My 2010 Big Money Maker Affiliate Programs

As 2010 winds down here are the affiliate companies that have done me the best in 2010 in no particular order.:

Amazon - I took a ton of pressure off of EPN in 2010 and it paid off greatly. Good targeted sites will convert that one day cookie. Great plugins like the PHPZon Wordpress plugin make it easier than ever to earn with the Amazon affiliate program.

Google Adsense - I doubled my 2009 Google Adsense income in 2010. What more can I say? I am very happy with the program and have a good understanding of what sites it works best on. I could live of that income alone.

Ebay Partner Network - Although no longer my top earner by choice by taking the pressure off of it and diverting it to other programs, I learned how to best maximize the EPN QCP model to my liking. It remains a solid way to earn money, especially using the PHPBay plugin by Wade. Program has earned me a ton of money over the years. Still love it.

Share-A-Sale - This affiliate company does not get enough recognition, but represents some great companies that convert fantastically. If you have not signed up and looked around at what they offer, you really should.

Commission Junction - I have been with these guys for a long time. I have a few companies that I represented for years that do very, very well for me. No complaints.

Clickbank - Great company to sell ebooks on. Easy to manage. I do a ton with this blog and another MMO blog that I run with them as well. Never had a problem with them.

Google Affiliate Network - They get more and more new companies every week it seems like. I have a few favorites with them.

Pepperjam - They have had their struggles, but I have a few sites that do well with a few of the companies they affiliate manage.

Linkshare - Same as Pepperjam really. What I do point their way, does convert.

Neverblue - Just really scratching the surface with these guys, but got several checks in 2010 from them. I want to try to use more of their stuff in 2011.

These are really just my major ones above and I use another handful of companies as well. Webmaster Magazine has a great article in the January 2011 issue of the top 50 advertising and affiliate networks for 2011. Worth a glance.

Amazon Has The Trust

It is no secret that Amazon is very iconic and very trusted in the eyes of web consumers now. Their affiliate program was once frowned upon in the early days because of the short cookie. I am proud to say that this month, Amazon will take over the lead for my income over EPN and Adsense. I have been conscious over this last year to alleviate the direct pressure off of sites that were mostly living off of EPN without losing the EPN income. I have long owned and used the PHPZon and ReviewAzon plugins and just made sure to use them more in the forefront with EPN. The results have been amazing and the EPN earnings on those same sites have hardly suffered in the process. I am also working on slowly fazing out EPN on sites where the conversion rates are extremely high on some sites as it is stupid to give an option that produces less income when another produces more income at a better rate. This is not every site mind you, but the obvious ones are quite obvious. These type sites are your basic type sites that are built close to the way it is taught in the niche site guide. Nothing fancy, just using the basics along with great content. Amazon is not going anywhere and people trust it. Have you integrated it enough into your own sites? Have you tried adding it to sites using EPN. You might be surprised at the results.

Learn To Hit The Ball Before You Hit A Homerun

I was asked yesterday by email if every site I build is a "homerun". I see what he was asking and the answer is obviously, no. I do consider though a site that averages a $1.00 a day though a success. $365 bucks a year off a site that might have $100 bucks or so invested in it is a success. I use the $1.00 a day as a low side as well. I have a few that earn less than that, but not many and most are earning that because of mistakes on my part. Bad market research, keyword research etc.

I think most vision getting one, two or three sites up and sitting back and watch the money roll in. You will have your "homeruns" the more you do. I have several, but it does not stop me from learning to hit the ball better. I love the sites the have about $150 bucks invested in them and earn around $5.00 a day. Does that start in month one? No, not always for sure, but by around the 6 month mark they are. They then payback that same $150 bucks every month. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Stop focusing so much on hitting the homerun every time and focus on hitting the ball better. The homeruns will come and your bank account will grow just off of line drive base hits. Don't over think this business, just swing the bat.

