AFFILIATE MARKETING
HD YouTube Videos With Medium And Canva! | by Deon Christie | ILLUMINATION | Mar, 2023
Linking Medium With YouTube Videos And Canva For Exposure!
Medium Non-Members Can Read The Full Story HERE!
What you will learn from this article.
Understanding content marketing strategies first.
Linking Medium and YouTube strategy in a nutshell.
Turning Medium stories into HD YouTube videos.
Medium YouTube videos page one in 60 seconds!
Importance of creating a free Canva website.
This is where Google video ads will play their part.
Content marketing strategy recap.
Understanding content marketing strategies first.
Linking between YouTube and Medium is a rather effective content marketing strategy. And it really is not all that difficult to do. But first, you need to understand what content marketing strategies are.
One of the primary reasons I failed to make money online for quite a while, is that I didn’t have several content marketing strategies in place. I was just chasing the “next best thing”. All the while gathering knowledge about an arsenal of different content marketing strategies.
Content marketing strategies when it comes to making money online. Is all about the journey you take your reader on, ultimately leading to your sales offer. Without ever having to sales pitch anyone.
Because your content marketing strategy path must be interesting enough and raise sufficient curiosity. Doing that means that by the time your reader or visitor reaches your affiliate offer, for instance, they already have their credit card ready.
Meaning your content must solve a problem, without your reader or visitor having to purchase anything. Once you solved a problem your reader or visitor is struggling with, you become your reader or visitor’s “last stop”. Because they have “found what they were looking for”.
Now, I can carry on with all the different content marketing strategies out there, but that would be an eBook with hundreds of thousands of words. Because there are so many different content marketing strategies it’s overwhelming.
The “key” however, is to combine different strategies and see which ones make up the most profitable content marketing strategy. For the purpose of this demonstration, I am going to show you how to leverage YouTube through Medium without having any fancy video-creating tools.
Several of these strategies are mentioned in other Medium stories I have published, combined into different content marketing strategies. This one in turn is merely a different sequence of combining the strategies.
And I will also provide proof that this works for me. So keep reading because I saved the proof for last. But whether my strategy will work for you remains to be seen and will depend on how well you follow the illustrated guides which I will also include.
This is why you will find that there will be other Medium stories included in this article with step-by-step instructions to complete each step. Like the one below, for instance, covering content marketing strategies in more detail.
Because this content marketing strategy is rather vast, it will be (near) impossible to get everything into one Medium story. More like an eBook. So please note that the included Medium stories form a large part of guiding you through this strategy.
Linking Medium and YouTube strategy in a nutshell.
It all starts with turning your Medium stories into HD YouTube videos, this is done completely free. Because you will have access to all the tools you need to make this strategy work for you too.
Admittedly, yes, it is quite a bit of work, but once fully set up. The results you will see later make it so worth the time and effort. In a nutshell, breaking this content marketing strategy into steps, we will be looking at it in the following order.
Turn Medium Stories Into HD YouTube Videos.
Upload Your Video To YouTube.
Rank Your Video Page One On YouTube.
Cloak Your Medium Story URL.
Create Your Free Medium Website.
Use The Website URL Instead.
Run A $25 Google Video Ad Campaign.
Basically, seven steps. Once completed, you would have established the link between YouTube and Medium. But you will also be getting free traffic from Canva to your website. Effectively combining three sites instead of only two.
Medium (147.3 Million Visitors Per Month)
YouTube (30.6 Billion Visitors Per Month)
Canva (374.3 Million Visitors Per Month)
That is a combined monthly visitor count of around 31.2 BILLION visitors per month. I think that on its own must be reason enough to give this content marketing strategy a shot.
Turning Medium stories into HD YouTube videos.
Getting started with step one, turning your Medium stories into HD YouTube videos. Because HD YouTube videos play a role when it comes to the SEO part of ranking YouTube videos.
But we will get to “rank your YouTube video page one in under 60 seconds” during the course of this content marketing strategy. Below is an example of one of my Medium stories I turned into an HD YouTube video with Canva.
