WoV advertising free
In other advertising news, effective this Friday my exclusive advertising arrangement with Bovada, that has lasted nine years, ends. All reputable advertisers will be welcome.
So officially we are no longer customers like a few people were claiming.Quote: WizardI hope it will not go unnoticed that this site is, for now, advertising free. The Bovada/Bodog ad on this site hardly made any money to begin with, so it was no big sacrifice to remove it. I make no promises that it will stay advertising free, so enjoy it while it lasts. In fact, I welcome expressions of interest to advertise here.
In other advertising news, effective this Friday my exclusive advertising arrangement with Bovada, that has lasted nine years, ends. All reputable advertisers will be welcome.
Quote: WizardI hope it will not go unnoticed that this site is, for now, advertising free. The Bovada/Bodog ad on this site hardly made any money to begin with, so it was no big sacrifice to remove it. I make no promises that it will stay advertising free, so enjoy it while it lasts. In fact, I welcome expressions of interest to advertise here.
In other advertising news, effective this Friday my exclusive advertising arrangement with Bovada, that has lasted nine years, ends. All reputable advertisers will be welcome.
I'm surprised that this site didn't generate enough traffic/sign-ups to Bovada to be worthwhile...I'm assuming the ads on WoO are more profitable?
To that point, is your exclusive agreement still in place over on WoO, or not? Just curious. Hope you can find some relevant, reputable advertisers. Preferably ones who can do business with US-based banks, to make your life easier.
Quote: AcesAndEightsI'm surprised that this site didn't generate enough traffic/sign-ups to Bovada to be worthwhile...I'm assuming the ads on WoO are more profitable?
WoO is my only money making site. This one has been a financial disaster.
Quote:To that point, is your exclusive agreement still in place over on WoO, or not? Just curious. Hope you can find some relevant, reputable advertisers. Preferably ones who can do business with US-based banks, to make your life easier.
Yes, Thursday is the last Bodog day on all my sites. They will still be around but just one of many other casinos.
At least I haven't had to worry lately about offshore banking because I don't have any incoming money in the first place.
Quote: WizardWoO is my only money making site. This one has been a financial disaster.
Ouch. Well played for keeping it around in the face of that.
Quote:Yes, Thursday is the last Bodog day on all my sites. They will still be around but just one of many other casinos.
At least I haven't had to worry lately about offshore banking because I don't have any incoming money in the first place.
Hope you find a decent new sponsor or sponsors.
Quote: Wizard
At least I haven't had to worry lately about offshore banking because I don't have any incoming money in the first place.
bazinga!!!
I hope you find advertisers. I personally don't mind at all when I see banners and what not, especially on free sites.
I am actually surprised that running a forum costs that much. I guess there are things behind the scenes that I never thought about.
Quote: GWAEI am actually surprised that running a forum costs that much. I guess there are things behind the scenes that I never thought about.
To be honest, there is very little recurring expense with running this forum. However, it was costly to develop the forum in the first place. It was all done by our own JB, at my expense. The only other forum based on this code is DT.
Quote: AcesAndEightsI'm surprised that this site didn't generate enough traffic/sign-ups to Bovada to be worthwhile
I'm not sure how the advertising arrangement works, but if there is only being money paid for sign-ups then it's not too surprising. It's the same people here every day, and you can only sign up once.
On the other hand, if he got a percentage of losses over the lifetime of the customer account, that could be worth something.
I really think that to be successful on a site with the same people visiting every day, you need things that people will click on and convert multiple times (Vegas hotels? Airlines? Restaurants? Show tickets? Attraction tickets?) or something that keeps paying over time for the same customer. Or, you need different ads all the time, which is problematic if you want to actually vet all advertisers rather than just signing up for an ad network and taking whatever crap the highest bidder gives you.
hotel and car rental sites like Kayak
and Travelocity it advertise on. Just
about everybody here is travel oriented.
Quote: WizardTo be honest, there is very little recurring expense with running this forum. However, it was costly to develop the forum in the first place. It was all done by our own JB, at my expense. The only other forum based on this code is DT.
I have to say that I really like the layout of this forum and the functions as well. I think you could sell it to other people who are running forums.
Quote: AlanMendelsonPlease explore the various online ad networks. No out of pocket ecpense and only revenue.
The problem with this approach is that the Wizard doesn't want to just let anyone advertise here if they are the highest bidder; he only wants to serve ads for companies that he endorses.
In other words, he has some integrity. Having integrity usually means that you have to give something up.
Quote: GWAEI have to say that I really like the layout of this forum and the functions as well. I think you could sell it to other people who are running forums.
There's plenty of free open source forums out there. I suspect the market for this sort of forum is small, and to find the market would take time and effort of building it as a business.
Quote: WizardTo be honest, there is very little recurring expense with running this forum. However, it was costly to develop the forum in the first place. It was all done by our own JB, at my expense. The only other forum based on this code is DT.
