Monetizing a site with 5000+ views per month

by Ghalt
6 replies
I've built a ton of different sites over the years, with varying success, but this particular site has me in a conundrum.

This site gets decent traffic, but I haven't been able to successfully capitalize on that. Here are some facts about it:
  • about 300 visits per day during the week
  • the niche is in software programming
  • currently have Adsense ads
  • related Amazon Aff products in sidebar

I'm getting very few clicks on the Ads (and yes, they're optimized like I do for Micro Niche sites, and yes, the ads displayed are very relevant). I'm getting almost NO clicks on the related products from Amazon.

The problem is, as I see it, that people aren't 'buyers' that are coming. They are looking for information, which they are getting, then they leave. And since they are all software programmers, I'm thinking that they might not even want to buy, say, a tutorial on the programming software, since it would indicate that they aren't qualified to do their job.

SO...I'm thinking I need to find either something related tangentially, but not directly, to the niche that might monetize well, or find different ad types, like Pay-Per-Display videos (or whatever they're called).

I should probably go to other sites like mine in different software programming industries and see how they monetize theirs.

Usually I'm pretty good at brainstorming ways to monetize a site, but I'm really stuck on this one and hopeful that the brainfest here at WF will spark some good ideas.

Your thoughts?

Thanks!
#monetizing #month #site #views
  • Profile picture of the author john12
    If you are not already doing so, you are probably better off capturing their email into an autoresponder, then surveying your subscribers to find out what they want or would buy..then offering them. You may have to create the product yourself or outsource it of course. This is more work for you but potentially more profitable than Adsense or Amazon affiliate commissions.
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  • Profile picture of the author crushthenet
    What kind of software programming?

    I would think that most of us that use the internet often, like a programmer, isn't going to click an ad. And if they want to go to Amazon, they'll go straight there.

    Maybe you need to find a product that would be "up their alley" with an affiliate program attached to it.

    I consider myself mostly a web developer and I don't click on ads unless it's something new and interesting about web development or entrepreneurship.
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  • Profile picture of the author Malcolm Thomas
    I agree that capturing emails is probably the best thing for you to do at the moment until you can think of a better plan.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stefan Shields
    You say that you have the Amazon products in the sidebar. From what I understand people usually don't respond to that.

    Might be better to just have links in the articles.
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  • Profile picture of the author mekdroid
    Difficult audience (I know 'cause I am one of them!)

    A few things come to mind:

    1) Use it to build a list, then send offers that are at least somewhat relevant to that audience.

    2) Team up with a developer and make/sell some kind of product that will appeal to them.

    3) Get on some affiliate program that has products for this audience (very hard since most affiliate program products are of ZERO interest to developers)
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Build a list and have an opt-in form on every page of your site. Introduce a hover ad on your homepage, and configure it to display ONCE for every new visitor. Use it only on your home page. Then market to your leads via email marketing, and suggest products to buy.

    I'm not sure what kind of software programming products/services you offer, but maybe you should create your own product to fit the theme and content of your site.
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