There is much involved in getting the informational, marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) components of an affiliate website right. This article reviews how to achieve that.
A successful affiliate website often displays the following characterisitics:
It is concise, easy to navigate and attractive
It provides useful information and is not 'heavy sell'
Choice is not excessive
The website's name reflects the website's business, often includes vital keyword(s) and seems familiar or likely to be useful
Keywords density in the text is 3-5% of the total
Title and keywords for each page vary, consistent with content
There are well over 30 pages with consistency of graphics between pages
Content is constantly updated and refreshed, often with inclusion of a news blog
Page names and folders often include keywords
It has numerous inbound links, also known as backlinks pointing to it
It does not have:
Irrelevant content or links - 'links' pages are best avoided nowadays
Excessive duplication of content or numerous gateway pages (Pages which are very similar but with different groups of keywords)
Excessively large files that can be slow to load and slow down navigation
Pop ups, rapidly flashing banners or other intrusive advertising
Content that could alienate certain groups, eg women.
Some other useful features which may be included:
The opportunity to sign up for a newsletter (presents ongoing marketing opportunities for the affiliate)
A forum (good for search engine 'visibility' as it is constantly refreshing content; leads to repeat visitors; raises the profile of your site)
Unique incentives, for example, cashback arrangements (which require the agreement of merchants)
The above features are easy to list but require a lot of effort and skill to get just right. Many affiliates underestimate the knowledge base they require to address these vital areas effectively.
Donald MacKenzie is a Business Consultant and Affiliate Marketing Expert. He wrote the Successful Affiliates Guide and runs several affiliate websites including for car insurance and others to compare pet insurance and compare home insurance.