I think you got a very good product for your money here. WoV is one of the best-designed and best-coded forums I've ever seen, and that includes those owned by corporations many times the size of Wizard's operation.
Quote: sodawaterI think you got a very good product for your money here. WoV is one of the best-designed and best-coded forums I've ever seen, and that includes those owned by corporations many times the size of Wizard's operation.
Thank you! I like it too.
Quote: WizardTo be honest, there is very little recurring expense with running this forum. However, it was costly to develop the forum in the first place. It was all done by our own JB, at my expense. The only other forum based on this code is DT.
Wait a minute! JB billed you ? That doesn't seem very neighborly, should have been pro bono.
Quote: WizardI hope it will not go unnoticed that this site is, for now, advertising free.
I didn't notice. I'm very atuned to ignoring internet ads, unless I'm looking for them.
Quote:In fact, I welcome expressions of interest to advertise here.
Get some type of click-through (pay per click) scheme, if there are any still around. I'm sure lots of people here would be amenable to clicking on ads. More than would be amenable to spending money online, perhaps.
Quote: WizardTo be honest, there is very little recurring expense with running this forum. However, it was costly to develop the forum in the first place. It was all done by our own JB, at my expense. The only other forum based on this code is DT.
I hate to say it, but I think you tried to reinvent the wheel when you didn't need to. I had a movie forum for a few years. I used free forum software with tons and tons of user add-ons from their forum. More features than I could ever use. I added advertising (Google AdSense) and sold banner space on ebay and did some other stuff and made money within a few months.
The money you spent on this forum is all gone now. You may or may not ever make it back. But you can concentrate on making some money from now on. You can:
Add Google AdSense (pay per click)
Sell banner ads (pay per click and pay per view are available)
Have a membership section
Advertise relevant Amazon gambling products. (Get paid a commission on anything purchase on Amazon within 24 hours of click through, not just the item advertised)
Write a book/ebook and sell through your site/sites
I've used all of the above and made money on all of them in the past.
ZCore13
Quote: AlanMendelsonPlease explore the various online ad networks. No out of pocket ecpense and only revenue.
Hey Alan, why not advertise YOUR site here?
Quote: Zcore13Advertise relevant Amazon gambling products. (Get paid a commission on anything purchase on Amazon within 24 hours of click through, not just the item advertised)
Wait, really? I buy tons of stuff on amazon. I'd gladly click through the wizard's link to get to the site if they'd give him some money for it. It's not like it's costing me anything (he has links on WoO, right? For the gambling book reviews?)
I thought amazon didn't give very much in commission though? Isn't that why it's usually excluded from shopping portal sites that give you cash back or points for your purchases?
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceWait, really? I buy tons of stuff on amazon. I'd gladly click through the wizard's link to get to the site if they'd give him some money for it. It's not like it's costing me anything (he has links on WoO, right? For the gambling book reviews?)
Please do! Just click through this link and I'll get a cut.
Quote: WizardPlease do! Just click through this link and I'll get a cut.
Cmon Wiz, all this time and the general membership had no idea we could help you out this way?
Yes, this link needs to have a prominent allways seen banner on this website. Something alot bigger then the donate button.
I've bought alot on Amazon. I'm sure other if not most members also.
There are probabbly members right now shopping on Amazon with no idea if they enter through your link, it helps you and this site
Definitely, I'd recommend a permanent link somewhere (replacing the Bovada ads?) Amazon has great customer service (never a problem with refunds or returns if there's a problem with your order) so you should be able to happily endorse them. If it's a reasonable percentage you will probably make more from that than you did from Bovada, and you can get paid straight to a US account :)
I probably do 90% of my shopping on amazon. Going to the store is just too much of a hassle.
It's a very small percentage, between 1% - 10%, but mostly around the 4%-6% range.
ZCore13
Quote: terapinedCmon Wiz, all this time and the general membership had no idea we could help you out this way?
What he said.
Quote:Yes, this link needs to have a prominent allways seen banner on this website. Something alot bigger then the donate button.
A big banner add on top, maybe a small side search box, too.
I don't buy tons of stuff from amazon, but I get Kindle books now and then.
bought a kindle book for myself, The Atlantis World by AG Riddle, sci fi thriller
Feels great, spent money, looking forward to the book, helped the wiz.
A total win
Quote: terapinedQuote: WizardPlease do! Just click through this link and I'll get a cut.
Cmon Wiz, all this time and the general membership had no idea we could help you out this way?
Yes, this link needs to have a prominent allways seen banner on this website. Something alot bigger then the donate button.
I've bought alot on Amazon. I'm sure other if not most members also.
There are probabbly members right now shopping on Amazon with no idea if they enter through your link, it helps you and this site
+1
Quote: terapinedQuote: WizardPlease do! Just click through this link and I'll get a cut.
