Banner Sales Question

LadyHoldem · #1 09-18-2007, 06:28 PM

I have a question about selling banner space on my news blog..

The site index is right now a PR2 (I changed the entire template, revamped, and rewrote most everything b4 last update, I knew it was going to drop, so I didn't sell any space), I wasn't going to offer any links/banners etc until this newest PR update, but.. it's not gunna happen.. ever. :P (ok maybe eventually, but I'm sooo done waiting. )

So, the current PR is 2, for those that ARE gunna care. The expected PR is 4. The page I am actually looking to sell space on is www.4flush.com/gamblingnews this page gets 2000-3000 visits per day. More on big keyword days, less on say.. saturdays when there's less news

Should I sell banners to casinos?
Should I sell to other sites?
How much is the space worth?

There will be a space carved out for the top sponsor (125x125) on the top right - that's the first space i need a price for, then there will be a few down right column.. also 125x125 all will include a banner spot, with a text link under..

Any suggestions? Need more info? Any direction is helpful

Thanx!

Cathy

PS.. this right now is that .. thing.. that one thing you put all your time and energy into.. so it's getting traffic, it looks great! .. It's making .. no damn money :P .. I hate the idea of bannering it up.. sooo yknow.. if ya have better ideas ..

TheDonk · #2 09-19-2007, 02:34 AM

Hmmm....You said that the page you linked here get's 2-3,000 hits per day but makes no $, I think I know why.

Here's what glares out at me as the reason. Anyone entering your site from this page will have a difficult time finding your poker/gambling/sportsbook/bingo reviews. Why aren't those categories listed in the navigation? When I clicked on an 'Online Casino Bonus' link in one of your paragraphs it took me to a different site altogether. Even after looking around for a way to get to your reviews I couldn't find one. I actually felt like this was 2 different websites, unattached. I'm not even sure how I found the reviews to begin with.

Make your reviews an obvious part of this and other popular pages and I would think you will do much better. I understand that you don't want to clutter things up, but is a clean site more important than making money? Even if you just want to sell ad space you should make it easier for visitors to find your reviews. Overall, the site looks good and it seems to me that this is what's holding it back.

If fixing this doesn't make a huge difference in your conversions I'd be shocked.

TheDonk

LadyHoldem · #3 09-19-2007, 05:07 AM

Every Review is text linked when it's keyword is used .. Absolute Poker auto links to the absolute poker review everytime the term is written.

obv, not obv enough though, sooo back to the drawing board.. TY TY TY for your imput, i'll look today for a way to get the main site, and the new news section married.

If ya have any great eye catching thoughts, that are comprehendable by php newborns

I'm still here

TheDonk · #4 09-19-2007, 05:40 AM

The text links in content are fine for the content, but there are a few problems with having those as the sole links to the reviews.

1/ It requires people to read everything for them to be exposed to all of your reviews.

2/ You may not always have content that includes all of your rooms. Someone may be interested in a room you aren't currently linked to from that page.

3/ People may think those links go directly to the room and not use them. It's easier to convert them after they've had a chance to read a review, but if you aren't getting them to the review to begin with then they'll be harder to convert.

I don't think you need to do anything drastic, don't make it harder than it is. Just add a set of links in the nav bar on the right side of your page. Do them high though so it's the first thing visitors see in that area. 'Reviews' header, then each category (poker rooms, sportsbooks, casinos etc) listed below - that should be quick and easy. Maybe lower on the page, in the same area you could add each poker room, sportsbook etc individually. The benefit here is that as people scroll down the page they'll be reminded of your reviews and also of each particular room you carry.

TheDonk

LadyHoldem · #5 09-19-2007, 04:11 PM

haha you figured me right out didn't ya

.. I make EVERYTHING harder than it is

LadyHoldem · #6 09-20-2007, 02:12 AM

Ok what do ya think? Enough.. More.. To much ?

TheDonk · #7 09-20-2007, 02:40 AM

Much better, but a couple things.

I would do a test if I were you. See how many people hit those links from your news pages for a week or two. Then, change 'Recommended Poker Sites' to 'Poker Room Reviews' for the same period of time. Check your click through %'s and go with whatever works best. I'm still wondering if people will be hesitent to click on them thinking they'll be taken directly to the poker room. Anyway, with the number of visitors you're getting your trial period won't need to be too long. You may find that one way is dramatically better than the other and bringing in the dough.

Good luck, I hope this works for you!

TheDonk

TheDonk · #8 09-20-2007, 02:43 AM

Oh, you also have poker.com on there twice, the second one is linking to Ultimate Bet which I assume is what you mean for it to say there. I would go ahead and add BodogLife.com as well, but that's just me.

TheDonk

P.S. I'll be in Lake Tahoe through Monday, so if I don't reply to any other messages it's because I can't find a computer to use.

LadyHoldem · #9 09-20-2007, 03:27 AM

Haha.. First, and most imporantly.. don't waste time in Tahoe replying to my messages!

2nd, and equally important actually,

Thank you, thank you for the help!

When I left out the word reviews, I was thinking.. what I think just about everyday as a content writer.. the only person searching for the word review is someone looking to write one.. but NOW.. i understand why everyone uses it :O

Believe it or not.. I spend umm 12 hours a day writing reviews for everyone else.. I have like .. umm.. yeah .. I can't say .. not enuff

on my own sites.. and one of the ones I don't have... mmmhmmm 4th largest search term on my site.. bodog

Going to rectify that in the next few hours though, perfect time to write it I suppose, I'll be the only affiliate not changing their review this week

.. so long as they don't change the url .. next week

Can I do something for you? Add a link for a few months? Something.. I'da just done it.. but your siggy line is rather bereft..