Mark J. Welch - Affiliate Role
This search box queries against 2.3 million products in my test database of products from 500+ ShareASale merchants' datafeeds and 100+ AvantLink merchants' datafeeds.
Product Search:
ShareASale merchants, please note:
You must grant me "ftp access" to your datafeed to be included in my niche web sites! Without this extra step (for which ShareASale absurdly charges you a $1-per-affiliate fee), I cannot automate the downloading of your datafeed. (ShareASale will set up "auto-approval" of ftp access, if you insist.)
Affiliate Program Advice for Merchants
Mark J. Welch
MarkWelch.com
MarkWelch -at- Markwelch.com
(925) 462-8483As an web publisher (since 1996), most of my time is spent developing and maintaining "niche" web sites focused on specific audiences, communities, and product categories. My web publishing philosophy is simple: my sites succeed only if they "add value" for consumers and advertisers. There is no reason for consumers to visit (nor for search engines to send traffic to) "thin affiliate" sites that merely regurgitate datafeed content, or to "boilerplate" sites that provide no useful original information. In 2009, I am renewing my web publishing efforts, building niche web sites with original content combined with search results presenting product data from merchant datafeeds.My successful web sites provide rich original content (including original news articles and advice, product reviews, product comparisons, buying guides, and annotated directories), with advertising and product information integrated or appended via search results, where appropriate). I generally do not share details about my successful niche sites within the affiliate community (since I don't want to invite new competition); the list below identifies only sites that have never been fully developed; they are "languishing" and generate very little or no traffic. The only "example" that I share widely is LitPlans.com (a "directory site" listing lesson plan resources for English teachers), which I developed in 2004. This niche site was earning about $1,200 per month when I sold it in July 2007 (as of April 2009, that site hasn't changed substantially since I sold it).
My web sites contain several forms of advertising, including traditional "banner and button" ads, text-ad blocks (such as Google AdSense), and text links. Since the "dot-bomb" crash in 2000, most of my web-site advertising is sold on a "pay-per-click" or "pay-per-sale" model, mostly through affiliate programs that are managed through affiliate networks.
No More DTM-PPC: I no longer run any "direct-to-merchant" PPC campaigns. When I use PPC to promote my niche sites, I never bid on a merchant's company name or domain name, nor variations, nor on any prohibited trademarks or keywords.
Affiliate Networks: I work with ShareASale, AvantLink, Bridaluxe, LinkConnector, Commission Junction and the Google Affiliate Network [Performics/ConnectCommerce]). (I will not work with LinkShare, Kowabunga/Kolimbo, nor PepperJam.)
Some of my "currently inactive" niche sites:
PopShops samples: Buy-T-Shirts.com - Find-Batteries.com - Memory-for-Camera.com - Gluco-Meter.com - Puzzle-Magazines.com - Photos-on-Keepsakes.com - buy-this-product.com/shoes/nike - ScrapbookCritic.com - Vitamins Jewelry - Blood-Glucose-Meter.net - Low-Cost-Musical-Instruments.com - Baby-Memory.com Baby-Furniture.info - Stuff-for-Baby.com Best-Strollers.com - All-Strollers.com Stroller-World.com - Jewelry-Body.com Cool-Toe-Rings.com - Fine-Art-Repros.com Low-Cost-Violins.com - Frog-Love.com BeltAndBuckles.com - Low-Cost-Inkjet-Cartridges.com - Low-Cost-Toner-Cartridges.com
Other: - Best-Dedicated-Servers.info - 007movieposters.com - Paintings-from-Photos.com - Ed McBain 87th Precinct - DVD Mega Packs - ScrapbookCritic.com - Low-Cost-Perfumes.com - 123sheetmusic.net - TIM-store.com - WelchEnglish.com