Included in the video description you will find the link to the Medium story related to the video. But try and keep the videos short (30 seconds to 90 seconds), sending a clear and objective message as opposed to covering too many details with a longer video.
If you watch the above video on YouTube, you will notice the cloaking technique I use to cloak all my links. From article links to Medium story links, basically, all links I use online. But why is that?
That is because this cloaking strategy, also makes the cloaked link indexable in search engines. That is how I “index” affiliate offers in search engines. For this, however, you will need your own hosted domain. Because this is done with a plugin called Pretty Links Lite.
Any link that is cloaked with this plugin, will then turn that link into a URL slug. Kind of like a blog post or article URL, which makes it indexable in search engines. Because it points back to your primary domain.
But there are other link-cloaking tools in the event you don’t have your own hosted domain yet. Among some of the favourites you might have heard about are the ones mentioned below.
Tiny URL.
Bitly.
Chrome URL Shortening Browser Extension.
If however, you do have your own hosted domain, I strongly suggest using the Pretty Link Lite plugin. Because it offers the option to include a meta description for every cloaked link too. A must-have tool for any affiliate marketer.
Pretty Links Lite Plugin (affiliate link).
This is a video I created for one of my Medium stories. And it is still ranking for search phrases (video tags) like “medium writing and affiliate marketing”, “affiliate marketing and medium writing”, “medium writing with affiliate marketing”, and “affiliate marketing writing on medium”. One month later!
Now the search volume for these tags is not all that staggering, but the point is targeting. I try thinking of tags people would be more likely to enter into their browsers. And there’s a lot of interest in making money on Medium.
Just quickly coming back to the video length, why only 30–90 seconds long? Well, because apart from ranking your video. I will also show you how to get USA-targeted Google ads video views for $0.012 cents per 30-second video view.
You will then need to use this video, and shorter videos perform better with Google video ads. But you also have the advantage of leveraging a “call-to-action” button to a URL other that the video URL. So, keep reading because we will get to that in a bit.
The step-by-step guide on how to turn Medium stories into HD YouTube videos is already published in another Medium story. You might want to follow the steps as set out and illustrated in the Medium story below.
Medium YouTube videos page one in 60 seconds!
I can suggest the tools I use to help with video ranking, like keyword research, choosing the best title, thumbnail, etc. These are free browser extensions used by a lot of YouTube users.
It tells you your ranking position for the suggested tags, or search phrases. But it does a whole lot more, besides, it’s free to use. Yes, there is an upgraded version, but you really don’t need to upgrade.
I can assure you that the free version will work just fine to get started. Getting your videos on page one of YouTube is the objective here. And these tools will help you with that because it does me.
Tube Buddy (affiliate link)
VidIQ (affiliate link)
These two video SEO tools simplify a lot of tasks for me on YouTube, and I have been using them for years on all my YouTube channels (13). When you focus on YouTube video SEO, there are a few areas of paramount importance, and they are.
Video Title.
Video Description.
Video Thumbnail.
Video Language.
Title And Description Language.
Video Tags (search phrases/keywords).
Video Hashtags.
Recording Date.
Adding Videos To Playlists.
Video End Screen.
Video Cards.
Video Subtitles.
But the step-by-step illustrated guide on how to rank your videos in 60 seconds or less is already covered in another Medium story. Therefore, you might what to read the story below and follow along to get your video ranking on YouTube page one.
However, ranking a video on YouTube page one upon uploading it is the easy part. Maintaining that ranking position will depend on the activity on the video, feeding the algorithm as it were. The more responsive people are to your video, the longer you will maintain the ranking position.
To the best of my understanding, the YouTube algorithm will place more importance on the activity on a video. It is an indication of something that people are looking for. Therefore, justifies preference.
This is why I am sharing the Google video ads strategy at the end of this article. That is to maintain constant activity, and therefore also maintain your video ranking position.
You should now be able to find ranking a YouTube video rather logically if you followed along, especially with the other Medium story included above. All guides are illustrated and explained, making them rather easy to follow.
Watch us rank videos on page one in 60 seconds and get targeted visitors from the two largest search engines on Earth! Google and YouTube! That’s 147 billion visitors per month! — Source
Importance of creating a free Canva website.
