SEO
B2B SaaS Marketing: The Ahrefs Guide
What sets B2B SaaS marketing apart from its B2C counterpart is the length of the buyer’s journey.
A buyer’s journey consists of the steps that a customer takes in order to purchase a product or a service. It’s everything from discovering the brand to comparing with competitors, checking the pricing page, chatting with sales, and so on.
B2C products/services typically need less consideration. Therefore, their buyer’s journey is relatively short.
B2B products/services typically need more careful decision-making. There are more decision-makers, and there’s a higher need for educational content. Therefore, the journey is longer and takes more time.
That’s the theory. But how does B2B SaaS marketing work in practice? In this article, we’re sharing our take on it.
A little bit about Ahrefs. We’re a bootstrapped company founded in 2011, and we recently passed $100M in ARR. Our business is an all-in-one SEO SaaS solution, and our customers are mostly businesses (small and big). We run a relatively small marketing team.
Here’s what works in B2B marketing from our experience.
Take a stake in product development
It’s true that marketers bridge the gap between the company and the customers. They’re constantly balancing between business objectives and what the user wants.
But you can fulfill that role effectively only if you become a power user of the product, aka your own customer. This allows you to do four extremely important things:
- Find problems sooner than the customer
- Be a true user’s advocate in product development
- Help prioritize feature development
- Uncover new market segments
Obviously, the only way to achieve that is to spend a lot of time with the product. But having some kind of process in place helps. In the case of Ahrefs, that’s mainly two things:
- All marketers begin with one to two months in customer support. You can’t touch any marketing before you complete that.
- Most marketers take part in our product-led content strategy, which makes them essentially product marketers. And that leads us to the next section.
Create product-led, SEO content
Let’s unpack this.
Product-led content is a strategy where you prioritize topics where you can help people solve problems with the help of your product.
SEO content is content designed to rank in the search engines.
When you combine those two concepts, you get convincing messaging with a free distribution mechanism.
For example, there are tens of thousands of monthly searches for how to do keyword research, and our blog post featuring Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer ranks in the top five for many of them.
Thanks to that, the article generates thousands of visits each month.
This strategy allows you to leverage search demand on YouTube too. You can even repurpose the same content.
So a product-led content piece like that can do three things simultaneously:
- Create awareness – Searchers are introduced to the brand through content.
- Acquire new customers – After reading the content, our solution may be among the ones they’ll consider.
- Retain existing customers – Our customers may learn new keyword research processes, which keep them using the product.
And because of that trifecta, we’re not thinking in terms of mapping content to stages of the marketing funnel. Instead, we’re trying to prioritize topics that show a high business potential.
You can learn how to replicate this strategy in our guide to product-led content or watch our short video.
Publish original research
Original research is great for two things: backlinks and thought leadership.
Backlinks are links to your site from other sites. They are important because they help you rank in Google (one of the key ranking factors).
Original research, such as data studies, case studies, industry surveys, etc., attracts backlinks because other authors use them as sources. In turn, pages with a lot of backlinks accumulate authority, which you can guide to other valuable pages on your site to help them rank (see Middleman Method).
For example, our study on why most content on the web gets no organic traffic earned 5.9K backlinks from 2.8K referring domains and still keeps earning them without any effort from our side.
As for thought leadership, the more competitive your SaaS niche is, the more you need it.
When other sites mention your research, you start to be viewed as a trusted, highly regarded brand. You’re no longer a “stranger,” and that really helps with sales.
Here are some ways you can come up with ideas for your research:
- Study popular topics in your niche and see if you can add to the conversation
- Challenge the status quo with fresh data
- Look at others’ research and see if there are any blanks you can fill
To find popular topics in our niche, we often use our own Content Explorer (again, dogfooding). For example, to find relevant research about SEO, we can look for content that has “study” in the title and at least 200 referring domains (to weed out some less popular ones).
Retain users by educating them
In SaaS, one of the biggest challenges is churn—the proportion of customers who stop paying for your product or service.
We never believe in any marketing hacks that supposedly stop people from canceling their plans when they want to. Instead, we’re trying to educate users so that they know how to use Ahrefs and get the most value out of the product.
Product-led content is one example, but there are more.
