Monitizing my content....

[ragtag]

Hi,

I've had a website with a bit of content, mostly short films, comics and a couple of small games. I'm considering giving the site an overhaul and possibly divide up the films and comics to separate domains. Frankly, I haven't touched the site for over a year, and done nothing to draw traffic to it, but I plan to add more content and start advertising it a bit soon.

I'm curious on tips on how to make money from the content on the site. What works and what doesn't. I'm planning on adding more content in the future, mostly comics stuff and maybe technical 3D tutorials, so the site won't be completely dead.

Considering that the site is a bit of a niche site, it will most likely never get a huge amount of traffic, but more likely a smaller but dedicated audience. I'm curious how well advertising works on such sites, or if I should go a different route with it (e.g. sell some of the content).

Anyways, all tips and ideas are welcome. The site is at Films and comics by Ragnar (may not be safe for work, some gay comics on there, but nothing too raunchy).

Cheers,

Ragnar

[YouRememberThat]

I was brought to this site because of a blog from Steve Pavlina :
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...rom-your-blog/
I run a nostalgia website so we both have a niche audience and the same principals of a blog so apply.

I used Adbrite in the beginning but found they couldn't deliver the right ad for the site, early adult dating services, hip hop ringtones weren't going to get much attention from my guests and members.

Google Adsense gave very appropriate content but I've only been getting credit for my clicks. So I don't even earn enough to purchase a Happy Meal a day.

My site average is about 5,000 visitors and about 3,100 Unique Visitors Daily, Alexa rates my site within the top 10,000 in the US and with the top 50,000 world wide.

The other alternative is to pursue advertisers on my own but I don't know if I have the time or current expertise to try this.

Any other ideas? Does anyone know what I should be earning with these stats?

Thanks!

Steve

[Technicolor Tim]

Those Alexa rankings are quite impressive. How long have you had your site for? It's a well designed site, you've obviously done a good job with it.

[YouRememberThat]

My site started July 2 so 8 months at this writing. I had no idea when I wrote this but I have been verbalizing what should considered good traffic. I've been visualizing getting the answers I need since last week and about an hour after writing this I find this blog stating that over 1,000 a day is considered good:
How to Find Advertisers for Your Website: The Ultimate Guide

I've been told that I'm good at attracting traffic and getting it to stay, but I don't know how to get my impressions to count on Adsense or getting advertisers on my own.

What if we here work together to help each other? I can help with traffic, another can help with technical items, another with advertisers, SEO, on and on. Not just posting here but contacting each other?

This isn't the first website owner forum I've been on, but its the most positive!

[Tayrak]

I hit on a forum/chat where a bunch of old folks were busy reminiscing. The thing we spoke about the most was the music we listened to and where we would be able to find it.
The second most popular topic was old movies, and again where they would be able to find them. And then, believe it or not, commercials . But really it's hilarious to watch those old annoying commercials.

To my way of thinking if you could get some affiliate programs aimed at old music, movies, and even commercials it might be something these folks would go for.

How about selling memorabilia? Old car posters, how about a nice link to where you can buy old cars, again as an affiliate or something similar. And vacation spots, reunions geared toward old people or folks interested in way back when. They've got to have conventions or something, they've got them for everything else.


You only have one set of google ads on the top of your page, another set could easily fit on the left.

You have a nice You Tube advert right on the top, we old folk aren't so much for You Tube. I'd consider moving it down, you can keep it, and put something else there.

Just to add: You're about spot on for google earnings. Yup takes a load of clicks to make bucks. But remember it's a no brainer. Limited amount of work, basically no hassle. I figure I need about 7000 impressions to make anything decent. My site has a higher pay out for google ads than some others I know of, not sure what yours would be. Even so there's no downside to having them.

Just some thoughts
Tayrak