How To Do It Better

It’s not always the smartest, most funded or largest companies that succeed, but instead, those who do it better. Why are some affiliate networks better than others? The same reason why landing page A performs better than landing page B. To continually test and put forth the effort to do better than the competition, is the key to success.

iPhone 3G S vs. Flip Video
TechCrunch just wrote an article about how the new iPhone is going to destroy the Flip Video camcorder. The massive growth and attraction over the past couple years were phenomenal for the Flip Video. They found a way to make an awesome product, with a relatively low cost and people loved it. Their model was to make something small, simple and affordable… while being able to compete against the big guys like Canon and Nikon. Their business model has worked great, until the new iPhone 3G S just came out, which has it’s own built in video camera and editing capabilities. Now it’s Apple “doing it better“.

Flogs, Flogs and More Flogs
Whether you agree with the re-bill offers, or how they are being promoted, there is definitely a lot to learn from these marketers. In the beginning it was a few html pages with testimonials, now it’s full blogs with fake testimonials, with fake comments and pictures of their checks. With each new tweak, it slightly increases conversions that much more. Every week we are seeing brand new ways people are increasing conversions on these flog pages. Have you seen the new “newspaper” and “talking” flogs? Quite impressive!

The list goes on and on… but the key takeaway here, is that you don’t need to think of a new product or idea to make a few thousand, or even a couple hundred thousand dollars. You just need to find a way to DO IT BETTER! Look at your market, find your top competitors and see what you can do better and offer to your potential customers that they arent.

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23 Comments »

Comment by Jeremy Blake
2009-06-21 03:13:17

As always, good advice!

Thanks, Zac.

Jeremy Blake’s last blog post..Happy BDay To Me

 
Comment by Dennis Yu
2009-06-21 04:09:42

Zac,

Good points– minor optimization is shaving pennies in mass quantities. Or being a “faster copycat”, as I call it. You ready to discuss Facebook landing page techniques at ASE?

Dennis Yu’s last blog post..Microsoft BING Local Listing Center

 
Comment by Tim Jones
2009-06-21 09:47:04

Great advice, Zac. Just think if Pepsi had said, “meh, Coke’s already made soda, so we can’t add anything to the market.” Then, we’d never have Mountain Dew!

BTW, no way the iPhone 3Gs takes out the Flip. The Flip is a $150-200 committment vs. a 2 year cell phone contract. No comparison. Plus, I’ve seen some of the videos from the new iPhone and they’re not quite as good as the Flip, IMHO.

Tim Jones’s last blog post..Expand the Reach of Your Free Landing Page Template

 
Comment by Diabetis
2009-06-21 12:37:04

This is a timeless post!

Diabetis’s last blog post..A healthy tea for diabetis

 
Comment by Amit
2009-06-21 13:19:15

Hey Zac

I just bought my wife a 3G S and I about to get one.

I need to compare that vs my HD flip cam. Is apple video feature really that MUCH better?

Amit’s last blog post..Internet Lifestyle: 10 Day Trip to Turkey!

 
Comment by Zac Johnson
2009-06-21 17:51:17

@Amit:
I don’t think it’s so much that the iPhone is higher quality vs. the Flip, but instead the ability to walk around with a phone that can do video. No one wants to walk around with a phone and a camera… but soon enough everyone with an iPhone will have a camera as well.

 
Comment by Not John Chow
2009-06-21 20:05:43

Isn’t an iPhone a bit more of cost and commitment than a flip video? I think there is still room for both.

Not John Chow’s last blog post..Not John Chow Joins CMF Ads

 
Comment by Ryan Eagle
2009-06-22 00:44:13

Just my 2c - using flogs is deemed illegal as of February and considered fake testimonials. If you’re going to do it - remember to add a terms of service on the bottom!

 
Comment by Jeremy Blake
2009-06-22 01:02:29

@Ryan Eagle:
So adding a terms of service makes a flog okay? Kind of like how it makes it okay if you say “Just Kidding!” after you make fun of a fat person?

Right awwwnn! lol.

Jeremy Blake’s last blog post..Happy BDay To Me

 
Comment by forex course
2009-06-22 02:20:10

It such a great advise and impressive thought. I have done bookmarked in my mind. Thanks to share it.

 
Comment by Webpage Templates
2009-06-22 10:03:08

The new iPhone 3Gs is way better the regular 3G it does do what they say it does the iphone is just getting better!

 
2009-06-22 13:42:04

I think if you want high quality videos, iPhone is not recommended. But, for just capturing everyday activities and fun moments, iPhone can be of handy.

 
Comment by Chris Guthrie
2009-06-24 01:41:05

So you are saying people should make flogs with fake success stories, comments etc? Isn’t that a little unethical?

 
Comment by Zac Johnson
2009-06-24 02:09:33

@Chris Guthrie:
I am not condoning the use of flogs, I am simply referencing to how others are “one upping” each other in this area. They are continually finding new ways to make these pages more convincing and return a largest investment on their advertising dollars.

 
Comment by health retreat
2009-06-24 07:47:20

Its a great and informative post. Its awesome.

 
2009-06-26 18:50:46

Ah, the fake checks, lol. I noticed that one guy claimed he got this huge check from Google, but the picture of the check was actually a Canadian government check lol. I’m Canadian and we get those for our income tax returns so i recognised it right away and thought, ok, so when people take pics of their earnings, they really ARE fake most of the time

 
Comment by Free Arcade Games
2009-06-26 21:16:15

It was mainly towards mid 2008 when the Flip camera actually gained popularity. All of it is actually due to bloggers in high popularity or low. The iPhone S would beat it merely because every single person in the world has an iPhone now. lol.

-Mike

 
Comment by gurtey
2009-06-28 02:20:45

Well great guide zac..with examples..keep up

gurtey’s last blog post..Contest begins now!

 
2009-06-29 06:03:18

Apple are one of the best at taking something and making it better. Just look at the ipods, iphone and new Snow Leopard Safari due out soon. Yes, you pay for the look, but hell, it is cool. Too many times companies try to “better” something by making ti cheaper but then compromise on quality. The flip phone was cheap, but all my friends have said it produced quality and hence why it has had the success it’s had.

YourNetBiz | Chris Marper’s last blog post..YourNetBiz – Say Yes to Success!

 
Comment by used tires
2009-07-01 22:27:45

I always say, go big or go home. I apply it mainly to skateboarding, when we try to one up each other on our tricks. But it’s also a good life lesson; a great business lesson.

Till then,

Jean

 
Comment by Nick
2009-07-02 01:26:04

Easily room for both. While the iPhone may in fact be “better”, there are some people who don’t need a phone and a music player and are just looking for a good affordable camera. Flip chose a great market and it’s in a completely different category than the iPhone.

Nick’s last blog post..Watch out for Hydra Network

 
Comment by dubai property
2009-07-08 02:54:33

hi
this is very informative .I will try it in my site

thanks

 
Comment by Lida
2009-09-30 11:02:40

The list goes on and on… but the key takeaway here, is that you don’t need to think of a new product or idea to make a few thousand, or even a couple hundred thousand dollars.
Lida
You just need to find a way to DO IT BETTER! Look at your market, find your top competitors and see what you can do better and offer to your potential customers that they arent.

 
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