For example, if a user is just starting out with Ahrefs or SEO, they can find complete courses in our Academy.
For those customers who prefer live training, we host regular onboarding webinars on our community platform.
And if the user ever feels lost, they will find helpful content right inside the tool.
Ideas for educational content can come from different sources: keyword research, support, interviews with customers, competition, or just being a part of the process when introducing a new feature.
There’s nothing innovative in our approach, but it doesn’t need to be. Educational content is not about originality but the helpfulness and thoroughness of the context itself.
Network at industry events
At the startup/small company level, what’s important for SaaS companies at industry events is networking rather than sales. You can learn a lot from other SaaS companies and people who use their products. You may even meet your own users.
Thing is, you don’t really need a large budget to attend industry events because you don’t really need to be an exhibitor or a sponsor.
- You can come up with an interesting topic and pitch as a speaker. Zero cost.
- You can just go there as a regular attendee. Minimal cost.
Partner up with content creators in your niche
Bloggers, YouTubers, TikTokers, and podcast hosts are often open to different forms of partnerships. These can include being featured as a sponsor, sponsored articles, or a shoutout during an interview on a podcast.
The reach and influence of content creators are a great opportunity for brands. Chances are, some creators are already attracting your target audience.
But should you expect instant sales from this channel? In our experience, that’s a definitive no. Remember about the buyer’s journey—businesses need more time.
What you effectively can do with partnerships is generate brand awareness in a way that your audience can appreciate (you’re supporting their favorite creators).
Furthermore, you can try promoting something that needs less consideration than your core product. For instance, a free tool or a free course. Think of it as a faster route to your brand. In our case, we usually promote the free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools instead of our premium toolkit.
I also asked our partnership manager, Igor Gorbenko, for a few tips, and here’s what he said:
You’ll only get the hang of this tactic by diving in and doing it. I mean, your best prospects will probably come through references, which will come to you as you go. Also, a good content creator won’t necessarily make a good partner. You need to do due diligence and invest in those who are willing to invest their time in you.
By the way, want to see what we learned after spending over $50K on sponsored podcasts?
Don’t sleep on sales enablement
We’re talking about resources that help the sales department engage with bigger accounts and close deals: pitch decks, articles, landing pages, battle cards, brochures for different types of accounts, etc.
The sales team is going to get a ton of uncomfortable questions related to your competitors, use cases, and every aspect of the product’s functionality. Marketing is usually the best place to answer these questions.
But to be really helpful to sales, it’s best to answer those questions before they come.
No need for a complex system here. To start off on the right foot, you need only a few things. These are to:
- Make a list of strengths and weaknesses of your solution. Strengths will help the sales reps guide the conversation, and knowing the weaknesses will help them address those beforehand.
- Ask sales reps what kind of materials were helpful to them before.
- Make a commitment to revisit the materials to see if anything needs regular updates.
- Create a place where sales reps can be notified of product updates. A good idea is something like a channel on Slack because people often have questions and comments about new releases.
Use local marketing to penetrate key markets
Promoting your product in English is the best bet to get customers all over the world. But if you’re starting to see non-English-speaking countries becoming regular customers or competitors showing interest in those markets, you may need to invest in local marketing.
For example, increasing our brand’s awareness in Spanish-speaking countries required dedicating one person to just that. My colleague, Erik Sarissky, spends most of his time being physically present in those countries and networking with local communities and influencers.
The reason why this approach works probably won’t surprise you. As Erik puts it:
This is a market where people prefer to make deals in the local language, despite the fact English is usually not a problem. People also appreciate that we’re making an effort to be closer to them. It really helps to show our commitment.
The takeaway here is that you may need to take local marketing into consideration while building a global marketing strategy. Think about it next time you’re preparing your budget. Maybe there’s already someone on your team who already has the necessary skills or is native to a key market?
Marketing is not about pouring everything into one pot. It’s about finding the right mix.
To find the right mix, you need to experiment. We’ve done our fair share of that, and we still do. Here are some things we tried or seriously considered. It’s possible you’ll find something that might work for your business:
Here are a few more tactics that tend to work in B2B SaaS:
- Account-based marketing – It’s about a close alignment of marketing and sales with the goal of targeting a narrow selection of potential customers. Learn more about ABM.
