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Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:22 am Post subject: Non-commercial websites-how to "survive" Latest Blog Post : http://greece.hedir.com
I'd like to have your opinion on a concern of mine.
Let's say you are an individual who wants to create a website about something you really care about, but doesn't belong to a commercial niche-like history, for instance.
This takes loads of hours and resources to be done and somehow you need to cover your website's costs, actually you would even deserve to earn something from it.
A way for this is putting some ads throughout the site...however, they are not always completely relevant and it might turn out that they bother your visitor (even the discrete ones from adsense) and soon you might get a bad reputation that the only thing you care about are your earnings.
Another way is to join affiliate programs like amazon, that can be completely relevant to your topic (since there are books on virtually everything)-but my experience has shown that they hardly pay off (except you have traffic of thousands of visitors each day).
So, my question is: what options are left for this situation? After all, the purpose of the WWW is to provide resources for a broad range of topics, and shouldn' t become limited to a bunch of "Widget sellers" and "Web hosting services".
This takes loads of hours and resources to be done and somehow you need to cover your website's costs, actually you would even deserve to earn something from it.
Absolutely. There is nothing wrong with displaying ads on an informational site. In fact, it helps the user find more information about the topic, and rewards you at the same time.
Quote:
A way for this is putting some ads throughout the site...however, they are not always completely relevant
If you're getting non-relevant links displayed then this could be for a couple of reasons.
1. There isn't enough content relevant to the main keyword and Adsense is struggling to decide what is most relevant. Addding more keyword-rich text will certainly help.
2. If your site is a real niche, then there may not be enough advertisers paying for your particular keyword. Obviously, the more ad blocks you decide to use only compounds the situation.
If certain non-relevant ads keep popping up on your page, then these can be blocked in your Adsense account pages (Competitive Ad Filter). I presume the ad on your home page referring to a golf villa is getting up your nose? Just enter the url in your Competitive Ad Filter and it will be gone. However, it may be replaced with something just as non-relevant!
Well-optimised, informational pages (with 'unique' content), well-placed 'blended' ads. and relevant incoming links can perform very, very well and can earn you hundreds of dollars each month.
I think your problem is more the fact that there just aren't enough paying advertisers for your subject. I just did a Google search on 'Greek Gods', and it only threw up one sponsored ad, from Ebay.
I don't think you're going to make a great deal from Adsense. Personally, I would consider looking to host affiliate links from various book-sellers, you mentioned Amazon for instance, as I think this would benefit the reader also.
Good luck with whichever route you take! _________________ Please help us to improve HEDir by reviewing some sites.
I don't think there is a problem with ads or affiliates per se. The problem is their placement on sites - since ads generate some revenue, site owners tend to place ads very prominently, so they interfere with the text or design of the site.
When I visit a supposed "informational" site, yet see 3 ad blocks on the front page and ads inserted among the text, that makes me think the site owner cares more about getting clicks on the ads than in presenting information.
The trick is to place ad blocks and affiliate links in sections of the site so they do not interfere with the presentation of the information that is the basis of the site. And making sure the quantity of ads or links do not overwhelm the site. 3 ad blocks on a page are too much.
"well-placed" and "blended" are good goals with ads. Make sure the message of the site isn't "BUY SOMETHING!!", but "read this great stuff", if providing information is, in fact, the goal of the site.
Please understand that there are tons of sites being submitted that pretend to be information sites but really are there to drive ads and affiliate programs (all the Sitesell sites, for example. That's all they are written for - to draw people in with "niche" information, then get them to buy something).
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 5:57 pm Post subject: thanks :) Latest Blog Post : http://greece.hedir.com
Thank you for all the valuable information. I am a newbie, there is still much to learn..but with your kind help(and some critics:)) I am definitely moving forward.
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject: the first solution Latest Blog Post : http://greece.hedir.com
I really want a good website, especially in a topic like this. Its a matter of pride-and we greeks have lots of it
Well, I guess I found a good solution in my case: just LESS advertisements(thanks so much for the tip writergrrrl )
This benefits the visitor, who is facing a much cleaner website, but also me. Because only the "top-bidders" are getting listed- so the clickthrough might decrease, but the overall earnings become bigger.
Please understand that there are tons of sites being submitted that pretend to be information sites but really are there to drive ads and affiliate programs (all the Sitesell sites, for example. That's all they are written for - to draw people in with "niche" information, then get them to buy something).
It's interesting how you have targeted sitesell sites without anyone mentioning them yet writergrrrl.
I am in the process of wanting to start a web site and sitesell looks like it helps you build a very successful web site.
