Learn Internet Marketing > Weekly Tips > SSWT 10/23/07
 

  
I am pretty excited about what I am going to share with you today - which includes real before and after examples of one of my own niche affiliate sites. I think you'll find it interesting at the very least, but it may just excite you as much as it does me...

You've probably heard the term "Web 2.0", and if I had my guess I'd say you might feel you've heard it *too* much. Me too, but the thing is - as much as everyone is talking about it... I dont see very much of it popping up in many niches. Which spells "BIG Opportunity!"

By the way, we're going to be discussing this in detail at today's Free Webinar: an Advanced Blogging Q&A. If you want to join in for that and you arent on the email notification list, just sign on at:

http://www.SelfStartersWeeklyTips.com/webinars.htm

About a year ago I set out to do two things with my niche affiliate sites: 1) make them "Web 2.0" and 2) figure out a way to make them easier to update & maintain.

Now I'm what you would probably call an old-school webmaster. I could write HTML in my sleep and even handcode many of my affiliate sites. When datafeeds and RSS and other options for automation became available, I was really interested ... but pulled my hair out trying to figure out how to use them - and eventually put that on the back burner.

In fact, you might remember this post on my blog from almost a year ago:
http://www.clicknewz.com/435/wordpress-for-affiliate-sites/

My goal was to use WordPress instead of static web pages, and to make the WordPress Makeover look as much like a "website" as possible - with all of the features & benefits of a "blog".

That post details out all of the great reasons you might want to use WordPress to create and manage your affiliate websites, instead of static HTML web pages, including:

- RSS Subscription Options
- Visitor Interaction
- Hands-Off Mailing List Management
- Automatic internal link structure
- Is it a Blog or a Website? (both!)
- Integrating Affiliate Datafeeds
- Easy Site/Content Management

You can see the details for those points at the original blog post on ClickNewz:
http://www.clicknewz.com/435/wordpress-for-affiliate-sites/

 
The thing is, I didnt want an "affiliate blog". But I did want my affiliate sites to have all the PERKS of a blog. I wanted options like automated updates and easy content management. I wanted interaction with my visitors. I wanted to be able to 'drip' content in over time, instead of all at once (every few months when I took the time to sit down and write then upload new content).

I actually got "in trouble" several times over the last couple of years with one of my affiliate sites. The affiliate manager emailed me directly and said "UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE PLEASE" (lol). Apparently my site was displaying products and prices that were slightly out of date, and causing customer service issues...

What can I say - the editing was a monstrous task every time they updated their product database. I had to update each page by hand, changing and editing and adding each individual product on each and every web page (gee whiz!).

I did try the datafeed option, mind you. I just couldnt figure out how to get it to work right... and also be SEO friendly at the same time. I finally gave up on it.

Until now, that is.

I've been keeping my eye on various niches, and you really dont see much "Web 2.0" out there. In fact, most of the top ranking sites are still sadly VERY 1.0. It wouldnt take much to knock them off their pedestal and claim some top rankings for yourself!

If you have top ranking established sites that are outdated in design and interactivity... I hope that statement caught your attention.

A few slight changes and updates could make your life as a site owner MUCH easier... AND blow your competition away. Look around the niches you are working within and see for yourself - it is not going to be hard to out-do what's out there right now ;)

 
In addition to better rankings, visitors staying on your website longer, direct visitor interaction, less maintenance and totally up-to-date content at ALL times, there are obvious benefits when it comes to promoting your site too.

The marketing perks include getting indexed in Technorati.com, using "tags" to define your content better and get more targeted traffic, submitting your "site" to blog directories (on top of the usual website directories), making use of Social Networking, etc - the list goes on.

 
I finally found the perfect solution, by the way.

I'll show you an example of one of my own niche affiliate sites so you can get an idea what I'm talking about here. This website is a product-based affiliate site that sells Dart Supplies, using the DartBoards.com affiliate program through NetShops.

Original site, done in plain old HTML:

-> http://www.corkitup.com/oldsite/

Some of the links no longer work since its not "live", but you get the idea I believe. The goal is to sell dart supplies, and so the "content pages" are product images and descriptions.

Here is an example of one of the product pages:
http://www.corkitup.com/oldsite/steel-tip-darts.htm

Imagine updating every product by hand. And that is one of my SMALLEST affiliate sites!

 
Here is the new Web 2.0 version of that site, powered by the WordPress platform:

-> http://www.corkitup.com/

It doesnt look that much different, does it?

Or at least, it doesnt look like a BLOG :-)

Feel free to click around a bit and check it out. Its a brand new makeover so I'm still adding to it and the datafeed is still "dripping" new products into the various product pages, but you will get a good feel for how it works and what all it offers.

 
I'm using something called "Static Blogging" to create what looks like a static (regular) website... but is actually very "Web 2.0" and powered by WordPress. You wont see that "Hello World" look and feel with this one ;)

Static Blogging is actually a "course" that was just developed this year and hasnt been launched publicly yet. And while it has great documentation and tons of detailed video tutorials, it is MUCH more than a "course". Its a complete system, and comes with themes and plugins to make everything super simple for you.

There are 2 ladies behind Static Blogging - Stacie Bennett and Christy Knowlton (aka Christyk). I met Stacie at a recent meet-up for Tennessee Warriors, and took an immediate interest in the concept behind their product.

I'd been waiting for something like this for a LONG time!

I used Static Blogging to totally re-vamp CorkitUp.com, as you saw above. I also used Teli Adlam's WordPress Datafeed Import program to automatically import and update all of the affiliate products on the site.

  
I've known Christyk for years (online). Having just recently met her partner Stacie in person - I can now call them both good friends. I tested out their Static Blogging system and was so in love with it that I went back to them for "a favor".

Since they havent done a public launch or a huge marketing campaign (yet)... I asked them if I could share it with you guys first (privately, by email). And I also asked them if they would give you a substantial discount on it...

They said yes :-)

The Static Blogging system sells for $57. But you can get it here - at the special link Christy set up for SSWT readers - for $20 less (only $37):

--> http://staticblogging.com/sswt

This link is good for 48 hours, which should give you plenty of time to take advantage of their special deal and have your own niche affiliate sites (or just niche websites) up and running during the holiday sales season - and into the New Year!

Stacie and Christy are going to join us on todays Free Webinar too, so if you have questions be sure to join in at Noon EST.

You wont find an easier way to create Niche Web 2.0 Sites...

Be sure to look at their website for even more example sites created with the Static Blogging method: --> http://staticblogging.com/sswt

Best,

p.s. Christy and Stacie are extending this Special Offer to SSWT readers
for 48 Hours only. Grab your copy today, even if you want to save it to work
on new or current sites for the New Year: --> http://staticblogging.com/sswt