DIRECT LINKING (AdWords)

[Alkoz]

Can anyone tell me if it is true that:

"Google has recently instituted a policy change, which prohibits affiliates from linking directly to a merchants site". (In other words you have to have a website of your own).

If it is true, then talk about bad luck- I'm just hoping to make a start in IM, thinking this might be a good way to start, and look what happens!

I'd appreciate any feed-back that anyone can offer on this.

[Anthony Buchalka]

My understanding Alkoz at the current time (and with Google, things always change) is that you can still link direct to an affiliate site from your AdWords ad.

See this from AdWords on the topic.

Can anyone tell me if it is true that:

"Google has recently instituted a policy change, which prohibits affiliates from linking directly to a merchants site". (In other words you have to have a website of your own).

If it is true, then talk about bad luck- I'm just hoping to make a start in IM, thinking this might be a good way to start, and look what happens!

I'd appreciate any feed-back that anyone can offer on this.

If any one knows different I will be keen to hear it.

BUT..

bear in mind, for a long while now AdWords has allowed only 1 AdWords ad direct to an affiliate's page per keyword anyway.

You guessed it, Google is NOT a big fan of affiliate websites.

To get your ad showing you would then need to ensure it is very well optimized to beat all others who are advertising to that product directly.

Which is not that hard as many AdWords users do not so you can often beat them if you take your time!

People have got around this by sending AdWords traffic to their own page first and then on to the affiliate's page.

In general, it's better to send AdWords traffic to your own page first, offer some decent free content and offer an optin.

Only a very small percentage of visitors buy on their first visit to a website so why not increase your chances of a sale by getting a list and setting up an autoresponder with good content and mention of the affiliate product.

That way you will have multiple chances of a sale.

I know it takes longer but is worth it

It's vital to research the niche and keywords well before you start so you don't go to all the trouble only to find that the niche is not that profitable in regard to the affiliate product you chose.

One more quick tip.

Because not many people are yet using image and video Adwords ads, that's an opportunity to get your ads showing!

[Alkoz]

Thanks for the explanation and tips Anthony, I'll see how I go with things.

Cheers!