How to become an Amazon Affiliate when your not Allowed through Skimlinks!

In addition, if at any time following your enrollment in the Program you become a resident of Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, or Rhode Island, you will become ineligible to participate in the Program, and this Operating Agreement will automatically terminate, on the date you establish residency in that state. In addition, you must promptly notify us in writing of your Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, or Rhode Island residency, which you may do via the Contact Associates Customer Service form available here.

Via Amazon Affiliates Agreement Page!

As you can see I get commissions from Amazon and Straight Talk right now.   It just depends on how well you visitors recieve these links.   I have tried to use Skimlink’s for a few months and I have made a little comission without even trying.   

Reasons Why I use Skimlinks!

I will give you a few reason why to use Skimlinks and hopefully you agree with me.   

• No having to add links!   You really don’t have to worry about which links you need to add.   Skimlinks optimizes keywords and figures out which words to create a link to an affiliate network.   So you don’t have to do any work!
• No more worrying!  If your like me and you wonder which affiliate will be the next to get axed.  I no longer have to worry about getting paid.   If a certain affiliate moves or go out, there is always going to be someone else to take it’s place!   So it is always going to be a “Win — Win” situation!
• Great revenue for Tech Blogs!   If you own a tech blog this will help give you even more revenue because you can talk about products such as Acer C710-2834 11.6-Inch Chromebook or even Iron Man 3, and still have links generated for people to click to go buy the product or even explore the possiblity! 

As you can see I am only going to talk about a few reasons why I am using them but I have seen a noticable increase in revenue because I don’t have to worry about applying to be a part of an affiliate program.   I can still earn money from people who go to places such as Virgin Mobile USA, or Even Straight Talk and know that if they buy something from those sites I will get a commission!   Although this isn’t the only way I am making money does look promising and I will keep talking about this great service for others who might just want to earn money without the hassle of finding affiliates or remembering to add links to your posts!

My Main Picks for Affiliate Network Websites!

Affiliate Sales!

Having seen the downfall of GAN, I thought it was high time we discuss some other alternatives to GAN.  So I am going to create a short list of ones that I Recommend and let you decide on which one is best for your needs.   Nothing is set in stone so You can decide for yourself.  Each Affiliate Website has something for you.

Skimlinks!

This is one of those really better ones, which is almost like Adsense.   They will skim your content to find the most relevant links and put them in your website as html links.   Readers and vistor will not notice to much of a difference.   You can have more links or really a few links if you prefer it.   It hasn’t really made me much money but it is one that I thought I should at least talk about!  It also does quite well with big brand name stores such as Best Buy, Amazon US, Radio Shack, Target and More.   You can create the content and not have to worry about inserting the necessary links.   This is a good option for those of you who just want to blog and not worry about the links.

Sharesale

There Slogan is basic, let them find the leads and you do what you have done and create great content.  I actually like this affiliate network because they remind me of GAN and actually does a little more better job than other ones.   I can’t stand some of the other ones but that is just me.  It isn’t as hard to figure out hte user interface than you do on some of the other ones.  

Linkshare

Linkshare is another Good one, I don’t really mind it as much as lets say Commission Junction.  I don’t recommend them because they like to take your commissions if you don’t earn a lot.   I like Linkshare becaus they also let you keep your commission for as long as yo have your account so they keep incurring sales and leads until you reach your 100$ limit then they will pay you.

Cleverbridge

I do like this network, it is kind of hard to find get on to other advertisers.   You basically are shooting the dark to find the Advertisers.   I use this network for MalwareBytes and love how they track all my orders and process calls.  So if someone buys Malwarebytes, I get a good comission off them.  You basically have to do keyword searches with Google, and Bing to find out how to join other advertisers with Cleverbridge but it can be extremely satisfying once you start earning money.

Amazon

I have had a lot of success with this program.   You basically recommend products and send them their directly.   The nice thing about this one is, you can get paid as little as 10$ with direct deposit or with a gift card from them.   It can be successful for those of you who may want to just review products and books.   Depending on your skill set this might be the best to start off with and work you way up!

Thats it!

As you can see here are a few that I am using that do actually work and each platform has something for you that you might want to consider.   Each affiliate website has some top paying affiliate that can help you make even more money but it is simply up to you how hard you try and which networks do what you are looking for.

How to get more Clicks from Adsense (Tips and Tricks)

Back to Adsense!

When I started using Adsense in 2009, I was a beginner.  I am slowing going back to Adsense for the time being because of Google Closing GAN!  I have learned quite a few tricks and tips to help you get more clicks and more money than you might otherwise know.   If you didn’t know about Adsense this is one of the top PPC (Pay Per Click) publishers available.  

Utilize Channels!

If you don’t track which advertising sizes and where you get the most clicks.   If you watch your channels, you can usually find them but I will help you with that a few more areas that work for me!

