Shoemoney - Skills To Pay The Bills

Revisiting The Adult Affiliate Marketing Niche With Ricky Ahuja

Posted: 30 Jul 2015 02:22 PM PDT

Ricky Ahuja, AKA the Turbanator, from clicksyndicate.com has been a mainstay at all affiliate marketing conferences I have ever been to. If you have ever been to an Affiliate Summit I am sure you recognize him. He is a great dude.

Riki is the head dude for Click Syndicate one of the largest adult affiliate networks on the planet. I recently was talking with him on Skype and asked if he would mind doing an interview about the affiliate marketing space as it pertains to the adult niche in today’s world.

Since the inception of Affiliate Marketing (No Zappos you did not invent it) – the adult industry has always been innovating new ways of promotion. Unlike a lot of mainstream verticals the adult niche has always been very restricted on advertising plus its even harder now that the internet is saturated with free porn “tube” websites (so I have heard anyway)…

Here is my full interview with Ricky:

How did you get started in affiliate marketing?

Hey Jeremy – let me start off by saying Thank you for having me on here. You are a legend in the industry and I am honored to be a part of this.

Now, I have been in the space dating back to early 2000 when I launched an extremely successful program on CJ for ethnic foods and phone cards catering to the Indian, Chinese and Mexican market. I have never looked back since.

When did you start your affiliate network?
So the company has actually been around for a few years under a different brand, Click Syndicate the network formally launched and opened its doors in 2013. Our flagship offer and claim to fame was Pandora’s Box and our focus on VSLs (Video Sales Letters). They are downright hilarious and extremely effective.

How long have you been in the affiliate network part of the adult industry?

My entry into the “adult” industry dates back to 2013 when I joined Click Syndicate. I put quotes around “adult” in that though we are positioned as an adult network, there is a lot of psychology that goes into the building of our offers as we take more of a coaching approach rather than a free for all dating pool. We literally teach how to pick up women and from our testimonials, they seem quite pleased with the results.

What is it like to work in the adult space compared to the.. I guess you would call it the non-adult space.

I am astonished at how many affiliates are active in the space and more importantly how much money they are minting in the space. Being a in-house sale based product, the amount of fraud is significantly lower than your typical lead gen network and because of this, we are able to pay our pubs a lot quicker. We are in such a niche industry and at the forefront of the types of products we promote, our AMs absolutely love dealing with their affiliates and make a ton of money doing it.

Its funny almost all the affiliates I know started with adult affiliate marketing. Including myself with adult friend finder, although I was not very successful back then (it’s been over a decade), do you find that is pretty common?

Surprisingly enough a lot of the affiliates and networks I have dealt with over the years do extremely well in the space. Most keep the offers on private or run their own traffic to it and once they get enough data – they are able to optimize and scale their traffic to easily earn $xx,xxx.xx a day.

With all the free content out there on the tube sites is there still money to be made on the pay sites?

Absolutely. Members area traffic converts extremely well for our affiliates as well as purchasing media on these premium sites. Our Pandora’s Box offer works extremely well on this kind of media, not to mention Dominant Sexual Power as well as Relationship Rewind (this one especially if you have a female traffic).

As an adult affiliate network how competitive is it?

Though the space itself is competitive – our creative staff who comes up with the content, copy and material for the VSLs absolutely rocks. Many others have tried to copy what we have but at the end of the day – they can not compete with our resources, ability to move quickly and just downright execute.

What is the payment structure like percentage wise for affiliates from the networks? CPA? CPM? CPC? Life time percentage?

Our offers are all CPA based – straight sale to be precise with optional rebill and continuity. This enables us to pay the affiliates higher amounts and quicker. What else can they ask for?

Where do adult affiliates advertise in general? Its not like you can do it through Facebook or Google.

Each of our offers work best with different types of traffic and media but advertising can be had on tube sites, content sites, ad networks, mailing lists and it goes on an on. If anyone reading this post is interested in getting into this vertical, please do not hesitate to reach out, ricky@clicksyndicate.com or follow me on Facebook: facebook.com/rickyahuja or on Twitter: twitter.com/rickyahuja.

