PPC is a totally different ballgame – but in some niches I’m working in now – (with partners who do PPC) the amount of traffic they generate for us- dwarfs mine – simply by paying for it. (while I focus on free..:-) In lots of respects – if you know what you’re doing – PPC is a great way of scaling up what you’re doing – I tend NOT to be as good with that stuff simply because I can’t pay atttention to anything for longer than 14 seconds – but if you’ve got the hardcore analytical mindset – PPC can make that happen for you in a hurry.

The best approach is social media (blogs and twitter specifically I think right now is the way to go) in combination with creating compelling, entertaining, engaging content and offers that people trust and enjoy – have fun – pick something that you’re passionate about – and just let the money take care of itself. (it usually will..:-) That’s what I enjoy – and for me (and others) has the most enduring value – i.e. – the people who read my stuff in ANY niche….(even when I’m not “me” per se) typically buy stuff that I recommend! (other than this blog – because IRONICALLY – you guys buy nothing I suggest – and thankfully, contrary to others like me – I’m not feeding myself on IM related affiliate commissions or I’d be getting skinnier by the day..:-)

Pick something you care about – and are passionate about – and you’ll do well I’m sure!

We’ve been holding off for a long time, and we finally just want to get something created – it seems pretty realistic to me, creating a decent business in a few months of work. I don’t expect huge bucks of course in a few months, but it could be a start…

I do believe the affiliate space will get more serious about this stuff going forward…..and having a website is better than NOT having a website – even if you are simply re-directing elsewhere for your commissions!

Plus it only takes 14 seconds to install a blog -and is super cheap, too..:-)

Always looking forward to reading anything you write. Really great advice and ideas. Thank you.

Ian, I’m starting to do article marketing. Have written a few articles on a popular subject and am ranking well in Google for several keyword phrases. I’m linking directly to the merchant site. I do have my domain, but no website.

I would like to add a couple of more merchants in the same general category, but those merchants I’m interested in, ask for my website information- which I don’t have. For now, I would just want to link directly to the merchants. I have contacted a few of them without getting positive answers.

I can’t understand why I would need a site if I didn’t yet have anything to promote. Why would that help? Eventually, I want to have a site, but for now, I would just like to link to the merchant sites.

I never thought of this as being a problem, but I don’t want to be an affiliate for a company, unless I believe in the product. I’m registered with ShareAsale and they required a website, but all I had to do was sign up with blogspot.com and that was all. I didn’t need any content.

Would you suggest I keep after the offers I really want, or settle for those that don’t require a website, so I can get started?

Appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

Don

1) Article Stalker is very well supported by Ed – and there are videos, etc – showing you how to set it all up (it’s very simple) plus he’s always available via email to help….and to be perfectly honest, that’s how we got together in the first place – I emailed him for support after buying one of his tools!

2) There are many different strategies for these style sites – I used them for *feeder* sites – i.e. – to generate incoming links to my primary sites – BUT…..you can certainly use them as primary “planet” style sites for any niche you want – and build incoming links through articles, press releases, hubpages and lenses, social profiles, et al – the very same way…and they run on autopilot very nicely. (links are important, yes….but you can set them up in such a way as to build your own incoming links with a variety of related sites….all built using the tools)
3) The ftc stuff I don’t want to comment on – as I don’t want to give advice on those sort of issues – but if you put up 50 sites in a week and had to outsource 50 compliance disclaimer boilerplate page postings to ensure all is kosher…..it’s probably 90 minutes worth of work at most..:-)

Thanks for always putting up good information,

I saw the article stalker and it looks pretty good, I was wondering if it comes with step by step tutorials on how to set it up in word press with slick and monetizing. Also do I need to keep getting back links continuously to keep the article blogs ranked high in google?

Is article stalker good with the new FTC rules do I need to state on every blog I create, that I am an afiliate?

Thanks for your support,
Mitch