Continuing with the Affiliate Marketing Tips series, we'll look at how to choose niches or products when creating affiliate sites.
This seems to be the one thing that stumps most people, or holds them back from getting started in affiliate marketing.
I have 3 great questions from the Twitter Q&A that all relate to this topic, so we'll start there...
@MikeHays: Do you look for markets or niches when looking to start an affiliate site?
There's not really any magic to my methods. Sometimes I start with a product that I like and then research the market for that product. Sometimes I start with a market and then locate products that are a match. So it can go either way.
For me it usually starts with a basic thought or idea sparked by something I see out and about, on television, while surfing the internet, or even something that comes up in my daily life. Ideas are literally everywhere.
I prefer to work with niches & products that I enjoy, have personal experience with, or want to learn more about (for example, if I decide to take up cross-stitching).
I also like to work with Hot Markets (think: Tickle Me Elmo) so I keep my eyes peeled for trends both online and offline.
@TraciKnoppe: Aside from keyword research - is there anything else you consider when choosing a niche or affiliate product?
Keyword Research is where I begin, because I want to get a feel for what people are searching for - and how. One of the main things that I look at is the intent of the search - is it informational, or commercial?
Also see: Frustrated with market research or finding niches?
I also look at the depth of the market. Are there blogs, newsletters, websites, directories, forums, social networks, etc on that topic? These are all a plus because they give me marketing leverage in that niche.
As for products, I like to research the options. Which merchants offer this product, who offers the best shipping and/or the easiest ordering process, which sites might appeal to my target market best, etc. I also look for alternate products that I may want to recommend, or use in comparative reviews.
I really like to get a feel for the market and the product options as a whole.
@VirtualDream: as an affiliate do you stick to one line of products or promote a variety?
I generally do not create an affiliate site around a product, or one particular affiliate program, but rather create my affiliate sites around topics. For example, instead of creating an affiliate site around HostGator, I would create the site around website hosting - or more specifically shared web hosting plans. Just as an example.
For each niche affiliate site that I create I will usually have a primary affiliate program, and at least two other affiliate programs. You never know when a program will close, cancel your affiliation, or stop offering the product. It pays to have multiple options so you can continue to make a profit on the site.
Next we'll look at what type of site to create in different markets or situations, and when and why you might use a pen name...
Best,
p.s. I'll be presenting at the Affiliate Marketing workshop in Atlanta this January (coupon code at that link). There are still a few seats left if you'd like to join us! If you can't make it to a live event, but still want to learn affiliate marketing, check out my overview of Rosalind Gardner's Super Affiliate Handbook.
About Lynn Terry
I agree. I really think that one should work with products and niches they can totally relate with. Personal experience helps you understand more things.
That, or personal interest. Like starting a new hobby.
It makes the research and content development more fun 😉
Hi there Lynn, thanks for the tips there. Got 2 questions which I've always wanted to ask you but haven't had the chance :
(1) How do you establish credibility with a pen name, specially if you're just starting out in a niche in which you are not an expert in at all ?
(2)Have you been including pics for your pen names all this while, so visitors/customers can "bond" with you better ? (since you can't use your real pic at all). If not, how have you managed to sustain the relationship with them with a "faceless" pen pic ?
Would do anything to know what are some of your pen names used, even it's just 1 of them....and i mean ANYTHING ! 🙂
Why? Just out of curiosity, or what purpose would that serve?
I was just kidding there on the part about knowing your pen names :-)...but i do hope to know a bit more about the 1st part about estalishing credibility.
Reason being i'm using pen names for 1-2 of my own niches as well, so was hoping to learn some ideas from you on how to maintain relationships & establish credibility when using pen names.
Establishing credibility with a pen name is exactly the same as establishing credibility in your real name. The name is irrelevant, as is the fact that it's your birth given name or not. The act of establishing credibility is exactly the same.
That said, not all niche affiliate sites require a "personality" or even "credibility". Let's say I create a website all about Elvis Bobbleheads. Someone is search for the Elvis Bobblehead 1957 Year In Gold (specific product) and my web page ranks #1. They click through to a page that shares the Top 3 places to buy one online including an overview of the prices, shipping charges and gift-wrapping options. They make a selection and click through to buy. They don't really need to meet me as part of that process.