What would you estimate the “super affiliates” make per month in the adult industry? What does an average affiliate make per month in the adult industry?

It is all relative – but I have pubs easily making 6 figures a month while the average affiliate may make a few grand, it all depends on what they want and how much they are able to scale.

What is the most creative way you have seen an affiliate drive traffic to an adult affiliate offer?

Each and every affiliate looks for an “angle” and without being able to go into the specifics, some take the coaching approach, some take the “how nerds can get laid” approach, while others just flood the market with media and then figure out what works and what doesn’t and then scale and adjust accordingly.

What is surprising to me, and not to sound sexiest, and maybe I am wrong, but in general the ratio of women affiliate marketers to men is maybe 1 in 100? In the adult affiliate industry do you see the same as far as affiliates? Also keeping on that same subject and a bit away from affiliate marketing in general – Most of the women involved in the adult space (business wise not like actresses), not necessarily affiliates but work in the space, are not only beautiful but extremely intelligent and not just a pretty face to promote the network. What is your take on that?

Surprisingly enough – there are quite a few women in the space and they are really good at it. They have a distinct advantage in that they can play on the psychology of their followers/members and can speak from a woman’s perspective on how best to impress women and get them in the sack. To their followers, these words are golden and when these women or “coaches” pitch a product – their subscribers are sure to take action.
Do you like being associated with the adult industry in general?

Like American Express – “It has its privileges ” – I will leave it at that.

Thank you Ricky for the interview and talk to you soon at ASE!

ProBlogger: 31DBBB Day 31: Next Steps

31DBBB Day 31: Next Steps

Posted: 30 Jul 2015 01:00 PM PDT

Congratulations! You’ve made it to Day 31.

Hopefully you’ve found some of the challenges over this last 31 days to be useful. Thousands have completed the program over the years and I’ve heard so much great feedback, but there’s one thing I’d like to share with you today on the podcast.

What’s the key to really getting the most out of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog? And how do you do that? I share all!

You will need a calendar set up somewhere so make sure you have one you can use before you get going with today’s challenge. Nothing will change if you only think about it, so we’re going to ensure you’ve got the tools to keep on going the way you have and to really get stuff done. It’s all about keeping active, so I’ll help you put some strategies in place to do just that.

I’m also going to share what the format for the usual podcasts will be and where you can find more activities to keep you busy and your blog the best it can be.

Thank you so much for joining me this month, and I hope you enjoy today’s episode.

Click here to listen to day 31 of the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog series on the ProBlogger Podcast.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

31DBBB Day 31: Next Steps

The post 31DBBB Day 31: Next Steps appeared first on @ProBlogger.

ProBlogger: The ProBlogger Podcast: Digging into Statistics

The ProBlogger Podcast: Digging into Statistics

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 01:00 PM PDT

Almost the last day!

While yesterday we looked to the future to build a plan to find readers, today we’re going to dig into our stats to find out what kind of effect the last 29 days have had on our sites. What can you see is different after the changes you’ve made?

Some of you will be seasoned pros at looking at your stats, but if you’re newer to blogging and want some starting points, these are the metrics I recommend you keep track of regularly as you go on with your blogging.

In the show notes I also link to a post I published recently that gives you an overview of how I use Google Analytics to do this kind of investigation, and I’ll describe how and why these are the metrics I choose to keep tabs on.

Every month or so I go through each of these and compare them to the previous month (I give you a quick tip on how to do this easily), and also think about how I can recreate successes in content, on social, and how well other types of traffic are doing.

Today we’ll also go a little deeper into channels to look for trends, behaviour, and other hints that will help us keep the trend on the up.

If you are indeed in the newer camp, please don’t fret about stats. It can be easy to get disillusioned in the early days, but we all feel small when we start out! Most successful blogs go for 2-3 years before they hit a tipping point of sorts. We discuss that a little more in today’s podcast also.

