Blogs linking to galleries
 

I've noticed that nearly all blogs link the pictures to free host galleries or handmade galleries. Can someone explain the reason why the don't just directly link to their sponsor's site?

If you want the person to sign up at the sponsor page, why not just have the surfer go directly there and decide for themselves if they want to join the site?

To me, linking to a gallery, is like setting another obstacle before the surfer finally gets to the real site that you want them to enter.

It's like you're filtering out surfer multiple times:
a)when they click on the blog pic
b)when they click on the gallery pic
c)when they click on pics at the sponsor page
d)when they reach the join page

Wouldn't it be better to do eliminate Step B and possibly drive a lot more traffic to the sponsor(which is really the destination that you want the surfer to reach)?

Or how about linking the gallery directly to the sponsor's join page(since
Google SE traffic is already pre-qualified in a sense)?

Thanks.

The way I see it, I'm not trying to drive traffic to my sponsors, I'm trying to drive qualified buyers there. which method of linking will work best to get the qualified buyer where he needs to be.

Sometimes a gallery can be a great vehicle to get the qualified buyer where he needs to be. Sometimes it just gets in your way.

You have to play around a bit to determine when to link directly and when to use an additional vehicle like a gallery.

Cuz the guy clicking on a certain thumb expects to see the same guy(s) when he follows a link and seeing a paysite would scary him away at once. If he`s your client he`s gonna click through anyways and if he`s not you don`t need him further than the gallery I guess.

that's pretty much how I see it

I would agree to a point. If you can link to that pictures tour page on the sponsors site that, IMHO, is much better than linking to a gallery...which then probably links to the tour page anyway.

Also, if I'm promoting a single girl site, I don't bother with a gallery. They can see plenty more of her at the tour.

My preference is to give them more of what they are looking at but I also try to move that interest to the sponsor as quickly as possible

I have to agree with the idea that if you post a pic and it just goes to the paysite its a turn off. People want to see an picture and click on it to see more of that picture set, I think.

The reason I post handmade galleries is because it's a great way to trade traffic with partners. A lot of people will go to FHG and close it without bothering to go to the sponsor. With handmade galleries you can have a footer or something that people can click off your gallery to something rather than just closing the window. Better use of the clicks to galleries I think.

If I click on a pic or link talking about porn I would want to see a bigger picture, video, or a gallery. Not something trying to sell me something without a decent sample. I think a good mix of linking to some content and a link to the paysite is good.