- Growth loops – A system where actions of existing users attract new users. For example, referral programs or a marketplace for third-party apps. Learn more about growth loops.
- Lead-nurturing workflows – It’s about gradually converting leads to customers through a set of automated messages using various channels like email or in-app messages. Learn more about lead-nurturing workflows.
- Advertising – We’re not too big on online ads, but some SaaS businesses treat them as one of the main customer acquisition channels. It’s relatively easy to measure, and you can scale it fast. Each platform is different but definitely have a look at Google Ads and Quora.
Final thoughts
There are many tricks in the book, but it’s not about how many you use. Small teams should focus on the true value drivers and then allocate some resources for experimentation.
So experiment and scale what works.
SEO
Plot Up To Five Metrics At Once
Google has rolled out changes to Analytics, adding features to help you make more sense of your data.
The update brings several key improvements:
- You can now compare up to five different metrics side by side.
- A new tool automatically spots unusual trends in your data.
- A more detailed report on transactions gives a closer look at revenue.
- The acquisition reports now separate user and session data more clearly.
- It’s easier to understand what each report does with new descriptions.
Here’s an overview of these new features, why they matter, and how they might help improve your data analysis and decision-making.
▶ ️We’ve introduced plot rows in detailed reports. You can now visualize up to 5 rows of data directly within your detailed reports to measure their changes over time.
We’ve also launched these new report features:
🔎: Anomaly detection to flag unusual data fluctuations
📊:… pic.twitter.com/VDPXe2Q9wQ— Google Analytics (@googleanalytics) September 5, 2024
Plot Rows: Enhanced Data Visualization
The most prominent addition is the “Plot Rows” feature.
You can now visualize up to five rows of data simultaneously within your reports, allowing for quick comparisons and trend analysis.
This feature is accessible by selecting the desired rows and clicking the “Plot Rows” option.
Anomaly Detection: Spotting Unusual Patterns
Google Analytics has implemented an anomaly detection system to help you identify potential issues or opportunities.
This new tool automatically flags unusual data fluctuations, making it easier to spot unexpected traffic spikes, sudden drops, or other noteworthy trends.
Improved Report Navigation & Understanding
Google Analytics has added hover-over descriptions for report titles.
These brief explanations provide context and include links to more detailed information about each report’s purpose and metrics.
Key Event Marking In Events Report
The Events report allows you to mark significant events for easy reference.
This feature, accessed through a three-dot menu at the end of each event row, helps you prioritize and track important data points.
New Transactions Report For Revenue Insights
For ecommerce businesses, the new Transactions report offers granular insights into revenue streams.
This feature provides information about each transaction, utilizing the transaction_id parameter to give you a comprehensive view of sales data.
Scope Changes In Acquisition Reports
Google has refined its acquisition reports to offer more targeted metrics.
The User Acquisition report now includes user-related metrics such as Total Users, New Users, and Returning Users.
Meanwhile, the Traffic Acquisition report focuses on session-related metrics like Sessions, Engaged Sessions, and Sessions per Event.
What To Do Next
As you explore these new features, keep in mind:
- Familiarize yourself with the new Plot Rows function to make the most of comparative data analysis.
- Pay attention to the anomaly detection alerts, but always investigate the context behind flagged data points.
- Take advantage of the more detailed Transactions report to understand your revenue patterns better.
- Experiment with the refined acquisition reports to see which metrics are most valuable for your needs.
As with any new tool, there will likely be a learning curve as you incorporate these features into your workflow.
FAQ
What is the “Plot Rows” feature in Google Analytics?
The “Plot Rows” feature allows you to visualize up to five rows of data at the same time. This makes it easier to compare different metrics side by side within your reports, facilitating quick comparisons and trend analysis. To use this feature, select the desired rows and click the “Plot Rows” option.
How does the new anomaly detection system work in Google Analytics?
Google Analytics’ new anomaly detection system automatically flags unusual data patterns. This tool helps identify potential issues or opportunities by spotting unexpected traffic spikes, sudden drops, or other notable trends, making it easier for users to focus on significant data fluctuations.
What improvements have been made to the Transactions report in Google Analytics?
