Difference between promoting casino & poker

[imported_Tommy]

I have wanted to make this post for a while over here on CAL. But let's discuss the differences between promoting online casinos and online poker.

Personally I think they are two totally different demographics that need to be promoted completely different.

From my observations, poker players are much more analytical and looking for angles. So they actually need to be sold on why to sign up somewhere.

Yet casino player are much more impulsive, just by nature. So good banners and calls to action actually work better with this traffic.

Hence why a lot of poker affiliates look at some casino sites and think "How does that convert"? I guess it does though.

I would love to hear from some old school casino affiliates on what converts best for these players, surely it is not what works for poker players.

[mojo]

Actually, I am at a total loss on how poker affs make money! LOL

I promote a sportsbook/casino/poker site and mostly promote the casino. I do have a faithful poker player who plays every single day. I make about $5-10 a month from him. So I always wonder how you guys do it. Obviously I'm not a poker player.

I think that most poker affs are poker players themselves and know what these players are looking for. I'm a casino player myself and I know what players are looking for in this niche. Either way, knowing your player goes a long way to success. I think they are two different worlds.

Casino players are probably more impulsive in general. I think the more seasoned players are a bit more discriminating. Those that have a budget will look harder as well. These players are looking for bonuses, playthroughs, minimum/maximum cash out, restricted games, software etc and do their homework on player complaints.

Here is how I got started, it's easier to show my gpwa interview. Warning: it's boring! LOL

Gambling Mojo GPWA Times Interview

[MJ]

Here's what I don't get, I come across casino sites in serps I'm exploring all the time that have 2 million alexa or so - a lot of these portals are owned by people regarded as ballers or gurus.

I generally don't understand Alexa, but I do take a quick glance at sites I visit and I can tell by Alexa ranking which sites get much traffic or not, in particular I expect sites to be 200k on down that get a lot of traffic right? But most casino sites I don't see that or anywhere close to it, confuses me and often leaves me wondering how much traffic really comes in the serps for casino - or if it's concentrated to hard to reach serps like "online casinos".

[CK]

Casino and poker have two totally different ways of making money. I thought that was going to be sooo easy. I do disagree with Jeremy though. I dont think banners convert very well or attract players. I think they are an eye sore and I only use them as needed. I would rather a nice logo, but maybe thats cause Im use to poker sites. Ive tested them using different trackers and its the call to action on the page that gets clicks more than a banner does. (btw any AM's out there who read this....please for the love of God slow down those banners. Some flash so fast motion sickness is right around the corner)

The thing that intrigues me the most is this - I personally dont think strategy articles convert well for poker. NOt as well as targetting a specific room/bonus, but on our site I've seen that articles do work. You can still send players based on articles without them having to see a review as long as you have call to actions in place and its more the longtails than anything else that players come in from.

If your going to build a casino sites, stop comparing it to your poker site.

[mojo]

Here's what I don't get, I come across casino sites in serps I'm exploring all the time that have 2 million alexa or so - a lot of these portals are owned by people regarded as ballers or gurus.

I generally don't understand Alexa, but I do take a quick glance at sites I visit and I can tell by Alexa ranking which sites get much traffic or not, in particular I expect sites to be 200k on down that get a lot of traffic right? But most casino sites I don't see that or anywhere close to it, confuses me and often leaves me wondering how much traffic really comes in the serps for casino - or if it's concentrated to hard to reach serps like "online casinos".

Alexa is hard to gauge for accuracy. I know many use it but I don't go by that or page rank either. I lost all my page rank awhile ago but my traffic went up. Casino targeted searches is what I moniter. Most of my traffic is searches specifically for casinos and the keywords I target. I would rather have quality than quantity.

I don't bother with 'online casino' to much. There are so many things to promote, the best way to start out is to find you 'niche'. Which confuses me with poker. There are a limited amount of keywords to promote?

I dont think banners convert very well or attract players.

I think they do kaus. I go by what I was looking for as a player. I would rather click on a legitimate banner than someones link that goes goodness knows where(as a player). But that's just me. If I only had all the answers.

[CK]

Now I can see that happening mo, now that I think about it. And no offense to the casino side of things but it seems like G cant figure out what is spam and what is quality as quick as it does with poker, or there just isnt as much spam being created in poker as in casinos. Either way I have found a number of casino sites where I click a link and I DO NOT end up where I was supposed to be...so I can see that happening

My biggest pet peve is the microgaming banners. I find them way to fast though. Its like they are trying to get 5 things on the banner in a matter of 3 seconds. I just think if it was toned down a bit. tbh I just cringe having to go into my marketing tools to pick a banner for some of the programs.

Cplanet for example...and Ben I hope ya read this I would love if they would create just a simple image for the chery red one...with the cherry red girl, have a us flag and the only thing that moves on that banner would be the words US players Welcome...Accept eChecks or accept American express or something to that effect *slowly*. Just simple yet effective.

Anyway going way off topic so I will stop

btw there is lots to target in poker to mo

[JohnH]

I find the best way to see what works is to just test, test, test. I use google's website optimizer to test different versions of pages, call to action placements, link text, colors, pictures, font size, etc etc. The main point is to get your visitors to click on your affiliate link, and your job as an affiliate is to present the visitor with the page that has the best chance of getting them to do this.

You'll be surprised what you will discover. It all depends on the nature of your traffic as well. Test many different things until you can't improve any more.

There are general guidelines as to what works and what doesn't, but you can never be sure what will work the best for your site and it's traffic. Many affiliates go around reading blog posts on what to do and how to design their pages, but the most important thing I think is to get in there and see what works for yourself. What works on one site may not work as well on another and vice versa.

[mojo]

What works on one site may not work as well on another and vice versa.

That is so true and to me fascinating. I hear how others are earning well somewhere and I can't make a dime, even though the traffic is there. And the other way around too. Why is that. So it's kind of learn as you go along what works for your particular site.