Monitizing Forums

I would like to get a thread started on what peoples best/worst choices have been with monitizing forums. Post stats (users/posts etc) vs how much was made per user / ctr. What ad placements worked for you, what didn't.

Monitizing a forum is alot of hard work for sure, and I think we need something dedicated to the discussion of it here at DP! (Unless I missed a huge thread somewhere else).

Right now I am getting mixed reviews. I know alot of cases certain places will work better for some and others better for others.

At this point in time, I have heard that (atleast with vbulletin), the best click spot is under the navbar (Makes sense to me, it is visible as each page loads).

What are the thoughts/suggestions you have ?? Lets discuss!!

I personally really hope Shawn takes a peak at this thread to give a little bit of advice. His ads on this site are their; but not intrustive and definately not annoying. Infact it might be a bad thing they may blend in to much? This is why I ask

 

The best and the easiest way is to put adsense on it.

Selling banner spaces and links needs dedicated time for it.

 

Yeah; no worries, I am not making it for the point of making money When I launch it I am gearing twords a site that will be highly useful to the many abroad the vast web

The AdSense is simply a way to pay for the costs of the site; I am definately not trying to get rich off of this as I know that is exactly what I will not become with this type of site. I have definately noticed the CPM from this site in a few of my posts (earning a couple of cents even though no clicks were recorded).

How about donation wise? Do people tend to be giving? I definately understand DigitalPoint, as it is a site that helps people become the success, only the greedy don't give back at what gave them everything they are.

 

Also; Vbulletin has way to many features not to have some fun with IMHO, that alone is more then worth the effort!

 

I've stuck a 120x240 ad into the box for each post. For example, where you see the Join Date, Location, etc on DP here, you'd have a right floated adsense box. Since forums are generally liquid in design you end up with plenty of space on any screen anyway. Of course only the first two posts have the ad because of the max 3 ads/page limit as I have also put a big banner under the main forum menu at the top. So far I'm getting about a 1.5% CTR, which is really low compared to the 9% on the rest of the site. I'm not sure what else I can do but play with colours.

 

The first tests I am going to do are Under the navbar (maybe), it looks to unnatural IMO; Under the first post with a LeaderBoard, and below the very last post a small line of Links (the ones that Shawn has placed below the first post here).

Unfortunately my site isn't launched yet; but this is a starting point for me.

 

Its all about how hard you work to monetize it.

I have forums that make a considerable amount of money.... One key is, dont put all your eggs in one basket. Sell banners ads, sell links, use adsense, use a cpm network, sell upgraded memberships, sell products like t shirts, etc, use affilliate programs....

See this article for more info:
Making Money with your vBulletin Forum



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It`s nice to have famous site and sell t-shirts with its logo )

 

If you're looking for more info on monetizing forums, take a look here and see if Lee Dodd is able to (or has time to) get in touch with you. He's a mastermind at making money with forums, and is highly regarded in the webmaster industry...

 

Cool; Thank you very much for the information!

Joey, I know I was just wondering strictly from a forum/ads position.

I have intentions for selling links and maybe a forum paid usergroup.

What exactly do you do for upgrading the membership forum wise? I know their are the letting more private messages etc all the default stuff that exists in vbulletin; is their anything outside of that that you offer to your upgraded members outside of vbulletin?