Is anyone here actually making a full-time living out of affiliate marketing?

Awesome thread there, I've gotten a few pages through it, but I have to go pack for Affiliate Summit .

Curious, do you use other search engines to advertise (Yahoo, MSN, Ask, etc), or have you found that Google is the only one really worth your time?

 

I use AdWords mainly but also dabble with Yahoo! and MSN. AdWords still brings in the most traffic though.

 

Like I said I was reading that huge thread where your bank statement was posted, and you mentioned direct linking to the affiliate. Now some of the affiliate companies I use just use jumplinks (like for Azoogle, my affiliate link is something like http://x.azjmp/0dnD9). If you put that as your destination URL, and your display URL as something like www.CreditHelp.com, Google will decline the ad after it goes under review.

For affiliate URLs like that, do you have to make a landing page, or do you buy a domain and just redirect it to the offer?

Also, you say that direct linking to the offer page is best because it's 100% CTR. I've always been a landing-page guy, but I've tried iFraming offers before, and the conversions seem just terrible. I guess it depends on the offer, but is that also a viable option if you can't link directly to the offer?

As posted before, I do make a living from affiliate marketing, but I'd like to get to the level that you're at soon. Are you going to be at affiliate summit tomorrow?

Thanks.

 

Its all about finding what works for you. I talk with other affiliates all the time, I know a few that all they do is tax stuff from around Jan to end fo april then take the rest of year off. I know other that work 2 hrs a day and make 50K a year and they are happy with that. Some make 200K a year and are happy ... some make 200K a month and work 80 hr weeks but still want more.. Just set a goal for yourself and work to it. There is money to be made online.... replacing a common persons day job 25 to 50K a year isn't really that hard to do with affiliate marketing but as with anything it takes WORK!

 

OK, a few questions there.

If you were to buy a new domain as you suggest then simply redirect to the merchants offer then Google AdWords will stop the ad as it is against their t's and c's.

As for landing pages, then yes that is an ideal workaround. However Google are trying to filter out "bridge" or "landing pages" that serve no other purpose than to direct visitors to another site. So you have to be a bit clever than that and build a mini site. I posted an article about how to do this here.

As for iFrames, Google don't like them either and I've never used them.

No, I'm not going to Affiliate Summit in Miami. I'm in the UK so its quite a trek, although I did go to the one in January in Vegas. If its anything like that one, you'll have a blast!

 

i recommend anyone that is looking or is fulltime in the affiliate biz to attend an affiliate summit i went to the one in vegas jan 07 and will be at the one in Miami. Its all about connections and networking!!! Plus of course having fun...

 

Ya I dunno if you saw my post response to yours in another thread, but just wear and Xbox t-shirt and I'll look for you haha.

Actually in your blog you said you'll be handing out CPA-affiliate tshirts..maybe I'll have to look for you.


And thanks for the response Kieron. I've tried some testing with minisites as well, just haven't really fooled around with them in Adwords yet. So if you have just a jumplink to work with, you pretty much need to build a LP? I just ask because that's what I've always done thus far (and have done well with LPs and designing them).

It's just most of the offers I promote don't really have a content-rich offer page, so the quality score in Google would be low (I'd have to have an insanely high ad CTR).

 

This is an interesting thread.

I've been trying for ages but I'm finding it really slow to make money - perhaps because I'm stuck in the same niche all the time.

Do you find you have to chase the profitable niches, or is it possible to just make sites about what you know and enjoy and make money? I'm on the verge of making a financial affiliate site just because it looks like those kinds of affiliates pay well...

 

Newish.. to this forum but just to let you know I began my career as an affiliate and graduated to a merchant. As an affiliate the earnings are unlimited and don't be under any illusions a lot of hard work and graft goes into reaching super affiliate status.
There are many affiliates today earning in excess of £20k per month consistently.

One tip.... Don't be affraid to try, try and try again!

Good Luck

 

Yes! I very much enjoyed seeing your bank statement! lol

That's the kind of motivation I need.

Thank you, Kieron, for your brilliant answers. It's exactly the kind of assurance I was looking for to know I'm on the right path.

Thank you all for posting in this thread! ^.^

Okay so now to dominate bingo and credit cards! (haha, totally kidding. Like I even could )

No, I think next I am going to incorporate your mini site advice with a focus on web hosting.

 

No, don't try to chase what you perceive to be profitable niches. Finance merchants (you are an affiliate, a merchant is the company who pays the affiliate) do pay well. But...its because they pay well that its such a crowded market. The super affiliates in this market regularly pay £5 ($10US) a click on ppc terms, that should tell you how competitive it is.

Instead follow your own advice and make sites about what you know and enjoy. Build these sites around topics that you are passionate about then it will be easy to create unique content. Pretty soon the traffic will follow. Another bit of advice, don't try and monetise these sites too quickly. People aren't daft and they can see if a site is built purely for making money or born out of real passion.

Case in point, I've just started to enjoy Formula 1 so two days ago I launched a site about British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton. Within a day it had been linked to from BBC America and a few other authority sites. Today it has received 300 visitors so far, remember its only 2 days old! I don't think this would have happened if it had been plastered with ads etc.

 

Yes, unless you have permission to link directly to the merchant, this could happen if they don't run their own ppc campaigns.

This is where your affiliate marketing skills come into play. You need to create unique content filled landing pages/mini sites that convert.

 

Thanks guys, this thread was really inspirational.

 

Merchants like ourselves have iFrame links or automatic feed scripts that can be used within landing pages. Great conversions due to the speed of lead delivery.
See : 123debtsolutions.co.uk/affiliates/apply.php

Ps.. Nice Lewis hamilton site, good domain and a lot of SEO potential.

 

thumbs up !!! Good work !!!

 

I make a decent money but its only a hobby!

 

I make about 10-15k per month through part time affiliate marketing. I use mostly ringtones & dating programs. I have been doing affiliate marketing for about 6 months and I use Maxbounty, AzoogleAds, & CJ.com most.

 

I pray everyday for that day to come when I can say ..take that job and shove it. I want to sit poolside with the laptop and make money.

 

mate i have made some good cash doing affiliate work. It just depends how you market it. And maybe if you have a list would also help.

 

I hope to be, soon, well before I'm 18.

Affiliate marketing seems a nice way to earn a living, but like most people, I think creating your own product would be more profitable.