Creating a Canva website, a tool you may or might not have heard of. Is part of the Google video ads strategy with your medium story videos. Because you need a link to use with the “call-to-action” button.
These free Canva one-page websites are accepted with Google ads, which is why you need this website link. No more waiting only for your Google to be “not approved”.
Basically, the benefit of this advertising strategy is that you get traffic to three links. Your Medium story YouTube video, the Medium story URL in the video description, and your (Canva) Medium website with the call-to-action button.
Pay Only For Views Exceeding 30 Seconds.
GEO Location, Interest, Topic, And Age Targeted.
Pay $0.012 Cents Per 30-Second View.
Website Views Through Call-To-Action.
But that is just a quick introduction to what is yet to come during the course of this article. Before you create your Medium website with Canva, you must first have a professional Medium profile.
You don’t want people to visit your Medium website, and then your Medium profile and find little to nothing of interest. Or find a faceless profile for instance without any “About” section.
So, please start with your Medium profile before creating your Medium website with Canva. A complete guide is available in the Medium story below. It will guide you step-by-step on how to create a professional Medium profile.
With your Medium website, you want to redirect to different areas with your Medium profile. Personally, I link to the following from my Medium website, which, by the way also receives traffic from Canva with over 370 million visitors per month.
Medium Profile.
Medium About Page.
Medium Publications I Am Editor To.
Below I have included the link to my personal Medium website for redirecting visitors to Medium. Just to give you a better idea of what I find working rather well for me. But it is only a guide.
Just use the guideline, add your own creativity, and your one-page Medium website with Canva will be up and running in no time. Don’t forget that the primary purpose of this website with this particular content marketing strategy.
Is that you will need an acceptable Google ads URL for the “call-to-action” button. Because you will already have a YouTube video link, with the Medium story link in the video description. So, you need another acceptable URL for the call-to-action.
Either way, it all points back to your Medium profile, Medium stories, and Medium publications in the event you already have your own. But if you do not yet have your own Medium publications, then simply redirect to your Medium stories and profile.
The step-by-step guide on how to create your Medium website with Canva is covered in the article below. Therefore, completing this part of the content marketing strategy will require you to follow along.
This is where Google video ads will play their part.
Getting your Google video ad up and running is the final step, but under this subheading, you will also be able to see some results I had by spending a ridiculously tiny amount of money. $25 in fact!
Just a quick recap of the gears you will need to make this traffic machine effective and operational. Everything is completely free, with the exclusion of the gigantic $25 Google video ad investment.
Medium Story YouTube Video.
Cloaking Method.
Free Medium Website.
Allow me to share with you how I stumbled across this really cheap traffic with Google video ads. I was just messing about on YouTube, to see which other “buttons” can be useful. Because that’s what I do, I figure stuff out.
I accidentally clicked the 3 dots next to the “view the video on YouTube” option inside my videos dashboard. A drop-down menu had the option to “promote”. Promote? And curiosity lead me to explore this. So, here we are. But more about exactly how to do that in a bit.
Above you can see a screenshot of my Medium “previous 30 days” analytics. In other words, before I tested this video ad strategy with just one video. I am yet to get into creating a video for every Medium story, all 176 of them, and counting.
But I first had to share this strategy with my valued Medium readers because I know it works, and like a charm too. On the first test run, admittedly, it was not millions of views. But that is beside the point.
It’s not the quantity, but the quality of your visitors and readers that count. Moving on to the “next and current 30 days period” analytics, there is a noticeable change. Below you will notice the spikes in views during the times I ran the video ad.
But you might also want to pay attention to the increase in reads. Because that is where your true power lies with Medium. Reads mean that those are the people interested enough in your content to read the entire Medium story.
Around a 250% growth, as you can see above. You can also see the traffic spikes on the days that I ran the Google video ad. Also, notice how the growth increased and then even stabilized at a much higher average than the previous 30 days’ analytic result.
But before we carry on, as I have mentioned in other Medium stories. This is my new Medium profile, which I started on October 6, 2022. So, the illustration includes the entire growth duration since the Medium profile was created.
