SEM Tycoon

**Skribblez** · 10-30-2006, 04:48 AM

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to monetize a teen social networking site that I'm working on - Jibble.com.

I'm thinking of using a combination of some CPA programs on CJ, MaxBounty, AzoogleAds, and some other reputable providers.

What programs do you think I should go for? Do you think CPA would be the best way to monetize a teen social networking site like mine? If not, what other methods would you recommend?

I'm also thinking of monetizing my site through premium memberships.

Free membership - Ad supported
Premium membership - No ads. Cost will probably be either $1.99 or $4.99 / month. Still not sure.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for me and my site, please feel free to share them.

I am very confident that this site will go far and become as big as bebo.com, which is another popular site for teens and young adults. I'm just working on getting a few things sorted, how I'm going to keep it up (monetization), terms of service, privacy policy and privacy issues, etc.

Through my experience, teenagers LOVE good looking sites. I am a teenager myself and I personally think MySpace, Bebo, and many of those other popular social networking sites are ugly, so I'm going to take that to my advantage. The design is still underway though.

Well, I'll cut it short, but if you want to know more, just let me know. (If you think you can help me out with some free or low cost and fast/reliable hosting, please also let me know

)

Thoughts, opinions, advice, anything appreciated!

**imported_WillB** · 11-01-2006, 05:25 PM

You're a teenager making $5K+ a month? Wow, I wish I'd been so hard working when I was younger

So er. Jibble. After a quick look round, it looks like a MySpace clone. Do you have any unique features that will put you ahead of the other clones?

**imported_HaRRo** · 11-01-2006, 07:09 PM

Very well done on that cash when being a Teenager, i did the same its what got me to where i am today.
I was still in school banking around $22,000 a month by myself. It does change your view in everything and made me not want to work for anyone else for a lousy wage.

Anyways your site looks like its built on PHPfox as far as i can tell anyway.

My suggestion is not to charge money for nothing. Keep it 100% free, any sign of paid memberships will make anyone not want to join up.

And for making money copy myspace ad layouts. CPA using azoogleads will bank easily, even on friend requests make it email the user and in the emails have a few sponsored links. Anything, run a weekly newsletter but CPA is the way to go. Dont go for google adsense or pay per click as it will not be very profitable. CPA is the way i would go, both in emails and on the site.

Using my experience for teens, they go for free offers as most dont have credit cards. Even adverts like www.myspacebebo.com (example) would do well its a azoogle ad. And converts like crazy, ringtones do well too.

But my advice is leave out adverts for as long as you possibly can. Like bebo i think they wont have adverts until early next year, its what made it so big, But soon i believe they will drop adverts everywhere as the userbase is huge.

And if you want to go one step further sell templates for it , i believe all myspace generators too are PHPfox capable and work with it.

Good luck on your venture

**xboxundone** · 11-01-2006, 10:05 PM

as others suggested Keep it 100% free and target them with teen CPA ads! you will make a killing if you can get the traffic!

**imported_Anthony** · 11-02-2006, 02:04 AM

Some of you may know I used to run a popular image compression site called ImageSquash.com

This had nowhere near as many pages to slap ads on to and I was generating a good $200 per week alone from myspace and teen related traffic. This was just on three pages of the website.

Imagine the depth of your ad display and compare that with your demographic, using my personal income model. The opportunities are endless with what you have.

Just do what everyone else has said, keep it free, good looking and cheerful!

**Bookworm-SEO** · 11-02-2006, 05:27 PM

if you do premium memberships, removing ads won't be enough. i'd offer extra content like layouts, ringtones etc.

**johniman7** · 11-04-2006, 08:44 PM

Nice job with your site. I agree with you that most social networking sites are ugly. Yours will definately draw attention.

Maybe CPM ads? I am not to experienced with most types of monetization.

**Conan Stevens** · 11-07-2006, 11:25 PM

Revenue share incentivized schemes from an affiliate network.

ie User base does this (click here,etc) to get this many jibble points to spend on their website.

This was huge a few years ago with one of our clients, making a motza from it.

Even better with what you are doing as the point rewards can be large in comparision to the hard dollar value you put on the same, say personal space upgrades.

**mtgm** · 11-08-2006, 04:10 AM

i agree with the others about keeping it free. with competition like myspace, bebo, etc. and other free networking sites, a paid model doesn't make any sense.