Seasonal arbitrage [strategy]

[BigBillionsLetian]

Hey guys,

Dropping by with yet another tip and definitely open to new ideas if you guys are dong even cooler variations of this.

As you may know, aside from being a publisher, I've also been an heavy-affiliate since I've started online. It's easily one of the most flexible businesses I've ever done.

Here's a cool strategy that I frequently employ to make money relatively year-round (seeing spikes in Dec for everyone)

Most seasonal PPC'ers just focus on promoting a gift (let's say fathers day) during that time and then tail off.

I personally SEO year-round on these "seasonal long-tail terms" and there is indeed less competition when things are out of season because other people aren't SEO-ing on those terms. Now, I do this for not just domestic holidays but also international holidays as well where gifts are exchanged!

If you do this correctly ... over time, you now have a year-around basket ... with a nice spike at Christmas time obviously - but to be honest, even for myself ... Christmas tends to be one of my weaker promotions due to the heavy competition. Hint: I promote a ton of jewelry related things among many.

Curious - anyone killing it on birthday gifts?

Always a pleasure getting some fresh insights and giving back.

I hope this has helped you guys!

[bluffspot]

True Letian - promote when the search is flavoured... a little bit more into who I am...

I'm that guy... one of the things I started (debatable) a long while back was geo targeting clips in natural disasters - sitting back thinking about it in Aug 2005 - I noticed a huge fn spike in searches for preparedness gear - I was too late to pick up on Katrina but I was ready for Rita - let me tell you one thing about PPC - choose your time. Letian is correct - it doesnt have to be a set function for the ad you wish to push - look at the market and see where its hitting most.

Know that when a snowstorm is hitting downtown "somewhere" is a great time to start pushing those clients with snow tires, shovels and salt -

Hurricanes are by far the best - you have a few more days to prepare and you not only get the people looking for answers on where to go (hint... Hotels), but they are looking for plywood, ducttape, generators and other home products. Then, damn I'm drooling... comes after the storm... the real "eye" - this is where people start looking for deals on refrigerators, freezers, furnaces and other large, high$$$ appliances...

Does this make me evil... dunno... made me some good coin...