For a brand new Medium profile, I am rather satisfied with the results. But the fact that the content marketing strategies I test work, now that is the real reward!
As seen above in the screenshot. Notice how February outgrew the other months by far. Why? Well, February was the month that I took my own strategy for another test drive, so I can have some proof to present.
This a strategy I have used and am using to this day for affiliate marketing, so, I decided to give the same strategy a try with Medium. I figured that because it could drive traffic and generate sales with affiliate marketing.
Then I saw no reason it would not work with Medium, as you can drive traffic to any link with this strategy. As you can see, it clearly had an enormous difference in high-quality growth.
As mentioned earlier, I have spent very little on these Google Ads. R450 (ZAR — South African Rand). Which is around $25! For a high-quality follower increase of +285, and a Medium subscribers increase of +23. For $25?
Trust me when I say, you are going to have a hard time getting that kind of results (and quality) with $25 elsewhere. Especially considering that these followers and subscribers gained are extremely active. And I mean really active and responsive! Because they are targeted!
As seen above, from 176 medium stories there are 2378 responses. Now if that’s not an active audience, then I don’t know what is. Which is why I say, I doubt you will find that kind of quality for $25 elsewhere.
Creating your Google video ad with your Medium story YouTube video is also laid out step-by-step in the Medium story below. Therefore you might want to follow along with this one too, and get this entire strategy properly assembled.
Content marketing strategy recap.
Basically, you just run a video ad, redirecting to your YouTube video with your Medium story (cloaked) URL in the video description. Then include your Medium website URL for the call-to-action redirect.
That way focus all your YouTube traffic efforts on your Medium profile, and in doing so build a responsive Medium audience for mere pennies, literally (well less than pennies actually)!
Simply take your time and follow along with the step-by-step guide Medium stories included. They are completely illustrated, and I tried making them as easy as possible to understand the steps.
This is a rather time-consuming content marketing strategy, but I can assure you that it will be worth your time. Because this will work with any niche, I am just applying the strategy to focus on Medium traffic.
With your Medium website, you can create multiple such websites redirecting to any URL really. Because these Canva website URLs are accepted everywhere, it can be a much larger traffic opportunity than only Medium.
May this strategy work even better for you than it does for me. After you tested it, please let us know in the comments how it worked out for you. I am curious to know how many people this will be working for.
Today all my website traffic is generated from my own efforts, efforts that I have perfected over the years that have created up to 16,364 targeted visitors per day and returned revenue in excess of (See For Yourself Inside) per month! — Source
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links in this post are links to affiliate offers. If you visit them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is entirely up to you. All offers come with a full money-back guarantee!
Free Stuff For My Medium Subscribers.
All new subscribers on Medium will receive 4 free gifts. 2 of my top traffic eBooks, and 2 free memberships (invitation only) for buyer traffic tools I use. Subscribe to me (Deon Christie) on Medium and your free stuff will be emailed to you asap. Medium has no affiliation, nor do they endorse the free giveaway in any way. It is my personal free giveaway to all new Medium subscribers.
AFFILIATE MARKETING
John Thornhills Ambassador Program Review: Unleashing Digital Prosperity
In the realm of online marketing, the pursuit of high-ticket commissions has become a focal point for many aspiring entrepreneurs. Among the various programs available, the John Thornhills Ambassador Program stands out as a proven system that offers a pathway to substantial earnings. This comprehensive review will delve into the core components, benefits, and earning potential of Thornhill’s program. By the end, you will have a clear understanding of how this program can empower you to achieve digital prosperity.
Understanding the John Thornhills Ambassador Program
Designed by the seasoned digital product expert himself, John Thornhill’s Ambassador Program presents a unique opportunity to generate significant commissions. This high-end affiliate marketing initiative revolves around promoting Thornhill’s flagship programs, providing participants with the chance to earn up to $3,493 per high-ticket sale. Notably, the program also offers a 50% profit share from the sales generated by referrals, creating a two-pronged income source.