Cmon Wiz, all this time and the general membership had no idea we could help you out this way?
Yes, this link needs to have a prominent allways seen banner on this website. Something alot bigger then the donate button.
I've bought alot on Amazon. I'm sure other if not most members also.
There are probabbly members right now shopping on Amazon with no idea if they enter through your link, it helps you and this site
Keep in mind that we don't know the terms of the Bovada contract. And it may well be proprietary, so the Wiz wouldn't be able to comment one way or the other. But, it may be that the Wiz was constrained from doing that before the expiration of his Bovada agreement.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI just replaced my Amazon bookmark in my toolbar with the Wizard's link. Now when I go there I will just automatically use that link; I don't need to think about it or remember every time.
Great idea and its so easy.
Just used the Wiz's link and went to Amazon and saved the bookmark.
Cool.
Now I feel like shopping.
Any cut from ebay? Thats where I spend some real money.
Quote: beachbumbabsI shop a lot on Amazon myself. Can you put this in a box or at least in a sticky post for convenience, please?
Sure, in fact maybe I should do something more formal.
Quote: beachbumbabsKeep in mind that we don't know the terms of the Bovada contract. And it may well be proprietary, so the Wiz wouldn't be able to comment one way or the other. But, it may be that the Wiz was constrained from doing that before the expiration of his Bovada agreement.
No, I could have promoted Amazon, since they weren't a competitor. I guess I never thought it wouldn't bring in much revenue, so I didn't bother.
Testing an Amazon button...
You should make it so anyone posting in the betting systems thread has to Visit at least 20 adds before it unlocks. EACH POST.Quote: WizardNo, I could have promoted Amazon, since they weren't a competitor. I guess I never thought it wouldn't bring in much revenue, so I didn't bother.
Testing an Amazon button...
of the sales monthly that go thru this site. Or
did I read it wrong.
What do you think of the wording? Should I ad something about clicking through the Amazon banner, or is it obvious?
Quote: EvenBobIf I'm reading Amazon right, Wiz could get 3-5%
of the sales monthly that go thru this site. Or
did I read it wrong.
That sounds about right. The percentage is higher if I link to a specific item, but for general shopping it is about that.
there is a big darker blue line where the thread topic is that runs across the top that seems like waste space and a perfect place to add some banners.Quote: EvenBobIf I'm reading Amazon right, Wiz could get 3-5%
of the sales monthly that go thru this site. Or
did I read it wrong.
Quote: WizardI hope you guys enjoyed your advertising-free half of a day. Check out the footer of the site.
I like that ad so much I'm not even going to block it. That's a first for me.
Quote:What do you think of the wording? Should I ad something about clicking through the Amazon banner, or is it obvious?
Seems pretty obvious to me.
But, no reason to not be absolutely clear. "Please support this site by clicking here to shop at Amazon.com"?
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceThe problem with this approach is that the Wizard doesn't want to just let anyone advertise here if they are the highest bidder; he only wants to serve ads for companies that he endorses.
In other words, he has some integrity. Having integrity usually means that you have to give something up.
The publisher of the site controls which ads appear.
Wizard be careful about promoting ads or clicking. Some networks will penalize you for that. Google Adwords could revoke your account.
Quote: WizardI hope you guys enjoyed your advertising-free half of a day. Check out the footer of the site.
What do you think of the wording? Should I ad something about clicking through the Amazon banner, or is it obvious?
That sounds about right. The percentage is higher if I link to a specific item, but for general shopping it is about that.
It depends on the item purchased. If I recall some items like books are not included. Electronics are 4%. Amazon gift cards is what I suggested at one of my sites. 6% goes to you and the buyer just uses it when they make the purchase they were going to anyway.
I would put the link in your signature. I know it seems a little bold, but it's really not. You're traffic is going to be very minimal at the bottom of the site. There are specific areas that will do better than others. The bottom is probably the worst of all choices. Top left and right side are usually the best. There are a lot of studies and information on website advertising "hot spots" available online.
ZCore13
a 4 digit password. I'm talking first year
they were in business. The email it's
linked to hasn't been opened by me
in 10 years at Yahoo.
Quote: Zcore13It depends on the item purchased. If I recall some items like books are not included. Electronics are 4%. Amazon gift cards is what I suggested at one of my sites. 6% goes to you and the buyer just uses it when they make the purchase they were going to anyway.
6% for gift cards? That is really high.
You know that you can buy a gift card and redeem the code yourself, right? That's what I do whenever amazon has a promotion for buying gift cards. I also like using amazon gift card to settle bets on this site. When I won $300 on the safety in the super bowl, that could have been an extra $24 for the Wizard? That seems like a lot.
Quote: EvenBobMy Amazon account is so old I still have
a 4 digit password. I'm talking first year
they were in business. The email it's
linked to hasn't been opened by me
in 10 years at Yahoo.
well that sounds secure