The enhanced Transactions report provides detailed insights into revenue for ecommerce businesses. It utilizes the transaction_id parameter to offer granular information about each transaction, helping businesses get a better understanding of their revenue streams.
Featured Image: Vladimka production/Shutterstock
SEO
Top 10 Affiliate Marketing Platforms To Maximize Sales In 2024
Affiliate marketing has been experiencing explosive growth in recent years, so it’s essential now more than ever for brands to run affiliate programs of their own.
It involves brands hiring affiliates to promote their products and services and rewarding them with a commission from every sale.
As such, affiliate marketing is an excellent low-cost and low-risk way for brands to drive sales and brand awareness without hiring an in-house advertising and marketing team of their own.
Affiliate marketing spending worldwide is estimated at around $14 billion in 2024 – and the industry is predicted to reach a worth of over $38 billion by 2031.
Affiliate Marketing And SEO
Affiliate marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) both share a common goal of attracting relevant and high-quality traffic to a site with the goal of increasing sales.
As such, both of these marketing activities shouldn’t be perceived as two separate, competing entities.
Instead, you should look at them as one and the same that work together in perfect harmony to increase website traffic and generate more revenue.
The most successful publishers in the affiliate marketing space combine the two to get the best of both worlds.
SEO affiliate marketing involves choosing the right products and affiliate programs that attract the most search traffic and offer the best commissions.
Publishers often make the most of affiliate marketing by creating content that adds real value for their readers and prioritizes their experience.
Publishers often do this by creating “Best of” or “Top X” oriented posts that address their audience’s needs and pain points, while, at the same time, allowing them to monetize their content by using affiliate links throughout the posts.
By adding relevant and contextual affiliate links in such posts, publishers foster an authentic user experience that puts their readers first.
This is one of the most significant advantages of affiliate marketing compared to alternative marketing methods such as sponsored posts.
Today’s consumers are increasingly distancing themselves from heavily business-oriented content, as it’s often perceived as inauthentic and disingenuous.
By focusing on high-quality content that adds value to readers and combining it with relevant and contextual affiliate links, everyone wins!
Additionally, Google rewards publishers who create original content and add real value for their readers.
They reward such publishers by placing them higher in search results and driving more traffic to them.
But, in today’s highly competitive and increasingly dynamic market, how can brands find the time to manage and grow their affiliate marketing program?
The answer is with the help of the right affiliate marketing software that streamlines the entire process.
Once upon a time, running a successful affiliate marketing program meant manually managing every aspect – a time-consuming and inefficient process.
Thankfully, these days, affiliate marketing software and solutions have evolved to offer all the necessary tools in a single place, which simplifies the whole process and enables brands to optimize their programs and focus on growth.
Therefore, brands need to utilize the right affiliate marketing software to stay competitive and maximize ROI in today’s highly competitive affiliate marketing space.
This article will go over what affiliate marketing software is and what makes a great affiliate software platform.
We’ll also review the top 10 affiliate marketing software platforms that brands can use to take their affiliate program to the next level.
What Is An Affiliate Marketing Software?
In a nutshell, affiliate marketing software is a comprehensive tool that facilitates all aspects of affiliate marketing program management.
It allows brands to track, manage, and grow their affiliate marketing campaigns.
Most affiliate marketing software platforms share standard features such as affiliate onboarding, collaboration with affiliate partners, affiliate tracking and reporting, and referral, cost, and commission payment management.
What Makes A Good Affiliate Marketing Software Platform?
Though most affiliate marketing software platforms share many of the same features, what sets apart the good platforms from the bad is what’s important.
For starters, the actual platform must have an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
An affiliate marketing platform can boast all of the best affiliate tools and features available.
Still, it’s a moot effort if the dashboard is complicated for most people.
Additionally, since brands usually utilize a variety of Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms for ecommerce and affiliate marketing, affiliate marketing software platforms need to offer tons of third-party SaaS integrations.
The best affiliate marketing software platforms offer robust tracking and reporting capabilities.
Brands need to be able to precisely track their affiliate sales and access real-time granular data to measure the ROI of their affiliate campaigns effectively.