Click here and start earning your commissions without doing any selling >
Core Components of the Program
To fully comprehend the Ambassador Program, let’s dissect its three core components:
-
High-Ticket Webinar Funnel: As an Ambassador, you gain access to a personalized high-ticket webinar funnel, allowing you to effectively promote Thornhill’s flagship programs.
-
50/50 Profit Share: Any sales generated by your referrals entitle you to a 50% profit share, further augmenting your income potential.
-
Email List Building: Building and leveraging your email list, which you solely own, is a fundamental skill that you will acquire through this program. This skill will result in consistent monthly revenue.
Click here and start earning your commissions without doing any selling >
Benefits of the John Thornhills Ambassador Program
The Ambassador Program offers several distinct advantages that set it apart from other online marketing programs:
-
Earning Potential: With the Ambassador Program, your earning potential is substantial. Not only do you receive significant commissions from high-ticket sales, but you also benefit from the sales generated by your referrals, creating a dual revenue stream.
-
Second-Tier Profits: The program provides an opportunity to earn second-tier profits through the success of your recruited ambassadors. This mutually beneficial arrangement enhances your overall income potential.
-
Email List Building: Effective email list building is a critical aspect of online business. The Ambassador Program equips you with the skills to build and monetize your list effectively, ensuring consistent monthly revenue.
-
Fast-Mover Bonuses: As a testament to Thornhill’s confidence in his program, he offers Fast-Mover Bonuses to those who take swift action. These bonuses typically include additional resources and tools that can jumpstart your affiliate marketing efforts.
-
The Guarantee: Thornhill’s commitment to the success of his program is evident through his guarantee. If you don’t earn at least $2,000 within your first 60 days, he pledges to work with you until you do.
Success Stories
Numerous success stories from beginners to seasoned marketers exemplify the program’s effectiveness. These stories serve as a testament to the potential that the Ambassador Program unlocks, showcasing the real opportunities it offers. The program has empowered individuals to achieve their financial goals and build thriving online businesses.
Joining the John Thornhills Ambassador Program
Joining the Ambassador Program is a straightforward process. Once you sign up, you gain access to all essential resources, including the high-ticket webinar funnel, promotional materials, and comprehensive training modules. This all-inclusive package provides you with everything you need to start earning high-ticket commissions.
Click here and start earning your commissions without doing any selling >
A Deeper Look into The Ambassador Program
To truly maximize the benefits of the Ambassador Program, it is important to delve into its various aspects:
The Training
The program’s comprehensive training serves as the cornerstone of your success. It guides you through every step, from setting up your webinar funnel to driving traffic to your site, ensuring that you have the knowledge and tools necessary for success.
The Commission Model
The Ambassador Program employs a unique two-tiered commission model that allows you to earn from both your sales and the sales made by your recruited affiliates. This model enhances your income potential and provides additional revenue streams.
The Benefits of High-Ticket Commissions
Focusing on high-ticket items has the power to transform your income potential. Selling high-ticket items translates to higher commissions per sale, potentially catapulting your income to new heights.
Click here and start earning your commissions without doing any selling >
Making the Most of The Ambassador Program
To truly capitalize on the Ambassador Program, you must take action and implement what you learn. While Thornhill provides the tools, resources, and knowledge, it is your commitment to applying them that will drive your success. The program offers several strategies to help you make the most of your journey:
Networking and Collaborations
The Ambassador Program is not solely about selling; it also emphasizes building valuable relationships. Networking with fellow ambassadors can lead to collaborations, idea sharing, and more commission opportunities. By fostering connections and engaging with the community, you open doors to new possibilities.
Continual Learning
In the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, continuous learning is essential. The Ambassador Program provides consistent support and updates, ensuring that you stay ahead of the curve. By staying informed about industry trends and implementing new strategies, you can maintain a competitive edge.
The Power of Thornhill’s Proven Funnels
Leveraging Thornhill’s proven funnels is a game-changer. When you join the Ambassador Program, you gain access to his tried-and-tested strategies that have generated millions in sales. By utilizing these proven funnels, you eliminate the guesswork from your marketing efforts and increase your chances of success.
