New site questions
 

So I'm not exactly sure if this is the right place to post this, but I had some questions about my new blog/site.

I started a site that is about Portland. Portlandia made Portland famous and it's been ranking in the top for everything from public transportation to micro brews and strip clubs. I wanted to do a fun YouTube show where we go talk to places like bars, coffee shops as well as public protests and rallies and get people's take on things. Our first episode will be about Voodoo Doughnuts which is world famous. We're filming inside the shop where we will interview customers and employees. (I'm a cinematographer by trade, So I know how to do this well)

Anyway, from there I will have a link to my actual site where I will be posting more articles about the life in Portland. My question is how do I make money with affiliate links. I posted a few on my site already. So my questions are:

Do I have too many affiliate links? How do I get people to actually click on them?

I want to make a real informative site about Portland, but is my site too general?

Any other advice I can get would be good. I'm not the best writer, but I do have lots to say and have lots of local business connections where I can produce content weekly. Trying to do this right.

Thanks much. Oh , and the site is theportlanddream.com

Thanks again

Re: New site questions
 

It's OK, but not yet great. The foundation is there.

So I arrive, and without the preamble you wrote above I wouldn't know why I was there. Or what I was going to get. Now the content looks random.

Get a popup going. Yes, they're annoying...and yes (based on my own testing after YEARS of resistance to the idea) they work.

The opt-in on the low right is going to get lost. Trust me. Nobody's going to see it, and if they do, what's the incentive to sign up? Why should they? Give them a stronger reason.

Right now you have a basic foundation. It's a functional site. However, it needs more content, more differentiation, more identification. As a user, I want to know what is here and why. What can I expect. Why should I return.

Answer those questions and you'll have a better site.

Re: New site questions
 

I am new to this forum my first contribution. I can give you some advise on your random affiliate links. Why would a site visitor click on your clickbank link? Because they are looking for that product or service.

Will a site user land on your home page, then think I was looking to buy winter clothing?
Unless they were looking for the product it is very unlikely they will buy it, if they don't want it why would they click on it?

I have earned £4 in the past 10 days on 2 products/98 clicks. Both products are promoted as deals on social media.

Do you intend on using youtube to market your videos?

Define your products and services. Answer this ,What do you want the user to do when they land on your website? Why would they do that?

Re: New site questions
 

All very good advice. Thank you guys. The site is supposed to be for people who either think about moving to Portland or are fans of Portlandia. I plan on going more in depth on why Portland is a hot spot. What makes Portland unique. Would you recommend using less vatiety of affiliate links but more relevant , and would you put a link for every article that relates to that specific article ?
Also, Jason, what pop up do you mean, a subscription opt in?

Re: New site questions
 

Really like the header you created for your site.

Re: New site questions
 

Congrats on your website theportlanddream, I also think it looks great. I wanted to share, I agree with something Jason Kanigan mentioned about the content and navigation (I realize also the site is new and you are still working on it) - I feel the site can use some more links or wording describing what kind of content users can expect right now, and what users can continue to expect ongoing as they return to your site. Especially toward the top of the page where users are first looking. This really depends on how you plan to manage the site moving forward, but as an example I was thinking along the lines of the following (depending also if you are making the site more about Portland in general, or about the show Portlandia) 'favorite quotes from the show' or 'new episode trailers' ..or 'Show News'..Content in which users know they can regularly check back on. I think as you retain more users in this way, your ads will also likely yield more earnings for you. The current powerball link seems kind of random (as another example of what I am thinking)..but again I realize that might just be a place holder for now as you are developing your site :)

Re: New site questions
 

Thanks for the input Michael and yes you are correct. The powerball link is just a place holder article I wrote so the site doesn't look so bare. I'm not yet sure how to word the description of the site as I'm trying to discover myself what exactly I want it to be about. In general I want to write about cool places , unique stuff that make the city great " a dream" . basically explore more in debt why people keep moving here. Want to keep it light hearted and fun for the most parts . Write about stuff you may not see anywhere else. Also , I'm thinking organic links as well as affiliate links that have to do with travel would go well with the site. What would you like to see in a site about Portland ?

Re: New site questions
 

Thank you. Once the idea hit me, it took me not long at all. Still tinkering with it though. Plan to sell shirts at some point if there is a demand

Re: New site questions
 

Just added some info about the site and a new affiliate link. Cheap Air! You guys think that's a good fit for my kind of site? Again, thank you for your input

Re: New site questions
 

You can put the link of your site on different blogs by writing this line at the end
Get more information at "Your Site". It will attract people to click on them.