New to amazon, have some questions

Discussion in 'Amazon' started by Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009.

  1. #1
    Hello,

    I was looking around DP to see what is the best method for making money, I bumped into this forum and I started to read about amazon affiliate. I really want to start building a website because from what I see if you work hard there are some really good profits.

    What I didn't understand is what is the first step, is it buying the domain? signing to amazon? building astore?

    I tried signing to amazon but I saw that they ask for website adresse and that I don't have yet, so I need to open a website and then add amazon to it?
    I'm very new to all of this, I tried searching around the forum for answers but got only wonderful tips to continue with them only after I have a website.

    I would really apricate help from anybody around here,
    Sorry for the long post :p

    Ty very much,
    Duff.
     
    Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009 IP
    zac439 likes this.
  2. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #2
    1) http://www.NameCheap.com - Buy that domain of yours, already!
    2) Get a good design going/get some good content BEFORE you start putting up advertisements
    3) http://www.analytics.google.com - This is going to be your friend for obvious reasons!
    4) Do some link building
    5) Now, start putting advertisements on the content. Put your affiliate ads above the fold (that is to say, make sure it's what you see first) and be sure to put one at the end of the content too.

    The more attention you bring to your ad, the better. :)
     
    zac439, Aug 12, 2009 IP
    Duff1000 likes this.
  3. Duff1000

    Duff1000 Peon

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    #3
    Ty for the great info! You really helped me, but can you tell me, about the site- do I need to open a blog? or just a site and then host it on a good hosting? +Rep added for this great answer!
     
    Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  4. marlo

    marlo Peon

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    #4
    Hi:

    I'm new in the affiliate world too, I have been in the ppc for two years, but I only get like 20$/month, so I'm thinking start in this segment.

    Thanks for the help, FDHOLMES your post is amazing and easy to undertand.
    :rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2009
    marlo, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  5. FDHolmes

    FDHolmes Peon

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    #5
    I appreciate that, but I just realized that my post, while probably useful, was NOT actually relevant to the topic of this forum, so I'm going to send it to Duff as a PM. If you'd like to have a copy of it, please request it, because I've just deleted it.
     
    FDHolmes, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  6. Duff1000

    Duff1000 Peon

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    #6
    Ok, so I bought the domain, what is the next step? How do I open up a site? And how do I make it an astore?
    I so some posts around here that say that astore isn't really a good thing if you don't have blog or website to lead on, so can I sell amazon products throw a blog? I don't really understand how I just start selling products.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2009
    Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  7. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #7
    Now you need hosting. Use your panel you obtained at the domain registrar to change the nameservers to the those of your host. That way you can point your domain to a specific computer hosting your files (server).

    You can sell products anywhere- a blog is one of them. You aren't doing the selling. You are being an affiliate. You just find sellers where Amazon couldn't.

    Affiliate marketing is kind of tough for a beginner. I'd look at CPC advertising options with Google Adsense in addition to your affiliate attempts. Look through some posts in the past- there are some phenomenal guides that have been posted here at DP.
     
    zac439, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  8. Duff1000

    Duff1000 Peon

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    #8
    Hello,

    Thanks again for the great response.
    I still wanted to ask, what you think is better for selling products, blog or a website?
    Do you have a good hosting you can refer me too?

    Duff.
     
    Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  9. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #9
    It's personal preference. If you are good with web design/development, your own website is nice. If you want something easy and quick, a WordPress blog is better.

    I use lunarpages, but they make you pay for a year at a time last time I checked. It's a steep price, but I really like their service.
     
    zac439, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  10. Duff1000

    Duff1000 Peon

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    #10
    Hello,

    So I opened up a blog in wordpress.com. The theme that I'm using must be a e-commerce theme or it can be just a regular one? If someone here have a amazon blog and can help me setup my own I will be grateful, I can use some help on how to get the blog running and whats the next step. Ty for anyone who is willing to help, and ty zac439 for your help!

    Duff.
     
    Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  11. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #11
    You don't need a specific theme. I'm not sure what Amazon policy is, since it was a long time ago since I signed up, but you probably need some good content up before they allow you to sign on.

    May I ask what you intend to create?
     
    zac439, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  12. Duff1000

    Duff1000 Peon

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    #12
    Yes ofcourse, I just bought the domain- myelectroniccart.com
    I know it's a common niche, but I saw a lot of posts around here saying to open a site that you have a clew about the products in the niche himself and electronic is something I like and read a lot about :)

    The problem is, I really don't understand how to make my first steps in the business, I need someone to explain me how it's all works because I don't have clue about plugins and those kind of stuff.

    Duff.
     
    Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  13. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #13
    Plugins: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/browse/popular/

    Just take the time to read through them all. You should have some type of stats tracking plugin for sure. I don't use many to be honest, just the bare essentials. But do give that list a good look.

    You need to find out what you want to do with your blog. Do you want to do product reviews? If so, you need to research your products and make lengthy reviews. Build backlinks to your article, one at a time, so it gets exposure. Then of course include your affiliate link.

    There might be a theme specifically designed for the aShop- maybe look into that (I'm not sure myself).

    Again, I encourage you to use the search feature of DP's Amazon affiliate marketing forum category to find popular threads. I remember reading one where one guy made his entire website a real store- only everything was an affiliate link. It was neat to look at because he made it look convincing.
     
    zac439, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  14. Duff1000

    Duff1000 Peon

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    #14
    Hello,

    That's exactly what I wanted to do, writing reviews for my products, do you have any example for a blog that does such thing? I want to see how they rap the product around the content itself. And about the reviews- First I write some of them and only after a while I sign up for amazon affiliate? I need to have a good english to write those reviews? because my first language isn't english and I'm not so good at english, so will I need to heir someone to write them?

    Duff.
     
    Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  15. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #15
    If you can't write well, hiring someone else is a must. You need creative content. I highly recommend that you do not get some second-rate writer from the DP boards. If you do manage to find someone on the DP boards, make sure they have creative references and have examples to show you. If the examples do not rank well, or their previous clients haven't had a good return on investment, do not take a chance on them.

    I don't look at too many blogs to be honest- I'm busy enough as it is. However, and this is why I was reading this forum today, I just implemented my own Affiliate marketing update today, which can be seen here. I'm not wrapping the content around the advertisement; instead I am bringing all attention to the advertisement and playing off the poor economy to garner interest.

    As this was just implemented today I can't show any statistics- but would love to share them in a week or two.

    You should just test different methods out and see what works. Ask yourself what would make you click an affiliate link and buy a product and implement it. (Also don't make the link/image look like an affiliate link- it makes some people feel like you are only giving the link to make a profit, which you actually shouldn't be.)

    Do a few Google searches or look through this forum category for more examples.
     
    zac439, Aug 12, 2009 IP
  16. Duff1000

    Duff1000 Peon

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    #16
    Hello,

    Your sites looks great, I'm sure you will sell a lot of products throw him.
    I will probably will be hiring someone to write the reviews, even that my budget is limit I can see that it worth it.
    Do I need to use wordpress.com or .org for the blog?

    Duff.
     
    Duff1000, Aug 12, 2009 IP