Would Appreciate Advice On This This Affiliate Site

[bmw650]

I feel this site is a huge risk for the asking price. It is really nothing more than a site filled with stock images and affiliate links. So, in essence you are paying for the keyword ranking and I really don't see "Flat Shoes" as that competitive and 2,800 visitors is really not too many. It is nice, but not a ton.

They also seem to be somewhat competing with http://www.blackflats.org/ and perhaps others....

http://www.sandalsshoes.net/
http://www.flatsshoes.org/
http://www.brownboots.org/

It just REEKS of RISK to me... For $5k, perhaps -- or a $10k chunk of a $250,000 portfolio, ok... But this is RISKY.

how did you find the competition?

[james]

Thank you all so much - like most things, studying a subject is one thing, but it just can't replace experience.

QualityNonsense - I did get income and traffic records, but as Clinton pointed out in the original thread, GA code can be placed on multiple
sites to skew the numbers. I saw a screenshot of the affiliate earnings, and though the statement had the sites' name on it, I guess that could
be diddled with too.

christopheravell - I didn't see blackflats.org., etc. as a particular threat. My reasoning is this. What products can you sell that don't have very
close/similar competition?
I'm not trying to make a point here - I feel I'm missing your point and would like to know what it is, if you have time.

Thank you delta4 - and Clinton thanks for the idea - maybe I can start 'flatblackheelesssandalshoes.com'

[christopheravell]

christopheravell - I didn't see blackflats.org., etc. as a particular threat. My reasoning is this. What products can you sell that don't have very close/similar competition?
I'm not trying to make a point here - I feel I'm missing your point and would like to know what it is, if you have time.

The point is that the seller ALREADY has copies of this same site. These aren't competition from someone else "out there" these are sites owned by the same seller. So you will be competing against the guy you are buying from. Really I believe in no way should you be considering this site. It consists of nothing... Just affiliate links and stock text/images. No original content... Which tells you that the term "flat shoes" must not be very competitive.

[delta4]

Strange, I'm seeing 60,500 exact match searches for flat shoes (global) ...

right. but i mentioned local global is correct.

I am talking about VISITORS -- here is what he has on Flippa:

Page Views Per Month 14,121 Uniques Per Month 2,840.

Forgot to read info on auction. lol

[QualityNonsense]

>, in essence you are paying for the keyword ranking

Agree 100%. The domain is not great and has very few backlinks.

When I said that

>It just REEKS of RISK to me

Agree. Avoid.

In terms of verifying stats for affiliate sites, I don't think that's any different from doing DD for *any* site.

Most affiliates use Google Analytics, which makes checking out traffic stats simple enough.

In terms of earnings - most affiliate networks either:

1. Track which sites generates sales
2. Let's the affiliate tag traffic as from a particular source

The former is hard to fake. The later is easier to fake, but would require a seller to have the foresight X months or years ago that they will want to scam someone.

In some instances, I've spoken to affiliate managers for a site's major affiliate programs to verify earnings, that they are on good terms with the seller etc etc.

[christopheravell]

Also, see this:

http://flippa.com/auctions/39469/Fla...filiate-Search