I clicked on the link to the site you have reviewed, and it appears to be exactly the same as the sitesell method.
So you must agree with the sitesell method somewhere.
I specifically mentioned SiteSell sites because in the last year I have reviewed several hundred of them in different directories. I have also spent time learning how their model works.
The reason I have (and will) often made disparaging remarks about these sites is that most of them contain simplistic, generalized content that is not well written, plus they over-do the ads and/or their "resources" links. You'll see many reviews in Hedir where I point out how the ads interfere with the text and overwhelm the content. This is bad from the user perspective, and the end user SHOULD be who we focus our sites on.
There is nothing wrong with monetizing a site. There is a lot wrong with doing it in such a way that interupts the flow of information. This is where people go astray - they put so many Adsense blocks into their sites that the site is one big ugly ad screaming "BUY SOMETHING!!"
I use SiteSell sites as examples of how not to monetize a site because most of the ones I've reviewed make the same mistakes. They write very general, non-specific pages and pages of simplistic information that can be found all over the internet, then overload those pages with ads or links (or both.) Often the navigation is one long jumble, not orderly and logical.
There are a few that I've reviewed here and voted Yes on because it was clear the site builder wrote for the user, not for the search engines and the ads. But those are few and far between.
I'm sorry if I have disparaged the source of your business choice. You could be one of the few SiteSell users who builds a site with excellent, strong content with well-placed ads and relevant link resources. I hope you are, and I wish you great success.
clicked on the link to the site you have reviewed, and it appears to be exactly the same as the sitesell method.
So you must agree with the sitesell method somewhere.
The site you are referring to is not actually a SiteSell site, although the model seems to be very similar. And if you'll take the time to read my comments, you'll see that I asked the site owner to pay closer attention to how the ads interfere with the content. She has made some changes that improve the usability of the site for real live people.
Much of the content on that site is well-written and specific. So regardless of the model used, the site has value because of the content. I can guarantee there are not a lot of sites that specifically discuss the Greek pantheon.
As I mentioned, I love the topic I am occupied with, i.e. greek mythology. I enjoy doing research on my free time, that's why the site has some unique content.
The most important thing is to choose your website's niche carefully. You need to have a passion for the topic you will write about, elsewise it will end up being a common sitesell site with no particular interest.
evie_h,
I suggest you explore having a donation page on your website. If you are providing useful information and people might be interested in it, you can opt to have a donate page on some where on your side. have a link to that page at the end/beginging (or shamelssly pepper it as and when you feel so) of your articles/pages.
The donatation page can be linked to your paypal account or something like that. A simple $2 or $5 will go some distance to offset some server cost. Do remember to tell your visitors that you site is running on commercial server and that cost money. People do appreciate that and if they are kind (or have cash to burn) they will donate.
If you feel guility about asking for money for yourself, you can link the donate page to my paypal. I will be more than happy to provide you with my email. Just joking!
On the similiar note, you can choose to adopt a local charity/non-profit that is in line with you website (maybe a local museum) and have the donated money channel to that. Just make sure that the authorities know about this.
Why this? Some people do not like to donate money to strangers on the web, but these people may find your site useful and will like to give some money, but sadly not to you. A non-profit may just persuade them to part with some cash. Hence this extra arrangement.
In short, one donate page for yourself, and one more for a local adopted non-profit. _________________ Cheers!
.::redhex::.
Singapore Wine Company Free Classifieds
Understand that some directories that you want to list your site in, will not accept sites that take money unless there are 2 types of contact information on the site (not including a form). Even though a site is not "commercial", if you have a donations option the directories will require contact info.
writegrrrl, for that it might be a slight difference.
Most commercial exchange cash for a product or service and hence an address is required or a registered telephone number. This is for the buyer to see redress should the product or service is not up to par. There is a purchase/selling contract in that.
As for donation, it is not such a case cos it is voluntary. No exchange of goods/service. The first place when a donation is made, it is after the user had found the site to be useful and wanted in one way or another return the favour back to the website.
So from that point of view, an address is optional. But different directories have different rules. Hope I made myself clear. _________________ Cheers!
.::redhex::.
Singapore Wine Company Free Classifieds
redhex, its really nice you spent some thought in my "case".
I just don't feel very comfortable yet with donations. I feel like its screaming: "pay me!". With adsense, on the other site, users are given more information about the topic, and reward me at the same time, like nozzmoking said. And since the ads are not intruding that much, I think its a good solution.
So I'll stick to the adsense option for now-and when my site is fully developed and has become as great as I want it to be (I still have lots of ideas for improvement/ enhancement), I may opt for donations... Let's see!
Greetings from lively Athens _________________ Evie,
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