Review by Kellie Fowler (in Ontario, Canada)
A Comprehensive Review Of James Martell's
"Revisited" Affiliate Marketers Handbook - 2005
As
someone who regularly reviews written works, it is rare that I stumble across published
materials that I believe are truly well written and offer extreme value to the reader.
After reading James Martell’s Affiliate Marketers Handbook, this previously
justified view has changed, and so have I!
Martell’s Handbook is a must for anyone
working to better understand affiliate marketing and even how the Internet works
in general, making it as beneficial to the amateur Internet entrepreneur as it is
for the already successful Web-based businessperson. What’s more, it is clear, concise
and easy to understand, making it as refreshing as it is valuable!
Without a doubt, this is the affiliate marketer’s
guide you want if you are looking for success in this field and for straight-talk
that serves as a catalyst for a quick, high ROI (Return on Investment).
Martell is a surprisingly good writer who
sorts through all the hype and provides readers with thoroughly explained tips,
techniques and proven facts. And, because he shares with readers exactly how he
has used affiliate marketing to carve out a very successful business and an enviable
lifestyle, paired with the simple fact that he continues to practice what he preaches
in this handbook every day, provides an up-to-date guide that enables anyone to
achieve his high level of success, all from the comfort of their own home, by using
a computer that accesses the Internet (and his handbook, of course).
In short, there is not a better resource
to affiliate marketing available anywhere (online or off) and there is not a more
credible, reliable source in this field than James Martell.
The handbook starts with a brief, interesting
look at Martell and how he got into affiliate marketing. Reading the introduction,
you are sure to be impressed with Martell’s insight and how he took what was in
the beginning just a hunch, and turned it into a very successful affiliate marketing
business.
Martell has proven once gain to be ahead
of the curve, relying on his past entrepreneurial experiences and successes to lead
him through what was once a confusing maze (at least years ago when he first ventured
into the great World Wide Web and affiliate marketing). And, taking notes every
step of the way, penning what worked and what didn’t, he was able to take his five-year
journey and develop a guide that is detailed roadmap for anyone looking to navigate
through this too-oft confusing field (which took Martell six months to write, simply
because his standards are so high and he was committed to crafting a guide that
is uniquely comprehensive and leaves no question unanswered).
And, recognizing that technology continues
to evolve almost daily, Martell posts up-to-date changes and revisions to an easily-accessible
'Updates'
page that purchasers of the Affiliate Handbook can readily access, making sure everyone
who has read the handbook remains on top of the ever-climbing Martell information
curve and is equipped to utilize and make the most of every Web tool available.
If that’s not enough, as I read through
this training manual, I was pleasantly surprised to find that he also offers a unique
audio newsletter, appropriately entitled “James Martell’s Affiliate Buzz,”
every two weeks. Martell uses the Affiliate Buzz to deliver insightful 30-minute
conversations with associate Charles Johnston to discuss expanding the affiliate
marketing business and how to successfully publish revenue-generating websites,
proving that despite his unparalleled success, he remains accessible, hands-on and
committed to sharing information, further setting him and his work away from the
ever-growing pack.
In fact, the updated version of the Affiliate
Marketers Handbook boasts two and a half years of updates and reflects Martell’s
commitment to sharing the same knowledge that made him a success years ago, and
the same knowledge that continues to make him a success today (and undoubtedly well
into the future)!
Almost 350 pages, Martell’s Affiliate Handbook
is broken down into smart, well thought out chapters that makes the material a dependable
and extremely quick reference guide for any topic or question the reader may need
as he or she ventures down the affiliate marketers path, even well after the initial
read (or, as Martell says, if and when you “get off track”).
Particularly interesting are the chapters
on keyword density, which detail, among many things, how to use
Wordtracker
software tracking tools. For, no matter how much I have read about these topics
in the past, I have come away confused or with more questions than I feel I can
ever have answered. With this handbook, this is not the case.
For instance, when Martell explains exactly
how to develop a keyword list using Wordtracker, he includes everything; and I do
mean EVERYTHING! As he says in the handbook, “ This was an eye opener for many who
hadn’t realized this data was available – OR that there were so many different ways
that people searched the Net. for the same thing.” And, he couldn’t be more right.
Of course, the original section that details
Wordtracker information is still quite valuable for those who’ve never built a keyword
list (even I understand it), but this previously published information has been
added to and expanded upon in this revised edition. Now, it includes everything
from details on the numerical totals (count), which represent a fractional amount
and not a true count (or, in other words, each list shows the comparative results)
to knowing that the actual amount doesn’t really matter (because, as Martell expertly
points out, if any keyword was searched 6088 times, you can be sure it was ACTUALLY
searched many times more! Simple enough, but who knew, right?
Knowing this, and the other pertinent information
Martell shares in this book enables successful affiliate marketer wanna-bes to finally
understand that the keyword list is the very backbone of a successful site, especially
if the goal is to have the pages located and accessed through “natural search” (meaning
surfers find your pages naturally in the FREE listings).
Considering this, did you know that, as
a rule of thumb it should take about 5 to 10 hours to comprise a thoroughly researched
keyword list? Probably not. Learning from Martell, widely considered the master
of affiliate marketing, provides you insight into this area and many, many more.
The result: a realistic plan to carving out your affiliate marketing success.
And, as he cautions, affiliate marketers
need to remember their purpose if they desire such success. And, according to him,
this purpose is simple: each keyword selected by you eventually becomes the Primary
Keyword for a different page of your site. And search engines rank “pages” not sites.
