AD PROGRAMS
The process of choosing a sponsor or various sponsors to maximize earnings can be very tedious and hard work for both newbie and veteran webmasters. By using the experience of others and applying some new techniques, a webmaster can save him or herself a lot of time.AD PROGRAMS
The process of choosing a sponsor or various sponsors to maximize earnings can be very tedious and hard work for both newbie and veteran webmasters. By using the experience of others and applying some new techniques, a webmaster can save him or herself a lot of time. The purpose of this article is to provide webmasters the opportunity to learn about these short cuts and to help webmasters make the best decisions in choosing sponsors.
LEARN FROM OTHERS
Look at who the most successful companies in the industry use for their sponsors. Large affiliate programs often have full-time staff working on directing exit traffic to the programs, which make them earn the most money. These companies have tested out various programs and have found the right combination for targeting traffic in the best way. Large TGP sites also have used many sponsors and tend to stick with the ones that make them the most money from their traffic. This method is very effective, although not always guaranteed for everyone.
WHY JUST ONE?
Remember that there is no rule requiring webmasters to use only one sponsor or one type of program. Often times a webmaster will use a combination of per-signup programs, per-click programs, and revshare programs. Using various programs can be the most profitable method if done correctly. This means filtering the traffic. For the highest quality traffic (surfers who are not only likely to sign up, but also to convert) the best route would be either a partnership or per-active member program. For traffic where most surfers who sign up will not renew, a per-sign-up program is the most profitable solution. Lastly, for low converting traffic, a per-click program would fit best. With all this in mind, the webmaster then compares what niches he or she needs to advertise and what pay programs would fit best with what the different affiliate programs offer.
ASK YOUR TRAFFIC
By interacting with your surfers you can find out what type of content they prefer the most and then select the sponsor that offers the sites most appealing to them. By setting up a simple cgi polling script like the ones on wsabstract.com, a webmaster can meet the consumer’s needs more effectively.
FOR THOSE WITH NO TIME AT ALL
For webmasters who need to test out a lot of sponsors and do not have the time to analyze each one, RevStats (www.revstats.com) is a great resource. This new program will analyze stats for each site, for each program, and then provide the results through email each day. There is a small fee for the program, but it is definitely worthwhile when it comes to saving time.
For those with a little bit more time, by simply using a banner rotation software or script, many sponsors can be tested fairly against the same quality of traffic. These resources can be easily found on the Internet. A good site for rotation scripts is Simplythebest.net.
THE BOTTOM LINE
After testing out some different sponsors there is only one thing that matters — the money. The amount of sales or clicks that are reported on the stats does not matter. The program that sends the biggest checks is the program to go with. One more thing to keep in mind is that programs and adult traffic demographics change in regards to a surfer’s desire. So in order to keep earnings up, a webmaster needs to be open to other programs. If the money steadily decreases during a period, it may be time to test out new sponsors or different sites.
By following these tips, a webmaster should be able to find the best sponsors in a fairly short period of time and with the most efficiency.
