How to make money on an image host!?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by Nudge, Feb 16, 2010.

  1. #1
    Hello. I wasn't sure where to post this, so I'll post it here.

    Let me start out by saying I own the imagehost: www.imagecheese.com

    Right now I am paying 9.99 a month for solid hosting and get 250gb of bandwidth.

    Last month I used: 120.75 Gig of bandwidth, had 9317 unique visitors, and made around $.47 using "Project Wonderful" advertising.

    So far this month, I have used 142.16 Gig of bandwidth, had 3,682 unique visitors, and have made $1.50 using Adsense advertising.

    By the way things are going, it looks like I am going to have to upgrade my hosting already, but I am not earning near enough to even break even for hosting costs.

    My question is, how do I fix this? What is the best way to make money on an image host. Is there anything better I can use than adsense? How can I finally start making money on my image host?

    ---------------

    Just a quick update:

    I am very skeptical of trying to make any money on this site. I think my best option will be to try to sell it and run!

    My current situation: So far this month, I have made $0.73 with AdSense, and have used 534GB of bandwidth! Soon I will need a dedicated server, but I just can't afford that considering such low payouts!

    What are my options? Should I try different ad placement? Should I try putting a more amount of ads? Should I use a different ad agency all together? Or should I just try selling the site?

    PLEASE ANY EXPERTS HELP ME OUT HERE!
     
    Nudge, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  2. music legend

    music legend Well-Known Member

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    #2
    go with cpalead and make people fill out the survey to upload or to share the file. you will make a killing with those visitors
     
    music legend, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  3. Nudge

    Nudge Member

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    #3
    I wouldn't like to do that. I need repeat customers, and personally I would never use a web-site requiring me to fill out a survey, considering the amount of other image hosts out there.
     
    Nudge, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  4. kingshuk01

    kingshuk01 Guest

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    #4
    You have to do that to make money or else you will make pennies as you are doing now. You need to understand that fact that your users come to your site either to upload images or view them, so is there something for them that they are not getting in your site. They are getting it all so why they should click your ads. The truth is only a visitor click a ad when his or hers need is not fulfilled.

    I guess you got what I am trying to say here.

    Cheers!
     
    kingshuk01, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  5. Nudge

    Nudge Member

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    #5
    I understand completely what you are trying to say, but how do you suggest sites like tinypic earns money? They have no paid membership, and is also completely free.
     
    Nudge, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  6. kampai

    kampai Peon

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    #6
    maybe you should make they fill a survey after 50-100 pics they uploaded. And dont let them upload until they finish the survey. Block using their IP range
     
    kampai, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  7. kingshuk01

    kingshuk01 Guest

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    #7
    They have a very large traffic maybe more than millions. So if they are run ads on CMP basis then you guess how much they are making. They can easily charge $5 CPM with the volume of their traffic. Isn' it? You build your traffic volume and you can too charge the same. BTW their PR is 7 and Alexa rank is 147.
     
    kingshuk01, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  8. Nudge

    Nudge Member

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    #8
    I appreciate the feedback. I understand how huge tinypic is, and realize the traffic they get.

    But, with what I am asking is, with my site now, what exactly am I doing wrong? How is it possible that I had 19,148 page views this month, and only made 74 cents? This is the part I need to know. Do I receive enough traffic to be making more money with other ad providers? Is my placement wrong? Should I implement more ads?

    These are the questions I am asking.

    Thanks.
     
    Nudge, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  9. QuackWare

    QuackWare Member

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    #9
    Try optimizing your add positioning a little bit, one add in the top right corner is not going to make you much money. Consider one right next to where you give the links to the images. Surely that will get more exposure.
     
    QuackWare, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  10. tak819

    tak819 Well-Known Member

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    #10
    i don think adsense pay high for image hosting site..
     
    tak819, Feb 16, 2010 IP
  11. lior1970

    lior1970 Well-Known Member

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    #11
    If you're relying on adsense only, then you are in touble. Try to sell space for advertisers to put banners in your website. adbrite.com is one option.
     
    lior1970, Feb 16, 2010 IP