Keywords To Websites Wordpress Gets Nice Update

Mark Wielgus, the developer of the KeywordsToWebsites Wordpress plugin, emailed an update that the plugin has been updated to version 1.7 and is available for download. The new update includes a new template (widgetized menu), cloaking images for ebay and amazon, linkshare module, and a Google news module. I have built three sites with this plugin and have done nothing more than that on two of them as I wanted to see how it worked right out of the box. Those 3 sites have totaled nearly $100.00 in their first 45 days. Not too shabby for just set and walk away. Imagine if you added some content and built a few solid backlinks. Wielgus looks committed to developing it a while too, so that is a plus. Check out his demo sites here as well.

Your Are Probably Going To Fail If You Do Not Do The Work

I hate to be harsh, but every now and again I have to remind readers that this is a business and it requires work as I get some crazy emails. It also is not quick results more times than not. I know most of you get bombarded with the same emails that I do, that promise quick money and quick results, but if you do not have a good firm basis and solid work ethic in this business, you can forget success. Can you make money with auto blogs? Absolutely, but you have to learn the wrong and right ways to do it. Also what may work in one niche does not necessarily carry over to another niche. The purest type of site still is the product review /catalog type site. If you want the simplest way to build these, just refer back to the tutorial that Adam and Kelvin released some time ago with the Build A Niche Store Guide except use Wordpress as the platform. Do not get caught up with backlinks and all the other type stuff, learn to build a damn good site first. 200-300 words per product is super. A 30 page site should take you no more than 30 days. You can't write or pay someone to write 30 product reviews/descriptions in 30 days? If you can't, you need to find something else. These types of sites do not have to display eBay products either. Try Amazon, ShareASale, Commission Junction or the Google program if you are bugged about the EPN program. Build a good site, then SLOWLY backlink to it. They make money. Some more than others. Some less than others. Do the work, learn what a great site looks like a learn to study the traffic. There are 365 days in the year. That equates to 10 great sites you can build with 65 days off just writing one page a day. If you can't do that, yes you will fail. Wordpress is free, there are even a few free Amazon Wordpress plugins to get you started if you are broke. Hosting is cheaper than ever. Get off your ass and do this. One foot in front of the other. Put your blinders on and do the work. Let the others fail.

WPBeginner Blog - Tutorials For Beginners To Wordpress

I came across the WPBeginner Blog today that features tutorials and post dedicated towards beginners to Wordpress. This business is constantly seeing new influx of people and i like to be able to point them in the right direction every now and again as well. Make sure to really browse around there and try the search feature they have for specific tutorials. I also remind you of my top 40 Wordpress plugin list that I recently updated and you will see several on the WPBeginner Blog as well. Also not to be lost in the shuffle is the great Wordpress.tv site. Wordpress is easy to learn and I suggest it be the niche CMS platform of choice. Every thing else compares in comparison and you will be using Wordpress sooner or later so fooling with any other platform that you might have to pay for is foolish, especially if it does not have a long track record like Wordpress especially where security is concerned. Do yourself a favor and learn to use what the pros use.

Using The Keywords To Websites Plugin As A Place Holder

I bought the Keywords To Websites Wordpress plugin right out of the chute when it came out and have been toying with several ways to use it best. First and foremost, it can build a several page site with a push of the button. Just put in the keywords and go. Obviously these sites are spammy and thin, but it can start the time clock ticking on a new domain as you get these pages indexed in Google. Ultimately what I think I will use it for is a place holder of sorts as I either write the content myself or farm it out to one of my 5 writers I use. I like 200-250 word product reviews, features and benefits type content and can compile it slowly and not get in a hurry with it. I can upload it as I get it back from writers or as I write myself and slowly transform the site over from a thin site to a thicker site over a 90 day to 120 day time frame. I can always use the Vice Versa plugin should I need to convert the post to pages and the redirection plugin should I need to 301 any URL's as well. In the mean time, if it makes some money, fine. My main priority is just getting the clock ticking on it in the search engines as I put no pressure on my sites to earn for the first 90 days as I have posted repeatedly before. I consider this plugin a great place holder plugin that takes no time to use other than keyword research and can be used as a stepping stone to turning a site into a real surfer friendly, money making site down the road. Or you can just use it as it was intended, the choice is yours.

