Sucks being a noob and starting with a new thread...

[griffin8r]

But I'm in a quandry, and I figure this is a great place to gather info to help me sort it...

My wife and I launched a cross-promo site dedicated to exotic dancers (and related, to a point), tattoo artists, and heavy metal. Nice combo, right? Got lots of interesting content developing (landed a 2008 Playboy centerfold, Tony Batman, and a bizarre mock cooking show involving a shaggy metalhead character, among other things) but we're at a complete loss for how to attract advertisers.

We're trying to strike a balance here, obviously we could just make a huge push at the strip clubs and escort services and probably make a fabulous amount of money doing it, but we're trying to balance things out a bit, get the apparel people in, maybe even go after some underground music labels.

Not only that, but we're taking a completely different angle with how we do ads - not just banners anymore, but encouraging (and helping, in some cases) the advertisers to create "content" instead of just "BUY MY PRODUCT" - to create a symbiotic relationship between site and advertiser, and also make the reader more inclined to look at the ads.

The question is, in this day and age, when no one reads e-mail that didn't come from an address they already know, and no one wants to talk to you on the phone if you're selling something, and most of the free classified sections online don't allow HTML ads (we did a really slick one, it's up on Craigslist in the adult section in the Bronx and Jersey Shore)

How the hell does a new site get it done?

(edit)

Traffic is definitely not an issue for us. We're already averaging 2-300 unique hits per day, and we've only been up 40 days.

[bluemoney]

"Sucks being a noob and starting with a new thread"

Gonzo's a noob and he starts threads all the time!

[griffin8r]

I was just saying it's a bitch trying to look cool when you're asking probably an old hat question to all the regulars, particularly when it's your first contribution.

[gonzo]

Sounds like your trying to cross the streams.
Smart way to make the bucks but hey dont pay attention to me.. Im a newb.

Ask Forest!

[griffin8r]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Sounds like your trying to cross the streams.
Smart way to make the bucks but hey dont pay attention to me.. Im a newb.

Ask Forest!

Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence, newb or not.

[MRock]

Welcome to the board. Is advertizing all you're after? Or are you going to try to monetize some of the content you speak about? There has never been a better time to do so in my opinion.

Oh yeah, what is the url? It sounds like my cup of tea

[griffin8r]

Originally Posted by MRock

Welcome to the board. Is advertizing all you're after? Or are you going to try to monetize some of the content you speak about? There has never been a better time to do so in my opinion.

Oh yeah, what is the url? It sounds like my cup of tea

I really don't see where the content is "monetizable" (to coin a term), at least not in the subscription model sense...

We've got an angle we're trying to pursue on advertising that's really dramatically different from anything anyone else is doing online, we just have to get it out there in front of the people who control the advertising budgets and sell it to them. That's the quandry.

Oh - and I'll pop a url once I get past my 15 posts. If Paul and I continue to go at it in that other thread, I suspect it won't take long.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by griffin8r

If Paul and I continue to go at it in that other thread, I suspect it won't take long.

That will depend on how long it takes for you to tire of debating with a brick wall.

Welcome to Oprano

[griffin8r]

Originally Posted by Toby

That will depend on how long it takes for you to tire of debating with a brick wall.

Welcome to Oprano

I am a brick wall. Ever see two brick walls mash together repeatedly? It can be quite...... interesting.

Same character types, different forum.

[TheEnforcer]

Bah.. post the url.. might help people get a better idea of what to advise you... plus you got me curious...

[griffin8r]

Fair warning: We've spent most of our energy developing the content, so the look is still very HTML 1.0. Hasn't seemed to bother the visitors, but the goal is to have the revamp (flash front page, some nicely CSS'ed columns and feature pages) by June 1.

http://www.hottmagazineonline.com

[MRock]

Getting an online magazine like that can certainly be a challenge. Not sure how you figure you are getting 2-300 uniques a day. Your own stats from your counter show only 20 or so uniques a day. I would drop the counter if I were you and use the stats tracking that should be available in your hosting c-panel. And before you can sell any advertising, you will definately need to be cranking out some MUCH bigger numbers. I can get over a thousand ad views for free by using a few tube sites.