Sometimes I use photos, sometimes I don't. In some cases I use older pictures, or more obscure pictures of myself. In other cases I've bought rights to a stock photo. In most cases it's just not even necessary. The About page is about the site - not about me. But like I said, not every type of niche affiliate site revolves around the person behind it - but rather the product or the topic.
Thanks for sharing those tips there Lynn, greatly appreciate it. Like you said, guess i gotta determine whether the niche site revolves around the person or the topic in question.
I always like rereading how you and others do your research. I keep refining my own research with tips I pick up that I missed (or didn't understand) before.
One day I may finally stop putting ideas on the wall and seeing which one the dart sticks too....
- Jeffery
Actually some of your steps are kind of beyond me, like the more in-depth look at the merchants and having multiple affiliate programs. On one hand I understand it, but on the other hand I haven't done it so it's hard for me to wrap my mind around.
For example, how do you have multiple affiliate programs at the same time for a product? Can't you only link one at a time?
For merchants, how do you know which sites will appeal to your targets...er...targeted visitors the most? How do you know if the merchant allows you to link directly to the product (you mentioned that in another post, but you used a specific phrase and I can't remember off the top of my head what that phrase was)?
Like I said, it makes sense to me, but without going through it, I still have trouble grasping it.
I don't necessarily use multiple merchants for the same product, but again I don't create sites around one product but rather around topics.
In some cases I'll do a comparative review between products, or even between merchants for the same product.
As for which merchant will convert best for any given product or market, that takes testing. You start with personal intuition. Does the merchant make the ordering process easy, do they charge too much for shipping - or offer free shipping, etc.
As for deep linking, or linking to individual products, that's a must if it's a multiple-product site, and most of those types of merchants offer that automatically. You'll know when you read the affiliate details, or after you sign up and see the linking options.
Sometimes, I think, the intent can be both informational and commercial at the same time, if the person is looking for information but willing to pay for it if he really needs it...
Absolutely - and the best way to know what will give the best results is to... test! 😉
Excellent information Lynn. Thanks for answering my question.
Great question - thanks for inspiring this post! 😀
Nice article Lynn. I have been playing a lot with specific niche websites taylored for Adsense ads and products from Amazon, Walmart, Lowes, etc. I research the niche and keywords pretty much the same way you have pointed out in this article. I have noticed that paying more attention to the research of the keywords really impacts the success of these type of sites.
It also pays to have more than one possible source of income just in case something happens to one of them. In my case you never know what Google might do so I always have my products that I promote on the sites.
Do you have a specific criteria that your keywords results must match when choosing your niche? If so...would you share?
Hi Brian,
Sure - I share much of that here:
http://www.clicknewz.com/1822/market-research-or-finding-niches/
There are no magic numbers, as it depends on the type of campaign and other factors, but the main thing I look for in niche research is "market depth".
Thanks Lynn. This is a very good post. I love doing the keyword research now that I know a little more about it. I just keep picking up something new every time I read your post . Somethings that I didn't get the first time around,I do the second and a little light bulb goes of now and what a great moment in time.
Gail J Richardson
Thanks - hearing that makes my day! 😉
You're making awesome progress on your site since the NAMS event in August. I look forward to seeing you there again in January!
Good down to earth tips on this Lynn. No magic. No secrets. Trial and error fixes a lot of things. One thing I find myself explaining over and over is that the BORING stuff is what makes things work...product and general market research, etc.
So many people are concerned with finding the "secret" or the "magic niche" that they fail to see the key to it all is right under their nose...hard work, testing, learning from mistakes, etc 😉
True, Christian. I've said it before "while most people are chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow trying to find the secret to online profit, I've just been sitting here blogging and link building... and making money." 😉
Couldn't agree more! I have to admit I've spent way too much time on the get rich quick junk myself. It wasn't until I started actually working that I started getting results. As it turns out, it's just as much work trying to find a shortcut, and it doesn't pay nearly as well. Live and learn.
This article is just what I needed. I have been making niche selection WAY too complicated, wasting a lot of time I could spend more productively. Thanks!