Above Content

I having seen this work in many cases the best possible place to have your Adsense is just above the fold.   The area where you will see it first if you were a visitor.   So always put your Adsense at the top.   More likely to get click.

Sidebar

I personally using the biggest side bar Adsense on your page.   I have had really good luck with this and it seems to give me even more clicks.  The 300 x 600 Adsense Format on my left of the page is constantly getting click throughs. 

In The Content

I have found that people are more likely to click if the Adsense is in the content of your blog post.   I have seen this in the past and seems to work out really well.   Once you find that sweet spot, you will see your rates and earnings will start to skyrocket.  

Link Units

If you have any wish to have click through, then you should put some link units on your site also.  I also recommend 120 x 240 which seems to get some Adsense clicks.

Blended links

I know you have probably heard this before but if you want people to click those links, you need to make your Adsense look like your blog.   I haven’t seen any site that has Adsense on them not do this.   I even done this on my site but I am sure you already see this.   

More to come!

Paul Sylvester

Google Affiliate Gets the FAIL Whale!

Google kills aGAiN!

Today GAN or Also know Google Affilaite Network, has announced they are throwing in the white towel and telling all publishers and advertisers the same thing.   They are shutting down the Affiliate Network.   Which basically means you have to read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy book “Don’t PANIC!”.

What that means is I have been reaching out to affiliate managers and finding out where else they are currently at.   I have already moved one of my favorite networks over.   Cafepress which is one of those that I love and decided to go in house which works way better than most people will ever know.  

A word from GAN:

We’ll continue to support our customers as we wind down the product over the next few months. While we will no longer be adding new product functionality, we will maintain the platform during the transition period. We plan to disable publisher relationships from advertiser programs on July 31, 2013. Publisher payments will be disbursed for network activity generated through this date. We will continue to make certain functionality available through October 31, 2013 for retrieving reports, reconciling orders, and processing payments.

As you can see I have until July 31, 2013 but I have already reached out to all the ones who make me money now and in the past and asked for another place to go.  I suggest most of you do the same thing.

RANT

Yes I decided to throw out a rant.   I can’t believe Google is shooting theirselves in the foot over this.   What is next Google Adsense?  Or maybe my Gmail account.   Google Affiliate Network has been my home for the last few years and now I have to find another network and start changing all my links over. Nice Going Google!!

I must say, I am glad I had PHP redirects and URL redirects this will make some of the job much more easier to change over so as to keep getting commissions!   It just sucks they did this.   Oh well maybe now I can make more money, I think they were holding me back!

Cafepress Affiliate Managers!

Have been nothing but superb job today and they helped me transition onto their in house affiliate network.   They’ve been in constant contact with me over this and I suggest others try their in house Affiliate network out before going to any other network!  I give them a Thumbs up!  Thank you Cafepress for a wonderful Job.

Paul Sylvester

Google Adsense Vs Google Affiliate, which is better?

Adsense and Me!

When I first started talking about Adsense back in the day.   It has been quite a while since I went back to it.  I'm in the mood to pick up where I left up.  I'm here to see what it will take to make Adsense work for me until I can get enough readers to start to use my links that I've got to help support my efforts.  I've heard how people stopped using Adsense for one reason or another.   I just don't have time to worry about it to much.   I am working a full time job and also working with this website, so I can't worry about which ads to place and switch out ads when they are needed.  

Google Affiliate isn't gone!

I'm not saying I've gotten rid of Goggle Affiliate Network just yet.   In fact I do not intend to get rid of them at all.   This is more of an experiment on my part.   I've decided that having gotten 91 clicks last month and no sales with Google Affiliate Network that this month, if I get 91 clicks this month then at least I'll be making some kind of money.   Not to mention that if they do ever convert over with sales of products using my Links then it will automatically be dumped into my Adsense account anyways.

Checking In from time to Time!

I'll be checking it from time to time, and seeing how it goes I don't expect a jump in clicks over night and I'd worry if that did happen.   Google would probably think I'm up to no good and banning my account thus not getting any revenue what so ever!  So I will be keeping a close eye on this and see what happens.   I have a great little Google Adsense app from the Android Market Place in place to help me keep track of clicks and how much money I make per day and total per month.

My New plan!

In the coming weeks or days, depending on when I get the urge.   I will be looking to giving away something FREE.  Although I am unsure what I will be doing, I will be looking into some possibilities.   If you feel you want to help me out and give me some ideas.   You can leave a comment or contact me and let me know what you would like me to give away for FREE.  This will be another one of those great chances to tell you friends to come over to my blog and Join the mailing list.   I am unsure what just yet but I am going to give something away in February or even earlier than that!  I'm also going to start blogging just a little more than usual to see if this helps get more people to come to my site.  So you may start seeing more posts from me in the coming weeks and maybe we can have something good to post about.

Paul Sylvester

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