Common Clickbank Questions - Part 1

Welcome to the “Common Clickbank Questions” article - part 1. In this series (which may end up being 3 or 4 parts), we will be discussing common questions about Clickbank that those who are new usually ask. Even some of the more experienced Clickbank marketers may find some of the answers helpful.

This series is based on a community thread that a Digital Point forums member started, but I’ve cleaned it up and re-wrote it a bit so it’s easy to understand, even for the folks that are brand new to Clickbank. I hope you enjoy, as it’s been quite helpful for me too!

Common Clickbank Questions - Part 1

What the heck is Clickbank?
Clickbank is a massive online marketplace for e-books and electronic information products (software). Clickbank only deals in digital products, no tangible goods.

How are Products Sold on Clickbank?
Either Vendors (Publishers) direct-market their products, or Affiliates (Advertisers) market the products for them using a variety of online and sometimes even offline promotion. When an Affiliate sells a product, the Affiliate gets a percentage of the sale price, usually between 40% and 75%.

Why are the Commissions So High?
Unlike other tangible products or services, digital information products cost so little to produce that Vendors can easily afford to give affiliates higher commissions. Also, the higher the commission, the more likely it is that affiliates will join up and promote the product - not to mention that the more affiliates a vendor has, the more money they (the vendor) potentially stand to make.

Do Products Ever Get Returned?
Yes. Every Clickbanker must live with the fact that products that they sell will be returned. Clickbank has a generous return policy and it all depends on the individual product. Some products are well-known for having high return rates; others have lower return rates. Returns are a fact of life, get used to it! You should always try for a few extra sales to cover any returns each month.

Which Clickbank Products Make The Most Money?
There are some high-profile niches (get rich quick, gaming, surveys, etc.) that can be quite lucrative, but very competitive. On the other hand, there are many savvy Clickbankers working the low profile niches who are pulling in extreme amounts of money each month. It’s more about your marketing approach than the niche itself. Most products can be sold successfully, if you know how to push them.

What are Some Ways to Promote Products?

1. PPC (Pay Per Click) Campaigns
Google Adwords www.adwords.google.com
Yahoo Search Marketing www.searchmarketing.yahoo.co.uk

2. Bum Marketing
Write articles and submit them to article directories like:

• www.ezinearticles.com
• www.goarticles.com
• www.articlecity.com

3. Forum Signature Marketing
Promote products on different forums using a signature with your affiliate link - yes, people still click on signature links, especially if you are a reputable member of the forum. Generally members that think you’re reputable will want to see what you’re promoting, so always have at least one affiliate link in your signature (especially ones that promote “make money online” programs).

4. E-mail Marketing
Create a squeeze page and collect emails for sending product offers in the future. Building massive email lists is where the real money is at. Some of the most wealthiest marketers on the planet make their money from email lists that they’ve gathered, in combination with an auto-responder like GetResponse. Having a large mailing list is nearly the same as having a money printing machine at your disposal. Trust me.

5. Classified Ads
Submit products to classifieds, such as www.usfreeads.com - I’ve never personally tried them, but aspiring and successful marketers still talk about them so something must be working.

6. SEO
Create a review of a product on your website or blog, and optimize it using good search engine optimization tactics, and try to rank high for keywords relating to that product. This method takes longer, but can have lasting and great long term effects.

7. Your own product
Finally, if you are bored being an affiliate, you can try to create your own product and start looking for affiliates to push it for you. This is another area where the real money is at. Information products are still as hot as ever, and there is plenty of room for new vendors to come in and blow everyone away - just make sure you have a superb product to promote!