Content vs. Sales Page?

Discussion in 'ClickBank' started by edrectory, Mar 18, 2009.

  1. #1
    Hey, I'm a bit new to affiliate marketing... But I've known about it for quite a long time and done my research. Anyway, I have a question... Is my sites content important, or is a sales page better for converting traffic into buyers.

    I just started up a XBOX 360 FixIt site, I got the idea from when mine broke and I had to fix it, anyway it promotes a Click Bank product called 3 Red Light Fix. I've done all my keyword research and I plan to market it using, blogging, article marketing, squidoo lenses, hubpages, YouTube videos, social bookmarking etc.

    Anyway, on my site I have a fair bit of content which I plan to update quite often. There is a free fixing guide, but this only helps with the minor problems and for anything else such as RRoD's, E74 Errors etc there is the guide I am promoting. However, I fear that the site is too focused on the content and not focused enough on the product... should I change the site to a sales landing page that would probably convert much better?

    Any tips would be greatly apprieciated :)!
     
    edrectory, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  2. Robert25

    Robert25 Peon

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    #2
    Good presell page + Call to action = Sales.

    Choose a good gravity product and look after above equation you will succeed.
    If you dont know these concepts do some googeling.
     
    Robert25, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  3. Think_Big

    Think_Big Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Your content is important to visitors and search engines, so it's a good idea to continue writing quality content. Try focusing some more of the content specifically on the product and its benefits and see if this increases your sales.
     
    Think_Big, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  4. Zander Boon

    Zander Boon Peon

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    #4
    Hi,

    I think you need both. When I started, I just had landing pages. Then I decided to add some content, and make "minisites". I think I overdid it, and diluted the sales message.

    I think you need a good solid landing page which you direct traffic to via articles, PPC or whatever, but also have some good content which will eventually get recognised by Google and will hopefully give your site more "authority".

    I am still a relative newbie so I'm still learning and testing different strategies.

    Cheers
    Zander
     
    Zander Boon, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  5. tanakanewyork

    tanakanewyork Guest

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    #5
    Please focus on the benefits that the products you promoted bring to your customers. We have different landing pages proven convert fine. You can make your next sale page like this. Good luck.
     
    tanakanewyork, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  6. dcristo

    dcristo Illustrious Member

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    #6
    If you change the site to a sales page what do you think will happen to the traffic?
     
    dcristo, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  7. tanakanewyork

    tanakanewyork Guest

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    #7
    If the case is like that, please focus on the benefits that the customers can get from your products.

    The sites has so many sub-pages, like feature page, help page, register page etc. Your potential customers don't see these pages, some will do that. So even you focus on the benefits, the traffics will become high quality sales.

    That is our sales page do. Hope you good luck.
     
    tanakanewyork, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  8. dcristo

    dcristo Illustrious Member

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    #8
    What I asked was a rhetorical question. Replacing a content site with a sales page is a bad move.
     
    dcristo, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  9. zeekstern

    zeekstern Active Member

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    #9
    Actually, if you are doing this to make money, you should be doing both. Set up tracking. Provide good content like you are. I am assuming that somewhere in that content you are trying to get them to go to the affiliate page for sales. Track that.

    Then also, put up a sales page. Track that too. Capture their email address and start building a list. Your topic is perfect for that. Once you have that list it is easy to cross promote products in that area. Anyway, setting up various pages and tracking the results of which ones perform better is something everyone should be doing.

    Good luck!!
    Zeek
     
    zeekstern, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  10. scubita

    scubita Peon

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    #10
    Hey dcristo, i have some small sites 5-10 pages ranking high and i just started applying to them a sales page at index. I kept the index article in sales page, so for SE its same page + with new content (sales pitch).

    Be smart and don't lose rankings. Keep the links to articles at footer.
     
    scubita, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  11. dcristo

    dcristo Illustrious Member

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    #11
    Please let me know how this works out for you.

