Forums effective internet business models?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by letsmakeamillion, May 26, 2005.

  1. #1
    Hope this isnt too much of basic question..

    but are forums good business models?

    can you make decent money running a forum... ? does anyone bother clicking on your ads or promotions in them?

    some forums seem to have had great success.. but others have failed..

    any secret recipes? hehe.
     
    letsmakeamillion, May 26, 2005 IP
  2. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #2
    I'm sure they are out there, but I've never heard of a forum that made enough money to actually be considered a business model. Unless maybe you offer it free for years, get a BUNCH of users, then flip it and make them all pay.
     
    digitalpoint, May 26, 2005 IP
  3. Jim bob 9 pants

    Jim bob 9 pants Peon

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    #3
    I see a forum as a 'customer service' and a method to re-enforce your product image (not the words I am after - product image, but u know what i mean)
     
    Jim bob 9 pants, May 26, 2005 IP
  4. letsmakeamillion

    letsmakeamillion Well-Known Member

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    #4
    but some forums seem to get very decent high traffic numbers.... there must be a way to monetize that... hmmmn..
     
    letsmakeamillion, May 26, 2005 IP
  5. Design Agent

    Design Agent Peon

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    #5
    Forums have lots of side benefits - your reputation, driving traffic, serps that kind of thing. I dont think on their own they are that profitable. I forget the ads are here competley having been here so many times. - Ad blindness or something.
     
    Design Agent, May 26, 2005 IP
  6. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #6
    There are indirect benefits of having a user base of course... For example I would have never started the forum if I didn't have a huge user base to pull from to begin with (from keyword tracker), and I would have never started the ad network if I didn't have the forum and keyword tracker users to start with.
     
    digitalpoint, May 26, 2005 IP
  7. CTABUK

    CTABUK Guest

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    #7
    People run ads on forums to try to make them pay, it's a waste of time, it will just put your posters off. Forums are communities, yes we use them to enhance our own SE standing, but you tell me what on earth is nicer than to get a pm saying 'Thank You, I tried your advice and it worked'. Give and you shall receive.
     
    CTABUK, May 27, 2005 IP
  8. carowan

    carowan Peon

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    #8
    I started a forum in March to support my current niche site.
    I have found it to be an excellent tool in which people will constantly return to your site, to either chat, or ask questions. It can build a stickiness that would be difficult to duplicate.

    But as a stand alone business model, I dont see it working.

    However, I do think it can work exceedingly well to build trust and loyalty in your company if you have a well run forum, which can result in higher sales.
     
    carowan, May 27, 2005 IP
  9. larysmith711

    larysmith711 Notable Member

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    #9
    THere are a few out there that sell enough advertising that bring in decent money. Forums do better if they sell banner advertising and the bigger forums that have lots of page impressions per day do really well.
     
    larysmith711, May 27, 2005 IP
  10. Fishing Forum

    Fishing Forum Active Member

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    #10
    Its not going to make you rich as a forum can and does take quiet a bit of work

    Mine is not for money but costs are covered so im happy

    I think forums are great add on to a business model but as stand alone not sure
     
    Fishing Forum, May 27, 2005 IP
  11. SebastianSerg

    SebastianSerg Guest

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    #11
    Look at Webhostingtalk forums. And ask how much does inet interactive earn with banner places...You'll be amazed :)
     
    SebastianSerg, May 27, 2005 IP
  12. noppid

    noppid gunnin' for the quota

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    #12
    My guests pay the bills, not the members. I don't see myself driving a hummer anywhere in the near future and wouldn't call it a business model though.

    One forum is supposed to appeal to paying advertisers and the other get me work. I aint starving at least. :)
     
    noppid, May 27, 2005 IP
  13. web-rover

    web-rover Peon

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    #13
    There are plenty of forums out there that can be considered a "business"

    elitefitness.com is a perfect example.
     
    web-rover, May 28, 2005 IP
  14. virginia-home

    virginia-home Peon

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    #14
    Your assistance is much appreciated!
     
    virginia-home, May 29, 2005 IP
  15. web-rover

    web-rover Peon

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    #15
    the forum has to be branded and markeed and advertised to the right people
     
    web-rover, May 29, 2005 IP
  16. Dominic

    Dominic Well-Known Member

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    #16
    It comes back to the central mantra of success online... don't just give people a reason to visit your website, give them a reason to return again, and again and again.

    If you do that successfully and still can't make money, there is no hope for you, give up now.

    The forum may not be the place you make the money, but as Shawn said, it gives you the user base or list of subscribers. In the case of a forum, a fluid content generating band of volunteers too.

    In my experience, forums can significantly enhance a *site's* capacity to make you money.
     
    Dominic, May 29, 2005 IP
  17. letsmakeamillion

    letsmakeamillion Well-Known Member

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    #17
    Glad to see the way this thread grew.. Thanks for the good insights.

    I am going to go ahead and start adding forums to my sites as a compliment. But for the heck of it will see if I can make them pay for themselves too by tweaking ad placement and design..

    One of my strategies will be to place the ads all the way at the bottom of each thread.. and also to use the secret technique illustrated in this thread:

    http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=17104

    If I get good results I will report back here eventually...
     
    letsmakeamillion, May 29, 2005 IP
  18. Dominic

    Dominic Well-Known Member

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    #18
    I put adsense at the bottom of the thread, only set on the page so most expensive. It is a good logical placement considering it's the place the next step is taken... e.g. navigate elsewhere or click an ad.

    I also found I was getting a lot of traffic via the archives (vBulletin). So I put ads in there too and a banner highlighting it was only an archive and inviting them to click here to join the 'live discussion' in the forums. The forum is here if you want a look.
     
    Dominic, May 30, 2005 IP
  19. DarrenC

    DarrenC Peon

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    #19
    Forums are a pain in the rear end to get going, and take up alot of your time, which you could be spending on other money making areas of your business. Forums are great for communicating with your clients, presenting your knowledge to others, and aiding search engine optimisation, but forget making any money from them, people simply don't click on the ads.

    I was getting more money from DP forums in adsense than my own forum, so I took adsense down on my forum lol
     
    DarrenC, May 30, 2005 IP
  20. web-rover

    web-rover Peon

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    #20
     
    web-rover, May 30, 2005 IP