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Does This Make Money?

Map

Affiliate Funnel Map

A simple map of the whole path from a stranger to a commission, so you can see which piece you are missing when the sales are not coming.

Most affiliate problems are not mysteries. They are one broken step in a short chain. This map lays out the whole path so you can find the break.

The map

Traffic source        (where do the right people come from?)
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      v
Your content / page    (does it earn the click and the trust?)
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      v
Email capture          (do you keep the ones who are not ready yet?)
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      v
Follow-up              (do you build enough trust to recommend?)
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      v
Affiliate link         (tracked, to a relevant offer)
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      v
Merchant's page        (does the offer convert?)
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      v
Purchase -> Commission

The question at each step

  • Traffic: Are these people interested in this topic and able to buy? See where affiliate marketers get traffic.
  • Your page: Would a stranger trust this recommendation? Is there one clear next action?
  • Capture: Are you collecting emails, or losing everyone who does not buy on the first visit? See why an email list is an asset.
  • Follow-up: Do you have a sequence that teaches before it sells?
  • Offer: Did you pick an offer that actually converts, not just the highest commission? See how to pick an affiliate offer.

How to use it

When sales are not happening, walk the map top to bottom and find the first step you cannot confidently check off. That is almost always where the money is leaking. Fix one step at a time.

Full explanation: how affiliate marketing actually makes money and how sales funnels work.

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