Google and Affiliate sites

[keesjansma3]

Hello,

I read in a 2005 marketing preview from marketing shepa that google is going to be even harder on affiliate sites the coming year.

Does it still make sense to start an affiliate site?
Or is it going to be too hard in 2005?

Also what is your second best traffic source and is that enough cover for you when the search engines go hard on you?

Please let me know and thanks for reading
Regards
Kees

[brian.mark]

According to Google reps at SES in Chicago, the problem is that so many of the affiliates show the same content, just a link to Amazon or some other large affiliate program, that makes them useless. Also, so many are bidding on the same keywords and directly linking to Amazon, eBay, etc. This reduces the quality of user experience.

Instead, they say to make some content. If Amazon has something, show a list of other stores (probably affiliate stores, but doesn't have to be to drive traffic) that also sell the same item. Make it a unique list of places to buy and that'll be some unique content that they will have no problems listing in their SERPs.

As for ads, they have said that it will most likely be limited to 1 or 2 linking via an affiliate link for any keyword. They suggested creating some landing pages like listed above that give the visitor some options and ask for the sale well.

If you're not willing to work yourself, they're not going to work for you any more.

Brian.

[Chris Choi]

Well to be honest. I think affiliate sites
that provide content usually pull more sales
than flat out links full of affiliate IDs.

[easytrader]

I agree with the above comments. Content is always the most important thing whether we are referring to SERPs, ROI or Sales.

Secondly for Adwords I believe google is going to be more strict. With ads for certain keywords you can get 5 ads pointing to the same page, thats definitely not positive in google's eyes.

[MandyHaga]

I agree that content is the key to selling. I try to provide our affiliates with as much information about our services as possible as well as giving them direct access to our live demo so they can formulate reviews or general (and accurate) information about our services. This is more effective that a standalone text link or a banner ad. I also think this is more effective (cost, time and profit wise) than ppc, which is being cost-inflated and result-diluted by lax SE and marchant terms, lazy (or dishonest) affiliates and general spammers.

If you are going to be an affiliate, add value to the service you promote. Like others have said, just driving traffic to your directory or cookie cutter info doesn't add anything and probably won't amount to much for you or your merchant.

So, in summation to my diatribe, more strict SE terms is not a bain to affiliate existence. It just makes them work harder and develop more accurate and valuable methods of promotion.

Affiliate Marketing = Strategic Value Added Partnership. Keep this in mind. :)

[keesjansma3]

Wow, thank you so much for your detailed answers!

Its clear to me now.

I thought it wouldnt make much sense to start an affiliate site now.....

[jackson992]

I will never do content on an aff site. If I wanted to do a content site, I would do a content site.

[Linda Buquet]

Google just sent their official new rules regarding PPC and affiliates.

Here is a paraphased version of the email from WMW.

There will be only one ad displayed per serach query per domain.
The ad with the highest Ad Rank will be displayed.
This means affiliates and merchants will compete against each other for positioning.

You no longer have to identify yourself as an affiliate. Google will not change the ad text, you must do this manually.

If you use a unique URL for your landing page, you will not be affected by this change.

I am meeting with several people today to discuss strategy for what to tell our affiliates. I will share what we come up after we meet.