Do you have specific questions about doing business online? Here’s your opportunity to ask!
Here are examples of questions I’ve been asked of late…
- How do I find a profitable niche?
- How do I put an email capture form on my blog?
- What’s the difference between WordPress and Bluehost?
- WHY should I use WordPress?
- Is this the right time to start a new business?
- Is PLR safe to use?
- Where do I find a good ghostwriter?
Ask your question via the comment section below and I’ll do my best to answer it as quickly as possible.
Note: Please post a separate comment for individual topics, i.e. “What are the 3 best traffic generation methods and how do I build my list faster?” should be posted as individual questions.
About Rosalind Gardner
I just want to say – I made my first sale!!!!
Thank you so much for your support. You may not realize it but by answering my questions you’re such a help. It can feel really isolating feeling like no one understands or believes in you to make money online. But now I know I’m not crazy.
-B
Congratulations, Brynn!!! That’s terrific… and you’re right. You’re not crazy. That first sale is the biggest hurdle to cross. Now all you have to do is repeat the process.
Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Ros
Hey Ros,
What about getting paid 1%-4% on computer systems? Is this a reasonable fee?
Lamaris,
Please see Barry Wheeler’s reply below.
Rosalind
Hi Rosalind,
it’s me again the newbie. Anyway, any advice for Asian affiliates? Do you think the US networks there mostly will accept Asian affiliates?
As a start, do I really have to register my business as company ? Well..i don’t have a lot of money now (consider as broke.. he he) , I think maybe I can set it up while the business is going.
I think most of affiliate business run by sole proprietorship..start from the scratch..and no need to register as company (in the beginning).
A bit confused here..
Thanks and cheers,
StL
10 January 2009 01:01:32 Central Standard Time
Hi Stella,
Frank Eckdall here. I hope this information helps you out!
Start as a sole proprietorship. Then when the money starts coming in file as a Limited Liability Corportation, ie LLC. Most people make their application as a Corporation in the state of Delaware, because it is much easier there and you don’t actually have to reside in the state of Delaware.
However, I believe you may have to have a mailing address here in the USA to qualify as an affiliate with many companies, not to mention start a Corporation!
Here is your solution! http://www.earthclassmail.com
“a prestigious U.S. street address to show customers an enhanced business presence, incorporate, use a registered agent service, or appear in local search-engine results”
This opens the way for you guys and gals in Asia or Europe
or UK to have a US mailing address
They will scan your physical mail and send you an email
when it arrives and send you a digital scan of your physical
mail to your email box as a PDF.
Check it out, when I finally leave (Hick Country) Emporia, Kansas for Spain, Venezuela and/or México this is what I will do. I studied Medicine in Spanish
and I am getting really tired of just speaking English all the time and conversing
with Hill Billies and cows etc.
I speak fluent Spanish and English.
What languages do you speak?
Kind regards,
Frank Funston Eckdall
Unix Administrator
Esquire
1%-4% on computer systems seems to be the going margin right now. I don’t think that is reasonable in my opinion. Margins can easily be improved through effeciently marketing and optimizing a business, it’s web content and becoming a leader for service in the niche occupied.
Hi Rosalind,
I have joined the super affiliate program, but I’m having problems installing the link into my blog.
Thanks
Richard
Hello Richard,
There’s a simple cut and paste link on the affiliates page.
Cheers,
Ros
Hi Ros,
I am Anson from Singapore! My site dealing with affiliate products from CJ, Shareasale and Linkshare has been launched 1 and a half month ago but I have not yet generated any sales…I found my niche in gift ideas and my site is a gift ideas by horoscope site which helps people to find unique gift ideas online.
I have checked a few competitors and they are gift.com, findgift.com and suprise.com…I am wondering if they are doing well too and do you know how much are they earning per month?
My girlfriend and I have been into internet marketing since 3 years ago and both of us have quitted our job to focus full-time on my online business. We have been following and attending seminars by stephen pierce, derek gelh, allan gardyne, michael cherney and many others…We’ve learnt alot of knowledge on internet marketing throughout these 3 years and have only just recently launched this business site of ours…however, we are still unable to earn any sale from any of the 3 major affiliate networks…
Our site uses blog marketing, article marketing, social media sites, blog communities, web directories and keyword research(SEO) to generate traffic…Our site is also content-rich…My alexa ranking is at 3 millions…is this why we are not making any sales as our site’s traffic is simply too low?
