What are members charging for ads?

[AzHousePro]

I am getting ready to start setting up 68C on my site and I am wondering what some of the other users are charging for ads.

I run a very popular site that generates over 100,000 page views a day already. I currently have a wanted/for sale section on my forums and it is getting out of hand. What I want to do is install 68C and integrate it with my vbulletin member database. Then I can shut down the area in the forums and send people to the classified ads instead.

I plan on offering free ads to regular forum members, but I am curious as to what others are charging (when they charge) so that I can decide on upgrade pricing and pricing for non-forums members.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Mike

[juven14]

I guess it depends on your target, my site is focused on charging for featured ads and special categories, everything else is free. I have a package that extends the photos for a small fee, and charge an extra $1 for bold or highlight.

I think from free to $10 is a fair price, but it really just depends on your market. I'd suggest looking at your target area's print equivalent prices and maybe start from there.

[SkGold]

You have nice site and for your target area (I suspect is billiards) you may charge even more than John suggested. From my point of view is better to star high and go down than start low and go up.

[juven14]

Yes, I agree with SkGold, better to go down than up. I'd suspect that you could go higher within your market. By the way, I didn't think to look but I'll have to agree with SkGold (again), I like your site's look.

[AzHousePro]

Thanks guys. I have ran the site for nearly 10 years now and it has grown into one of the most respected sites in my niche.

I like Juven's idea of extended packages with photos, etc.

Juven, what is the url of your site? I would like to check out the packages you have available.

I am thinking of something along these lines...

Members of the forums get 3 free basic ads with the ability to upgrade to featured with additional photos.

Non-members pay $9.95 per ad with the same upgrade abilities.

This might not be the place to ask, but if I set up members with a "three free basic ad" package, are they able to run three ads at any given time or it is only 3 free ads and then they are done? (I.E. When an ad expires, does that free them up to place another freebie?)

Thanks.

Mike

[Lhotch]

Mike, I think a lot of us are in a catch 22 having only classifieds sites. What I mean by that is without traffic its hard to get people to place ads and without ads there is no reason for people to visit the site.

The value of an ad on any given site is often in direct proportion the the amount of traffic a site gets. The more traffic you have the more potential people will see an ad and therefor the value of the ad increases.

Since you have ample traffic I would think you are ahead of the curve and thus can get by with charging for your ads. Exactly what to charge I would say is not just based on your traffic and hence exposure you provide but the value of the items people sell on your site as well.

If your site caters to widget manufacturers where the average priced widget is $10 then charging at all may be detrimental. If the widgets sell for hundreds of dollars than a couple percent of the items value shouldnt be out of the question.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Lhotch

The value of an ad on any given site is often in direct proportion the the amount of traffic a site gets. The more traffic you have the more potential people will see an ad and therefor the value of the ad increases.

Very well explained.