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Remember MacGyver, the series about a guy that could take a toothpick, an aspirin, and a gerbil and build a helicopter? It was not popular because of his gorgeous hair or his lumberjack shirts, it was popular because of the way he improvised and used whatever he found in his imminent surroundings to get himself out of a tight spot. It was fun to watch.

The unfortunate thing is that CPA advertising is in a tight spot at the moment, with no signs of improving. Competition is growing larger by the day, and affiliates are finding it harder to rise from the quagmire. Those looking to succeed in this ever-crowded business need to channel their inner MacGyver, look for things in their imminent surroundings that they can use to build their CPA ships and navigate them into high tides.

Below, we will show you the tools that were there all along, but which you probably could not notice without entering the MacGyver mindset. It is time to give that CPA advertising of yours a little push.

Image source: slideshare

Use What is Around You to Reduce CPA Costs

Look for specific, unique keywords

Look for keywords your buyer persona typed in before clicking an ad. Find those that are relevant to your campaign and include them. Make sure you only use those with a high search volume – you do not want to be spending your money on low-volume search terms.

Use Dynamic Keyword Insertion

If you are not already using dynamic keyword insertion or DKI, this one is a must. Here is an example of what DKI is: let’s say you are operating with keywords like “smartphone”, “Android smartphone”, “large smartphone”, “water-resistant smartphone”, or something along those lines. In your advertising copy, you will want to add the DKI code as Buy> {Keyword: Smartphone}. That way, whoever searches for any of the abovementioned terms, to them the ad would appear as “Buy Android Smartphone”. That way you add more relevancy to your ad message. This is one of the better strategies CPA pros use to boost their results and have people find them more easily. Just keep those typos in mind, they can be devastating here!

Separate Campaigns Per Device

People do not buy on mobile devices that much (yet). But they will watch a TON of videos on mobile – and this will only expand. Understanding what each device type is used for most (and what it’s going to be used for in the near future) is key to building a cheap(er) and effective campaign. Knowing how your target group uses and plans to use different devices is something that frequently flies under the radar of marketers everywhere.

Customize Ad Scheduling

Generally speaking, ad tracking is considered a basic practice. However, even though it is right in front of them, many CPA pros disregard the fact that their CPA performance may vary, to a significant extent, depending on the time of day. Keep in mind, we are trying to tighten up on those performances as much as possible – every detail counts. Scheduling an ad for taxi services during rush hour, or scheduling food delivery services for late Saturday night are just a few examples of ad scheduling, which often gets neglected with an argument that it doesn’t make too much of a difference.

Look in the Top Drawer, LinkedIn is Hiding There!

CPA pros often neglect the power of LinkedIn groups. It’s a network that offers plenty of detail about people (besides the usual gender, age, location info, there’s also employment history, skills, and achievements), but also has a well-established, highly-moderated groups section. These groups are filled with active, lively and responsive communities, making targeting a specific audience easier and more effective than, say, Facebook or Twitter. It’s a great way to drive some seriously potent traffic.

Try a Different Analytics Tool

Let’s say you used a tiny screwdriver to tighten a large screw and it worked. It took a while, but you made it happen. Without knowing there’s a bigger screwdriver that can make the job easier and faster, you’ll end up wasting time and resources and, worst of all, be completely oblivious about it. MacGyver would never allow it – he’d try different things until he’d find the right tool for the right job. With so many analytics tools out there, one might end up thinking they’re all the same and that they’re not really worth the trouble. Don’t fall for that trap. If you haven’t already, try out these five analytical tools – you never know if there’s something in there to help you improve:

• Stealth Keyword Digger – This one is great for those in a tight niche market. It allows CPA pros to sort keywords by profitability.
• Spyfu – Marketers love this one. It allows them to keep an eye on their competition’s activity, including the keywords they’re buying on Google AdWords.
• KISSMetrics– If you’re not already using it – KISSMetrics is a must. It gives marketers amazing insight into their visitors. Truth be told, it is built primarily for e-commerce sites, but it works well with other types of sites.
• ClickMeter – For those looking for extra tools to help them measure the effectiveness of their campaigns, ClickMeter is used to track the conversion rates of links, as well as when and where visitors clicked them.
• LeadDyno – Automation is such an important aspect of every affiliate pro (especially someone looking to channel their inner MacGyver), that it honestly deserves its own article. In here, we’ll just briefly mention LeadDyno as one of our favs. It allows the automation of welcome emails, but also affiliate commission payments.

To Conclude –  CPA advertising

For MacGyver, his intelligence was his most potent weapon. It helped him find a way out of dangerous, potentially life-threatening situations. CPA pros might not be threatened with their life, but without improvising, looking for new solutions and being creative, they risk their jobs being eaten by those that do. It is time to channel your inner MacGyver and learn how to reduce CPA costs, take advantage of hidden gems in social media, and experiment with new and potentially powerful tools.