Dear Ros, I am really desperate to see results for my site. Can you give me some strong hints and tips on how to breakthrough and make my first sale online?
With Love,
Anson
Hello Anson,
I would love to be able to help you, but without a link to look at your site, I’m afraid that’s going to be very difficult.
Rosalind
Hi Ros,
I have provided my website’s url for your assessment. Kindly have a look. Hope to get some valuable pointers and advises from you Ros!
With Regards,
Anson
Hello Anson,
Overall, I think your niche is a good idea, and I’d play the horoscope /astrology aspect up more on the homepage copy for additional seo. I’d also perhaps shorten up the copy and put in a couple more pics. “About Horoscope” is an awkward phrase – probably should be “About Astrology”.
I would also suggest that there’s still some design work to be done with the odd extra right hand sidebar that only includes the search form. Breaking it up and bringing your primary categories closer to the top will highlight the focus better.
For a more complete review, I offer a consultation service at:
http://rosalindgardner.com/consultations/
Or, stop by our forum and request a review.
http://netprofitstoday.com/forum
Cheers,
Ros
I read your profile in the FEEDFRONT Magazine. It was about your participation in the Affiliate Summit. I then read your profile and felt that you could help me with some of my goals.
I need tyour advice regarding social networking and how to grow my business. I am on Twitter,facebook.com, startupbiz,linkedin and plaxo. I have been helping thousands of students to graduate from high school and college. In fact I launched a national initiative to help students to stay in school. I have written three books the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent’s Ultimate education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide at sevenbooks.net . I have been trying to user social networking to drive traffic to my website. It is working but no one is purchasing. I have a new landing page and which offers a free e-book titled How to help your child to Succeed a studytips4kids.info . What are your tips for getting more interest while using social networks?
Hello Dr. Jones,
The link you provided goes to a site where someone named Coco is talking about shape-shifting.
May I suggest that you might be interesting in my consulting program?
http://netprofitstoday.com/blog/services/
Cheers,
Ros
Dear Frank Eckdall,
Wow.. thanks for the reply. Really a hint for me. Will check it out the earthclassmail. Anyway, I’m from Indonesia.
Thanks for your support. Will do my homewrok now…
Cheers,
Stella
Hey Ros,
I just had one more question to ask of you and that is, is there enough content available to write on the jewelry and watches niche?
Hi Lamaris,
I know people who can wax poetic about jewelry as the day is long and others who can do the same with watches. So, to answer your question in a nutshell – yes.
Cheers,
Ros
Dear Ros,
I just finished reading your book “Make a Fortune Promoting Other People’s Stuff Online”.
First of all I wanted to tell you that your book is great, very informative and has a lot of helpful links and references. I was really new to the affiliate marketing world, but I learned a lot from your book.I have a few questions before I get started if you could please help me and point me in the right direction.
1) I am writing a directory-like website with different advertiser links grouped in the various categories. I will also specify the ad format myself, according to the info submitted by my advertisers. These advertisers will have a choice to move up on a list by joining my own PPC program. (I will set PPC minimum price/bid price for each category, etc.) It has to automatically sort the listings in each category, placing the highest PPC advertisers at the top. Where can I find the affiliate marketing solutions for publishers that would offer affiliate marketing PPC structure/management/software/etc. for my own advertisers? All the PPC companies I contacted (i.e. Kontera, Miva, etc.) only deal with their own advertisers (by automatically placing ads that I can’t change on my pages) and they do not track my own advertisers. Companies, such as MyAffiliateProgram, Assoctrac, UltimateAffiliate, etc., seem to provide solutions for merchants, not the other way around.
Also, the same exact question as above but for PPA (pay-per-action) advertising. Maybe the same company/software will handle both, PPC and PPA functions for what I am looking for.
2) My other question is (it’s not related to the one above): I wanted to set up a comparison shopping website (sort of like NexTag) with PPC Product Advertising. Do you know of any big companies that do Product PPC? I contacted many of them, but they all do only keyword advertising PPC, but not Product PPC. (Commission Junction for example does Product PPA, but not Product PPC).
