Internet Marketing Tycoon

**SeanB** · 09:23 AM

I've been reluctant to place ads on my site since I've seen it done on some sites and it just looks too commercial. I've also seen it done where the ads were well integrated into the site, and I think that is something I could live with.

My main concern is what the perception will be by my site users. The site has grown very quickly to 650 users, but we are still young, less than 3 months. I don't want to look too commercialized and turn user off from the site.

At what point to you feel like there is enough of a solid user base to start introducing ads?

If this were your site, would you be using adsense already?

www.troublefreepool.com

**PaulVelvet** · 06-17-2007, 04:50 PM

I would consider where your income from your websites comes in from. If you think you could begin to make more from Adsense than from actual sales from products etc (as has happened for one of my sites) then I'd say use adsense. Just be smart about how many ads you add in and where you place them etc. Try and make them complement the site rather than be to outlandish.

**ADAM Web Design** · 06-17-2007, 09:00 PM

I'd have at least tried it by now. You've got a site that provides a free marketplace for buyers and sellers.

The problem is that, with a site like yours, Adsense may not be as effective since many of your users will be repeat users and will become "banner blind" after a while.

**willcode4beer** · 06-20-2007, 05:04 PM

Unless you are getting more than 1k unique visitors a day, I wouldn't bother with adsense. Also, like Adam said, you may not find it too effective with the repeat visitors.

But, let me throw this idea out for you.
Since your site has a very specific focus, you might try doing an amazon or barnes&noble affiliate program. You can choose the types of ads you want, and its obvious to users that they help support the site.
You could also have some book reviews (with 'buy' links, of course) and articles (that reference books as sources).
This will make your site useful for visitors and the constant new content makes for the best kind of SEO.
Amazon even sells accessories and toys for pools so, you could do more than just books.
Plain honest information can also build trust with your site's visitors.

At your current traffic level, you could see pretty good results right away.

**SeanB** · 06-28-2007, 04:40 PM

thanks. I am now considering doing banner advertising. I think that would be very effective for advertisers because I do have such a good target audience. Plus a single rotating banner up top will not be too intrusive or change the overall look of the site.

Now I just have to figure out how much to charge for the banners. I have over 500,000 pages per month (doubled from last month) and over 5k unique visitors. I am thinking of just doing a flat fee per month or per year.

**Vasity** · 06-28-2007, 05:01 PM

A type of banner exchange or text-link exchange might be smart, just because this will get you some free traffic for your website. Although you wouldn't get paid your site would grow faster due to usually 75% more traffic then u are currently using by going through a banner exchange or text link exchange.

**SeanB** · 06-28-2007, 05:26 PM

We are working on a link exchange page but it will only be for pool and backyard related sites.

**yasha78** · 06-28-2007, 07:51 PM

Hmmm... I think visitors are now so used to banner advertising that placing some banner or text ads in an harmonious manner (incorporated into the design) won't turn off your audience.

I would suggest avoiding pop-ups / pop-unders though.

**Vasity** · 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yasha78

Hmmm... I think visitors are now so used to banner advertising that placing some banner or text ads in an harmonious manner (incorporated into the design) won't turn off your audience.

I would suggest avoiding pop-ups / pop-unders though.

Nice...

There is more then one way to do this for sure, I am currently running a text/banner exchange banner exhange is a "entertainment" banner exchange (Anime,Fan Sites, Arcades,Text-Based Games, Games ect?) Text is anything and beyond...Just to increase traffic to everyone. =)

**SeanB** · 08-04-2007, 06:12 PM

Just started adsense this morning. Like to know your thoughts.

**elena29** · 08-06-2007, 10:57 AM

Try to blend your ads naturally with content. It will not disturb your users and you will also have a pretty nice CTR.

**SeanB** · 04:45 AM

I ended up pulling adsense. The ctr was very low and members either were annyoed by the ads or just ignored them, which defeated the purpose. The biggest problem I experience though was that many of the advertisers were selling snake oil products - there are a lot of those in the pool care business. I actually had threads where people were being warned not to use a particular product, which of course prompted an add for that company to show up in that thread.

I think I'll be better off running my own banner add campaigns with more reputable companies. It puts more work on my end, but they end result should be a lot better than adsense.

It was worth a try and I did at least earn enough for the minimum payout.

**MrCat** · 08-24-2007, 07:41 AM

That is great Sean! You should try other campaigns to better your revenue thru other means in the future. Your site users must have already figured out that maintaining a site would also involve a little expense. Best of luck to you and your site

**gringo** · 08-24-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanB

The biggest problem I experience though was that many of the advertisers were selling snake oil products - there are a lot of those in the pool care business. I actually had threads where people were being warned not to use a particular product, which of course prompted an add for that company to show up in that thread.

I'm not sure whether this would help in your situation, but you can use the competitive ad filter in adsense to prevent certain ads appearing on your site.

**SeanB** · 08-24-2007, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gringo

I'm not sure whether this would help in your situation, but you can use the competitive ad filter in adsense to prevent certain ads appearing on your site.

There were a couple of the more egregious ones that I did block, but honestly, the entire selection of advertisers was very disappointing for someone who is trying to maintain a sense of credibility. Of course, it all depends on your individual subject matter.