Is Clickbank the Answer?

Many people looking to capitalize on the internet have come across the idea of combining Clickbank and Google Adwords in the hopes of making a quick buck online. The idea behind this trend, also known as "bum marketing" is to become an affiliate marketer for products sold through Clickbank. The advocates of this "system" rave on the fact that those who follow what they teach do not need to build their own websites, carry their own products, handle shipping or customer service issues, and don't even need to do any direct selling. Sounds good, doesn't it? But, is Clickbank really the answer? Read on to find out.

What is Clickbank?

In simple terms, Clickbank is a digital product marketplace. What that means is that they carry and sell all sorts of downloadable products. From e-books, to software, anything that is originally produced and can be downloaded directly into your computer can be sold through Clickbank. Now, here's the part that has people jumping on Clickbank. Every product sold through Clickbank gives registered members the opportunity of getting what they call a hoplink (a url linked to your Clickbank account, through your nickname, which links to a replicated website selling the advertised product). Any sales generated through those hoplinks can earn you as much as 75% commission on the item sold. So, as you can see, the idea is pretty enticing. You get a free membership to Clickbank, choose a product, get a free url to a website that costs you nothing, and then earn up to 75% commission on any sales you generate. Sound like something you might be interested in? Don't start counting the cash just yet...

What's the catch?

Well, it is not all as rosy as it sounds. See, the plan here is to sell through your replicated website. Well, that's a lot easier said than done. In order to sell anything, you MUST get people to your site. There was a time when there were so few sites, and they were so difficult to put together, that pretty much anyone who had a website had guaranteed traffic. That is obviously not the case anymore. In order to have people find your site, let alone purchase from it, you have to advertise your site. Now, there are forms of free advertising out there, but they take time and effort, and require consistent upkeep. Most people trying to make a quick buck through this type of strategy are just not willing to put in the work. So, to drive people to their sites faster they have incorporated the use of Google Adwords as part of the formula.

The Truth about Adwords

Now, Adwords is Google's way of generating revenue through selling ads which are placed at the top, or on the side bar, of their search pages under specified keywords. While this IS by far the fastest way of getting your site positioned to be found by potential customers, the truth is that it can get pretty expensive.

See, Google will charge you anywhere from $.05 to a couple of dollars each time someone click on your ad. You might think, well, what's five cents if I'm going to earn a 75% commission on a $37 product. Well, do the math. Not everyone who goes to your site will buy. In fact, only about 10% of the people who visit your site will make a purchasing decision. So, for most people, especially if they only stand to gain under $25 on each sale, they will end up losing money on advertising instead of making the millions they were promised. Not only that, but Google is really putting its foot down, and will shut down ads which link to replicated websites without real content.

Now, don't get me wrong, some people have been really successful with this formula, but they are the ones who have spent a lot of time and energy looking for low cost keywords and building websites, to promote the products. These are also, typically the ones who were the forerunners in this type of tactic, and capitalized on the low level of competition.

Is all hope lost?

Well, NO. There ARE ways of making substantial income on the internet. In fact, you can make a REALLY decent living working from home online. But, don't underestimate the power of due diligence and hard work. Affiliate marketing, when done properly, can be that answer for many. A true education in the marketing business is the key. So, take your time, research the industry and become well educated in the area you chose to pursue. Before you know it, you too will be writing your own success story.