Click here and start earning your commissions without doing any selling >
Top 10 John Thornhill’s Ambassador Program FAQs:
1. What is the John Thornhill Ambassador Program?
The John Thornhill Ambassador Program is a program designed to help individuals build a profitable online business leveraging John Thornhill’s affiliate marketing resources and strategies.
2. Who is John Thornhill?
John Thornhill is an entrepreneur and online marketer known for his expertise in affiliate marketing and digital product creation. He has built a successful online empire and aims to empower others through his programs and courses.
3. What are the benefits of joining the program?
The program offers several benefits, including:
- Access to John Thornhill’s proven affiliate marketing strategies and resources.
- Done-for-you marketing materials and sales funnels.
- Community support and mentorship from experienced online entrepreneurs.
- Free training and resources on various online marketing topics.
- Lifetime commissions on sales generated through your affiliate link.
4. Do I need any prior experience to join?
No, the program is designed for individuals of all experience levels, even those with no prior knowledge of online marketing.
5. How much time do I need to commit to the program?
The amount of time you need to commit will depend on your individual goals and desired level of success. However, the program recommends dedicating at least 10-15 hours per week to achieve significant results.
6. What are the payment options available?
The John Thornhill Ambassador Program offers three main payment options:
- One-Time Payment: Pay the full program fee upfront through a secure online payment system for immediate access to the program’s resources. This option offers significant savings compared to monthly plans.
- Flexible Payment Plans: Spread the cost over several months with convenient monthly installments. The program offers various plans with different durations and pricing. Choose the one that best fits your budget and financial situation.
- Financing Options: Partner with third-party financing providers to extend your payment term and manage your cash flow. This option allows you to access the program and start generating income while making manageable monthly payments.
7. Is there a guarantee?
There is no money-back guarantee offered by the program. However, they offer a 30-day refund policy in case you are not satisfied with the program content.
8. What makes this program different from others?
The program emphasizes John Thornhill’s proven affiliate marketing strategies and provides access to his done-for-you marketing materials, which are designed to save participants time and effort. Additionally, the program offers personalized mentorship and support from experienced online entrepreneurs.
9. Who should consider joining this program?
This program is ideal for individuals who:
- Want to learn proven affiliate marketing strategies from a successful entrepreneur.
- Are looking for a step-by-step system to build a profitable online business.
- Appreciate done-for-you marketing materials and resources.
- Desire community support and mentorship.
- Aim to earn lifetime commissions through affiliate marketing.
10. Where can I learn more about the program?
You can learn more about the John Thornhill Ambassador Program by visiting their website. They also offer free training sessions and webinars that provide further details about the program and its benefits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John Thornhill’s Ambassador Program offers a comprehensive and proven model for earning high commissions online. With its focus on high-ticket products, a two-tiered commission structure, and proven funnels, it presents a compelling opportunity for anyone seeking substantial online income. Success in the program requires dedication, hard work, and a willingness to apply what you learn. By leveraging the training, support, and mentorship provided, you can embark on a journey towards achieving digital prosperity.
AFFILIATE MARKETING
Revolutionising affiliate marketing in the era of influencers, ET BrandEquity
Affiliate marketing spends in India are estimated to be Rs 2500 crore in FY 2023, constituting eight percent of the overall digital marketing spend, according to the State of Digital Marketing in India report. Despite the popularity of affiliate marketing, the model presents its own challenges, such as onboarding and managing affiliates, high commission fees, and vulnerability to fraudulent and malicious practices.
During a discussion at DigiPlus Fest 2023, marketers explored the evolving landscape of affiliate marketing and strategies to optimise return on investment (RoI). The session featured Nishant Jaiswal, VP – marketing, Zupee; Sachin Vashishtha, chief marketing officer, Paisabazaar, and was chaired by Saumya Jain, ETBrandEquity.com.
Essentially, affiliate marketing involves incentivizing affiliates with a commission or payout to drive a business action, such as a click or purchase. The practice began with blogs, websites, and email but has since expanded to include social media and e-commerce platforms.
