ClickBank is probably the most popular affiliate network for those just starting their affiliate marketing business. They’re easy to deal with, you can sign on instantly and they have thousands of products for you to choose from.
There are lots of other affiliate networks out there but some of them require that you already have a website set up for the product you want to promote. They want you to go through an application process that involves lots of forms and maybe even a phone interview. And they want to know that you have a marketing plan ready to go should they decide to approve your application.
That’s not to say that these other programs are bad – they’re just different. They represent different types of advertisers – and some are a little pickier about where their products are promoted. ClickBank, on the other hand, has no application process. You just register for an account, click on the link in the confirmation email, and you’re in like Flynn. You can immediately start promoting any product your choose. And they don’t even care how you choose to promote. And that’s where the big difference appears between ClickBank and some of the other affiliate marketing networks.
While ClickBank does have thousands of products to choose from, you can’t always be sure of their quality. You can tell by looking at the popularity and gravity figures on each product how many other marketers are promoting the product and how well it’s selling. Those numbers, though, only reflect the total sales – not sales per website. So, while the product you’re looking at may have a gravity of 80%, you don’t know if 80% of the sites promoting it are generating sales or if 80% of the sales were generated by one site.
But the most important thing you don’t know is – how good is the product? ClickBank products are created by people just like you and me – people trying to make a living online. We’re marketers – and some of us are still wet behind the ears. Generally, we’re not authors and we’re not teachers. So it’s especially important to research a ClickBank product as thoroughly as possible before you decide to promote it.
Look for products that have a ClickBank gravity rating in the 30 to 40% range. A higher gravity rating means that there are probably already a lot of people promoting that product and you’ll have to try to compete with all of them. After you’ve found one you’re interested in, you should consider buying it yourself to learn as much about it as possible – and to determine if it’s really something you think you can sell.
