Comparison articles are high-converting affiliate content that are designed to address specific pain points. For example, a reader who searches for “best kitchen vacuum” wants to be sure they’re purchasing the right product.
Write a comprehensive review that covers all the most important features to help readers make an informed decision. Start the post with a short introductory line and then get to the facts.
Best of Lists
The ‘Best of’ or ‘Top Picks’ type articles are some of the most popular and effective affiliate product comparison content. It’s a great way to attract readers who are interested in buying the best products within a category and it’s an excellent opportunity for you to make commissions on those sales.
Usually, these kinds of posts feature a short review of each product/service with an affiliate link to the merchant site added at the end. This kind of comparison works well for less expensive products/services where a person can be convinced to purchase at a glance.
It’s also important to mention in your comparison article who would be able to make the most use of each product. If a pair of expensive hiking boots, for instance, are recommended in the post then it’s necessary to mention that they will only be suitable for people who regularly indulge in adventure sports and hiking. This will balance the review and prevent any potential reader disappointment if they’re not a good fit for the product.
Product roundups are similar to product comparisons but they involve evaluating several different products in a single article. They’re a great option for when a single product can’t be evaluated using the same rubric, or if there are too many different products to evaluate in a side by side comparison. Typically, they’re based around a specific theme or category that appeals to your audience – for example, beauty products or hardcore gaming gear – and refer to buyer intent keywords when selecting which products to include in the round up.
Tutorials and How-to Guides
A lot of affiliate marketers started with blogs that were personal journals or guides on how to do something. When those blogs started to earn a steady income, they turned into what is called money sites or “money blogs”. These sites are often about affiliate products and can make great money. But you need to be careful not to mislead readers by promoting unsuitable or illegal products. That would be unethical and could even lead to a lawsuit.
Blog Posts
Blog posts are a great way to provide a more in-depth look at a product and give your audience the information they need to make an informed decision. These types of articles can help you stand out from the crowd, especially if you’re able to offer an objective side-by-side comparison like “Product X vs. Product Y.”
These type of articles are ideal for affiliates who have already built trust with their audiences, because they’re less likely to be perceived as a hard sell. However, it’s still important to only include tools, products and services in your comparison articles that you have personally tried and tested. It’s also a good idea to choose authoritative sources for your research, such as official associations or government websites, heavily-cited research papers and preeminent industry experts.
People also love to read case study blog posts, which allow them to get a peek behind the scenes of successful businesses and see how they’ve grown. While this type of post won’t directly drive sales, it will build trust and create a sense of curiosity among your audience that can lead to other conversions down the road. Make a Living Writing, for example, has an entire resource page on its website dedicated to the best tools, books and services for helping authors earn their income.
Video Reviews
For a more personal touch, you can incorporate video reviews from customers who’ve used the products you’re reviewing. They can provide a deeper sense of what the product is like in use, which will be more meaningful for shoppers than simply reading a text review. Video can also elicit a stronger emotional reaction than copy alone, which is crucial when it comes to gaining trust from customers. Seeing someone they can relate to talking about the pros and cons of your product will help them build trust with your brand.
If you’re looking to increase conversions, then video reviews should be a staple of your content strategy. They can boost SEO, drive more organic traffic to your site and improve the amount of time that visitors spend on your page. In addition, videos are far more engaging for readers than text reviews or images alone. By incorporating video into your comparison articles, you can entice more shoppers to click on your affiliate links and buy the product that you’re reviewing.
A comprehensive video review is a great way to highlight all of the important features of a specific product or to compare it with other competing products. A video review can go beyond simple descriptions of a product to include a full demonstration and commentary from the reviewer, which is often more persuasive than simply a written description. Unlike written reviews, video can be shared across multiple channels, including YouTube, Google, Shopper Approved and on social media. These video reviews can create a wider reach for your product than traditional text-only reviews, which are confined to your website.
While it’s important to mention who should consider purchasing a product, it’s also a good idea to point out who should not buy the item. This can help prevent a shopper from making an expensive purchase that they don’t need or might not be able to use. For example, if you’re reviewing hiking shoes, it would be a good idea to mention that those who don’t regularly hike might find them uncomfortable or unnecessary to invest in.
