And asked.

And asked.

And.... you get idea.

I knew it was a problem for many people. I know it's hard to find concrete information that actually helps. I didn't know that it was causing problems with roses too.

"How do I start advertising?" "What is best way to advertise?" "Can you show me what exactly I need to do to advertise my website?" No matter how you ask it, question's same. How do you advertise your website for most traffic, most profits, and least cost?

Recently I received an email with strangest subject; "Help my roses!"

I was intrigued, so I opened it and I'm glad I did. It was from a woman who has been involved with affiliate marketing for roughly a year now and, sadly, wasn't any better now than when she started. As a matter of fact, she was spending so much time on computer trying to find affordable, but responsive advertising, that she had neglected her rose garden.

The poor flowers didn't have a chance against allure and pull of advertising for a profit.

Basics Are Powerful

When I answer these questions, response is always same, "Yes, but isn't that just basic stuff?"

It's a funny thing about advertising. New, shiny, glamorous, and technical can't beat basic. The same techniques that worked one hundred years ago still work today and should always be cornerstone of your advertising.

It's like woodworking. I have a brand new planer that I can put my pieces of wood into to make it to any thickness that I want. But, when it comes to shaving a little bit of wood off a corner, or targeting one specific area on wood, then my old, basic hand planer is tool that works best.

Target, Target, Target

When I asked woman with neglected roses what she was doing for advertising, her answer was same as everyone else's. "I take ads that affiliate program supplied me with and I buy ezine ad space."

I still cringe when I hear someone say that. It's really no wonder that so many people fail at successfully advertising their affiliate sites.

There are a few problems with taking supplied ads and buying ad space;

Those ads are guides to get you started, not something to rely on forever.

If you're using those ads, then everyone else is also.

You can't seperate yourself as an "expert" if you're doing same as everyone else.

The market is already saturated with those supplied ads and people are "turned off" from them.

Just buying ad space is not putting your ad where it needs to be.

Do you really want to succeed at affiliate marketing? Then throw those supplied ads away and narrow your ezine search to those whose readership (their subscribers) are a perfect target for product you're selling.

That's secret. That's magic formula. There is nothing glamorous or technical about it. It's same technique that has been in use since dawn of man.

The Right Tools

It's been my experience with affiliate programs that tools that have been supplied always worked real well for initial traffic... and maybe some sales.

But, after that initial burst, they just didn't work anymore. I had to come up with my own. After a lot of research and trial and error I realized that three very basic advertising tools worked best.

--- classified ads

"What is best software to blast my classified ads out with?", woman with roses asked me. "None of them", was my reply.

Classified ads, ezine ads, small text ads... whatever you want to call them have an important and distinct place in your advertising. But, not with some software that "blasts" it out to thousands of so called classified sites.

These are your work horses. This is where you start to lay foundation of your online business. These little gems of traffic, when submitted to right places can produce tremendous amounts of first time visitors. This is what you want.

The question we must ask ourselves is "What makes an ezine a perfect match for my ad"?

In ezine advertising, especially with solo ads, there are two purposes; (1) to have your ad read, and (2) to have reader respond to your site. How do you make sure that happens. Are you really getting your money's worth by submitting your ad to just any ezine? Can you really get needed results when you blindly buy ad space in a group of ezines?

What do you need to look for before you ever submit your ad?

Failure starts with 'betting' on your ad

One of major rules about advertising, especially on Internet, is to know who you are advertising to. A "throw dice" attitude will immediately send you into a downward spiral. Chance plays a huge part in gambling. I can't see where skill actually plays a part. I mean, sure you need to know how to play cards, and throw some dice, and play over some stragety on your part. But, actual skill... I can't see it.

It's all up to luck, or chance.

Take playing blackjack for example. You can in no way manipulate deck of cards so that you get cards you need. You are betting on chances your needed card comes up to reach 21 or to beat house, but you can't touch them, look at deck, or even deal. It's all up to chance.

Do you really want to 'bet' on your ad?

You need a strategy. There is skill to placing an ad with an ezine. It takes time, commitment, and patience, but there is a skill to it and it's absolutely vital to overall success of your website.

Only Advertise In Ezines That Are A Match With Your Target Audience

This sounds obvious, but it's also a place where many marketers completely miss mark. And this is one of major dangers of submitting your ad to groups of ezines instead of individual.

Only an ezine that publishes content that is same topic as your product will ever produce profitable responses from readers. The people who read these ezines are interested in your product. For example, let's say you have an ad for an ebook about joint ventures. Where would you get best results, an ezine dealing with copywriting or one written about advertising?

You might get results with a copywriting ezine, but you'd get much better returns with a ezine whose readers are mainly interested in advertising techniques and products.

How do you find these ezines?

I wish I could say it's easy or that it could be done in a matter of minutes, but unfortunately it takes time. It takes patience and committed research.

When putting together advertising campaigns for clients I steer well clear of advertising co-op's and hit directories and search engines.

Recently, I did a campaign for a website that is selling personal defense products (stun-guns, mace, brass knuckles, etc.). I went to google.com and searched for websites that dealt with personal defense.

I visited each site. If they had a newsletter I subscribed to it and emailed owner to get information about advertising with them.

Note: You should be emailing each and every ezine publisher you want to do business with. This sets up a personal relationship, opens door to "special inside deals", and can help with setting up joint ventures.

The point is to do your homework. Advertising in ezines does work, and it tremendously powerful. But, you need to submit your ad in right ezines.

Are There Any Competing Ads In The Ezine?

Once you've subscribed to ezine you want to advertise in, it's a good thing to check out advertising that's already there.

It's very important to know if there are any ads for same type of product, or for affiliates same product?