A lot of affiliates don’t realize that using a forwarded domain may not work for Google Adwords (you cannot use a forwarded domain if you’re doing any type of marketing in this arena), but there are some great ways you can use forwarded domains to promote your affiliate link and increase clicks and sales.
What you would need to do is buy a new domain using GoDaddy or another similar service for about $8 and then forward that domain to your CopyDoodles Affiliate link. This domain you’ve purchased it perfect to use in online and offline promotions where you don’t want to show off your huge Affiliate Link because it can be a little off-putting and people may not click on it knowing you’re trying to sell them something and thinking you don’t know anything about the product or results, you just want to make money.
Affiliate links get a bad rap now-a-days!
Plus, long affiliate links are ugly, confusing, and people aren’t going to remember them.
For example, if you have an ad in a newspaper or something where you’re using your URL, what looks better…
1. https://mikecapuzzi.infusionsoft.com/go/CD/LWuscher/
OR
2. www.marketingtips-lauren.com (or any domain you want to use, including your own)
I think you get the idea. The second URL is so simple, so easy to remember, and there’s no risk of mistake when you’re typing it in a web browser. Where as, if potential customers would try to type in the URL from #1, they might spell something incorrectly, forget a letter, and get frustrated and give up. Without even seeing your offer!
Additionally, a LOT of sites don’t allow you to post affiliate links directly on their forums (if you’re doing any type of forum marketing where you comment on peoples questions in forums and want to add a link), walls, directories, and more! So if you even want to mention your affiliate products and links there, if you don’t have a forwarding domain, you’re pretty much out of luck.
Here are a few places where it would be GREAT to use your forwarded domain:
- Forums (again, we’ll talk about forums a little later in tip #6 where I give you some ideas for FREE advertising)
- Newspaper Ads
- Facebook Posts (also check out using our SocialDoodles app for ultimate maximization of your post and so you can easily get more clicks)
- On a YouTubeVideo (if you put your URL in the description beginning with http:// it will show up as a clickable link)
- Yahoo Answers
- Magazine advertisements
- Flyers
- Direct Mail Pieces
- In business groups you may belong to
- An article, book, or other form of content you’ve written
- Emails to your list where you want to show your link
The possibilities are completely endless! Get creative, the more creative you are with your marketing, the more response you will get from potential customers!
If you don’t want to buy a new domain from GoDaddy for each affiliate program you belong to, or for each CopyDoodles link you want to use (since we have a few places you can direct people), simply install WordPress on your domain and get the “Redirection” plugin (it’s free).
This plugin allows you to choose what URL you want to use from your domain and where you want it to direct to. For example, here’s a screen shot:
Once you install the Redirection plugin into WordPress, you will find the above feature where you can create redirection URLs under the Tools category on the left hand side of your WordPress Dashboard/Admin.
These are both some great low cost ways to enhance your affiliate links so they’ll be more clickable in the eyes of viewers (especially since some people are hesitant sometimes to click on affiliate link). And think about this, you may be new to this affiliate thing and you may not want to spend money to create all of this advertising without knowing if you’ll get a response back from potential customers, but many of the things I mentioned above can be done cheaply (magazine ads, newspaper mags who are looking for advertisers to fill empty space), or even free (YouTube, other social media sites, forums, etc..).
The more marketing you do, the more exposure you will get, and the greater the possibility you’ll make more sales. If you just sit back in your house behind your computer and send out emails all day, you might get sales, but you only have a reach so far. You need to get in front of the people who really need this stuff and make them want it so bad they can taste it.