Internet Marketing Tycoon

**imported_khalid** · 07-23-2006, 09:56 PM

I'm setting new ad placement prices for one of my sites. I'm just wondering if there was any standard guidelines on what to charge?

For example, when purchasing a website, the rule of thumb is to pay approx 10 x the monthly earnings. What about for selling ad spots?

**Shpigford** · 07-23-2006, 10:03 PM

You usually have to play things by ear. What do YOU think the ad spot is worth? IE, what would you pay to advertise on a site similar to yours in a location where your ad spot will be?

Then, it's simple supply and demand. If you've got people knocking down your door wanting to advertise, raise your rates. If you can't get anybody to advertise, lower them.

**obenix** · 07-23-2006, 10:06 PM

Selling text link spots are indeed subjective. It depends on placement, traffic, type, size, etc. Some advertisers place high value on PR and DMOZ listing.

As a rule of thumb, I use TLA's calculator located at:
http://www.text-link-ads.com/link_calculator.php

Also, you can cross check against LinkWorth's:
http://www.linkworth.com/tools/price-quote.php

**imported_khalid** · 07-23-2006, 10:24 PM

Those are some good links, thanks!

You are right about trial and error, I guess I'll just need to see!

**imported_antman** · 07-23-2006, 10:27 PM

As a rule of thumb, I use TLA's calculator located at:
http://www.text-link-ads.com/link_calculator.php

Wow > Very useful. They are suggesting $35 a month for a side menu link...

Thanks for sharing that!

**imported_khalid** · 07-23-2006, 10:29 PM

Yeah, to be honest I think their calculations are a bit high!

**imported_Regal** · 07-23-2006, 11:05 PM

using adbrite.com to check the pricing for a site similar to yours can be useful too.

**007** · 07-24-2006, 03:20 AM

It all depends on the quality of your traffic and content. That's how you should decide your CPM rate. THEN, take your monthly traffic and figure it as a CPM (Cost per thousand impressions) and see if anybody bites. You may need to lower your CPM rate based on your initial response. After all, it's better to sell your ad space for less than you had hoped for than to not sell it at all.

**freetraff** · 07-24-2006, 05:35 AM

If I would be buying ad space from you (let's not focus on text links only) - I would be interested in these things:

- your average traffic
- targetedness of your traffic (what they like, what showed good conversions, how these people can be related to what I plan to offer on your site)

Now you know what a purchaser of ad space wants. Then check your niche, how much ad space costs at competition web sites, ask them the same questions as if you plan to buy ads from them, and scale your site to their prices.

**nick_mayhem** · 07-24-2006, 09:38 AM

Go to some similar site and ask for same thing. Do some market research and then base your prices on it.

**imported_jacksmith** · 07-25-2006, 12:15 PM

just stick around marketing section of the forum and you would know about the prices, it depends a lot on PR, hits, niche and even age of site.