This said, a keyword list of 300 phrases becomes a website with 300 pages and each
page has a shot at a ranking! This point is further emphasized in Martell’s audio
report, entitled “Google Mastery,”
that Martell prepared exclusively for readers of his handbook.
Martell’s Handbook even shows exactly how
to develop keyword rich text and points you toward reputable, affordable authors
in the event you (like most) experience writer’s block or just don’t have the time
or know-how to regularly craft the necessary copy. And, he shares with readers one
of his golden rules, which is to ensure site visitors are able to quickly and easily
get the information they want/need, for this ensures an affiliate marketer’s success.
And, if you use Martell’s measuring stick
of online success which is somewhere near 30,000 pages of online content, you’re
sure to see that measuring up is going to take some time, but with the tools and
know how he graciously shares in his manual, readers are sure to make promising
protégés.
Take his notes on Keyword Density. As he
shows us, his original formula still works. Even so, in this revised edition, he
shares with readers new-found ways to increase his Google rankings by as much as
30% with some adjustment to the original formula. These new rules include: optimizing
each page for keyword density by including “Primary and Tier-1 Secondary Keywords”
in the following ways: Primary Keyword: use once in the headline and again, just
once, in the first paragraph. Now, do not use this keyword again anywhere else on
the page. For “Tier-1 Secondary Keywords: use once in the first or second paragraph,
then nowhere else on the page.”
Martell follows this with proven solutions
and use of keyword variations (individual words that are based on your Primary and
Secondary Keywords) all written in a manner that translates into a thorough understanding,
which lends itself to strong results.
Take Martell’s advice on a simple 300-word
article. In his Affiliate Marketer’s Handbook, he explains that keywords should
be used repeatedly in the following density: no less than 24 times; no more than
36 times. Martell advises to “extrapolate the above ratio on longer articles and
to randomly included Tier-2 Secondary Keywords throughout the text in no particular
density, but added only as they would naturally appear editorially. This is followed
by very intuitive clarifications, advice and tips that further demonstrate why Martell
remains a cut above the rest.
He also takes a look at the latest
technology, including Google’s new “stemming”
technology and makes even this cyber-jibber make perfectly good sense.
Martell’s Affiliate Marketer’s Handbook
also boasts a wealth of information on website design, including buying website
templates (complete with links to simple, effective templates designed specifically
for affiliate marketers) from which you can easily and economically build from in
a flash.
Martell de-myths Internal Linking (I previously
thought this was some sort of inner-office dating service) and makes backlinking
(which I though was something even less desirable than internal linking) as understandable
as it is important in this highly specialized Web arena.
And speaking of Web arenas and cyberspace,
I’d be remiss not to point out that Martell’s explanation and use of “Artificial
Intelligence” is cosmic, to say the least!
As for site submission, the horrors
once associated with this are a thing of the past, thanks to Martell’s documented
trials and errors. He expertly (yes, again) explains how to submit each of your
sites to all the major search engines through a fantastic service called
SelfPromotion.com.
Once submitted, the search engines will spider your sites automatically each month
looking for additional content – a real bonus!
But to find out Martell’s even better way
to submit, you’ll have to read his Affiliate Marketer’s handbook. However, I’ll
go ahead and give you a clue. It includes leaving a certain box unchecked and the
results this little step yields are remarkable!
Now, as you read the handbook, you’re
sure to agree that Martell is as resourceful as he is smart. Unfortunately, most
of us lack his intuitiveness and the sheer genius with which he approaches and breaks
downs affiliate marketing. Fear not. Martell shares his best secrets for creating
a more resourceful you and even shows you how to search for potential merchants
at CJ.com.
In fact, he walks you through this process step-by-step. And, as he says, “With
the knowledge of how to do this you can now go to another commission network and
get their ad copy (even though they might have different protocols), and do a Google
search if you want other options; for instance, if you’d like to see if you could
get a better commission with an independent merchant. Cha-ching!
About this time, Martell starts talking
about “wiggle room,” something we all need more of. Anyway, he shares some of the
best information available today on simplifying web design and understanding publishing
tools, showing exactly what he deems “resourceful” and what he terms “wiggle room.”
Perhaps one of the highlights of the handbook
is the section on Revenue Links, after all, this is the name of the game, right?
And while I could go on and on about the
meat and potatoes of Martell’s Affiliate Marketer’s Handbook, suffice it to say
it is a feast, one I will gorge on over and over again as I make my own way through
each succulent course (and build each of my new sites), savouring every bite of
the rich information, looking forward to the next tip or technique, mouth watering
as I devour every chapter, every appendix, every workbook page, topped off with
a dessert of the richest kind – luscious, sought-after updates and ongoing support
information that rounds out one of the few truly perfect meals.
So pull up a chair and get ready for a life-changing
experience. Trust me, your future never looked so good. And, if you don’t believe
me, just ask your taste buds! You’ll be feeding them very well on the income you
can make with Martell’s Affiliate Handbook, your own persistence and what I hope
is a strong desire to succeed.
See you on the World Wide Web...
Visit:
http://www.work-at-home-net-guides.com/
About Kellie Fowler
Kellie is an award-winning copywriter, editor and reviewer who crafts copy for Associated
Press, PR Newswire, the BusinessWire, Fortune 500 companies, national business and
healthcare magazines, well-known corporate newsletters and publications, countless
high-traffic Websites and more. She spends her free time in the home she shares
with her boyfriend of six years and their family of six rescue animals on the Rideau
in Eastern Ontario, where she enjoys kayaking, fly fishing, gardening, cooking,
reading in her hammock and, of course, writing. Kellie, a native of the Southern
U.S., is the owner of
Write Solutions, a full
service copyrighting and editing company.
