Need advice: 4 year old site getting 2,000+ unique visitors daily, but only making $1

Hi there, I have a 4 year old site that is presently getting 2,000+ unique visitors daily on autopilot, but I am only making less than a dollar a day, and on some days $1-$2

Link is http://www.pimpmywalk.com

I also have a forum on the site with 32,000+ members, and ~100 active or more users online at any one time: http://www.pimpmywalk.com/forum

It teaches people how to cwalk, a popular "dance" worldwide, but mainly in the US. The number of daily unique visitors has been pretty steady these past few years without much work on my part.

I have currently monetized the site with Adsense, which brings in about just under a dollar a day, or $1-$2 on some days. I just want to be able to make enough to not have to worry about the VPS (hosting) anymore, which costs about $76.50 per month. Adsense currently only brings in $50-$60, and even if I do manage to earn enough, adsense payment is pretty slow (NET-30) and the payment threshold is pretty high - $150 AUD for me. Not sure how much that is in USD.

Other things I've tried:

- Selling banner ads on the site/trying to find advertisers. No luck

- CPA. No luck. Got $1 leads here and there, but nothing compared to what I am earning with adsense now.

- Selling Clickbank products. No luck, only ever made a sale for a "hip hop instrumentals" product once in a 3 or 4 month period.

Any advice?

Does anyone have any advice for me? I don't want to annoy my users with popups though or restrict access to tutorials using CPALead.

What would you recommend for my situation? I also have another site that teaches a different dance, which gets about 400 unique visitors a day. Have monetized the site with adsense, but only earn about 10 cents every other day, lol.

 

I would set up a contest and offer prizes to increase traffic. Once traffic is increased you will see more revenue. If nothing else works I would stick with adsense.

I would try to learn more about your members and their demographic.

 

If you don't really want the site, why not just sell it? I'm sure you could probably get a decent amount for a site that gets 2k visitors a day and a rather active forum.

 

Have you ventured into trying to sell/advertise clothing and "bling" on the site ?

Maybe try not to focus so much on the actual walk, as you do on how to use the walk to make certain pieces of clothing and bling look good, pieces that you just happen to be selling or know someone who is selling (and will hook you up with commission)

 

I am not selling the site because it is the only site I have that has been with me for 4 years. This site has sentimental value for me. I also personally cwalk myself, and from time to time upload my own cwalk videos to help promote the site on YouTube.

I haven't tried selling clothing on the site, but that could work. Just don't know if I have enough money for that - seems like it would require a big startup cost, and shipping is also a problem.

 

Just do a dropshipping program or some sort of affiliate program to get started. If it goes well you could then always bring in your own line if you want.

 

Affiliate programs, or an amazon store man. That's really they only way you'll make "good" money from it. And how is your advertising not selling? 4 year old domain and steady traffic...and nothing? Wow.

But, with 2,000 hits a day making $1 a day.... that is pretty reasonable for the niche your in.

 

Your situation is very hard but why not try to open coaching center or online suggestion or something else. It would increase your and website popolarity.

 

Start out as an Amazon or CJ affiliate, you can advertise different clothing from both of those websites, probably make a few bucks a day and it might just turn into your own clothing line eventually.

 

2,000 hits a day making $1 a day, I think is pretty low.

May be there is not many advertisers in your niche.
If I were you I will try affiliate programs.

1) Sign up affiliate program with Amazon Associates. Find couple of affiliate links for books or DVDs related to cwalk or dancing that you think your visitors might be interested in.

2) Since your visitors are mostly male and young people. May be I will find affiliation with dating sites, game sites, computer or electronics E-commerce stores.

Good Luck!

 

Cookie stuffing.

 

Don't take this the wrong way, but what is your site about? pimp walking? i'm not sure how exactly you planned to monetize

 

The most important advertising space on your site is above the fold and it is just a header graphic. I would utilize that space. A dollar a day on adsense! I would personally loose the adsense ads.

I would suggest researching colors that convert or sell certain oranges and some greens work well. Also check out eye tracking studies ... excuse the pun but it is an eye opener.

I would find a music affiliate download and try pushing music. I think amazon has a program but I would search around for highest commissions. I would also experiment with t-shirts, band posters and framed cd's ... art dot com has a great program.

Start an email list ... throwing money out the window there. Push on the home page and forum. They tend to start out real slow but can gain momentum as you find ways to market you list.
Good luck

 

I just signed up for an account at CJ. Going to start having a look around and see what they have to offer. Haven't signed up to Amazon yet, but will do that now.

Not sure if I could push music on the site. Everyone on my site is into music, because if you're going to cwalk you're going to need music to cwalk to (most of the time). Same thing with dancing.

But the thing is, they all know how to download music for free. I doubt anyone on my site pays for their music.

As mentioned in the opening post, it teaches people how to cwalk.

I didn't exactly "plan" to monetize the site before I started it. I started this site as a hobby, and only really started to monetize it when hosting costs went up.

 

So I guess you have already tested this and you made no sales?

Many people do buy music. I now know this because I have tried it. Impulse buys!

An single exit pop under can do real well when leaving a site.

One product that did well on a similar site was custom ipod skins ifrogz has a program on shareasale ...

 

Hey bro,
Not to get off the subjuct but can you C walk? Just checked out your site and your site and those vidoes are pretty cool!! I use to break dance years ago but to old for that stuff now..LOL Good job on your site and i hope you get it making money for ya soon..

 

Hey, that ipod skins offer could work. Most of the people on my site would own an iPod or an mp3 player, so I guess I could try that.

Is it hard to get into shareasale? Do they pay fast?

Hi Yep, I started cwalking a few weeks before I created this site, so I've pretty much been cwalking ever since this site started (4 years). I don't cwalk as much now though, but I do sometimes. And thanks for the comments. Appreciate it.

 

I would suggest you to try Infolinks and I think with 2000+ unique visitors per day you'll get a decent income.

 

Infolinks wouldn't make more then what Adsense is currently making.

I'd try the Itunes affiliate program. I doubt clothing aff programs would make you anything.

It sounds like its a tough niche to monetize, I'm guessing its a very young demographic?

Also, look at getting cheaper hosting. Good reseller hosting can handle that kind of traffic.

 

hey skribz, remember me (tandy_cwalk)??
have you tried placing ads at the top of the page on the main site? its the 1st thing people will see