Maybe I'll get slammed for a thread like this, people being like why would we tell you the good dieting products?! But I would think dieting would be one of the most profitable niches and I go to the marketplace and I'm not seeing too much besides Fat loss 4 idiots. I'm just looking for nutrition based diets really, if there are any publishers of said diets around here, please let me know cos it's slim pickens here. Question, a lot of these diet publishers on clickbank have opt ins when you get to their sites, that seems to turn me off, what about you?
I think opt-ins are good. I want to add one. As long as the publisher isn't ripping you off (and no smart publisher would do that) then you should look at them as being good too - Many times a customer won't buy on the first visit - but if you send them a few emails then they will buy. I had an opt-in previously and I found that to be the case - My opt-in sucked and I only had 3 people on it, but out of those 3 people - 1 of them bought the diet when I sent out a letter. So... again, as long as the publisher isn't stealing your commission - it's a good thing. It makes conversions go up. Anyways - I'm a publisher for a diet product (see my sig $31...) and my gravity isn't great (around 5) because we're a pretty new product and to be honest I'm still learning on the job. But the thing is - I will keep working on it until I get it right - so I think for people who get in now - there will be a great reward later. But I completely understand folks going with some of the more established diet products. And I agree with you - it's strange to me that only FL4I has a really high gravity. It seems to me diet is a huge niche and there would be more products doing well. I must admit I am quite impressed with the affiliate program at Fat Burning Furnace (and no I am not associated with them in anyway) ... I'm looking at them a bit as inspiration at the moment actually - I think their affiliate tools are fantastic. My goal is to make mine even better.
I guess there's just no way of knowing if they're stealing your commission or not is my concern. Obviously they realize if they steal your commission by deleting your cookie or what not you're seeing less sales and are like inclined to push them, so it's counterproductive for them, but the get the money...it's tricky I dunno what to think. It sucks becos most of these weight loss sites have the optin, I guess there's no way around it and they wouldn't be that successful if we didn't send them traffic (hopefully). Topfatloss secret just looks disgusting with those pictures and seems a bit sloppy, but hell it's got a gravity of 200+ so what do I know. From glancing at their site it seems they even imply that if you don't get their product you'll be dead very soon, no joke. Too bad I don't think like the average consumer who obviously goes for that sort of thing, and therefore it is hard for me to promote the product if I can't get into the sales page, even tho it seems to sell. I'll keep looking tho, thanks for the words.
There is a way of checking - sign up for the opt-in and see if they are including affiliate links in their letters. If they are including just direct links then they are not stealing your affiliate hop.
I don't trust opt-in publishers at all. In my opinion (and yes I'm naturally negative) even publishers that leave your cookie on their opt-in are likely to sooner or later, be it dwindling sales or a need for some short term cash, send out at least a few sales letters that will steal your commission. It's simply not transparent enough for me to be comfortable with.
wowhaxor - I can see what you mean although you should also consider that after 60 days your hop is dead anyway. So as long as the publisher doesn't send out any letters within the first 60 days which promote other products or replace the affiliate link (although I think replacing the affiliate link should always be a no-no) it shouldn't really matter. But what I plan on doing for affiliates who really hate opt-ins is having the option of a no opt-in sales letter. That way affiliates can test and see which one means more money per visitor. I mean in the end that's all that matters isn't? How much money you make per unique.
Yeah, I'm just always a skeptic. If people were 100% honest then I think opt-ins on the publishers end would be a great tool for affiliates. But as it is I'd rather build my own list and have the publisher just there for finalizing the sale.
In diet niche, you should not limit yourself to ebook only. you can promote sooo many products to people who want to lose weight, including supplement, equipment, meal plan etc etc.
I agree with the above post, in that I think ebooks are the last thing people on a diet are looking for. They are looking for free info, and most go to forums and get good advice and support from fellow dieters. Then, secondly, they will buy supplements- hoodia and hydroxycut and so on. Or they might go to Amazon and buy the latest fad diet book(s). One of the reasons FL4I sells so well is it is talked about in a lot of weight loss forums- also it has such a high Gravity that it's now a self-reinforcing phenomena. New marketers are told to look for high grav products, they try it out, and sell a few copies, but probably spend too much on Adwords and take a loss, then move on, and more new marketers come in, etc. Personally, I've sold these CB diet ebooks, and read most of them, and most of them I wouldn't recommend to anybody. (With the exception of Burn the Fat, Build the Muscle). FL4I is especially shocking when you read it- overly simplified, rehashed and unprofessional looking throughout. I finally stopped promoting the diet ebooks altogether, I felt bad selling people this junk.
donnareed: couldn't agree more! I recently read the latest CB diet book called "top fat loss secret"(something like that). it has high gravity. however, i'd said it is a piece of utter crap !! My suggestion to you is: why not monetize those unpleasant experience with diet ebook? I've used this tactic in the past with small success: 1. Write a negative review on a product. Do not call it a scam, but simply state your opinions on why you do not recommend them. 2. Introduce your recommendation (with affiliate link of course). hope this help.
cylai, good idea. I'll give that a try, I think. Too bad there aren't many good products to recommend.