In the second half of this two-part article, we will take a look at five more reasons why content is still the king (and queen) of affiliate marketing!

#6 – Content Inspires Clicks
If you think about it, the right kind of content makes an ad click through the logical next step for your visitor. A brief article about the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom might be the perfect appetizer to a feast of clicks on digital camera ads.

How do you make sure you’re sensitized to creating this kind of content? Try to think like an advertiser. Whether your goal is to get clicks on contextual ads, encourage your visitor to fill out an email/zip form, or generate commission sales, your traffic needs to generate value for advertisers. After all, they are the ones who keep the whole thing going. Which leads us to…

#7 – Content Increases CTR
Marginal content tends to mean marginal CTR… while quality content tends to boost CTR. But in this context, “quality” doesn’t mean brilliant prose. It means a good mix of relevant keywords and product data.

If you’re an AdSense publisher who wants to maximize your revenues, make sure you include sufficient keyword data in your content so Google can serve up ads that actually MAKE SENSE on page. Then watch those CTRs get higher and higher!  If you want to increase click throughs to merchant sales pages, your content should include inline links on product names, model numbers, or other bits of information that “tempt” the reader to click.

#8 – Content Feeds Those Hungry Subscribers
Even if you don’t market directly to your optin list, consider all the ways content can draw your visitors back to your web site. After all, you don’t have to send the content DIRECTLY to your subscribers in an email. Instead, send them LINKS to your web pages or blog posts. You’ll not only get more ad impressions, you’ll probably get more clicks. Why?

Because you’ve got a relationship with your subscribers. Even in this era of the jealously guarded email address, they signed up for your mailing list and have stayed on it. This means they’re willing to consider reading any web page you send them to. If that page happens to include highly relevant ads that work hand in hand with both your content and design, they’re bound to get click throughs.

#9 – Content Anticipates the “Odd” Niche Query
Here’s a closely held secret that nearly every content webmaster holds dear: the more quality content you’ve got, the more likely you are to get that frustrated visitor who’s been searching, high and low, and has finally gotten to your site by typing in a long, implausible query.

Because YOU – out of the millions of sites out there – probably came up #1 for that highly specialized combination of search terms, that visitor is likely to stay at your site, dig around, sign up for your newsletter, and otherwise explore a little more deeply than the average visitor. What better audience for relevant, targeted ads than this ultra-targeted visitor?

#10 – Content Attracts Quality Links With Minimal Effort
The best link partner in the world is the one you don’t have to beg, bribe, or buy. That’s why content still rules, even if your first priority is serving up landing pages for PPC. With first-class content, and plenty of it, it’s easier to get webmasters to link to you. And you can generally link to just about any related site you wish – and the sites you link to will be glad and grateful.

All that adds up to higher quality, targeted visitors. And THAT adds up to higher CTRs… and higher profits!