How can I monetize a poker news/reviews site?

7 replies
Hi there,

I've been a long time lurker and picked up quite a bit of useful tips over the years, but haven't really been much of a participant. That's about to change.

Since there are so many experts on here when it comes to IM, I figured I would post a question about how I can monetize my site Las Vegas Poker Circuit | An insider's guide to the Las Vegas poker scene.

Don't worry about the current design and I realize it's light on content so far. That will all change in the near future. Due to deadlines I had to throw something together in just a few days (more on this later)...

The goal of the site is to focus specifically on the Las Vegas poker scene (i.e. poker room reviews, Las Vegas poker news, and live reports of major poker events). I don't want to make this an affiliate marketing site. Poker affiliate marketing is pretty much dead. I do have another site that used to make us some money doing that, but it's not worth it anymore.

I had to put this together ASAP and make it look respectable because I have media credentials for 2 major poker events over the next week. So I'm planning on using those events along with my connections in the poker community to build up my credibility and drive some immediate traffic.

I'm not focused on making any quick money off this site. I'm thinking long-term. I've researched other poker news/blog sites, including those I write for currently, and I see many of them get 800-11,000 unique visitors per day. If I can get somewhere in the middle, I would think the profit potential is quite high.

So here's my question for the seasoned veterans...

Down the road, after I build traffic, what is are some good ways to monetize this type of site?

Any advice is welcomed!

Thanks!

Jon
#monetize #news or reviews #poker #site
  • Profile picture of the author Zodiax
    Build a list and send them good offers.
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    • Profile picture of the author JonSofen
      Originally Posted by Zodiax View Post

      Build a list and send them good offers.
      That's certainly an idea. But what type of offers? I mean, I don't really have anything to sell and don't plan on writing any eBooks or anything like that. But I suppose I could come up with some sort of product.
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  • The money is always on online poker.

    It's very hard now with the questionable legality within the US.

    If you can geotrack, send the non-US offers for online. Within the US, look as Vegas discounts, cheap hotels, training sites etc.

    Thom
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  • Profile picture of the author GforceSage
    Link to an Offshore Casino that allows U.S. affiliates.

    Check on the legality first.
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  • Profile picture of the author kk075
    I'm confused....didn't they just pass legislation to make online poker legal in Nevada? That's the golden ticket right there and hundreds of affiliates have been waiting almost a decade for this bill to pass.

    If you don't want to go the online route, then affiliate with some of the major casinos, hotels, and destinations for a monthly cost. Or advertise their tournaments for them...the options are almost limitless. Being an online poker affiliate dwarfs all the other opportunities though.
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    • Profile picture of the author JonSofen
      Originally Posted by kk075 View Post

      I'm confused....didn't they just pass legislation to make online poker legal in Nevada? That's the golden ticket right there and hundreds of affiliates have been waiting almost a decade for this bill to pass.

      If you don't want to go the online route, then affiliate with some of the major casinos, hotels, and destinations for a monthly cost. Or advertise their tournaments for them...the options are almost limitless. Being an online poker affiliate dwarfs all the other opportunities though.
      No, online poker affiliate marketing isn't worth it anymore. There's no US market anymore.

      Online poker is only legal in Nevada on one site and only to those within the state of Nevada. The traffic isn't that great. I'm planning on getting an affiliate account with that site but I know there's very little money to be made.

      I used to make good money on a couple poker affiliate sites but they're dead now. There aren't any good online poker sites for American players and that kills profits.

      The goal is to drive traffic and then monetize. Other poker blogs such as PokerNews, CardPlayer, and CardPlayerLifestyle (I'm a contributor to that site) make good money and don't rely on affiliate marketing.
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      • Profile picture of the author unodue
        It's funny that you say that there is no money in US online poker. Yes, it's not it's best days, but the worst is behind and it's getting better. Very slowely of course, but it does.

        In any case, I would definitely try to convert your Nevada and other traffic to poker sites. Few states have legal poker rooms. There are also non-licensed poker rooms, such as Bovada for example, but you need to see if you want to promote them, since it is in the grey area.

        I think that if you do have US poker traffic, in the future it will bring you higher ROI, but even now it should be worth something.
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