Competition – How Much Is Too Much?
All of us want a piece of the action and that’s exactly why there’s an insane amount of competition when it comes to traffic, especially sources which have been proven to work. Let’s assume that you’re a beginner who wants some traffic: where do you go? In most cases, the answer is AdWords, YSM and/or AdCenter. Maybe Facebook, it depends on which websites, forums or blogs you have been reading.
But what about “Obscure” Traffic Sources?
Most people don’t have a huge budget at their disposal, so they’re not really willing to venture into the unknown. Second tier traffic sources may or may not be worth it, there’s just no way of knowing for sure until you test.
If you get it right, congratulations: you’ve just discovered a great traffic source where there isn’t a lot of competition. If your test campaigns end up being flops, too bad: learn a few lessons, analyze the data you’ve practically paid for and move on if you think that the traffic source in question doesn’t deserve a second chance.
Is Sticking with Established Traffic Sources the Smart Thing to Do?
There really is no “right or wrong” answer to this question, it depends. On the one hand, at least you know that you’re dealing with a legitimate company but on the other hand, you’ll have to compete with a lot of other marketers for a slice of the pie.
Let’s analyze AdWords Search as an example. If you’re an affiliate marketer and want to target extremely competitive terms, the chances of succeeding are slim to none. Why? Simply because you’ll be competing with networks and/or merchants directly!
And what’s the difference between you and them? The payout! You’re practically competing with people who make more money for each lead or sale they generate and, especially if the merchants are involved, it’s anything but a fair fight. Unless your approach is the best thing since sliced bread, you’re better of focusing on less competitive keywords, on the Content Network or even on other traffic sources.
So, What Will It Be?
If you’re just starting out, it makes sense to check out a few established traffic sources while learning the ropes. After you become more experienced and have a bigger budget at your disposal, you can take things to the next level.
Most people end up failing because they want things to happen yesterday. Be reasonable and don’t rush into anything because you’d probably end up losing your shirt. Seriously, just don’t.
Competition and agreeing to the competition rules. Great post!