Link to Review, or Affiliate Link??

[Aminka Ozmun]

In a blog post link about a sale on a certain product, which would be smarter, generally speaking: linking to my review of the product (a separate page on my site), or linking with my affiliate link (to the manufacturer's site)?

TIA!

[Justin Mazza]

Hi Aminka,
I would have the link go to your product review page. That way potential customers can read about your personal experience with it.

[alexb5784]

You should link to your review. This way the reader learns more about the product which will increase your sales conversion rate. If I read about something for you first and you loved it, I'd probably go straight to buying it.

And if you linked me to a sales page containing your affiliate link, I'd skim through all the materials and go right for the "buy" button.

When you write a really good review, you've already sold the reader

Steve has a few good examples of excellent reviews.

For the record, I've bought many of the products Steve recommends via his reviews. I spent almost $500 on products he recommended in 2011. I plan on spending about another $1500 via his workshops and other items after Christmas 2011.

Reviews work if you do them right! Just be honest and be yourself

[Aminka Ozmun]

Thanks, Justin and Alex!

I guess the reason I'm really asking is because separate product reviews are already available on my site; I'd envisioned using blog posts to announce stuff that's on sale.

I was thinking the blog posts would be the equivalent of a weekly circular, and so would be something like a (very) brief sales landing page (if there's such a thing as a brief landing page! ), making affiliate links seem more logical....

But I'll link to the reviews as advised! Thanks again!!

[alexb5784]

What type of product are you promoting? Is it a good fit for your website?

How have people responded to your reviews? How well has the product review been converting? If no one is buying via the product reviews, then having a sales page would be a good idea.

Put Google Analytics on the sales page and review page, then see how each one converts. This way you can track your progress. Keep experimenting

[chadcharlie]

I have no personal data on this, particular to aff marketing, BUT, traditionally the personal endorsements, or text reviews, convert better than just the aff link. People resonate with personal opinion, especial if your personality matches their.

So I vote for the review! Let us know if you measure any data.

[wanzulfikri]

Review FTW!

[Rebecca800]

It's well documented (and in my experience too) that linking to a review first is better. I imagine this would still hold true in your blog scenario.

I'd much rather send 10 warm leads to an affiliate link than 100 cold leads!

In fact, I rarely send traffic straight to the vendor's site unless it's an Amazon book page.

[chadcharlie]

Originally Posted by Rebecca800

It's well documented (and in my experience too) that linking to a review first is better. I imagine this would still hold true in your blog scenario.

I'd much rather send 10 warm leads to an affiliate link than 100 cold leads!

In fact, I rarely send traffic straight to the vendor's site unless it's an Amazon book page.

Exactly, the warming of the lead there is key On a second note, it provides a more uniform link to transfer readers to instead of a bulky aff link. So anytime you are plugging your product, you already know you're linking to yoursite/my-product-review instead of digging up the aff link each time.

[Aminka Ozmun]

Thanks everyone; lotsa food for thought here! My site's really new; it's still mostly empty and I was really just thinking ahead with my question.

Thanks again, Alex, Rebecca, chadcharlie, and wanzulfikri! This stuff will help with all my sites, which are at varying stages of construction right now.