    I was thinking of doing the same with some wordpress blogs. You can change the homepage to a static page and include a review on the homepage instead, which would seem a good way to increase affiliate clicks.
     
    dcristo, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  12. edrectory

    edrectory Peon

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    #12
    What about if I was to plant a "semi-sales" page on the front, but still offer the sites general content? I wasn't going to make the ENTIRE site a one page sales page. Whats the difference between placing a link to articles in footer?
     
    edrectory, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  13. DF20

    DF20 Guest

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    #13
    I'm wondering this too. My plan at present for my content site is to do one or both things. Honestly, I'll probably try both and see what happens.

    Site Layout 1
    The top-level main page lander is about one page long, and is basically a sales page promoting the product.
    Probably below this is a box or field of links leading to subpages, where I have content and articles relevant to my main page, which is the sales page. When I submit the content of my subpages to article directories, I'll link back to my main sales page.

    Site Layout 2
    This site layout is focusing more on becoming a very high quality (not that the content on the other page would suck) content site covering a good variety of topics relating to my product(s) for that niche. The top level, main page of the site would look like any other normal, non-aff content site. Basically this is trying to be as reputable and non sales-y as possible. HOWEVER many articles will link to a "recommended product" page which will be a subdomain on this website, which is where I'll have my aff products that'll hopefully convert after building up some confidence.

    Advantages and Disadvantages
    Layout 1 will get more immediate conversions, since it is more of an "in your face" sales page urging the customer to sign up for or order the product now, along with some decent content that's written to back up the main sales page. I'll have to promote the shit out of this one since it has credibility and some information, but not as much as layout 2. I'll have to invest more time in it to keep traffic coming in.

    Layout 2 will get less conversions from the git-go, but I'll have to do much less promotion of the site. I have one experimental site right now based on saving money in various ways (food, gas, clothing, etc). I hardly promoted it at all outside of article submissions, and it gets amazing residual traffic to this day from various sources - many people social bookmark it themselves after finding the content useful. I believe layout 2, focusing mainly on quality, super informative, non salesy content will benefit from "word of mouth" and other people repping/promoting the site for me, which will result in as many sales as layout 1 in the long run. Additionally, since this site isn't as gimmicky, it'll be a better opportunity to build a solid email list!

    Let me know what you think guys.
     
    DF20, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  14. capitalalchemy

    capitalalchemy Member

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    #14
    I'd like to contribute a question. If I'm trying to provide good quality content for both user experience and SEO, do you think that this makes the possibility of a sale less likely to happen? in specific, I have a lot of articles on one of my sites, and I don't make any effort to hide the article link from my visitors. I also have a link to my blog which is very visible. I'm sure that I get a lot of tire kickers, but do you think that it affects sales that much?

    If you do a sales page and a call to action - that is pure funneling, but perhaps you can gain more trust with a content site?
     
    capitalalchemy, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  15. scubita

    scubita Peon

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    #15
    You want to cash or gain trust? :rolleyes:

    Anyone can keep a content site. Just develop your sales page + call to action. Keep 1 good article spread across the sales page. Finally, place (small) links at footer to your sub-pages > articles.

    Sheeet... even major sellers do it this way, no need to be a rocket scientist! :p
     
    scubita, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  16. tonyrocks

    tonyrocks Active Member

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    #16
    Gain trust! Affiliate marketing is all about trust ;) hehe. Stay focused with on article...don't want to saturate the message and make your prospects bored or confused.
     
    tonyrocks, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  17. DF20

    DF20 Guest

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    #17
    Can you give me some feedback on my post? I'd appreciate it :)
     
    DF20, Mar 18, 2009 IP
  18. Robert25

    Robert25 Peon

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    #18
    Keep your index page as an article and send visitors to landing page placing links in the content. This will low down your bounce back ratio, gain trust and eventually make more money.
    http://www.hypnotismsecrets.com/ Check out this site ranking pretty good for high converting keywords.
     
    Robert25, Mar 19, 2009 IP