So, I'm advertising my directory using several Adsense campaigns. I'm trying out low dollar spends for both CPM and CPC methods. I'm learning a few things and fine tuning some wording here and there, getting better results for my money, that type of thing. Anyway, looking at the cost per conversion (I get a "conversion" when somebody adds an entry to Grokodile) I think maybe I could do better with some type of contest. However, I know there is a lot of experience and wisdom around here, so I figure I'll ask around a bit before putting any time and energy into this. First, what are your initial thoughts on contests or promotions? Getting a bit deeper, I can offer a contest both for people that sign up to the directory, or for people that send traffic to the directory. I know I'm not going to be spending enough to get a true affiliate situation going, so please don't suggest a true CPA system, I can't afford to do that. So, second question, is it worth offering a contest to webmasters that they can win for sending me the most traffic in a week, and then picking a winner randomly from the rest of the webmasters sending traffic also? I'm talking about something like $10/week for the traffic and $10/week for a random winner (odds are based on amounts of traffic sent, to be fair). I could do up a contest page that pulled real time statistics for public viewing. Then, third question, is it worth it for me to offer a contest to people adding themselves to the site, such that if they email some friends who sign up using their link, they get a draw entry for each friend that signs up? Again, I could only afford some small prize regularly or a larger prize less often. Heh, I know this is hard to answer if you haven't already done something like this, but I'd appreciate any thoughts. I know it is a fair amount of work to create the tracking and viewing systems. It would be informal enough and small enough that payments could be done via paypal. Really, the biggest question, is there anything in terms of a contest that would motivate you to participate? Would you tell your friends about anything because it would get you entered in a contest? Thanks for any thoughts you might have on this.
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=1005027 i'll tell you in a week if it's worthwhile hope it is