PPC for affiliate programs - How can you tell which keywords are coverting?

Hi there,

I'd like to ask about this question: (if it's a silly question let me know!)

I'm thinking of starting PPC with a landing page that has affiliate links to an info product.

The thing that's I'm stuck with is: when using PPC such as google adwords, how can I tell which keywords are converting to sales?

If I can't tell, then how do you refine your keywords, as I gather this is important in turning a campaign into a profitable one?

Do people just start with a small group of keywords then see its performance then add some more?

Thanks!

 

You need to use an analytics program to find out how many visitors are clicking through to the merchant site after visiting your site. Do this either by redirecting the link or using an ajax onclick tracking script.

Then allows you to work out the cost per click through quite easily.

Next you can use the interface in your merchants website to find out the average EPC (earnings per hundred clicks) and compare this to the cost per hundred clicks you had before.

For example you pay 10 cents per visitor and 10% of them click through. So 10 click throughs cost you $10.

Your product gets a 10% conversion rate and pays $10 per sale so you earn $10 per 10 people who click through.

On this model you spend as much as you earn (if my maths is correct......).

 

Hi mad4,

Thanks for your reply.

Could I ask you:

1. what do you mean by redirect? Can it be any kind of redirect such as a frame redirect (where you keep your chosen clean url in the browser, but redirects the person to the merchant via your affiliate link), or a php redirect? Or does it have to be a particular kind of redirect?

2. What do you mean by an analytics program?

Thanks heaps!

 

I use google analytics, its free.

By redirect I mean you send visitors to yoursite.com/exit.php?link_id=123 which redirects to merchantsite.com

 

Thats not allowed .. becasue when that redirecting feature is added you can't get back to the search result page with in a single click which is against the rules of Adwords....

i feel that can only try to get regeted ...

 

I didn't mean redirect from Adwords to the merchant site directly.