400-500 uniques/day but can't make money :s Please help!!

Let me ask YOU a question:

You're in a hot niche which is dominated by several HUGE companies such as Microsoft and EA both of which turn over $millions a year from markets including the Netherlands. What are YOU doing to monetize your traffic?

Look, you've done very well to build your site but monetizing it is alot harder than just creating a nice place for people to hang out. I want to give you some advice that I personally would do so listen up:

Don't become desperate. Always believe in your site as a "business" for you and how you are going to conquer the dutch gaming niche with it. You need to think about NOT just passing each month with an Adsense bill for $100, you've got to think about to suck as much money out of your community as possible.

If I were you, I would firstly offer the latest computer hardware from the likes of Alienware to your users. This is "pro" gaming gear and with any luck they will buy it

Whilst offering this stuff, start thinking about developing your own product. Think about what they would want and create a product around that. Even if it's sourcing game controllers from China or somthing, make a product they will LOVE and want to buy in their DROVES.

 

Try Layer ads for CPM

 

I'd just suggest either Google Ads, AdBrite or anytype of "free game download" site with an affiliate scheme. I think BigFishGames might do something. Actually do you have any game shops / stores in the "dutch" region? if so, goto their site and check if they have affiliate schemes. That should help. Or try Cj.com - their eBay program is great!!

 

I may be able to help this guy the most, because I've practically been in that same site niche.

I had a game-mod site about a year ago, (modent.org now expired.)

I currently have another gaming site (Battlefield 3, enterbf3.com) and I had 5,500 page impressions in one day, $0.01 for page impressions and a $0.28 click. :/. Today however, I've had two with $0.47 . Also, gaming is not a good money making niche for sure, however you are getting me thinking. I may PM you if I find something worthwhile for someone that is in a semi-close niche.

Also, this isn't like omg gaming? Post this affiliate link, we both have to find something that's specific to ONE game.

 

so i shudnt use adsense?

 

Thank you very much for your explanation. I was actually becoming desperate ... I know gaming is not a very good money making niche and because my website is in Dutch, it's becoming extra hard for me. I'll try the link you gave me. Thanks!

Thanks, I hope you find something

 

You could maybe make more money by also translating your website into english so you are running 2 sites but the same content just in different languages?

 

Yes I've been thinking about that too, but then I have some practical problems. I only have 1 database with my hosting package and I don't want to install another copy of my CMS into the same database. That will become a huge mess. Maybe I'll need to lookout for another host.

 

It's not the amount of visitors your site has, it's what your visitors do on your site what counts.
Try to lure them into your ads, there are lots of ways to do this

 

Don't use Zango!!

Try and sell some ad space yourself on forums like DP