Vashishtha observed that while affiliate marketing was one of the most profitable and RoI-positive ways for online businesses to grow, it didn’t take long for bad actors to leverage it for fraud. Affiliates with malicious intent began generating traffic for brands using any means necessary to earn a commission.
The practice started losing its appeal until the explosion of the creator economy and the rise of influencers. Additionally, improvements in technology and the emergence of attribution models like multi-touch attribution or view-through attribution started bringing transparency into the affiliate marketing model.
Jaiswal remarked that affiliate marketing in India is still nascent compared to global platforms, where many end publishers are not directly accessible to advertisers. He said, “With technology, many fraud-related concerns like click hijacking, app install hijacking, and click spam can be controlled by your mobile measurement partner (MMP) or attribution partner.”
However, despite technological advancements, brands still run the risk of being visible in an unsafe environment due to the way affiliate marketing models are structured. While advertisers primarily engage with larger affiliate networks, campaigns might be outsourced to smaller publishers, networks, and individuals, making it challenging to map where conversions are coming from. Additionally, smaller publishers or creators may create clickbait content or reach out to irrelevant audiences simply to drive traffic or act with malicious intent, harming the brand’s reputation.
Vashishtha stated, “You can go back to the affiliate network and ban the publisher, but it is still very difficult to work with the ecosystem the way it is now. We prefer to work with large publishers or content creators directly.”
By working directly with publishers or creators, brands can see how content gets created and deployed to generate conversions. Jaiswal suggested that brands could share a high volume of assets with affiliates directly to test their effectiveness and ensure that the brand positioning and messaging remain consistent.
While it is not entirely avoidable to discourage malicious activity, Jaiswal opined that assigning realistic key performance indicators (KPIs) while designing the campaign can automatically rule out any fraud from the equation. He said, “Marketers could leverage a combination of hard KPIs and soft KPIs, where soft KPIs can be click-to-conversion rate, sign-up-to-purchase rate, and hard KPIs could be cost-to-purchase or cost-to-sign-up.”
Affiliate marketing has its fair share of challenges; however, the ecosystem is continuously evolving. With new technologies like AI, affiliate marketing initiatives will become sharper and more targeted.
AFFILIATE MARKETING
First, AI came for Sports Illustrated. Soon, it will want to give you sports betting advice
Real Sports Bar and Grill in Toronto on Nov. 24, 2016.Glenn Lowson/The Globe and Mail
When Sports Illustrated was outed last week for its alleged use of generative AI to create online articles – and, even worse, for topping them with fake bylines and AI author headshots – readers of the legendary glossy were appalled and disappointed at how the mighty had fallen.
But there was one element of the story that largely got lost amid the outrage, and it hints at an even darker prospect of what lies ahead for sports media and fans.
The SI pieces in question were product reviews: Inoffensive rankings of say, seven brands of volleyballs, which included links to Amazon that a reader could click on if they suddenly felt the urge to take up the sport. So, not only was the editorial copy generated by fake people, it was actually fake editorial copy. It was real advertising.
The practice of peppering editorial content with commercial links – known in the business as affiliate marketing – is a mainstay of Internet advertising, from movie reviews that direct readers to online ticketing sites, to podcasters and TikTok influencers giving out discount codes for listeners or viewers to buy merch from specific retailers.
But affiliate marketing has exploded in recent years in one notorious segment of the industry – sports betting, and its gush of ad dollars that are falling on a desperate media sector like rain on a parched prairie.
Affiliate sites that funnel new customers to online gambling operators are raking in the cash because of a quirk in that segment of the business – and they’re doing it on the backs of those new bettors.
In the spring of 2021, the Canadian sports media startup Playmaker Capital went public on the TSX Venture Exchange and quickly began scooping up digital properties with large followings that the company believed could be converted to bettors. When I interviewed Playmaker’s CEO, Jordan Gnat, shortly after shares began trading, he said he wanted to be in “the fan monetization business.”
There were tens of millions to monetize. The company began by buying soccer-focused sites in Latin America such as Bolavip, which targeted fans in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Central America and the United States, then expanded into the English-language North American market with the newsletter publisher and aggregator Yardbarker. Here in Canada it bought The Nation Network, which operates the hockey fantasy site, Daily Faceoff, and the Quebec-based La Poche Bleue.
