Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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April 21, 2008

A True Lesson in Affiliate Selling

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:21 am

It’s Not a Trick

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I had to think about about this post before I wrote it. It’s a bit out of my usual niche. When I talk about business and making money, I don’t know much about affiliate selling or “make money online blogging.”

Last night I read an in-depth report that Patricia Mayo did on information products that proclaim they’ll teach you how to make money online. Near the end, she gave a link to a price-controlled viral product that offers a tool, not information, for free.

I followed the link. What I found was what she described. I thought hard about whether I should blog it. Obviously, I’ve decided to pass it on to you.

A True Lesson in Affiliate Selling

My reason for sharing this information tool is the mastery with which it is put together. I keep thinking about how, step-by-step, this offer does everything to make it easy to buy. It’s state of the art online selling — done so seamlessly that the solid principles behind it would be easy to miss. It’s not a trick. It provides a true lesson in affiliate selling. Here’s why I say that.

A great selling model has these parts: the product and the offer.

A Great Product has low development costs, yet offers high value in many ways.

A Great Offer is about customers, has high barrier to competition, and high chance of going viral.

You might find it a bit complicated to go from one hyperlink to another. However, I think you’ll also find that the offer itself lives up to what I describe. It’s an effective model. I’d love to see the figures on it.

I’ll never be the consummate affiliate marketer, I don’t have the discipline for that sort of selling. I’ll never be an engineer, a ballerina, or live on a submarine either. Still, I recognize state of the art work when I see it.

I’d be interested in whether you agree.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Filed under Business Life, Strategy, Successful Blog | 16 Comments »




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16 Comments to “A True Lesson in Affiliate Selling”

  1. April 21st, 2008 at 8:27 am
    Trisha said

    That’s not fair, you said it more succinctly than I did! ;D

  2. April 21st, 2008 at 8:43 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hiya, Trisha!
    I woke up this morning still thinking about how artfully it was done. Affiliate marketing sites usually lose me in seconds, but this one showed me how to sell online.

    I had to figure out exactly what it did right. :)

  3. April 21st, 2008 at 9:35 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    For a few months I’ve been following – intrigued is a better word – by another (UK) blog writer and webmarketer who works almost on the same principle. He – Ed Rivis – knows through own experience what works and what doesn’t and his blog is filled with tips, free for all. And almost every week he gives away free reports to his subscribers, special offers and affiliate options.
    I’ve got his new book (208 pages!) on webmarketing strategy for free (E-book version), then he gave me the hard copy for free too because I had been so nice to leave a comment on the book on his blog and gives me a 65% affiliate reward on any of his products.

    You know I’m a strong believer of Givers Gain and the way Ed freely promotes his products – products that make you and your marketing work harder, smarter and better – is IMHO one of the greatest examples at this moment of time. And hard to beat.

    Must be something viral ;-)

    Karin H (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  4. April 21st, 2008 at 9:41 am
    Remarkablogger said

    Trisha’s a smart person and I was impressed by her original post on this. She’s one of my faves on Twitter (and you too, Liz!). Doing this kind of thing ethically is difficult, but a masterstroke if you can do it.

  5. April 21st, 2008 at 9:49 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Sorry that Askimet was hungry for you today . . .

    I believe Giver’s Gain too. Like you, I define givers as those who give freely, without expectation of reciprocity. Givers, like positive people, attract good things. :)

  6. April 21st, 2008 at 9:51 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Remarkablogger!
    It IS hard to do and that’s why I called attention to it. It would be too easy to mistake this as just another pitch.

    The feeling is mutual. :)

  7. April 21st, 2008 at 11:04 am
    Solo Business Marketing said

    I just spoke at an early morning conference and am so glad to come to your blog, Liz, to read this terrific post.

    Patricia pulled no punches. I’m so pleased that you brought another critical thinker to our attention.

    Shirley

  8. April 21st, 2008 at 12:47 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Shirley!
    It’s always great to see you stop by! Yeah, we’re getting a find group together. :)

  9. April 21st, 2008 at 1:41 pm
    Kathy said

    Because of who you are and how your blog, it makes ANY affiliate recommendation that you do make seem like droplets of solid gold falling from heaven!

    Thanks so much Liz for sharing this.. and the thinking behind it.

  10. April 21st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Kathy!
    wow! Thanks for that recommendation! I just wanted folks to know that if you’re going to sell affiliate deals online, you can do it without silly tricks or misinformation.

  11. April 22nd, 2008 at 7:14 am
    @Stephen | Productivity in Context said

    Hi Liz, I saw that in the Tweets and just downloaded it now. I am looking forward to unzipping and checking it out. Viral. Free.

    Seth must be proud.

  12. April 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Stephen,
    It’s well done for what it is. I’m not sure what Seth would think. :)

  13. April 24th, 2008 at 7:18 am
    Lodewijk said

    Came here through another tweet, but the sidebar link attracted my attention.

    Curious about it. After reading your post and Trisha’s post, I’m reading everything twice…so I really understand.

    Obviously not done yet…curious as hell.

  14. July 29th, 2008 at 5:39 am
    speedy said

    somehow, if I selling digital products like ebook it will saturated. Too many people are selling the same things. Does it effect by earning ratio?

  15. July 29th, 2008 at 6:28 am
    Karin H. said

    Does it with books, tv’s, radios, pc’s? Just to name but a few of which there are million different ones about?

    It will be down to the content = quality, not the quantity IMHO.

    Karin H

  16. July 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi speedy and Karin!
    I think that affilliate selling can work with most things, but the industry needs to seriously clean up its reputation.

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