Pro Niche Store Now Available - Discount Inside

If you remember last week I posted about a new platform called Pro Niche Store that was soon to be released. Well my good friend Randy emailed me to tell me that the platform is ready purchase now. If you are new to affiliate marketing or you were just plain comfortable with the BANS platform, you will LOVE Pro Niche Store. You will also love the support and knowledge of Randy. I helped him with the beta testing of the platform and he was open to every suggestion I had. This software will instantly get you selling Amazon and Ebay items through the respective affiliate programs and the platform is expandable with plugins in the future to allow you to sell items from Commission Junction and very soon Linkshare, ShareASale and Google affiliate network. Randy will also help you transfer over your existing BANS sites as well if that is a concern of yours. Randy has a slew of easy to follow videos as well to help you be up in running in no time flat.

Randy has given my readers a deal and coupon if you are interested in buying now. For a very limited time follow this LINK and use coupon code: soggydave and get the software for only $47.00. That is $20.00 off what anyone else can buy it for. Make sure to register for the forums first though as you will need your forum username at the end of the purchase process to take advantage of this GREAT discount. If you are still undecided, ask Randy any questions you have on the forum. He is VERY knowledgeable in code and is always open to new ideas. You will not be disappointed with his level of support and service. Try Pro Niche Store today.

Pro Niche Store Platform Coming Soon

I was approached over a month ago by Randy Yates, who's wife Brandi you might have seen on the BANS forum from time to time. Randy was coming down the home stretch on a PHP based platform called Pro Niche Store. Randy asked me to beta test it and help work out what bugs I could find on it.

Let me say first and foremost that Pro Niche Store is for those new to affiliate marketing or those that were comfortable with BANS, but feel abandoned. It is not a product to compete with Wordpress, but does fill the hole in the market left by Adam and Kelvin. It is very hard for me to promote BANS much more these days as there is no support other than us few regulars on the forum. There will come a time when BANS will not work and it already needs several tweeks now out of the box just to run right. It is what it is and I am sure Adam and Kelvin would agree with that statement as well.

What Randy is putting together is a platform that uses both EPN and Amazon as base product lines. You can easily add pages and pages of content and articles as well as products. Here is where it gets more exciting. He his slowly building addons you can buy separately to show, Commission Junction, Link Share, Google Affiliate Network and Share-A-Sale products as well. I have seen the CJ one and it is very close to being ready. These plugins are easy to add and even easier to add listings to pages. Putting your own template together is easy as well. I easily converted a few of my favorite Wordpress templates to work with his platform. He has a guide for that as well.

The platform is not for sale yet, but will be released any day now. If you are looking to switch from BANS and are not ready for Wordpress, you need to check out this platform. Randy is easy going, open to suggestions and works tirelessly to support is baby project.

Here is my suggestion. Register on his forum for free. Ask him the hard questions. Ask him how hard it would be to transfer over existing BANS sites. Ask him about his level of support. Ask him anything. See what type of person and knowledge he has. If you are new to making money online or loved BANS, give Randy a chance. If you register, tell him that Soggy Dave sent you. You will not be disappointed in dealing with Randy. He has become a very good friend of mine online and knows his stuff.

I will post more once the product is available, but wanted to give my readers the first sneak peak of this new, soon to be released product. Do yourself a favor and meet Randy today.

Blogger Now Has Pages

I am not sure how I missed this, but just noticed this morning that Blogger blogs now have the ability to add pages in addition to post. You can add up to 10 stand-alone pages such as an "About Me" page or even "Article" pages. Blogger only adds a "p" to the URL along with the page name instead of the year and month like the post URL's. You can also now add a "Add Page List" gadget to link pages on your blog as well.

While this is not a HUGE deal, it does make it easier for those that are technically challenged the ability to build more sites that are content based versus blog based. It is just a little addon per say. If you are still overwhelmed by Wordpress or simply can not afford hosting, Blogger is still an excellent way to get starting in affiliate marketing for free, while learning the business. If you do not think you can make a full time income off of Blogger, you are fooling yourself. I have always been intrigued by the Blogger platform and thus never moved this blog off it for that very reason. You would be very surprised at what kind of money this very blog makes. I also have 3 additional lucrative niche sites I have also built on the Blogger platform as well. Blogger sites also make great feeder sites as well. You can post a few articles on them and funnel traffic to a main site should you desire. Just because it is free, does not mean it can not be used in your favor.