But last month, Playmaker went from the hunter to the hunted when Better Collective, an affiliate-marketing giant based in Denmark that Gnat had cited to me as an inspiration for his company, gobbled it up for about $260-million.
The flurry of activity is partly because affiliate marketers who funnel customers to sportsbooks are an entirely different beast. They’re not just making one-time commissions, as they would if they were helping to sell concert tickets or tennis racquets or fly traps. Instead, they get a percentage of the sportsbook’s net revenue made from any new bettor.
“Net revenue” is another term for “total lifetime losses by a new bettor.”
Forget the pennies that digital ads are infamous for bringing in. If a site converts a reader or listener or viewer into a regular gambler – that is, a regular loser – the payday can be hundreds of dollars or more.
Here’s where it might occur to you that the incentives for a site to give you good betting advice might clash with that same site’s incentive to get you to sign up with a sports book and then lose a lot of money.
You would not be wrong.
In the social-media industry, there’s a saying that if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product. In the world of affiliate marketing, you are the product – the one that’s being sold to the sportsbooks. But boy, are you paying for it.
An academic paper published in January, 2020, in International Gambling Studies titled Affiliate Marketing of Sports Betting – A Cause for Concern? points out that many sites aren’t transparent about their duelling allegiances. It also notes that “people assign greater levels of trust to expert advice during decision-making tasks involving financial risk. This may be a particular concern for those who are just beginning to gamble upon sport, as they may be more inclined to rely on expert advice on bet choice due to their lack of experience.” Newbies may be especially susceptible, given that affiliates position themselves as being on the side of the bettor, when in fact they’re being paid by the sportsbook.
Which brings us full circle back to where we started. Generative AI is notoriously bad at a lot of things, including getting facts straight. But it’s very good at sounding confident, even as it bluffs its way through life.
And it’s about to use its charms to lull you into thinking you can beat the house.
Last May, Lloyd Danzig, the managing partner at the New York-based venture-capital company Sharp Alpha Advisors, noted in a piece for Sports Business Journal that publishers doing affiliate marketing for sportsbooks, “will soon leverage generative AI to instantly create thousands of SEO-optimized articles that discuss the current day’s calendar of games, betting trends, stories to follow, and sportsbook promotions. Pregame previews, postgame summaries, and highlight reels can be created on command without the use of specialized software or manual oversight. Articles, sportsbook reviews, and odds comparison pieces can be generated for any audience, with a fraction of the effort required from human writers.”
Think we’re already swamped with sports betting content? You haven’t seen anything yet.
Après ChatGPT, le déluge.
8 Best Zapier Alternatives to Automate Your Website
YouTube Highlights its Top Trends, Topics and Creators of 2023
Mastering The Laws of Marketing in Madness
Intro to Amazon Non-endemic Advertising: Benefits & Examples
Watch Live on December 11 – WordPress.com News
12 Holiday Emails for Customers (Templates & Examples!)
With the end of the Hollywood writers and actors strikes, the creator economy is the next frontier for organized labor
8 Super-Helpful AI Features in Google Ads
12 Creative Lead Magnet Ideas For Law Firms
Critical WordPress Form Plugin Vulnerability Affects Up To +200,000 Installs
-
WORDPRESS4 days ago8 Best Zapier Alternatives to Automate Your Website
-
SOCIAL4 days agoYouTube Highlights its Top Trends, Topics and Creators of 2023
-
MARKETING5 days agoMastering The Laws of Marketing in Madness
-
MARKETING6 days agoIntro to Amazon Non-endemic Advertising: Benefits & Examples
-
WORDPRESS5 days agoWatch Live on December 11 – WordPress.com News
-
PPC5 days ago12 Holiday Emails for Customers (Templates & Examples!)
-
SOCIAL6 days agoWith the end of the Hollywood writers and actors strikes, the creator economy is the next frontier for organized labor
-
PPC6 days ago8 Super-Helpful AI Features in Google Ads