Any information, anything you can help with would be great!
Thank you in advance for your help,
Emily
Hi Emily,
Sorry to take so long to respond to your question! I admit, I’m completely swamped!
Having read my book, you know that I specialize in affiliate product review sites, warn against ‘mall’ type sites and prefer pay-per-sale programs to PPC – so I haven’t much experience with either ppc software or coupon / shopping comparison site software.
My little bit of poking around to find reviews on such software didn’t bring too many results. Not enough to be able to point you in any specific direction, anyway.
You might want to check with the good folks at Webmaster World and see if they are better able to help you.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
Cheers,
Ros
Hi Ros,
Thank you very much. Much to think about…
I think I’ll be pursuing pay per sale vs. PPC.
Thanks again,
Emily
Hey Ros,
I currently with 1&1 web hosting services, and I was wondering if they was good enough for my affiliate website, if you have the time could you review the features and suggest to me if 1&1 web hosting services will work or do I need to go through Site Build It!.
Lamaris,
If you are happy with your hosting service then I suggest that you stick with them.
Here are the services that I recommend…
http://www.netprofitstoday.com/blog/recommended-web-site-hosting-services/
Cheers,
Ros
“My first choice for getting traffic through content placement is always article marketing on the directories however.”
Thanks, Rosalind.
Which ten article directories do you think are the best to submit to?
Hi Rezbi,
Top of my list is EzineArticles.com. But I don’t do manual submissions having used Article Announcer for years now. Here’s an article that details Article Announcer’s benefits — explaining what happened when I first tried the software.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Ros
Thanks, Rosalind, I appreciate the help.
Forgot to mention, if you click on my name you’ll go to my latest site – I’ve had it up only just over two months.
I’ve used the advice you give out here and my site reached a PR3 in less than two months.
And that was a brand new domain.
Thanks, again,
Rezbi
Hey ros,
Do you think its better to integrate the wordpress blog into my website or just have a link that goes to a blog site of mine? Because I’m having a little trouble integrating it into my website.
Hi Lamaris,
I highly recommend going straight WordPress, even if you have to do what I did at 101Date.com and copy and paste all your content into a new WordPress blog. In the long run, you’ll find that maintaining it is easier.
Ros
Hello Rosalind:
How are you doing? First of all, thanks much for providing such a great place to discuss affiliate issues or concerns. I have a request for you if you can review my site and give me any suggestion. Affiliate marketing is a new learning curve for me so trying to make it correct by seeking your advice. I have included Website URL as part of the comment submission field. I would be highly thankful to you if you can provide me some suggestions including adword tips.
Thanks much!
Best Regards
Leo
Hi Leo,
I’m well, thanks kindly for asking.
I see that you’ve done a TON of work on your site with tons of content and incorporating datafeeds… good for you!
My only suggestion would be to continue what you’re doing with the blog (adding content) and perhaps hire someone to create a really nice logo or header graphic for a little more professional look and visitor appeal.
If you would like a more in-depth review, you can ask for one in the forum and I’m always available for consultations.
Continued success to you!
Cheers,
Ros
hi again ,
dont know if my last comment got through.. sorry if it did..
so you have a niche and researched a market…so is it best to blog first or build a website?? is there a better choice first ( i know blogs get traffic) and if you do blog first do you then build a website around it? how does this stand if you want to do a review site:::
so sorry if the question seems silly but the blog and or website thing at the beginning confuses me..knowing which is best or whether it is related to what your niche is in? As a reminder i am interested in juicing,smoothies,health from it….
thanks you kindly
Hello Mel,
A WordPress blog is a website. What you’re looking at now is a WordPress blog.
WordPress is an online content management system that allows you to create posts within categories (that you set) as well as individual pages.
And you mentioned the best reason to go with WordPress… traffic.
So, that’s always my first choice.
Stay tuned, if you haven’t already bought your domain yet, we’ll be starting to offer free WordPress blog installations real soon.
Cheers,
Ros
Dear Rosalind,
I purchased the Super Affiliate Handbook about 10 months ago and have been really applying myself with several affiliate offers. Your book was so helpful, and I have gone from having no clue about how to build a website to learning HTML, CSS, PPC, SEO and all of that good stuff. However at the moment I am feeling extremely discouraged and really don’t know where else to turn for help. Here’s why:
Every time I use Pay Per Click I get killed. The math just doesn’t work.