Additionally, a good affiliate marketing platform will provide brands with all the affiliate tools they need to launch, manage, promote, and scale their affiliate programs, such as flexible commission management and customizable real-time affiliate tracking and reporting capabilities.
At the same time, they should offer their clients peace of mind by providing the highest level of fraud detection and other security features.
Lastly, the best affiliate marketing software platforms mean nothing if there isn’t quality customer service available 24/7 to back it up. Readily available customer assistance is equally important for brands as it is for affiliates.
Top 10 Affiliate Marketing Software
1. Refersion
With over 60,000+ registered merchants, 6.6 million affiliates managed, and $2 billion in affiliate revenue tracked, Refersion is one of the leading affiliate marketing software platforms on the market.
Its robust and highly personalized dashboard allows brands to manage all aspects of their affiliate program, such as monitoring all aspects of their affiliate activity with extensive real-time reporting capability.
Refersion offers brands all the tools they need to scale and promote their affiliate programs, such as managing commissions, payouts, and providing simplified tax automation. It also offers easy integration with popular tools like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.
While Refersion does come with a higher price point than some competitors – starting at $99 per month – it’s hard to find a solution that offers the same level of top-notch affiliate tools, marketplace, and customer service.
Pricing:
- The professional tier starts at $99/month (if paid annually) for up to 50 monthly order conversions.
- The business tier starts at $249/month (if paid annually) for up to 200 monthly order conversions.
- The enterprise tier is available with unlimited monthly order conversions – you’ll need to contact Refersion for pricing details.
2. Impact
Screenshot from Impact.com, August 2024Impact is one of the biggest affiliate marketing software platforms for cloud automation.
Its signature product, the Impact Partnership Cloud, allows brands to automate their affiliate and influencer marketing campaigns. It offers a marketplace where brands can connect with a network of affiliates, influencers, ambassadors, and other possible partners.
The platform’s tools also include dynamic commissioning, reporting, advanced analytics, and third-party integrations for companies to track and manage their affiliate programs.
However, pricing is not readily available, and you must contact the Impact sales team for a custom quote.
Pricing:
- Custom quotes are available upon request.
3. Tapfiliate
Screenshot from Tapfiliate.com, August 2024For businesses primarily operating and generating their revenue on ecommerce SaaS platforms, Tapfiliate may be a great choice.
It features a range of automation capabilities, including an autopilot mode that can automate things such as onboarding new affiliates, sharing via social media, or even drip campaigns.
Tapfiliate easily integrates with major ecommerce players like Shopify and WooCommerce, and offers advanced tracking and reporting capabilities. However, most of the features are accessible only through the Pro plan, which starts at $149 a month – nothing to sneeze at.
Pricing:
- The essential plan starts at $74/month for 1 team member and basic features.
- The pro plan starts at $124/month for 5 team members and more advanced features.
- The enterprise plan offers custom pricing for unlimited team members, unlimited tracking requests, a dedicated personal manager, and more.
4. Awin
Screenshot from Awin.com, August 2024Awin, previously known as Zanox, merged with Affilinet in 2017 to become one of the largest affiliate marketing platforms, providing “unlimited access to over 1M vetted partners.”
It features a handful of marketing and reporting features you’d expect from such an extensive network, like tools for cross-device tracking, real-time reporting, and automated compliance management.
The platform’s Awin Access program is an interesting option for smaller businesses or teams newer to affiliate marketing, as it offers a straightforward setup process and flexible pricing to make joining the network easier.
Registration is free on Awin, but it uses a performance-based pricing model. This means brands pay a predetermined cost-per-acquisition (CPA), and specific pricing details are only available upon request.
Pricing:
- Custom quotes are available upon request.
5. CAKE
Screenshot from getcake.com, August 2024CAKE is another SaaS-based affiliate marketing platform, meaning you can access it from anywhere (with an Internet connection).
CAKE partners with a bunch of partners to offer a variety of streamlined and automated features. It’s known for its great tracking and reporting capabilities, which enable you to follow and optimize your campaigns in real time.
The platform boasts more than 500 advertisers, networks, and publishers across 50+ countries, and it offers 24/7 customer support to its users. It has customizable features, granular data analysis, and impressive fraud protection to give customers peace of mind.