You can get at least a little ad revenue started by using Black Label ads or some other publisher ad box, while you build your traffic and backlinks.

My previous suggestion about monetizing your content was aimed at the fact that you said you had landed a Playboy model. I figured you meant you were shooting video of her in some form and would have the rights to sell it via a download area or on clip sites.

I also noticed you are not allowing adult content or links on the site. If you are going to stick to that, you may want to find some Non-nude or "NN" sites with programs that have affiliate programs to make some money. I saw all of the links for the Hott Girls went to model mayhem, just leaking your traffic away with no way to make money. Feature a different model each month that has a program for you to sell.

Just some initial observations.

[griffin8r]

Originally Posted by MRock

Getting an online magazine like that can certainly be a challenge. Not sure how you figure you are getting 2-300 uniques a day. Your own stats from your counter show only 20 or so uniques a day.

I must admit, the last time I checked was shortly after the pilot Metal Chef episode dropped, and we were in that neighborhood. That said, those free trackers haven't been the most reliable sources of info I've ever seen.

I would drop the counter if I were you and use the stats tracking that should be available in your hosting c-panel. And before you can sell any advertising, you will definately need to be cranking out some MUCH bigger numbers. I can get over a thousand ad views for free by using a few tube sites.

I hear you.

You can get at least a little ad revenue started by using Black Label ads or some other publisher ad box, while you build your traffic and backlinks.

Not quite familiar... please elaborate?

My previous suggestion about monetizing your content was aimed at the fact that you said you had landed a Playboy model. I figured you meant you were shooting video of her in some form and would have the rights to sell it via a download area or on clip sites.

Gotcha. We're not quite that sophisticated yet, nor are we really aiming that direction (although we just got a confirm from Jasmine St. Claire - she wants to start doing the band interviews for us - hopefully that will help with traffic as well....)

I also noticed you are not allowing adult content or links on the site. If you are going to stick to that, you may want to find some Non-nude or "NN" sites with programs that have affiliate programs to make some money. I saw all of the links for the Hott Girls went to model mayhem, just leaking your traffic away with no way to make money. Feature a different model each month that has a program for you to sell.

We're not allowing adult content on the site, because we have a really nice arrangement with our host server (Hostrocket) - but we have no issues with adult sites advertising - the rule is, no frontal in the ads.

Just some initial observations.

Much appreciated.

[miz_wright]

in re: NN/ outlinks -

OnlyTease seems to have a nice program. I've not used it, but their content looks nice.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by LizAEBN

in re: NN/ outlinks -

OnlyTease seems to have a nice program. I've not used it, but their content looks nice.

Ive had some minor success with OnlyTease in the past.

[griffin8r]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Ive had some minor success with OnlyTease in the past.

The only thing I don't like about referral programs is they don't pay off. I actually tested a referral program on one of my wife's old sites by buying something directly through the link. Did she get paid? Nope. And that was a standard business referral (link through to a music equipment site) and we showed documentation that I bought the item via her referral link. The response: "We're not responsible for computer errors"....

[Toby]

Originally Posted by griffin8r

The only thing I don't like about referral programs is they don't pay off...

I'll remember that, the next time I'm on the way to the bank deposting my referral checks.

I make a very comfortable living promoting programs like OnlyTease and dozens of others.

Are there shady fuckers out there that don't pay? Of course there are, but don't judge an entire concept based on one bad experience.

Oh, and a P.S. If Liz or Gonzo recommend something, you can pretty much make bank that it's not the least bit shady.

[griffin8r]

Originally Posted by Toby

I'll remember that, the next time I'm on the way to the bank deposting my referral checks.

I make a very comfortable living promoting programs like OnlyTease and dozens of others.

Are there shady fuckers out there that don't pay? Of course there are, but don't judge an entire concept based on one bad experience.

Oh, and a P.S. If Liz or Gonzo recommend something, you can pretty much make bank that it's not the least bit shady.

Fair enough. We'll have to have a pow-wow over this one...