WP plugins and themes for affiliates?

[Blossom]

I'm starting my first ever affiliate store (scary, and a bad time to be starting I know, but it's more of an experiment really).

My main question is - What WordPress plugins do you use to create sites based around Amazon/eBay affiliates? I'm currently looking at this one: http://wpshoppingpages.com/

I've heard eBay generally gets more sales and my experiences with the Amazon affiliate program in the past have been dire, but I haven't applied for the eBay program yet.

I want to be able to add products easily and fully customise the homepage, but I'll be writing the descriptions myself. I'm looking for something that won't pull through descriptions or will allow me to turn that option off and replace with my own content.

I'm also thinking of creating some kind of design like this, but visually easier on the eye: http://winkpress.wpengine.netdna-cd...ads/2010/12/like-proper-store-screenshot2.png

Any tips or advice on plugins and themes (free or paid) would be great. Maybe I don't even need a plugin, I don't know.

Also, any general tips on affiliate marketing in general would be great. I'm not a huge fan of mailing lists but I might possibly integrate some kind of subscription. It also has to be low maintenance since I don't have much time.

About the site/target:

UK focus, focused on a specific electronic/tech product, and I'm starting with a PR3 domain that doesn't currently have a site on it. I'm not particularly bothered if it makes much money or not since it has other benefits for me as well, but I don't want it to get slammed in the SERPs or penalised for aff links. I need to get a lot of pages up on there really.

Suggestions are very welcome

 

[ratboy]

Hi Blossom, just a few brain-dump thoughts from me:

• add products individually
• write custom descriptions, don't copy and paste anything
• only 1 aff link per page
• good structure
• make it look like a proper shop too
• reviews

 

[wonder_lander]

I'm using eStore from Elegant Themes on a few of my sites. Check out monopod/org/uk for an example.

I then use "easy content units" to do price comparison and then I've got a plugin that was created for me by wpdoctors/co/uk that stores the cheapest price into one of the custom fields.

 

[AuthorityDomain]

Hi blossom thanks for your help earlier, so hopefully I can return the favour.

I have used my own data feed site in the past but would recommend staying away from those for obvious reasons.

I recently setup a site 'portabledvdplayers/co/uk' using shopperpress. Which is a cheap wordpress theme. You can get this for about £30 with a code I can also give you if you like it.

It works by allowing you to import products from amazon api or import csv products into wordpress posts, thenyou can edit the product descriptions and everythingmelse you want.

I'd recommend using yeast seo plugin or something similar to noindex certain categories as wordpress sites content can be indexed across different categories/tags the same.

I have modified the theme a little but out of the box it's pretty good IMO.

Hope it helps
Gary

 

[Blossom]

Thanks guys, rep added!

Hi Blossom, just a few brain-dump thoughts from me:

• add products individually
• write custom descriptions, don't copy and paste anything
• only 1 aff link per page
• good structure
• make it look like a proper shop too
• reviews

I will stick to 1 aff link per page, thanks. What about sidebar aff links, or do you avoid those altogether? I tried them on one site and it got very jumpy so I removed them and it got stable pretty fast.

I'm using eStore from Elegant Themes on a few of my sites. Check out monopod/org/uk for an example.

I then use "easy content units" to do price comparison and then I've got a plugin that was created for me by wpdoctors/co/uk that stores the cheapest price into one of the custom fields.

That's a great looking site, thanks for sharing. Love the plugin idea too.

Hi blossom thanks for your help earlier, so hopefully I can return the favour.

I have used my own data feed site in the past but would recommend staying away from those for obvious reasons.

I recently setup a site 'portabledvdplayers/co/uk' using shopperpress. Which is a cheap wordpress theme. You can get this for about £30 with a code I can also give you if you like it.

It works by allowing you to import products from amazon api or import csv products into wordpress posts, thenyou can edit the product descriptions and everythingmelse you want.

I'd recommend using yeast seo plugin or something similar to noindex certain categories as wordpress sites content can be indexed across different categories/tags the same.

I have modified the theme a little but out of the box it's pretty good IMO.

Hope it helps
Gary

No problem at all, sometimes it gets a bit surreal for me with the different Twitter accounts and Acorners popping up, identity crisis is looming I'm sure! Sometimes I feel like Batman

Is that the right URL, the page is parked? I've heard good things about Shopperpress but I'd love to see your example.

 

[AuthorityDomain]

Hi Jenni,

Sorry it was the singular without the s. my mistake

Let me know if you have any questions

Cheers
Gary

 

[KBD1974]

Evening Blossom

I usually stick with adsense sites, but like you i thought id give an affiliate site a go and created DietingBooks.co.uk a couple of months back.

Its ranking well and getting a fairly decent amount of hits but ive only had 2 sales from it.

Im going to give it another couple of months but if that doesnt improve then i'll just strip out the affiliate links/banners and replace with good old adsense as i know i can earn decent £££ from that!

Let us know how your new site goes.
Good luck
Lee

 

[Jamie101]

I wrote a post but it never appeared for some reason

Anyway, what I basically said was:

I'm using the theme that is used in that image in your OP - the link is in my sig (cracked screen).

It wasn't the easiest to set up, but once it's done it's easy to add products with unique descriptions(that's what I've done by the way).

It's actually ranking #1 at the moment too.

Won't go into any more details but if you have any questions just PM me