Here are the stats I've asked for $5 a month before, and I thought it was a good price. We get about 400+ guests each day It is a forum.
I wouldn't bother yet, your still only getting 2,000 - 3,000 uniques a month. It wouldn't be worth the compromise of advertising vs content. Expand your traffic and focus on nothing but it until it's at a level which is worth it.
Well I'm no expert and not hugely experienced myself but you should definitely wait past what you have. I'd say try push your traffic to a solid 5,000 - 7,000 a month and then approach companies within your niche. But it's obviously entirely up to you, you could get advertising now. Also your price doesn't just have to depend on your traffic, don't undersell yourself $5 a month is too cheap in my opinion. Your pricing can also depend on your PR (although I don't place much value on it) but more importantly the quality of your traffic, do people return, how long do they stay. As well as this, general mention of your site within your niche etc etc. Don't be so scared of getting a 'no thanks' that you end up charging pennies. Demand what you think you deserve, perception is everything, if you're charging pennies, the perception will be low. As in you're desperate to get advertising. Don't sell yourself short.
For right now, I think $5 per month is a good price for a rotating banner. That way one location on your site can generate $100's per month in advertising all while not overly loading down your site with ads and turning off your visitors. Ads are okay, but don't be spammy about it. As for static ads, as in displayed all the time no matter how many times the page gets refreshed, I wouldn't charge anything less than $50 per month. Truthfully, you would be better by charging per impression once you build up a lot of traffic, like jon2ks was talking about. As your site grows you can seek more lucrative advertising deals. If you are good with ad placement locations, then you can get advertisers knocking your door down to put ads on your site. Put the ad in a very high traffic spot on the landing page, and it will be easier to get advertising deals.
What is your website about? What is your website pagerank? If your website has a high PR, you could sell links for $$.
Yep. That is very true. But I would wait until at least having a PR4 or higher. PR3 sites are dime a dozen these days.
Thanks for all of the input guys. Looks like I have another solid year of working my ass off for the site. =)
I just joined your forum. I like the look of it but could live without the blinking arrows. I think $5 works fine for the adverts.
Yea I saw that you joined. Thanks. lol well once you read the threads, the blinking arrows stop. It is just to tell you that there are unread posts.
Ill be happy to do a banner exchange with you you can view my site on my home page just click on my name.