Hi.

Hopefully, within the next month, I will be offering a free SMS (Text messaging) service to my web surffers.

Im looking for a way to fund this. I know the most obvious way, is advertising, but that wont be enough if the service gets popular. As Im expecting it to.

I've seen other people, have a list of banners displayed, or text links with a description underneath, and the user must click the advertisement in order to send the message.

The message sends, and the advertisers homepage will pop-up in a new window.

Im looking to do something like this, but want to ensure that the advertiser will get the most targeted traffic possible. By perhaps having a number of advertisers from different catagories.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to go about this? As in, drawing in advertisers, and getting the most revenue possible, in order to cover the costs of sending the message.
(The cost for each message is 3.6 pence)


Thanks in advance.
Luke

Hey Luke.

Interesting idea.

Well, depending on what your site is all about, you could look for advertisers that would be interested in some "targetted" advertising.

For example, if you site is a webmaster related one (you would look for advertisers (sites) within that field.

IMO, it would be pretty tough to find enough advertisers in several differrent catagories, but I could be wrong.

Anyway, this probably didnt help much, but I wanted to add something.

3.6 cents for each message sent seems really expensive. If Dave and I signed up, it would cost you a few bucks a day just from us

You may be better off using a membership fee model.
Seeking advertisers is a constantly evolving and time
consuming task. Not to mention the competitition you will have.

I think I might know what service you are using. I am using
one (hint: has the word 'simple' in it). And if it is the
same one that you are using then I know the provider has bulk discounts for the number of message credits you buy.

So a membership model would still be the best way to go.

For example, take your overhead cost per message, mark it up
a bit of course, then sell different levels of membership such as:

up to 100 messages per month for X dollars
up to 500 messaes per month for X dollars
etc..

When you use a membership model, as I said you do not have to
chase down advertisers all the time. But beyong that, you will
have the option to launch an affiliate program too.

Originally posted by Luke
(The cost for each message is 3.6 pence)

I meant to do this a while back, but a pence is not a cent. So, what is it in US$?

Dave

How many pence in a pound (UK?)

1.00 British Pund = 1.45963 USD

Goto:
http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~ddpay...ncy/index.html

for online currency converter

Good site!

Is a pence 1/100th of a pound? So 3.6pence = 0.036 pounds. Therefore, 3.6 pence = 0.052 US$.

So a nickle a message for the US.

Dave