Hi guys, I have just launched a classifieds site focussed at users selling and buying online advertising and marketing services: "text links", "banner ads", "site-wide links", "directory submission services" etc. The site is currently free to use and I would try and keep it free for as long as I can. I will probably set-up paid home page featured listings etc. once the site gets busier, but it's free to use at the moment. The URL is www.selloutads.com. I am trying to raise $10,000 to market the site and have developed a detailed plan on how I plan to use the money as I get it. I have tried to focus on getting traffic and new users to the site rather than "buy high PR links" as in the long run, it will be traffic and repeat visitors that will keep the site busy. Here's the plan: Links: $500 - DP Forums Donation (Done!) I jumped the gun on this one and have already donated although I haven't raised the money as yet $600 for banner ads on other sites to generate relevant traffic $300 for paid directory listings (misc. directories) $300 for Yahoo Directory Listing Traffic: $500 for Newsletter sponsorships (Ex: Cool sites have one - 55k users for $75) $650 per month for 12 months on PPC advertising (mainly Adwords) = $7,800 I haven't decided on which newsletters I would sponsor with my ads in there, and haven't decided which paid directories to submit to. So, do post here if you know of any good sites that I can look at (or any other advertising opportunities that you reckon I have missed out on). Re newsletters, I also had a look at the DP newsletter but it's too expensive for me. Over $5k at the moment!! I think, ideally I would like to spend not more than 1c per user, although the Cool sites newsletter is around 0.13 cents per user so it's very good value. Finally, feel free to place your ads on the site as well! Regards, dfsweb
Very Cool... I'll look into placing and Ad... One thing that gets me tho about alot of directory sites, etc. and such they usually never have a Category for Video Games... Video Games are as Huge as the Movie Industry and I would think there would be more listings around the net than I have been seeing, or maybe I'm just Blind... hahaha
Yes, I know! I guess I have high standards. Plus, I will spend the money as I raise it (well, from now onwards anyway) and hopefully the investment will pay off in the long run. My "vision" is to take the site to a stage where webmasters use this as a resource when looking for (all) online marketing services. Of course, getting there (if I do) will take a lot of time, effort and well, marketing as well.
Thanks guys! Also, thanks to al of you who have registered and placed ads on the site. I know the site's not overly busy but hopefully, I can get you some quality traffic now and in the future (As well as sales leads). I have got around 50 registered members so far over a fortnight or so. I will start Adwords advertising from June (fingers crossed) so I should get many more members through Google. Feel free to place your ads on the site until then. It is free to place ads, so you don't have a lot to lose! Also, you only have to validate your email address once when you register. After that, you can view, delete and create ads from your account page and creating new ads literally takes under 30 seconds!! Also, could webmasters who have already placed ads give me some feedback of what they thought of the site, whether it was easy to place ads etc. Anything you reckon I can improve?
Nice plan but i don't feel your sites design has the looks to back up the amount of money youve spent. Im a design guy so my frst impressions on a sites look mean alot and i would say that current design is very plain
yeah good plan but dont you thinks thats a bit too much money to splurge...oh weill all the best. try to blog as well.
Thanks guys. Yes, it is a lot of money to spend. But, I am raising the money by offering advertising on the Sponsors Page on the site. The ads cost a one-time fee of $200 and will be live until at least February, 2010. As the money comes in from these ads, I will continue spending it on Marketing the site. And, the advertisers will further benefit from the Marketing as well as it will bring extra traffic to the site.
first try to change the layout. then you can work on marketing i think you can find somebody to make a nice layout for 50 $
Thanks for the comments. Yeah, I am currently pretty happy with the layout. I did receive comments from webmasters about placing my Google ads with the main content to increase CTR. They are probably correct about this, but I think mixing ads with content annoys a lot of users (I know it annoys me), so I have kept them separate. If users find the ads attractive enough, they will click on them anyway. Is there anything else in the layout that you think I should change? I personally like the clean and simple look, but if the suggestion's really good I might actually do it!
I wouldn't have paid $500 for the DP link I would change the font on the site to 'Arial', the one right now is a little hard to read I would also purchase peoples signature links to advertise the site (as DP traffic is ideal) I probably wouldn't pay $300 for Yahoo Directory but I would definitely pay $50 for MSN Directory
Hmmm, I didn't realise MSN listing was just $50. I'll get that as soon as I can. Re DP link, I actually donated over $500 twice to DP and it was mainly for keeping the forums alive. Of course, the link was a bonus but the main reason was to help Shawn get the new servers. P.S: I just noticed that http://specials.msn.com/ is only PR3, whereas it's linked directly from www.msn.com (PR9). I know Google's really stuffed up Toolbar PR with this update, but I think this is too much! P.P.S: I know toolbar PR doesn't matter .......