Is it too early to start an affiliate program?

[jeffdotchan]

Hi Guys,

MY site www.eternaleds.com has been up for about 2 months - and I've been steadily working on my organic SEO efforts.

Traffic and sales haven't really picked up yet and I know that my search rankings will not pick up overnight. Actually it's almost non-existent and I need a way to jumpstart my sales/traffic.

My next task is to implement my Pay per click campaign - and hopefully that will start generating some sales.

MY question is: Should I start an affiliate program even though my site is so small? I use Joomla/Virtuemart so there are components I can buy for about $150 and "plug-in" to give me affiliate tracking functionality - but it will take time to program.
My point is I'd rather spend more time on PPC, if affiliate tracking just isn't realistic to start yet.

I feel like throwing money at the problem will not solve it. Maybe there are more productive ways to spend my time?

Has anyone had experience on implementing affiliate programs on their own sites?

What did you use and how successful was it?

Thanks guys.

[NMB]

Hi Jeff.

First of all, I'd just like to say what a great site! Really well laid out in my opinion, and I will definitely be reading more as it's something I'd not heard of.

Personally I would not jump into affiliate schemes straight away, as you can drive traffic to your site through SEO and PPC (as you suggest) and get to keep all the profits yourself!

There are more sites out there relating to this subject than I thought! A quick search for "led lighting" on Google.com reveals 1.2m results (and that's *with* the quotes around the phrase!)

If you go down the PPC route, do your research first. Too many people jump straight in and set up campaigns with keywords like "lighting" and "LED Lighting". These are too generic and will give you a very poor ROI.

You need to put yourself in the mind of the consumer and think 'what phrases would they be typing when they get to the stage of wanting to make a purchase, and not just researching'.

Of course, I've just gone and assumed you're not a PPC expert, which of course you may well be - so sorry if I've come across as patronising. It wasn't intended.

Plus, there's a lot you can do to increase your positioning in the natural search listings by using SEO.

I've got some great resources for more information on the subject if you're interested. Just drop me a line and I'd be happy to help you.

Again, very nice looking site though.

cheers.
Nick

[jasaunders]

I specialize in flashlights and related products in my position and I can say that high power LED's are definately the big movement at the moment. What you should be looking for are the niches and specialty products. For instance, there are lots of lights just for military, police, fire fighters, hazardous locations, mining, etc... Maybe try building on specialty lighting in your PPC. There is definately a huge market for it.

[sicnarftea]

work on your on page optimisation, your titles are the same on all your pages,

put what the page is about before your website name in your title, or else the search engines will think all your pages are the same

page titles are the most important optimisation you can do to your website.

[buglerroller]

i say hold off on the affiliate and work on your seo within joomla. nice integration and layout i must say! your links are all good but i say you need a sitemap! your article meta title/desc/keywords need to be placed in front of you gloabl title/desc/keywords. i speak joomla so if you need some help let me know.

[jeffdotchan]

I specialize in flashlights and related products in my position and I can say that high power LED's are definately the big movement at the moment. What you should be looking for are the niches and specialty products. For instance, there are lots of lights just for military, police, fire fighters, hazardous locations, mining, etc... Maybe try building on specialty lighting in your PPC. There is definately a huge market for it.

Thanks Saunders - yeah it's def a huge market. I'm focusing on contractors, interior designers and small boutique lighting stores

[akula]

Thanks Saunders - yeah it's def a huge market. I'm focusing on contractors, interior designers and small boutique lighting stores

if you're targeting contractors, interior designers and small boutique lighting stores why on earth are you using an affiliate program, SEO and PPC?

jeff, your target market does not buy things via affiliates, SERPs or online ads. they buy things through mail order and direct sales.

the annoying thing is that you know all of this, yet still you're mismatching your promotions with your target market's expectations

why?

[akula]

Hi Guys,

MY site www.eternaleds.com has been up for about 2 months - and I've been steadily working on my organic SEO efforts.

Traffic and sales haven't really picked up yet and I know that my search rankings will not pick up overnight. Actually it's almost non-existent and I need a way to jumpstart my sales/traffic.

My next task is to implement my Pay per click campaign - and hopefully that will start generating some sales.

MY question is: Should I start an affiliate program even though my site is so small? I use Joomla/Virtuemart so there are components I can buy for about $150 and "plug-in" to give me affiliate tracking functionality - but it will take time to program.
My point is I'd rather spend more time on PPC, if affiliate tracking just isn't realistic to start yet.

I feel like throwing money at the problem will not solve it. Maybe there are more productive ways to spend my time?

Has anyone had experience on implementing affiliate programs on their own sites?

What did you use and how successful was it?

Thanks guys.

you started a business without doing customer research surveys or signing a bunch of LOIs. why? if you followed the advice of any rudimentary text book, you would have gone out and found people who need your LEDs, then you would have sold them your stuff, they would have then done a repeat purchase, given you a referal and then you would not be going on the fishing expedition that you're slogging through at the moment.

solve the problem at its root. go do what the damn books say, get your contractors and boutiques to fill your surveys and you're not gonna die on your sales learning curve. if you do not take my advice, you will starve. it's as simple as that (because you won't be able to afford to find the right sales approach, and so your shop will die prematurely)

is there a possibility that I'm wrong and that you can actually afford to try and stumble across a promotional medium that works? no, there is not. the only way to decide on how to promote a business is to have your prospects tell you how they'd like to be pitched. not second guessing your prospects (what you're currently doing)

[jeffdotchan]

if you're targeting contractors, interior designers and small boutique lighting stores why on earth are you using an affiliate program, SEO and PPC?

jeff, your target market does not buy things via affiliates, SERPs or online ads. they buy things through mail order and direct sales.

the annoying thing is that you know all of this, yet still you're mismatching your promotions with your target market's expectations

why?

You're absolutely right akula. Should have elaborated. I was planning to sell direct to home users and small retail store owners online and use direct sales in the local area to start targeting contractors, interior designer and boutique lighting stores.

Mail order?! That seems a little antiquated for nowadays don't you think? Have you had good experience with that? I know when I get brochures atc. in the mail I throw it out.

What do you resources would you recommend prior to doing direct sales? I have a plan to just walk into a store and "pitch" them my product - keeping in mind what they can gain, and trying to make it as easy as possible for them to put down a small order.
OBviously I'lll plan what to say, rehearse it and have product brochures etc.

[jeffdotchan]

you started a business without doing customer research surveys or signing a bunch of LOIs. why? if you followed the advice of any rudimentary text book, you would have gone out and found people who need your LEDs, then you would have sold them your stuff, they would have then done a repeat purchase, given you a referal and then you would not be going on the fishing expedition that you're slogging through at the moment.

solve the problem at its root. go do what the damn books say, get your contractors and boutiques to fill your surveys and you're not gonna die on your sales learning curve. if you do not take my advice, you will starve. it's as simple as that (because you won't be able to afford to find the right sales approach, and so your shop will die prematurely)

is there a possibility that I'm wrong and that you can actually afford to try and stumble across a promotional medium that works? no, there is not. the only way to decide on how to promote a business is to have your prospects tell you how they'd like to be pitched. not second guessing your prospects (what you're currently doing)

Wow rude awakening. Thanks for the advice akula.
What books do you recommend?

After reading your post, I signed up for SCORE - which is an organization that offers free advice to start-ups from retired executives, entrrepreneurs etc. I plan to ask them on how I should start doing direct sales, promote etc.

I will definitely be implementing that questionaire. That idea didn't even occur to me. Instead of second guessing, why not just ask them what they want? F-ing brilliant.