You’re leaving money on the table if you aren’t always looking for ways to improve the “purchase-readiness” of your visitors — and boost your site’s conversions. Here’s three you can try…

#1 – Are you using datafeeds? Datafeeds are proven to increase affiliate sales. A merchant datafeed is simple a spreadsheet-like file with data about products. It can include diagrams, specs, descriptions, links to photos, and even prices.

In a data feed, little codes – sometimes called tokens – correspond to each category of information. When you add these tokens to your web templates, the product information is inserted into your web page in the appropriate spot. So with a datafeed, your visitors see all the up-to-date information about a product fresh from the merchant, right on your landing page.

Naturally this makes your life much, much easier. Once you’ve set up a datafeed, you don’t need to update all this information by hand on your web pages. Just upload the current data feed and you’re done. If you have a choice, look for merchants that offer datafeeds. It may even be worth rebuilding your affiliate site – or creating a new one – to take advantage of datafeeds.

#1 – Are you using datafeeds?

#2 – Are you using optimal site layout and ad placements?

#3 – Do you use inline links?

#2 – Are you using optimal site layout and ad placements? While we can’t make sweeping generalization about site design – visitors in different niches will have different expectations – it’s clearly a good idea to put your most relevant, clickable content above the fold and in your visitor’s “sight line,” so they don’t simply skim over your affiliate links.

It’s also wise to avoid using graphics that are too big, distracting, or annoying. Top affiliates caution against page sizes that require your visitor to scroll back and forth, and up and down, to see all of your content. This is a basic usability issue. The more clicking and scrolling your visitor has to do, the harder they have to work to navigate your site – and the less likely you are to keep their attention long enough to put them in a buying mood.

If you show graphics of products, be sure to place descriptive text next to and around them. People tend to think of the graphic as an illustration of the text (think magazines and newspapers). So if the text elaborates on the benefits of the offer – for example, with a detailed review of the product – visitors feel they understand the offer better. And an informed visitor always feels more confident about making a purchase.

#3 – Do you use inline links? Embedding contextual links inside your pre-sales copy is proven to raise conversions. Instead of writing a review with links to the merchant site at the beginning or end, sprinkle a few inline (or in context) links throughout your copy.

If you’ve got a page that isn’t convverting, evaluate your copy with an eye to inserting strategically placed inline links. Ask yourself, where would a contextual link make the most sense to your visitor? Try to incorporate links that use both descriptive anchor text and product or company names.

By placing links in context, your visitor feels that the link is a much closer match for their interests. You establish a strong connection between the information on the page and the product you’re promoting. Clicking seems like the most natural and direct action for your prospect to take. And contextual links also make calls-to-action like “click here,” “buy this product now,” or “order now” seem much more natural – it’s another obvious opportunity to click.

In addition, contextual links “pre-qualify” your visitors. They’ve already been given several opportunities to click from within your copy. If they’ve kept reading to the end, they’ve probably clicked at least once. If they’re engaged enough in your copy to keep reading, you’ve done an excellent job of building the credibility and rapport that makes pre-selling work so well. They’re bound to take a closer look – and make that purchase!