If you want to learn more about the new Blogger page feature, go here.

Do You Really Know What You Are Buying?

Time and time again I see people who buy a site off of Flippa or a web forum thinking they are getting a great deal. What I see most is people falling for a "great looking" site instead of buying a site that is PROPERLY keyword focused and is full of great ORIGINAL content. Usually these sites are fluffed up with garbage traffic stats and most are barely earning any income. I never buy sites this way. Why? I can build my own that I know are done right. Another thing you have to ask yourself is, if it is such a great site, why is it being sold? I know when I build my own sites, a ton of time, effort and research goes into the site. There is usually a great deal of time and or money put into unique content as well. Also my initial backlink campaign is underway shortly after launch as well.

People make a living turning out these sites and selling them off to unsuspecting newbies. Why? Because they can not build sites that earn good money for themselves. They have great design skills and it ends there. They offer moderate SEO and rely on selling these sites with poorly spun or duplicate content to someone who does not know what they are buying.

I am not saying there are not some good sites out there for sale, but I would expect to pay a pretty penny for them though. Ask the seller what the keyword targets for the site is before buying. Research those keywords yourself and see if they indeed are valuable keywords. Research the age of the domain and the history of it as well. Read the content and search for duplicates or poorly spun junk. Treat it like you would if you were buying a home or a car. Know what you are buying. Odds are you can build a better site yourself for half the cost than you can buy a site from someone who builds it in a day and is just a great graphics designer.

BANS Cloaking Redirect Fix

Tao has come up with a re-direct fix for US stores for BANS since a few feed parameters changed. You will want to edit both the index.php file and the FrontControl.php file in BANS for this fix to work correctly.

Make sure you back up both these files before making any changes. You can open these up in notepad, but I highly suggest using a code editor like PSPad, I think it is still free and very easy to use. The FrontControl.php file is in the cont folder of your install while the index.php is likely in the root directory unless you installed BANS in a sub directory.

Open both files and scan for this block of code below:

if(($siteType == "US") && ($cloak == "1")){
$front->sid = str_replace("%2B", "+", $front->sid);
$link[$counter] = str_replace("http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?", "".URL_PATH."/item/", $link[$counter]);
$link[$counter] = str_replace("&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2F", "", $link[$counter]);
$link[$counter] = str_replace("QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS%3AB%3ASRCH%3AUS%3A101", "", $link[$counter]);
$link[$counter] = str_replace("campid=".CJID."", "", $link[$counter]);
$link[$counter] = str_replace("&customid=".$front->sid."", "", $link[$counter]);
$link[$counter] = str_replace("&toolid=10005", "", $link[$counter]);
}

Replace that code with this block of code:

if(($siteType == "US") && ($cloak == "1")){
$itempos = strpos($link[$counter],"item=");
$cloakeditem = substr($link[$counter],$itempos+5,12);
$cloakedtitle = preg_replace("/[^a-zA-Z0-9\s]/", "", $title[$counter]);
$link[$counter] = URL_PATH.'/item/'.str_replace(" ","-",$cloakedtitle)."_W0QQitemZ".$cloakeditem;
}

Save both files back to your hard drive and FTP them back to their appropriate places. You may be prompted to over write the existing files, just say Yes.

Log into your BANS admin and go to settings. Check the cloak option in box 4 and hit save. Reload your BANS site home page and check that an eBay listing URL is indeed cloaked and click it to make sure it redirects properly to the matching listing on eBay.