Unfortunately, CAKE’s pricing is not readily available on its website. It also doesn’t feature any pre-made promotional tools for marketers, which doesn’t make it quite suitable for novice users just starting out with their affiliate program
Pricing:
- Custom quotes are available upon request.
6. ClickBank
Screenshot from ClickBank.com, August 2024ClickBank was one of the first affiliate platforms, launching all the way back in 1998. Since then, it’s grown to one of the largest affiliate marketplaces with over 200 million customers.
According to the company’s website, there are 300,000+ daily purchases made on ClickBank – and it boasts $4.2B in paid commissions.
ClickBank stands out for its native support for subscription services, which makes it easy for brands to create one-click, repeatable purchases. This allows them to provide monthly products without requiring manual monthly payments.
It also offers some of the standard features commonly found on most affiliate platforms, such as affiliate reporting, payments, commissions management, and third-party integrations. It’s quick and easy to list your products and set up affiliate programs on the platform.
However, compared to some of the other affiliate platforms on this list, it doesn’t offer a demo, free trial, or monthly pricing. Instead, ClickBank charges a one-time activation to list products on the platform and then a fee per sale.
Pricing:
- One-Time Activation Fee: $49.95.
- Transaction Fee: 7.5% + $1 per sale.
7. CJ Affiliate
Screenshot from cj.com, August 2024CJ Affiliate is a well-known and reputable affiliate marketing platform. It offers access to hundreds of advertisers, publishers, and potential partners in one platform.
CJ Affiliate provides a customizable dashboard and a variety of reports and specialized tools, including advanced tracking and reporting capabilities. Most notably, it offers specialized tools, such as Deep Link Automation and Product Widgets, that enable brands to improve their affiliate program ROI.
While CJ Affiliate is a great choice for businesses of all sizes, it’s worth noting that the company doesn’t provide a free trial or demo, operates on a performance-based pricing model, and you’ll need to reach out for specific details.
Pricing:
- Custom quotes are available upon request.
8. TUNE
Screenshot from Tune.com, August 2024Designed for companies that require detailed tracking and analytics, TUNE allows brands to build, manage, and grow their affiliate partner networks through its proprietary marketing technology.
TUNE offers a flexible platform, which users can tweak and tailor to fit their needs. Within the platform, you have customizable tools, commissions, payments, and real-time affiliate tracking and reporting.
However, it doesn’t provide affiliate promotional tools like most other platforms, and there is no straightforward pricing listed on the website.
It does, however, list details on its different plans, including a Pro Plan with basic features up to an Enterprise Plan with features like custom integrations, premium support, enhanced fraud prevention, and more.
Pricing:
- Custom quote available upon request.
9. LeadDyno
Screenshot from LeadDyno.com, August 2024LeadDyno specializes in affiliate program promotion and perhaps offers the most promotional tools available in an affiliate marketing software platform.
LeadDyno offers tools that enable brands to create various promotional campaigns, such as email, newsletters, and social media campaigns, making it a wonderful choice for companies that want to expand the reach of their programs.
It provides a straightforward user experience that makes it easy to onboard affiliates, track your performance, and manage payouts. Extensive real-time tracking and reporting features give businesses the ability to monitor and optimize their campaigns.
Pricing is on the affordable side and LeadDyno offers a free trial – which not all tools on this list do!
Pricing:
- The lite plan starts at $49/month for up to 50 active affiliates, one commission plan, one reward structure, and other basics.
- The essential plan is $129.month and offers up to 150 active affiliates, three commission plans, and one reward structure, as well as other advanced features like a landing page, 1:1 call and video support, and more.
- The advanced plan is $349/month and offers up to 500 active affiliates, unlimited reward structures and commission plans, and many other advanced features.
- The unlimited plan is $749/month and offers unlimited active affiliates, unlimited reward structures and commission plans, and more.
10. ShareASale
Screenshot from ShareASale.com, August 2024With over 20 years of experience, ShareASale has been around for quite some time. It’s a reliable solution for merchants and affiliates alike, and carries a variety of tools to help boost your affiliate marketing programs.
If you’re looking for an extensive network of affiliates and partners across a ton of industries, ShareASale is a good option for you. You’ll also get access to customizable affiliable management, real-time tracking, detailed reporting, custom banner, and link generation, and plenty more.
