Prices along with Affiliate Links or Not ?

askthetrainer · #1 (**permalink**) 03-04-2009, 06:37 PM

Hello.

This is a straight forward question.

Is it better to put the price on your website next to or along with the affiliate text links?

Or is it better to leave off the price with the affiliate text link?

Both questions are in regards to making sales!

askthetrainer · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 03:01 PM

Adding to this question....

Is it better or worse to have affiliate text links open in a new window or the same window?

Mattero · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by askthetrainer

Adding to this question....

Is it better or worse to have affiliate text links open in a new window or the same window?

I would say the have it open in a new window, because you don't want people to detour away from your page.

And for the first question, I would have to ask the same question

Cause I dont know for sure.

-Matt

askthetrainer · #4 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattero

I would say the have it open in a new window, because you don't want people to detour away from your page.

And for the first question, I would have to ask the same question

Cause I dont know for sure.

-Matt

First of all, I'm not saying my affiliate sales were huge, but after I put the prices on there, they suddenly got lower, so I'm wondering if this is a reason why?

I don't hype products which is another reason why, but I don't want to lose credibility (if that really even exists

"

I sell supplements in my major affiliate program, I was also wondering if there is a way to add multiple products into 1 link? But its probably up the comparny.

lisa · #5 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 06:23 PM

I honestly think it's something you have to experiment with. I go back and forth on it myself. For example, on some of my pages I mention the SBI! price and on some I just link to the main website. But when I do mention the price I make sure I do so after I've already explained the value so people don't just write the product off when they see the price.

A lot of it has to do with the price of the product and the products price in comparison to other products in that niche. So if it's a product that people expect to pay a certain amount for and you are promoting something that is significantly less than I would mention it upfront because it's such a great deal.

It's a tough call sometimes. I know some people complain that SiteSell doesn't list the price on their promo pages (you have to go to the Order page) but I understand why they do it. Since people sort of put them in the "hosting category" (even though they are really much more than that), a $299 price tag on a "hosting service" would be an immediate turnoff and many people would probably leave without reading about what SBI! has to offer. So they strategically warm you up with the value before hitting you with the price.

Of course, others may argue it's a turnoff because they don't list the price until you get to the order page. However, SiteSell has probably discovered that it's better to hit people with the value without distracting them with the price because $299 is higher than what many would expect to pay for hosting. So even though SBI! offers great value for the price, many people would see the price and stop reading.

So it really depends on the situation and you have to just see what works best for you. As I said, I go back and forth with this all the time.

askthetrainer · #6 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

I honestly think it's something you have to experiment with. I go back and forth on it myself. For example, on some of my pages I mention the SBI! price and on some I just link to the main website. But when I do mention the price I make sure I do so after I've already explained the value so people don't just write the product off when they see the price.

A lot of it has to do with the price of the product and the products price in comparison to other products in that niche. So if it's a product that people expect to pay a certain amount for and you are promoting something that is significantly less than I would mention it upfront because it's such a great deal.

It's a tough call sometimes. I know some people complain that SiteSell doesn't list the price on their promo pages (you have to go to the Order page) but I understand why they do it. Since people sort of put them in the "hosting category" (even though they are really much more than that), a $299 price tag on a "hosting service" would be an immediate turnoff and many people would probably leave without reading about what SBI! has to offer. So they strategically warm you up with the value before hitting you with the price.

Of course, others may argue it's a turnoff because they don't list the price until you get to the order page. However, SiteSell has probably discovered that it's better to hit people with the value without distracting them with the price because $299 is higher than what many would expect to pay for hosting. So even though SBI! offers great value for the price, many people would see the price and stop reading.

So it really depends on the situation and you have to just see what works best for you. As I said, I go back and forth with this all the time.

Thanks Lisa,

I was just about to backup my entire site, and take off all prices to see if it changes my affiliate sales for the better.

I am moving over seas next month and the website will be my only form of income, and while adsense is the primary source, I know that each time someone clicks the ad of another advertiser, I may be missing out on an affiliate sale...

Ron Killian · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 08:15 AM

Lisa hit it right, only way to know for sure is test.

One train of thought is that giving them all the info, including price, ect, your pre-qualifying them or pre-selling them, so you should have better conversions. Guess to me, they will find out the price sooner or later and if it's a issue, they probably weren't a buyer in the first place? Unless your just pushing them to the program and not building value so that price shouldn't be a issue. Just a thought.

askthetrainer · #8 (**permalink**) 03-27-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Killian

Lisa hit it right, only way to know for sure is test.

One train of thought is that giving them all the info, including price, ect, your pre-qualifying them or pre-selling them, so you should have better conversions. Guess to me, they will find out the price sooner or later and if it's a issue, they probably weren't a buyer in the first place? Unless your just pushing them to the program and not building value so that price shouldn't be a issue. Just a thought.

Yes yes yes... Testing is always the best option but I always look for that "secret" which never really exists...

Ron Killian · #9 (**permalink**) 03-28-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by askthetrainer

Yes yes yes... Testing is always the best option but I always look for that "secret" which never really exists...

Would be nice and so much easier, wouldn't it?

Maker · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-2009, 01:48 PM

Yup - test test test

In my niche we've found out it's better off not to have the price listed until the order page, except on pages where people would've been searching for that product directly. However, we also try to upsell them on different pricing plans at the same time.

RickHart · #11 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009, 02:42 PM

If you show the price be sure to show the guarantee for those folks who feel put off by price talk.

But I do think it will help get rid of any "tire clickers" who don't really want to buy. That will make your conversions higher and maybe get you some brownie points with your merchants.

But if your conversion stays the same definitely go with whichever produces the most clicks.

But like others have said, why not A/B test your page to see what works best. Be sure your comparing apples to apples and testing the same number of clicks, time of day and day of week. Those can all be conversion factors.

Do you guys know about MarketingExperiments.com. I love their motto. "To discover what really works." They are the testing experts.

michelle98 · #12 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 03:17 PM

I don't show prices.

Just because the price may turn people off before they even see the product, and therefore they don't even click it.

RickHart · #13 (**permalink**) 04-30-2009, 03:37 PM

Price also qualifies the prospect as someone who is really interested.

But before you get to price you should be PREselling the benefits and creating credibility for the merchant. Price is always relative to value. You have to establish the value first and then the price plays the role of qualifying. Price should only be introduced when the prospect is ready and in the later stages of the buying cycle.

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