EPN RSS Feed Link Structure Change

I promised to update my findings from yesterdays post. Casey has responded on the EPN forum about the changes to the feed structure. Once again EPN has dropped the ball on this as all developers I have talked to did not see this coming. If you plan on cloaking BANS links, you better hold off still. I also doubt you will see a fix provided by A&K on this as well. The fix will likely come from a forum member like Sonjay or Tao. The good news if you own PHPBay, is that Wade is on the case and has a call set up in the coming days with EPN to make sure PHPBay is handling things right. As of right now it appears PHPBay is handling the changes fine and the links are tracking properly. As much as I love BANS and supported it in the past, you need to take my advice from previous post on learning Wordpress and work towards switching BANS sites over to Wordpress and PHPBay. Unless you are well versed in PHP and coding, you are holding a gun to your mouth in a Russian Roulette type scenario. A&K have made it clear they are no longer tied to the development of BANS, so you will be at the mercy of others soon. Remember my earlier statement. BANS works until it no longer works. It is getting closer and closer to not working.

Below is the post from Casey:

Hi everyone,

We’d like to thank you for your patience through the recent change made to the RSS Feed links that has impacted some of you, and apologize for the delayed response on the boards as well as the lack of a proactive message to announce this change. There was some miscommunication here on when this change was planned to roll out. Essentially we updated the links in the RSS Feeds to reflect the new link generator structure which we implemented a while back. This new link structure includes added parameters that we plan to use for some optimization initiatives to further enhance our tools and most importantly help generate higher earnings for our partners.

We believe the third party tools being used to publish content from the ePN RSS Feeds will update as necessary, if not already, to account for this new link structure and direct users to the correct pages on eBay. Also, as recommended by others in this thread it’s a good idea to consult the resources available through these third parties for further assistance. Please note that there are no issues with the RSS Feed URLs and links when taken directly from the publisher interface.

Thanks again for your patience,

Casey

Check Your BANS Sites That Cloak URLs

This is a public service announcement if you are using BANS and have set the Cloak Affiliate Links in box #4. Your links may not be redirecting correctly and you surfers may be going to a "Page Not Responding" on eBay. I suggest you set these links to not cloaking and double check that your links are going through to eBay correctly. You can see an example of the fail on the Game Improvement Irons site. I am not sure what is causing this problem, but EPN may have changed its feeds in one way or another. If I hear anything, I will update you.

Never Be Too Reliant On One Thing

The latest email from Adam & Kelvin has once again sent shock waves through the BANS community. If you have read my blog for a while, I noted that one should not be hinged on what Adam & Kelvin do in regards to the future of BANS. Is this a slam at A & K? No! It is smart business. BANS remains an excellent learning tool for those new to affiliate marketing and more specifically to niche store building. Until it just doesn't work anymore, it is still viable, especially with all the addons that developers like Tao has integrated in for Amazon and Commission Junction.

BANS is what it is and is what it has been for quite a while. That is not a secret. Several have asked my opinion in regards to the latest email sent today and my opinion has not changed. One should always be moving forward in regards to HOW they build niche sites and WHAT they use to build them with. Wordpress is VERY learn-able and the plugins that support it continue to be endless and innovative. Is Wordpress the end all do all? No! Wordpress however continues to evolve and supported. I use it, but I also use BANS still on several sites as well. I also use integrations of both BANS & Wordpress.

Much like income sources, you should never have all of your eggs in one basket. Whatever the situation. It just is not a good business decision. Sure I understand the frustration by previous emails painting a picture of a new platform by A & K, but I also warned about sitting back and waiting on it. If it comes to fruition, then great. If it doesn't, look at all the time you wasted.

If you are looking for a great Wordpress tutorial all in one place, you might check into the Wordpress Wizard. The videos and instruction is great and well worth the money. Also Wordpress.tv has great tutorial as well for those that do not need their info all in one place.

The Niche Site Building Network Will Go To New Owners

In case you missed the latest email from Adam and Kelvin, here it is below:

We've made our final decision.

1. The Niche Site Building Network Will Go To New Owners

As you know we added 3 programmers to our team during October and we've now expanded to include a general manager, marketing manager and a graphics designer forming a new company called In Colour.

After several sit down meetings in December we reached the following 2 conclusions.

1. We don't want to invest in the development of a website builder confined to the limits of affiliate marketing.

2. A website builder without such pre-defined restrictions is a bigger project than we want to take on at present.

Consequently, The Niche Site Building Network will now be sold and My Simple Site Builder as a development project will be shelved, passing the opportunity to develop the network further to a new owner.

