Common Advice for Affiliate Review Sites

As you might expect, about two times each week, I get requests for help with designing affiliate sites. Usually I am able to offer at least 2-3 tips that should improve their conversions to our site and make the affiliate more money. Sometimes, I may have 10+ suggestions.

I thought that I would share some of the more generic ones I have offered, of course, without mentioning any specific things about particular web sites. They are pretty basic, but if you just starting your site or looking to improve your site, these could be some useful tips.? They are in no particular order.

1. Let’s cover the basics of web design first.? Here are a few great articles and posts that address general PPC and Web Design practices for affiliates:
   • Optimizing PPC Landing Pages to Increase Conversions
   • My article on the Five Missing Pieces to affiliate sites in FeedFront Magazine
   • SEO that Still Looks Good
2. Use Calls to Action but don’t forget that you are review site.? A large “Buy Now” button may just scare customers away.? Try “Visit Site” or “Order Now” or both.
3. Link often. Often review copy gets long, as it should, but then the visitor can spend 10 minutes reading and not see a link to buy.? Give them some in-paragraph links to click on and link all images to your affiliate link.? Always include a link at the top and bottom of the copy as well as after each section.
4. Use our product shots and screenshots.? You can find these in your account.? Link to your affiliate link on each of these and make sure to use alt tags on each for extra SEO benefit.
5. Of course, check your copy for typos and grammar.
6. Mention all the features we offer, even the little ones like the Jam-Along CDs and Online Support Forum.? Tell a little about each. Speaking of them, deep link to the pages for each of these. Don’t know what this is? Check out our tutorial on how to create a deep link/custom link in ShareASale. Link to the forum for each course. You will have thousands of our customers helping you make the sale!
7. Don’t have more than one paragraph of copy at a time without some sort of break (see #3 and #4).? Aside of images, you can list things in bullet points, numbered lists, etc. to break up the monotony of endless text.
8. Use customer testimonials!? Testimonials are without a doubt the best way to convince someone to buy.? You can find them here:
   • Ballroom Dance
   • Drums
   • Guitar
   • Painting
   • Piano
9. Use videos.? If you need our videos, just email me and I will get them to you.
10. In the text of the review, mention the award we have won such as:
    • 008 Acoustic Guitar Magazine?Players’ Choice Awards
    • Two Telly Awards
    • AEGIS Award for Excellence in Education

I hope these basic suggestions help you better design your review site!