Affi vs Smingle Strategies etc

[cat7ken]

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As a researching noobie I'm steadily gaining knowledge and ideas before putting something into practice that, carefully planned, will start paying from month one. I've read and understood the Affi approach with "Atomic niches" but haven't quite got to grips with the Smingle approach and how best to monetise slightly more generic sites.

Can somebody point me to any monetisation advice from Smingle please? That's not being funny in any way it's just that I got to page 20 of his epic thread and still hadn't managed to worked out the best way to make money from domain names similar to those he suggested. I expect most on here will know but it's not yet obvious to me.

Thanks

Ken

[nts123]

I would sugget reading Affi's latest articles.

I've set up two sites off the back of the info provided. In about 4 days, one is number 1 on google, and I'm expecting similar things from the other which is even more competitive.

I've also managed to get 10/10 quality scores in Adwords, so I'm paying about 1.2pence per click. - Thanks Affi by the way!

You have got to read, and then try try try try try try. I've found that you can only read so much. I would really spend time on understanding in your own mind, how google works and looks at sites. Sure, use Affi's articles, but you need that thing to go "tick" in you head or you'll never get it.

All of a sudden Niches will become very apparent, where you would never had found them before. Think like the customer, and aim to catch em out the point of sale, not at the point where they're looking at reviews and trying to make their mind up - this can work, but you will struggle to convert at this point.

Now go and read stuff, there's tonnes and tonnes of stuff on here.

[cat7ken]

Thanks NTS, I'm totally read out for the moment. I think I'll have to go for a walk in the sun I thought I'd read Affi's latest article but I'll look for more.

Ken

[Seamaster]

I've also managed to get 10/10 quality scores in Adwords, so I'm paying about 1.2pence per click. - Thanks Affi by the way!

Got any tips on how you acheived such a high score? Mine are all coming in at 7/10 so still some way to go. Thanks.

[rdunton]

just do it.

hosting reseller account £15/month
domain name £6 each

I doubt youll get it right with your first attempt, so don't over analyze things. Even people like affi admit that they don't succeed with every venture they try. So a complete novice like yourself just has to bite the bullet and give it a go.

Theres only so much theory you can learn and even then that doesn't guarantee success, boxing coaches aren't world class boxers for a reason.

Why not put everything you've learnt so far into practice, if your not sure buy 10 domains (£60 odd quid) try 5 model numbers etc, 5 generic, try some that get 100 exacts a day and some that 800. The only way you're going to succeed in this is by DOING DOING DOING!

[Ben C]

**Sorry, this is a bit of a plug, but I really think it's a valid suggestion.**

Given that many people here are/have starting their own businesses, are there any B2B type opportunities you might think are worth starting around SMEs who are getting started in various industry sectors? For example, restaurants start up every week and by law need to hold and be up to date with the latest food safety and hygiene standards. They're crying out for sites that help them to comply with the law, but for many they're chefs, not book keepers, and most sites seem to gloss over the legalities.

In many other industries you are mandated by law have a copy of the latest standards in order to have the auditors/inspectors sign them off - it's not up to the auditors to know the rules. We have plenty of big BSI distributors who just don't seem to 'get' search or what to do with traffic when it hits their site. Honestly, some of them seem to think pure database or banner sites are what people are after, despite numerous arguments. We have some that make 4 figure sums purely off the back of their own natural traffic (think industry trade associations), but I think there are plenty of opportunities for affiliates to grab natural traffic and earn some decent commissions.

Commissions are 10-16% on average baskets of about £145, we're seeing conversion rates of about 2.2% this month, EPC about 37.5p with our existing affiliate base. I know it's B2B, but like office supplies the number of businesses that use standards for their everyday business is a huge market and I honestly think there's a decent amount of money to be made from it - after all I'm seeing really decent volumes being delivered from the pre-existing reseller network and affs who are using PPC to drive traffic.

Anyway, I hope that wasn't too spammy.

Ben