For Example, I am trying to market a popular weight loss product from Clickbank. It has a gravity of 747 so it’s obviously selling, and it pays $26.30 per sale. My problem is that the PPC is way to expensive to turn a profit. If an average affiliate converts at 1% that means I have to get clicks for $0.26 to break even. This is simply not possible. Lets assume my landing page is very good and this product could convert at 3%. Then I break even with $0.79 clicks.
I have found one keyword with slow but steady traffic on Yahoo that I can get position 4 for $0.42. Using this keyword as an example, with a 3% conversion rate, I spend $42 on clicks to turn a $36.90 profit. This works, but I will be 86 years old before I make five sales at this rate!
I need lots more cheap keywords to get any significant traffic volume and, well, they’re all over $1 per click! The cheap keywords seem to have no traffic volume.
If the Clickbank gravity is over 700 then this thing is selling like hot cakes. What am I doing wrong? If you wouldn’t mind offering some advice I would really appreciate it!
Best Regards,
Steve Anderson
Hi Steve,
I trust you don’t want to wait until you are 86 to make those sales.
Your question is so good however, that I’m going to ask you to wait a day or two and I’ll answer it via a blog post.
In the meantime, I’d highly recommend that you pause those campaigns.
Cheers,
Ros
I have a 2007 copy of Super Affiliate Handbook. I couldn’t get started right away and have found out about your 2008 revision. Do I need that one when I start again? Is there many differences? Is there a way to get either the differences only (updates) or do you give free updated or discounted versions? Please guide me as to what to do.
Hello Duane,
Yes, I highly recommend that you get the latest revision and I’ll be releasing another one real soon as there have been so many changes in the last year.
Provided you have your original receipt, contact Joel through our Customer Support Desk (Contact link at the bottom of the page) and he’ll set you up with access.
Best of success!
Cheers,
Ros
Hi Ros:
I’m an extremely happy newbie reader of the SAH. (Took it to my local Staples for copying and binding at 5 pm and stayed up till 5 the next morning studying it!!)
I have been floundering around trying to get educated in this internet marketing field for a while now and, as you know, about 90 percent of what’s out there lies somewhere between simply misleading and outright fraud. Fortunately my lessons so far have been fairly inexpensive. Once bitten twice shy.
So your book and this forum are most gratefully received….AWESOME!!
One question: Given these difficult economic times, I want to do something along the lines of “Advice for Pennypinchers”. Obviously with a domain name like that, there would be a million subjects to explore, but is it too general? Would it be better to explore more specific concepts for several different sites? “Save Money by Doing Home Improvements Yourself”, for example. Or a review of “Coupons” sites. I hear the whole “coupons” thing is huge and growing rapidly.
Thanks for everything you do….
Paul Mollon
Hi Paul,
I’m happy to hear that you are so happy with the Super Affiliate Handbook.
I love your PennyPinchers idea. It’s a topic I too have thought about covering many times and if my plate wasn’t so full, it would be one near the top of my list. The timing is perfect.
I would advise against having different sites for the reasons I talk about in the ‘One Topic: Multiple Domains?” section of the book.
If your domain name is general, you can focus on building out different categories as you see fit. I personally like the idea of going broad with this topic because you’ll never run out of things to blog about.
Too, think about branding yourself… ie. Paul the PennyPincher or PennyPincherPaul. Alliteration is always good for making a name more memorable — but more importantly, feature yourself down the road as CNN’s PennyPincher adviser.
It’s good to think big.
I’d stay away from the coupon site review idea, primarily because most of those coupon sites are affiliates. I’d go with the first idea with the goal of setting up your own coupon download section.
I hope that helps!
Cheers,
Ros
Hi Rosiland
I have a copy of S.A.H., and have found it very helpful. I am promoting a ClickBank product for which I have built a website. My affiliate code is in several links and a few JPEG “Click Here” type images. I know you recommend an affiliate link cloaker, would it be a good idea to use one in my situation?
