Smashwords and Affiliate Marketing: Advice and Feedback?

[idiotprogrammer]

Hi, there, my ebook publishing company  recently published a Smashwords title, Soldier Boys by Jack Matthews. 

I'm thinking of starting an aggressive affiliate marketing campaign for that ebook in June (with generous percentages for affiliates). Also, I'm thinking of designing my new website to take advantage of Smashwords' Affiliate marketing campaigns. 

Before I dive into that, I was wondering if anyone has had any direct experience that they would like to share: 

1. Is there any place on the web  where people interested in the program "hang out?"

2. Are there any gotchas with the affiliate marketing campaigns (aside from needing the reach the  $25 minimum threshold to qualify for a payout).

3. Have there been any success stories to tell? (from either the author side or the website's side?) 

I've been impressed by how flexible this marketing feature is, and yet it has struck me that few sites have really seized upon it well. (Maybe it's because the smashwords site itself doesn't keep visitors on their site for long enough to make more than one purchase). 

Robert 

 

[Ria Stone]

Apr 7, 2016 8:26:11 GMT -8 idiotprogrammer said:

Hi, there, my ebook publishing company  recently published a Smashwords title, Soldier Boys by Jack Matthews. 

I'm thinking of starting an aggressive affiliate marketing campaign for that ebook in June (with generous percentages for affiliates). Also, I'm thinking of designing my new website to take advantage of Smashwords' Affiliate marketing campaigns. 

Before I dive into that, I was wondering if anyone has had any direct experience that they would like to share: 

1. Is there any place on the web  where people interested in the program "hang out?"

2. Are there any gotchas with the affiliate marketing campaigns (aside from needing the reach the  $25 minimum threshold to qualify for a payout).

3. Have there been any success stories to tell? (from either the author side or the website's side?) 

I've been impressed by how flexible this marketing feature is, and yet it has struck me that few sites have really seized upon it well. (Maybe it's because the smashwords site itself doesn't keep visitors on their site for long enough to make more than one purchase). 

Robert 

 

Robert, I think if you use the forum's search function, you might find some posts where people talk about SW affiliate program.

I feel I must be doing something wrong. While I am an affiliate, I feel that the list of books listed as part of the program seem limited but maybe I am just not getting it. But, I do know that the affiliate book link on my blog is working because when I go to my author dashboard I can see activity from that link. Don't think I've "earned" anything from the venture but I don't mind supporting other SW authors.

My next big project is moving my blog to a wordpress website. Maybe there I will get more functionality in regards to monetization etc.

[idiotprogrammer]

I know that wordpress has a Amazon affiliate plugin, but Amazon's affiliate program only gives you 4% (with a slight increase in percentage for volume sales).  Smashwords can give you 11% or more. 

Once again, I have to give kudos for Mark Coker for doing things right. 

I suspect that average purchase prices on smashwords are substantially below amazon's. But did you know you can juice the affiliate channel of up to 80% of author's royalties? 

That has a lot of income potential..... That's why I'm interested, as a way to get site advertising....