One thing to note: like a few of the other tools listed here, ShareASale uses a performance-based pricing model that includes a one-time network access fee and then transaction fees.
Pricing:
- There is a one-time setup fee of $650.
- Transaction fees: 20% of each affiliate commission, with a minimum of $35/month.
Wrapping Up
Great affiliate marketing solutions enable brands to easily launch and manage affiliate programs, as well as track referrals and sales made by their affiliate partners.
The best affiliate marketing software provides brands with all the tools needed to launch, promote, and grow their affiliate program.
At the same time, they provide customizable and easy-to-use reporting capabilities for real-time performance tracking.
Without reliable tracking and reporting tools, brands cannot effectively assess the success and profitability of their affiliate campaigns and partnerships.
More resources:
Featured Image: Panchenko Vladimir/Shutterstock
SEO
Early Analysis & User Feedback
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has introduced a prototype of SearchGPT, an AI-powered search engine.
The launch has sparked considerable interest, leading to discussions about its potential to compete with Google.
However, early studies and user feedback indicate that while SearchGPT shows promise, it has limitations and needs more refinement.
Experts suggest it needs further development before challenging current market leaders.
Study Highlights SearchGPT’s Strengths and Weaknesses
SE Ranking, an SEO software company, conducted an in-depth analysis of SearchGPT’s performance and compared it to Google and Bing.
The study found that SearchGPT’s search results are 73% similar to Bing’s but only 46% similar to Google’s.
Interestingly, 26% of domains ranking in SearchGPT receive no traffic from Google, indicating opportunities for websites struggling to gain traction.
The study highlighted some of SearchGPT’s key features, including:
- The ability to summarize information from multiple sources Provide a conversational interface for refining searches Offering an ad-free user experience.
- However, the research noted that SearchGPT lacks the variety and depth of Google’s search results, especially for navigational, transactional, and local searches.
- The study also suggested that SearchGPT favors authoritative, well-established websites, with backlinks being a significant ranking factor.
Around 32% of all SearchGPT results came from media sources, increasing to over 75% for media-related queries.
SE Ranking notes that SearchGPT needs improvement in providing the latest news, as some news results were outdated.
User Experiences & Limitations Reported By The Washington Post
The Washington Post interviewed several early testers of SearchGPT and reported mixed reviews.
Some users praised the tool’s summarization capabilities and found it more helpful than Google’s AI-generated answers for certain queries.
Others, however, found SearchGPT’s interface and results less impressive than those of smaller competitors like Perplexity.
The article also highlighted instances where SearchGPT provided incorrect or “hallucinated” information, a problem that has plagued other AI chatbots.
While the SE Ranking study estimated that less than 1% of searches returned inaccurate results, The Washington Post says there’s significant room for improvement.
The article also highlighted Google’s advantage in handling shopping and local queries due to its access to specialized data, which can be expensive to acquire.
Looking Ahead: OpenAI’s Plans For SearchGPT and Potential Impact on the Market
OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood revealed that the company plans to integrate SearchGPT’s best features into ChatGPT, potentially enhancing the popular language model’s capabilities.
When asked about the possibility of including ads in SearchGPT, Wood stated that OpenAI’s business model is based on subscriptions but didn’t specify whether SearchGPT would be offered for free or as part of a ChatGPT subscription.
Despite the excitement surrounding SearchGPT, Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently reported continued growth in the company’s search revenue, suggesting that Google may maintain its dominant position even with the emergence of new AI-powered search tools.
Top Takeaways
Despite its current limitations, SearchGPT has the potential to shake up online information seeking. As OpenAI iterates based on user feedback, its impact may grow significantly.
Integrating SearchGPT’s best features into ChatGPT could create a more powerful info-seeking tool. The proposed subscription model raises questions about competition with free search engines and user adoption.
While Google’s search revenue and specialized query handling remain strong, SearchGPT could carve out its own niche. The two might coexist, serving different user needs.
For SearchGPT to truly compete, OpenAI must address accuracy issues, expand query capabilities, and continuously improve based on user input. It could become a viable alternative to traditional search engines with ongoing development.
Featured Image: Robert Way/Shutterstock
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