DP should start Direct Ad Sales?

A thread on the sale of V7N started this debate.
Someone said that V7N had a more diversified ad stream than DP.

I would agree, but majority of that diversification on V7N is directory submission and suchlike. DP won't indulge in such because as a good business sense it is not wise for a forum owner to compete with its members.

But would it affect the usability or aesthetics (not that it is great) if DP starts selling Ad Spots?

The sponsor buttons won't be an eyesore at all..and if Shawn don't want to show to ads to members, there are at least a 1000 guests at any point of time on DP.. I am sure those are search engine traffic, and tend to be very conversion/click happy.


With the kind of targetted traffic that DP attracts, DP would at least make 40-50 K from direct ad sales. Shoemoney.com makes that much from shoemoney.com with similar demographics. And the Alexa rank of DP is far far higher than Shoemoney.

Here is what I would have done, just to test:

There are many good spots here..

Each category can attract good sponsors..
Look at diaperswappers.com, and every category has a sponsors..
We can see those in many Auto Forums as well..

Similar button type sponsoprship can be used to squeeze DP by CPM and CPA..

Text-link-ads, BOTW, numerous other directories, can be had on the link building categories.

Azoogle, nevrblueads and suchlike will pay to sponsor the affiliate category..

The sponsor spots will be SOLD OUT in an hour...

Many make money online with a fraction of traffic makes a few thousands from affiliate sales. DP can at least make affiliate commisions from text-link-ads, adbrite etc..

Will these affect DP's google earnings?
It might, but the added revenues will more than make up for it.

It is upto Shawn, but I can't quite think of a reason why he don't!
What do you guys think?

 

You have a point......its up to Shawn

 

Something which should be concerned by Shawn only, eh? I'm sure he's aware of almost every ad network out there. If he wanted to use them here, he could have done that before.
You got a good point, but we really shouldn't worry about it.