Forums..how do you monetize them?

[jhellyer]

Hi All,

I have an idea for a business Forum but I am unsure as to how I can monetize it...if there is a way at all? I understand that you could sell advertising space etc.....but are there any other options? At the end of the day I suppose I need to know if there is any money in it..lol?

Appreciate any feedback

Cheers

 

[Data Glasses]

That's good question , at this point i think google/affiliate ads plus sponserships and i have noticed over at 'namepros' they offer the option of paid sticky threads and even the option of having the title of 'supporter' next to your name for about $50 from memory

from time to time namepros have offer to have the 'whole skin' of the forum sponsered ..........rick latona would be one recent example

 

[Snooks]

Most forums have some sort of paid membership, or subscription upgrade that entitles them to extra benefits over regular members.

It normally includes things such as extra pm's, perhaps access to a private forum....stuff like that.

 

[payattention]

I've never run a successful forum (although I've tried, about to try again with www.diablo3builds.com ("builds" are gamer lingo) but from what I've read you do have a few options - paid upgrades which give users additional features as previously explained as well as Adsense.

Everything I've read suggests you really need high levels of traffic before your forum will take off; an idea isn't enough.

Places like SA (something awful) charge for access which remove advertisements (i like this model) while other forums like GenMay (dead these days but was big back in the day) offer private sections where users can share adult content and/or ban other users, rename them and cause other havok for a limited set of time. That of course is forum dependent; wouldn't work here in otherwords but was perfect for GenMay.

 

[FirstPageResults]

If it's a business forum surely there are complementary services which could be promoted, become sponsors or be charged for a business listing.

If you are going down the Adsense path then I'd be inclined to only show them to guest users.

Donations are also big on some forums where there is no clear way to monetize or advertisers hard to come by - but you need a very loyal community.

And like the orthers have said, paid subscriptions/upgrades are common. I think this is the best way to earn if you can get them..

 

[James]

Forums are a bit of work but same concepts work

- Affiliate
- CPM is a must
- CPC in the right places (even as 2nd posts)
- Private ad sales
- Forum upgrades (sell people random shit like banners under their name)
- Sponsored sections
- Selling spots on the monthly email list..

Probably got some more ideas for all on a recent post I did hehe -

http://jamesnorquay.com/10-sure-fire-tips-to-make-money-online-in-australia/

And I will show you one of the best money making forums I have seen -

luxury4play.com

these guys do it well, but yeah growing the user base/ keeping the spam gone and keeping people posting is the hard part.

 

[neddy]

Hi All,

I have an idea for a business Forum but I am unsure as to how I can monetize it...if there is a way at all? I understand that you could sell advertising space etc.....but are there any other options? At the end of the day I suppose I need to know if there is any money in it..lol?

Appreciate any feedback

Cheers

Send money to me; I tell.

That's how you monetize a forum.

 

[jhellyer]

lol Admin, will do! Thanks so much for all the advice and ideas really is greatly appreciated. Might do a little research then have a stab at it. Advertising is the key I think.......thanks again.

 

[Snooks]

Advertising is the key I think.......thanks again.

I dont think advertising is the hard part, the hard part is the huge amount of time that a forum can suck up....posting, talking and killing spam and spammers is the hard bit

 

[neddy]

killing spam and spammers is the hard bit

Pretty easy to adjust your settings and prevent most spammers from coming on. Use the question system or other tools.

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=260935

We still get about 5 spammers a day that get through, but they're not allowed to post until they have been approved. But that takes about 5-10 minutes a day - quick check of IP and then it is "instant death".