SEM Tycoon

**Atomm** · 07-07-2006, 02:24 PM

Another thread asked the question "Does traffic = money?" IE, as you increase traffic, does it also increase your gross profit?

I thought about posting this in that thread, but I felt like I was hijacking it.

While most the people seem to agree that traffic does equal money, I have seen a lot of comments about sites with very little traffic actually making decent money. That leads me to believe there is more to this idea than throw up a page, get traffic and make money.

So, do you have any sites that get little traffic, but make good money? What has been your experience with them?

**hairyfreak** · 07-07-2006, 03:20 PM

I think that gaming sites make quite a lot of money from adverts, even with few members/visitors, as the ads are usually relevant, gamers will usually click them for more information, and the costs per click are generally quite high. I know of a couple of people making significant amounts of money from small gaming websites.
I am sure that targeted websites with targeted traffic will definately have a much higher click through rate then those without.

**ForgottenCreature** · 07-07-2006, 05:01 PM

It all depends on your content. If you are using adsense they have some keywords that can get a couple dollars a click. I think medical and financial websites have high payouts, I'm not sure though since I haven't run either type.

**Atomm** · 07-07-2006, 05:46 PM

HairyFreak,

By Gaming, do you mean content sites like mine or Flash Game sites?

Thanks!

**imported_mattd** · 07-07-2006, 06:52 PM

I've found that writing and distributing freeware software is a great way to make a fair amount of money from low traffic. Obviously proper programming isn't for everyone though!

The psychology of it seems to be if someone is looking for a free bit of software to do something and comes across your site, and whilst they are there see other relevent software ads and so check them out too. I've had quite a few clicks that were worth $2 which I am pretty pleased at

**hairyfreak** · 07-07-2006, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomm

HairyFreak,

By Gaming, do you mean content sites like mine or Flash Game sites?

Thanks!

Content sites usually, although I think that Flash arcades may receive high payouts, but I'm not 100% sure.

**imported_mill** · 07-07-2006, 09:16 PM

Well I believe there is to many types of sites that can convert small amounts of visitors into large amounts of cash. And also on the flipside there could be a lot of visitors making a lot of cash. I think it boils down to how your site is marketed, the niche and how well the site appeals to the visitors.

I have a site that gets less than 50 uniques a day, and makes 50-200$ a day. And then I have a site that gets 4k uniques a day and dont make jack ( well i switched from adsense to azoogle so I am still trying to monetixe it a lil better).

**imported_dvduval** · 07-07-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

I have a site that gets less than 50 uniques a day, and makes 50-200$ a day.

I assume this is a site that sells an expensive product.

**Atomm** · 07-08-2006, 11:37 AM

Sounds like a web hosting affiliate site. :-)

**l3havin** · 07-08-2006, 12:59 PM

Well i agree with all the above points, but we cant neglect the truth that High traffic = $$$$

**Atomm** · 07-08-2006, 03:10 PM

I don't agree totally. There are lots of people who have high traffic sites that don't make squat. On sitepoint, there are posts all the time about 500,000 visits a month and no money.

I think it takes the right type of monetization to make it work regardless of traffic.

**mrrbob** · 07-08-2006, 04:42 PM

here is an example of a site that does not get squat for traffic and make a little money. It will be very little for some of you and a fortune to others anyway here are the stats.

page views -- clicks ------- click rate ---- eCPM ------- total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
4,646 ------- 1,105 ------- 23.78% ----- $00.00 ------ $421.79
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
154 --------- 36 -------------------------------------- $14.06
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st line is totals, 2nd line is averages per day. The eCPM is not disclosed per adsense tos. This was june's numbers. This is a education related site but uses only adsense no other affiliate programs.

Also this site has done double these numbers but is now in the summer doldrums. Not many people looking for my keyword terms, they are all out enjoying the summer. Plus I may need to do some updating as the site is 2 yrs old and I have not touched a single thing in a 1.5 yrs so I think I am loosing a little position in the se's. It is a nice little cash machine though.

###