So open up Google Analytics and take a little dig with me. Feel free to share your most popular post from the month in the comments too – you might be surprised what has worked better than you thought it would!

See you tomorrow for the wrap up of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Podcast.

Click here to listen to day 30 of the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog series on the ProBlogger Podcast.

Shoemoney - Skills To Pay The Bills

The Best Methods For Building Your Professional Network

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 06:21 AM PDT

One of the main advantages of building your professional network is that it can open new doors of opportunity for you.

It’s great to study strategies and tactics, and to become knowledgeable about your industry, but it isn’t always about what you know as much as it is who you know. Who you know can really transform you, and have a hand in making you more successful than you ever imagined possible.

Faceless corporations are not the decision makers; people are. Influence is going to come from building trust with those people.

So, here are the best methods for building your professional network.

Meet A Lot Of People

Talk to any successful entrepreneur, and you’ll discover that they make meeting people a part of their regular routines. There’s just no way around it; you have to network if you want to be known and to get to know others.

But your networking efforts still have to be a natural extension of who you are. It may not feel comfortable at first, but you’ll want to get it to the point where it feels effortless.

Networking must become a no-brainer. When you’re meeting a stranger, you need to see it as an opportunity, and begin to chisel away at your discomfort and anxiety.

So make networking a lifestyle. When you get it to that point, you’ll stop worrying about how nervous you are to meet new people.

Give & Add Value

A lot of people go into networking hoping to get something from others. Unfortunately, this won’t help you to make a positive impression.

The foundation of good networking is rooted in value. What value can you offer others? How can you help them?

When it comes to connecting with others, a giving mindset is really important. It’s completely counterintuitive, but you should be willing to give without expecting anything in return.

You’ll be amazed at how your influence grows when it’s apparent that you’re there to serve. Nobody likes an emotional vampire.

Don’t Play The Comparison Game

In your networking efforts, you’re probably going to come across competitors and people that are more successful than you. How you handle yourself in those situations will speak volumes of your character.

Refuse to play the comparison game. That’s going to stop you from meeting and connecting with people that may be able to give you useful advice. A quick conversation could even turn into a partnership down the line; you just never know.

Rise above the temptation to nitpick, criticize, and belittle others. Instead see their success as your success. If they can achieve, so can you.

Compliment, encourage, and lift others up, even if you don’t feel like it at first.

Treat Others With Respect

In your networking efforts, you’re probably going to exchange contact information with a lot of different people. However, a business card is not an invitation to spam them mercilessly.

If you’re connecting with likeminded people, odds are they are just as busy as you are. They don’t have a lot of time for idle discussion.

It’s a very good idea to follow up with the people you meet, but you shouldn’t necessarily send them an email the moment you get back to your desk.

Consider how you can add value to them first. If there’s a mutual benefit to connecting, then they will always welcome future interactions.

Be Yourself

It’s such trite advice that it’s almost not worth mentioning. However, being authentic is really important to your networking efforts.

Your tendency might be to live two different lives; one at home and another at work. But shifting between personalities is both tiring and insincere. People might have a harder time connecting with you if you aren’t always you.

Building relationships is easier when you are yourself everywhere you go. You don’t have to think about who you need to be in a certain situation.

The value you bring to any conversation is much clearer when you are true to yourself.

Hold Nothing Back

You don’t have to look far and wide to know that today’s conversations – especially online – are an exchange of value. There may have been a time when people held back from revealing their secrets, but today, information is shared more freely than it ever was in the past.

Going back to what was said about value earlier, you have a tremendous opportunity to give away valuable insights to others, through conversation as well as social media.

Show the world how you can bring value to them. Make it clear what you do and how you can help others.

Use Social Media To Network

Trade shows, industry events, conferences, and other gatherings provide plenty of opportunities to build new connections. However, you shouldn’t underestimate the value of social media in networking.

Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are among the best places to start. You can’t be everywhere all the time, so a focused approach is definitely recommended.

When you meet new people, you can be proactive about asking them if they are on Facebook or Twitter. This is a fairly immediate way of growing your online network.

You can also reach out to people directly on social media if it makes sense to do so. You can let them know how you enjoyed their latest blog post, or invite them to be on your podcast as a guest. There are a lot of different opportunities here.

Conclusion

From Meetup groups and online forums to volunteering and hobby clubs, there are plenty of places for you to network. However, location, setting and technique is less of a concern compared to how you handle yourself.

Do you love people? Do you like adding value to others? Do you have a desire to help and serve those around you?

Even if you are shy, there is a great deal of value to be gained from building your professional network. Getting out of your comfort zone is never easy, regardless of your temperament. Just be willing to introduce yourself, and don’t worry too much about the interactions that don’t go well.

ProBlogger: How to Develop the Right Plan to Grow Your Blog’s Readership

How to Develop the Right Plan to Grow Your Blog’s Readership

Posted: 28 Jul 2015 01:00 PM PDT

We’re getting to the end of our time together, and in these last few days I like to look to the future and see how we can use what we’ve learned over the last few weeks on our blogs.

Today’s challenge is a simple one, although it might take you a bit of time, but it shouldn’t be skipped. We’re going to switch from creating content and the day-to-day of building community with our readers, and do things that are a little more long-term and strategic.

Today is all about growing your readership. I’ll discuss some of the drawbacks of focusing solely on content (as in a “build it and they will come” idea), and why it’s not going to do you any favours if you blog on a whim without a focus.

I’m also going to give you guidance when it comes to where you spend your time, who you are talking to, and how to find readers who will love your blog and what you do. I’ll tell you how to make a list that focuses on these things, and how to figure out what opportunities there are for you to join those readers and make an impact where they already are.

We’ll also have a look at where you are now and if the habits you currently have are serving you. And if they’re not – well, I’ll guide you through how you can make a change to blog to the right audience more effectively.

We’re almost there! Let’s go out with a bang.

Click here to listen to day 29 of the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog series on the ProBlogger Podcast.

Shoemoney - Skills To Pay The Bills

Join me LIVE today on the ShoeMoney Show with BuluBox

Posted: 28 Jul 2015 05:02 AM PDT

Today on the ShoeMoney Show I will have my friend, founder, and CEO of BuluBox – Paul Jarett. And you can join us live and ask questions (see below).

Years ago when I had my office downtown Paul and his wife had rented a month to month super small office to start an online supplement box company. This was right next to ours. It barely had lights let alone a bathroom – guess whose they used LOL.

Long story short he has built one of the largest monthly subscription box companies and has raised over 4 million dollars for the company to date.

Paul will be LIVE on the ShoeMoney Show today at 4PM CST.

You can listen live at webmasterradio.fm or if you want an exclusive behind the scenes and interactive experience join me on periscope as I will be broadcasting live.

Download the periscope app here https://www.periscope.tv/

Then follow me, shoemoney, on twitter and periscope and you will be alerted when it starts!

Talk to you then. Should be awesome!

ProBlogger: 31DBBB Day 28 Writing Challenge: Write a Review Post

31DBBB Day 28 Writing Challenge: Write a Review Post

Posted: 27 Jul 2015 01:00 PM PDT

It’s writing challenge day!

For some of you, this will be “business as usual”, as review posts are already part of your repertoire. For others, it will be something quite new.

In today’s episode we discuss why review posts are even something to consider. They can be useful for many reasons, not just for the reader who may be researching a decision, but also for you and your blog too – not the least of which could lead to monetization. I built my first commercial blog 100% around reviews!

We’ll also discuss the reasons for and against having reviews on your type of niche blog, and the types of reviews you could do depending on your regular topics.

And last but not least, my top tips for how to make your review great – there’s plenty here for everyone, whether you think a review would fit on your blog or not. Try it and see!

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