Hi guys, I thinking about setting up a cheats site but I have a few questions first: Does anyone here run a cheats website? Do they make much money? What is the best way to go about setting one up? Do you use a database or static html? Where do you get cheats from? How do you keep it updated? What is the best way to monetize a cheats website? Any other info much appreciated. Thanks in advance Notting
I'm working on one myself, but in my experience sites about games don't make that much money, primarily because there's so much competition from the likes of Gamespy already. I'd always use a database for any site that is going to contain lots of structured information about one topic (e.g. each game has a title, publisher, developer etc. and each cheat is associated with a game). Even if I was going to output static HTML files in the end, I'd still run everything on a database behind the scenes. As for where to get cheats from, just search Google for them, although I suppose there is probably a turnkey script out there that comes with a few hundred cheats pre-installed that you could buy. Keeping the site updated is a bit more difficult, although cheats shouldn't need updating once they've been entered because they don't change. I can never be bothered to write an admin panel so I just admin all my sites through phpMyAdmin for the most part. When it comes to making money, I'd probably use Adsense and perhaps some Amazon stuff. As I've already said though, I don't expect the sites to make much, probably not a lot more than the hosting cost and domain registration.
# really - i woulda thought you woulda got a ton of traffic if you were at the top of google?! I've had a few ideas how to make money from such a site now. Cheers Jamie
You might do, but I suspect that the likelihood of you getting to the top of Google and beating the big established gaming sites already out there is rather low.
Competing with established sites is always difficult, mainly because they will already have lots of incoming links, an existing reader base and regular visitors, brand recognition, more resources to spend on promotion etc. I'm not saying that you can't beat the likes of IGN/Gamespy, but I think it's unlikely that you will come in and take away a significant amount of their traffic, at least not in the short to medium term.
Ofer same service as IGN/Gamespy offers, put less garbage on your pages and you'll definitely take good chunks from their audience..
Well, The Biggies who are already making thousands out of cheat sites, mustn't have any difficult in employing good SEOs, who will just have to maintain the link they they are already maintaining, Also, if you are ready to sum out a thousand dollars from your pocket for proper SEO, then there can be chances for you to earn revenue ... But then if you are unique in any case, only then will you get traffic, coz gamers all over are looking for cheats that are very unique .. But I guess getting those cheats will be very hard for you.. So my bet is, if you have all the time and resource ... go in for a niche topic, that hasnt been explored .... Regarding the database system ... For me Wordpress owns the scene You can literally create everything of wordpress Just a little tweaking and wordpress can kickout any script there is! Hope you got my point! Regards, Abhishek
Well I've got my site to number one in google for wii cheats The competition will surely get stronger but I think ive had a good head start! Notting
The only reason you got a good start / #1 in Google is because of your domain. You're going to need actual content related to that term when the Nintendo Wii releases. I'd start contacting Nintendo now if I were you, and asking for tips and advice on cheats publication, etc. They may have some cheats for games they're BETA testing available for you. I own WiiBlog.net, by the way - if you're interested in exchanging links or something, let me know.
Thanks for your advice EGS, I will shoot off a couple of emails. Very happy to exchange links with your blog. Scroll down once or twice and you will see a link saying "get a link" - its automated. http://wiicheats.co.uk/ Also own: Buywii.co.uk buywiigames.co.uk There are lots of sites from these two with automated link exchanges. Cheers Jamie