Leads better than sales for PPC->Affiliate marketing?

[arz]

I'm considering trying a few things with affiliate marketing, so I have some basic questions... I'll start with this:

Generally speaking, if you are using PPC-driven traffic then are lead-based affiliate programs better (at earning you affiliate revenue) than sales-based programs?

 

[tangem2]

try them both out then you will know for yourself...I can tell you this though you can make money doing both...test test test that is the key. Try every idea you hear out there and try it on different niches.

 

[[R]DeVore]

I am working on doing some pay per lead for adult sites with PPC from 7search. $2.00 per free signup (only an email needed). hoping even with $0.20-0.50 per click theyll signup. ill be doing some testing. ill drop a post here in a week or so with some results.

 

[Jon]

Leads are typically easier to get, but pay a lot less compared to most CPA offers out there. The more targeted niche you get with your lead gen offers, the more they generally pay out, and the better you'll do, especially with PPC.

CPA's are good too, don't get me wrong. Even with niche products, you can usually dominate on the engines organically and with PPC, but there's that whole "making the sale" bit that can suck. If you are looking at CPA offers, just make sure the cookie is a 365 day one, or the minimum 90 days or so. I never trust the 30 day ones, especially when the price they need to pay is over $100.

If you're just starting out, go with leads. They are just easier and will help you get off on the right foot. But if you can find some CPA offers that are fairly in a not super competitive niche, then why not run them both and see which one you feel better doing. Also, you may want to consider making a splash/landing page for both, to pre-sell them and also get an aweber.com account and make a newsletter, so that you can at least get email addresses even if they don't buy anything.

 

[smaxor]

I do both and you can make money at both for sure. However I suggest poking though the different aff programs and seeing what's offered and how their programs convert. CJ is great for this. Landing page can make all the difference in the world.

Once you've decided what will pay you enough and is converting for other people then go research the niche for traffic etc.

I'd prefer a CPA program that has a great conversion and I can get a ton of traffic for over a CPL. Just have to weigh everything, because it's all part of the equation!

I look at things in this order:
$ or %
conversion of affiliate
amount of searches
cost for PPC/competition for organic

 

[tangem2]

try to make sure there aren't too many leaks that can cause you to miss out on the commission. Jon mentioned the length of the cookie but also look for things like being able to order by phone or anything else that can cause you to miss out on the commission even if they make a purchase. So look over the site closely.