In the incredible world of online sales and marketing, sometimes a flashy banner just isn’t going to work. Gone are the days of Curious consumers who will click on a link for the sole purpose of seeing what a particular product or service is all about.
In this modern time, if we are going to use affiliate links, we are going to have to be more creative, bold, and original.
If, however, you are feeling that all good ideas are taken, please, do not panic. At the end of the day, all one really needs is to simply do a little bit of thinking outside that proverbial box.
I now present to you, in no particular order, the top 5 methods that you can use to market your very own affiliate links.
1. Don’t Be Afraid To Offer Some Free Items
This may sound counter-intuitive, but if you are able to offer even the smallest thing for free, you will be surprised at just how many people will jump at the chance to pay out dollar after dollar for your goods and services. Remember, there is a reason that old catch phrase “but wait, there’s more!” is so prevalent in the world of sales.
With each simple little free item or service that you can give for free, you are widening your possibility for profit exponentially.
Even something as easy as a “buy one get one free” can actually save you sometimes thousands of dollars in marketing in the long run.
Just by simply giving away an item as small and cheap as a keychain, you can be increasing your earnings 10 fold! This not only applies to items but the services themselves.
If you have a specific skill with which you utilize to make a living, yet have other skill that will benefit your work, why not use them!
Good at mowing and landscaping yards?
Why not throw in a good gutter cleaning for free?
It costs you nothing more than maybe an hours time, yet could mean the world of difference between someone reading an ad and someone actually following through.
2. Big Things In Small Packages
When it comes to fonts, you would be surprised at just how much size matters to a reader. Studies have shown that a small font on a headline or ad that is difficult for a consumer to read causes the reader to ignore the font completely, never even so much as giving it a second thought.
This can cause untold financial losses as well a complete disregard for the time and effort you have put into the marketing in the first place.
Just by raising your font to the average of 14, you are able to bring in more readers, and thus, more interested consumers.
The font for this site used to be super tiny. Being that I am not into dealing with crazy computer coding, I bought this theme just for the font. Not too bad right?
The same goes for logos as well. Having a tiny little non-menacing symbol to represent you is fine, and you don’t have to take up an entire page to get your point across, but a clear, moderately sized image could be just the thing that has been holding you and your company back.
3. Learn to Write. Learn to Write Good Well
One of, if not THE most important aspects of advertising is in fact, communication. A major contributing factor in a consumer choosing a particular product is relativity.
If a potential client reads an ad or a blog (even a short one) and they do not immediately identify with the author, they are more likely to go elsewhere rather than take a chance with someone or something they feel little to no connection with.
This not only means writing at a friendly and personable level but on a professional level as well.
Spelling, grammar, and other typical bad writing tropes can often leave the reader feeling almost disgusted that anyone would try to pander to the public in such a way. Always spell check and, if possible, have an editor of sorts check your work.
Even if you just have a friend with an eye for literary mistakes, you will be surprised what proper writing can do for you (even if your ad is only a few words).
4. Watch Your Actions
Oh, the much loved and equally dreaded call to action button. All too often, we as advertisers will take the easy way out and simply make an easy “sign up!” or “join now!” link and be done for the day.
This may have worked in the very beginning of online ads, but if you want a more clear and concise indirect marketing tool, you are going to have to get a bit more creative with your terminology.
Instead of simply “sign up” o “join” why not try phrases such as “instant download”, “free entry”, or even better “VIP access”!
People like to feel important and thus, like to feel like their purchase means something. This almost means not overloading them with tons of Captcha boxes, zipcode signups and “terms and conditions”.
The more you make a consumer do on their own, the less valuable they are going to feel. Make your clients feel warm and welcome before they even move a cursor in your general direction and you are as good as gold.
5. Put People First
No matter how well written you are, how big your font is, or how many people you reach, if you do not cater to your customers first, your product will do nothing but sit on a shelf. Again, people want to feel important and this goes beyond simple phrases.
Talk to your clients on an almost one on one basis even in your ads. Tell them all the benefits of your goods and services. Let them know they are just as important and intricate to your team as the employees whose paychecks you sign.
After all, if it wasn’t for the clients, you and your crew would be out of a job. Thank them. Love them. Let them know how special they are.
They are the reason you do what you do…never forget that.
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