I think we all know what a "Cookie Cutter" website is. But if not, here's a quick description;

Some typical examples are Affiliate Providers such as "Template Monster" and "Joe Bucks". The websites provided are good, but are all the same for each and every Affiliate.

Some typical examples are Affiliate Providers such as "Template Monster" and "Joe Bucks". The websites provided are good, but are all the same for each and every Affiliate.

Why use a Cookie Cutter Site?

1. For starters, the main attraction is the ease of setting them up. In most cases, you simply download a .zip file, insert your "Sales ID", then upload the whole thing to your hosting account! Simple as 123. No worrying about how to design a website, where to get content, how to link to the merchant and so on.
2. Another reason is that Cookie Cutters generally link through to the providers own checkout system and payment facility. Hence you do not need to find yourself a Credit Card processer…or pay any of the fees involved in doing so.
3. Some Cookie Cutter sites can be automatically updated by the provider - hence you have an auto-updating website that never fails to show their latest products.

The downside

Well, the one and only downside is that loads of other Affiliates might also have the exact same site. Hence, you are all fighting for the same slice of pie.

The Cost

If you have to pay for a Cookie Cutter website, forget it. Absolutely pointless. They always are free of charge, as they are built to sell products. You get an Affiliate Fee for each product that is sold via your links, this is how you and the provider make money.

The Solution

Why not improve your Cookie Cutter site by changing the header and other graphics - this gives an instant new look to your website. In addition change the colour of the text, links etc by making changes in the stylesheet of the site. With just a few moments work, you can easily differentiate your site from all the others…

If your Cookie Cutter has text content, why not re-write each page? If you have a 20 page website and re-write just 2 pages per day, it's only 10 days work! And remember, re-writing an article is not hard. Just read it a few times to get the basic message it is conveying, then write it again in your words without looking at the article again. With practice, this becomes very easy.

Getting Links to Cookie Cutters

As I mentioned in my last post, if you run a Cookie Cutter and you have not taken the time to personalise it, then don't expect to get good backlinks. Expect to have to pay for that pleasure. Remember that most Cookie Cutters are for one purpose only - to make a sale of a product, hence you are competing with other ecommerce providers - most of whom are business-savvy.

Conclusion

Cookie Cutters are useful, but are generally over-used. By "doing their own thing", I believe that most Affiliates could be more successful, hence if you do plan to use such a site, personalise it!