Have a grand day,
Lance
Hi Lance,
If your niche is outside the business opportunities market (particularly Internet and Affiliate marketing) you don’t really have to worry about cloaking your affiliate links.
Surfers in mainstream markets aren’t generally savvy enough to swap out affiliate links.
That said however, doing php redirects for your affiliate links is the way to go with any affiliate site, in any market, for 2 reasons:
1) A link like http://netprofitstoday.com/recommends/bluehost.php is more Google friendly than the straight affiliate link.
2) If you have 20 or 30 of the same affiliate link posted in reviews around your site and the merchant changes the link, you have a lot of work to do to change those links. With a php redirect, you only have to change the one link.
I hope that helps!
Cheers,
Ros
Rosalind,
I would first like to take this opportunity to thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge in Affiliate Marketing. I am sure I’m on a smoother path because of you, and I’m sincerely grateful for that.
I am brand new to Affiliate Marketing, and I am currently reading your book “The Super Affiliate Handbook”. It has been very helpful as I know nothing about this field. There are two key points I am focusing on at this time. One is how to find a Niche, specifically what software do you use and what process/criteria do you take to qualify a good Niche, and the other is how to write a good article that will 1.draw my customers to my site. 2. keep customers attention (stickiness). 3. Converting a sale (and repeat sales) from customers.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Ty
Hello Ty,
Thanks for stopping by and my pleasure to help.
Here are a few quick links / answers to your questions:
7 Sins Approach to Niche Market Research
10 Ways to Build Trust and Increase Sales
How to Write a Product Review
You’ll find more info about each of these topics in the Handbook. Suggest you read through the book in its entirety once, then go back through it while you work the process.
Best of success!
Cheers,
Ros
I am 70yrs old I know little about starting a bussiness, no product, no list ect. What are my chances a making any money at this?
Hello Larry,
Thanks for your comment and sorry for my late reply… I’ve been off camping in the no-internet zone.
As to your chances for making money at affiliate blogging, I don’t see age as a negative factor at all. In fact, it’s a very positive factor! You have more life experience and therefore more knowledge. Put it to good use and prosper!
Cheers,
Ros
Hi Rosalind,
Reading thru your eBoom, THE SUPER AFFILIATE HANDBOOK and came to the part about submitting articles. I like to write and believe in the concept.
Went to the site to pick up Jason Potash’s “Article Announcer” software and it didn’t seem to work. Some ERROR message on the “thank you’ page about his database was full.
Is that still a viable, recommended tool to drive traffic? If so, how can I get it. If not, do you have an alternate recommendation?
Thanks.
GREAT book by the way. Very complete. I’ve owned a traditional insurance agency for 30+ years and I know what it takes to make a business work. I know many people expect to throw up a website and be making money in a couple days. While it might happen sometimes, I’m sure the formula involves a lot more nurturing than that.
I look forward to your reply and your guidance.
Dennis Volz
Hi Dennis,
Sorry for the late reply… I’ve been off-grid camping for the last few days.
Thanks kindly for your compliment about the Super Affiliate Handbook. Glad to hear that you’re finding it helpful.. and you’re absolutely right about ‘nurturing required’. If everyone realized that, almost everyone could be very successful.
As for Article Announcer, yes it is still a valid program for generating additional traffic from article distribution. I still use it. Sorry about the link problem, please try this one… http://netprofitstoday.com/go/articleannouncer
Cheers,
Ros
Hi Rosalind,
Here’s a domain question…
After searching for a good domain name, I find most .com’s (that I can think of)are taken, but lots of .ca’s are available (I’m in Canada).
It doesn’t seem like it would make much of a difference, but I see you always use .com’s.
What are the advantages of .com’s over .ca’s?
Thx
Hi Ros, i have just purchased your handbook and b4 this, I have also subcribed 2 membership site on internet marketing. Can I know, am I over doing it?will that be sufficient to read your handbook only?
Thanks
Dear Rosalind,
I am interested in initiating my own affiliate business.
I do not have any former experience in the field, so like you did, I am starting from scratch.
Here in Greece the specific topic is not very developed so I think it is a good timing to get started.
However, I would like to ask if it is possible to be active internationally or is it necessary to develop some kind of business for a niche market specifically for GReece.
Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you
Sincerely Yours
Dionysis