What the Heck are iFrames?
iFrames are actually different from the older frame which was once the basis of building websites.
Frames were built around specific content so that each piece would load separately. Unfortunately, while it would help to separate elements of the page for the viewer it also made it more difficult to rank in the search engines and the page wouldn’t always load efficiently.
Frames are out.
But iFrames (inline Frame) are a bit of a different story. These are actually windows that are cut into your webpage that allows your visitor to see another page on your site (or off your site) without reloading. They are cross-browser compatible.
iFrames are a way of including a scrolling page within a page – useful for displaying terms of service or other tutorial information. Or the frame can be static and built to display camtasia screen capture video.
But – they are especially useful for affiliate marketers because they hold the vendor information on your page so that the vendor cookie can be sent to the reader and ensure that you are being paid.
A frame is at least two pages where the parent page holds information that may be completely replaced by the holding page. An iFrame may be so small that it’s not seen. It doesn’t replace the information – it adds to it.
How is this used? If you are marketing a product that is good – but which has a horrible sales page – you can write your own review or sales process and insert a small iFrame of your affiliate link into the page which ensures you get paid for your work.
iFrames can also be used to embed screen capture video on a page that also has html content.
For instance – have you been to a site where the only thing on the page is a video? Using an iFrame the webmaster can easily insert the video into a page that has graphics, copy and other elements while still showing a video. All without copying and pasting multiple bits of code and risking a broken vid.
Hope this gives you some great ideas of ways to use iFrames in your sales pages or websites. On Thursday I’ll give you a quick and easy way to get them to show up on your page.
