'm looking forward to learning more about how to build a profitable business from all of you.

Jacques

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:24 am Post subject:

Bonjour Jacques and welcome to the Forum.

Good to hear that you want to get back in the game! You're right, you can certainly make money using Google Adwords and Adsense.

It almost sounds like you were running a 'loop' though. Sending traffic to your pages to make money from Adsense in the same categories... am I correct?

That's why I'm not such a huge proponent of Adsense on my affiliate sites... actually, I tested on my dating sites and took it off almost right away. It was better to review and promote the services that people were looking for.

As to your email addy... if you've got a good web host, you should be able to get unlimited email addresses for your domain.

I actually set up a new address for each merchant that I deal with, that isn't part of a big affiliate network.

That way I know exactly where spam starts... and will drop the program if that address gets 'leaked'.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Ros

jtheodas · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

Hi Rosalind,

I had no idea about Adsense at the time.

I just used Adwords to send people straight to a page on Ebay with relevant search results for the product they searched for on Google.

The commissions I made were from Ebay for new signups and they also pay when a lead you send them places a bid.

Thanks for the email tip.

Jacques

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:14 am Post subject:

OK, I really need to learn how to read. You DID say that! Smile

eBay's commission structures have changed since you were in the game, so you may want to revisit that idea.

Because you're 'Google Cashing', look at affiliate programs that you can do the same type of thing with.

Cheers.
Ros

jtheodas · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

Hi Rosalind,
In just the last 5 days I've discovered several distinct strategies.
There's your way, which is build a site rich in content to attract, and help visitors so they keep coming back.
There's building mini-sites (approx 5 pages).
And you've now put a name to what I tried back in 2004, Google Cashing.

I've actually come across that eBook and remember reading a webmaster's recent review saying that he cannot recommend that book anymore because with certain changes Google has made to their systems, it is somewhat out of date.

Are you aware of this? It would be helpful if you could verify this as I would be willing to purchase that book at some point as I build my knowledge base on this business.

Thanks.
Jacques

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject:

Hello Jacques,

Yes, you're right. 'Google Cashing' is more difficult to accomplish these days.

In the past Google would allow multiple advertisers to post ads linking to the same merchant site.

Now they allow only one.

What I see many affiliates do with that restriction is place a page on their site with a little content - a paragraph - that then links to the merchant site.

Once again, conversion rates are much better when you provide your visitors with real, honest product reviews and endorsements.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Ros