We already have half a dozen leads and the offer will be listed in multiple places.

We expect to complete the transfer by the end of February at the latest.

2. In Colour - Our New Home

InColour.eu will now serve as the new home for all our future projects on which (under 'In Development') you can see the next in line.

The most significant of these - considering the work you've put in to develop networks of niche sites (power bases) is "My Digital Product Manager".

If you would like to learn how to use the niche sites you have built and are building to create new income streams via the selling of relevant information please subscribe to the newsletter list for this product.

Subscribe here: http://www.MyDigitalProductManager.com

We will be illustrating this during February.

-------------

As was evident, 2009 was a transitional year for us, during which we took stock of what we'd done and learnt over the previous 5 years, sorted through all our domains - developed and not, and ultimately decided on our business future.

For our part, we hope you are better off financially and in terms of knowledge than before you first purchased our products and that you continue to successfully use the internet to build your own future, irrespective of the paths you choose.

Best of luck moving forward,

Kelvin and Adam

Site Built With Commission Ritual Update

Back in November I did a review of the Commission Ritual program. I finished a site on December 10th that used this method and bookmarked it on 3 social bookmarking sites just to get the spiders rolling through it. Yesterday marked the month anniversary of the site and it totaled 567 unique surfers through it, with 521 surfers coming from Google. The site earned a total of $72.56. Now it is hard to judge a site by it's first 30 days. I have built sites in the past that have made much more than that in their first month and some that made much less.

Considering I only invested $75.00 of original content into the site, the site has nearly paid for itself. The methods discussed in Commission Ritual are not earth shattering, just another way to build sites. If you have any interest, just try the $4.95 trial to have a quick look at everything that is inside. You will be amazed at the amount of videos inside as well. Brian really has laid out a nice product.

Amazon, Commission Junction & Geo Targeted BANS Addons

If you have BANS sites that you want to integrate Amazon or Commission Junction into, you may want to buy the multi pack of addons offered by Tao from the BANS forum. I installed the Commission Junction one today on an older BANS site and it was very easy. His directions are written with a newbie in mind and the addons do exactly what they promise to do. The Amazon addon works just the same and allows you to show products from Amazon. The Geo Targeted addon is great for any BANS site, especially if you get a heavy mixture of foreign traffic. It matches the eBay products and EPN program based on the surfers IP, so now you can convert any traffic looking to buy from eBay. Tao is a long time user of BANS and I trust his work, he also offers excellent customer service.

You can buy all 3 of these addons in one package for $60.00 which will save you $20.00. You can use these on as many BANS sites you need to. If you have not yet graduated to Wordpress or have sites you do not feel or now how to convert to Wordpress to add other income possibilities, I highly suggest you look at purchasing these. You will not be disappointed.

Ready For Cyber Monday?

Well, after a great start to the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday is just a few hours away. This day is notorious for being the busiest online shopping day. Make sure your sites are up an running properly and load fast. You may also want to check for any specials that you can promote from all of the affiliates you have a relationship with. You would be surprised of all the emails I have gotten from my affiliates that are having deals.

Promote, promote, promote. I plan on doing about 30 blog post on Monday myself across several niches. Best of luck to everyone and let's knock them dead.

Need A Starting Point? - What Do You want For Christmas?

I get an email every now and again from those that are new to business and wondering where to start niche wise. It is always easiest to niche about things you know the most about. Being it is about Christmas time, why not start with what you want for Christmas. Put down a list of 10 things you would most want for a gift this holiday season. It is a great place to start and will hold your attention, because you already have a vested interest in it. Now this does not mean you set up a Blackberry site, but you can start to attack that niche from another angle. Start wide a whittle it down to an angle or sub niche with lesser competition.

I myself only want 1 thing for Christmas and that is a Booksamillion gift card so I can drink chocolate caramel lattes every Saturday until next Christmas. So I might try to attack coffee gift cards or book store gift cards.

Do not rush in choosing your niche. Research every facet from competition to keyword research. It is OK to start small, it will teach you how to rank and how to convert on a smaller scale. Be creative and think like a surfer. You can attack large niches in an indirect fashion. Force yourself to brainstorm!