Monetize arcade website?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by Sanzo, Aug 18, 2007.

  1. #1
    Hello,
    My arcade, play games online is having about 3k uniuques/day with 6k+ pageloads.
    My earnings however are very bad. With adsense, I'm earning 2-4$/day.
    I've tryed VCM too. I've seen people earn with arcades 1$eCPM, but I don't, I get only free ads loading on my site(what's the secret here? should i remove some ads and wich ones? my ctr is high :\ )
    Casale media didn't accept me.

    What options do I have guys?
    I've seen arcades make 8$+ with this kind of traffic, but not me?

    Any tips?

    Thanks alot!
     
    Sanzo, Aug 18, 2007 IP
  2. cianuro

    cianuro Peon

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    #2
    Well what are they doing that you are not?
     
    cianuro, Aug 18, 2007 IP
  3. Sanzo

    Sanzo Active Member

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    #3
    That's kindof my question to you :\
    Their webmasters say they earn that much, not how ...
     
    Sanzo, Aug 18, 2007 IP
  4. cianuro

    cianuro Peon

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    #4
    And my point to you is LOOK at what they are doing. What is it that you are NOT doing that they ARE?
     
    cianuro, Aug 18, 2007 IP
  5. henryzeng

    henryzeng Peon

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    #5
    Have you tried to put some CPA offers from affiliate networks like maxbounty?

    For many sites CPA offer works much better than Adsense, I suppose.
     
    henryzeng, Aug 18, 2007 IP
  6. Sanzo

    Sanzo Active Member

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    #6
    Well I don't know what CPA offers would convert for arcades. I think most of my visitors are just bored and want to kill some time, not go shopping on arcade sites.
    I'll give it a try though. But I'm still looking for some tips guys :p
     
    Sanzo, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  7. Sanzo

    Sanzo Active Member

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    #7
    Well for example, I've seen someone earn 48$ for 41k pageviews with VCM.
    I DON'T earn that much with vcm. MY cpm right now is like 0.30$
    And I don't know how to get that higher.
    VCM itself isn't any help neether, They have never replyed to one of my mails.
     
    Sanzo, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  8. interpan

    interpan Peon

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    #8
    Sanzo,

    The Ads by Google on your home page are unattractive. From a visitor's point of view, I am more likely to click on a Bidvertiser ad (I actually did click on one of them) than on a Google ad as displayed on your home page.

    The Bidvertiser ad I clicked on led me to www.amusedgamer.com
    The homepage of this website has two rows of Google ads which are far more attractive than yours.

    You may make adjustments to your Google ads along this line.
     
    interpan, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  9. serge20

    serge20 Banned

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    #9
    Nice Arcade
     
    serge20, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  10. ferrisbueller

    ferrisbueller Peon

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    #10
    Check out my Sig. There is a new site coming online in the next couple of months. The site is about people playing games online against each other for CASH prizes. Every time someone plays from your link you get a commission 24/7

    If you become an affiliate and place the link on your webpage you can earn BIG MONEY !!! .

    Check it out for yourself.
     
    ferrisbueller, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  11. wyattt

    wyattt Active Member

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    #11
    Try CPM programs like ValueClick.
     
    wyattt, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  12. BrianneLtd

    BrianneLtd Banned

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    #12
    BrianneLtd, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  13. kingcaw

    kingcaw Peon

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    #13
    With VCM, i'm sure there is a way to configure which types of ads are shown - do this and either disable PSA's (public service ads/free ads) or opt to show ads from another provider when VCM have none to serve to your site.

    I usually recommend DirectMedia (http://direct.rightmedia.com) as an alternative to VCM so you could perhaps give them a bash? - CPM isn't fantastic, but it would at least give you extra options.

    In my experience, adsense doesn't convert particularly well for arcades; especially since they began enforcing rules banning the use of pictures next to ads (which used to be the golden goose for arcade webmasters; since basically it enabled them to present a google ad as though it were a game). For a while YPN were reportedly paying out very well but by all accounts standards have slipped there (don't take my word for it; i'm in the UK so couldn't use YPN myself)

    My advice would be to scrap some of your google ads and replace them with CPM ads; using google as the alternative when your CPM companies can't serve ads to you. Be sure to place several CPM ads on your page (ensuring its not too OTT/obstructive) as with 4 ad spots, 6k impressions becomes 24k impressions.

    You could also look into alternative means of monetizing your arcades. There are several CPA programs based around downloadable games. I've seen arcades be very successful in implementing this as an addition section of their site, or simply having a list of top downloadable games somewhere.

    I might be wrong but your site looks as though its running on phpArcadeScript with a custom layout - if so, check out their support forums in the marketplace area, as I beleive someone there is selling a game sponsorship mod. Putting this in place will allow you to sell sponsored links on each of your games pages, which could be another potential source of income, particularly if your traffic remains consistant and you have decent PR.

    Hope this helps
     
    kingcaw, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  14. Laceygirl

    Laceygirl Notable Member

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    #14
    I have an arcade too with about 1,200 visitors a day and it also makes about $2 to $3 dollars a day.

    I don't think you are dong anything worng. Its just there's so many arcades that the clicks are not worth jack.

    Your best bet not to bother to try to bring up what the clicks are worth, but to just look for other ways to profit by sitewides, independent banners, and even more traffic.
     
    Laceygirl, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  15. Sanzo

    Sanzo Active Member

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    #15
    Hey,
    Thanks for your reply. I have a few questions though.
    Is there any way to see if VCM has no ads availeble for me? With some sort of script so I can then show other ads? If I undersstand well that's whzat you are suggesting.
    Also, I will look into right media, thanks for suggestin, I hope it has more options like you say, compared to VCM.
    My arcade does run on phpAS, and as my traffic is growing, I will launch a new version soon, with gamesponsoring. How much do you recommend charging for a link? I'm not sure, as they will be lifetime.
    I'm also going to try the cpa ads, for downloadable games. I already have an azoogle account, and I'll look into that. Are there any other cpa options?
    Problem I'm also having with VCM is that it's only serving usa ads. So I'm looking for a cpa network that has ads for most of the world at nice ecpm rates.

    @interpan: do your recommend me placing text or image ads then?
    I only see 1 ad block on the other site.


    Thanks to everyone for replying. I will look into all the suggestions :)
     
    Sanzo, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  16. interpan

    interpan Peon

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    #16
    Sanzo,

    The other site has two blocks of Google ads.

    If your website would have one block of Google ads, use text.

    If your website would have two blocks of Google ads, use text for both blocks, or use text for one block and image(s) for the other.

    On the website www.amusedgamer.com , each block of Google ads displays both text and image ads alternately. You may also try this option.
     
    interpan, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  17. weblaunch

    weblaunch Well-Known Member

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    #17
    You might try playing around with ad placement, colors, etc. I've been wanting to get into the arcade business myself, but after hearing what people are getting for the traffic they receive, i'm having some reservations.
     
    weblaunch, Aug 19, 2007 IP
  18. Sanzo

    Sanzo Active Member

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    #18
    Well, i have turned on image and text ads, with different color palets for the text ads, but only image ads show up, i'll try only text for this week.

    Thanks for help guys!
     
    Sanzo, Aug 20, 2007 IP
  19. itssangy

    itssangy Peon

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    #19
    Try to blend the google ads into the content, and use text ads since you'll get more links on it (more selection).
     
    itssangy, Aug 20, 2007 IP
  20. shashank4u

    shashank4u Active Member

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    #20
    nice arcade..BTW which script are you using at ee13.com..
     
    shashank4u, Aug 20, 2007 IP