How do I start my next site?

**sasquatch** · 07-14-2006, 10:53 PM

I have built a forum and informational site on a niche hobby I am interested in. It is starting to take off and adsense is paying some, nothing to get excited about but it's pretty steady. The forum has almost 2000 member, 8800+posts and the whole site is doing about 1mill page views/mnth. However I'm still making pocket change per day.:sleep1: Let's just say it's less than $10 per day.

How do I start my next site? I don't know what topic to undertake and I don't know if it should be an informational site or another forum or an affiliate site etc.

Where do I go from here?

**the_host** · 07-16-2006, 03:30 AM

Forums are known for their low CTR. Consider using paid banner advertising on the forum instead, charge a monthly fee. With that sort of traffic you could probably earn more than you are with adsense etc.

As for your next site.. do you have any other hobbies?

**sasquatch** · 07-16-2006, 11:29 AM

I'm really looking for help on my next site which will probably not be a forum. How to pick a niche that has a decent payout from adsense.

**petertdavis** · 07-16-2006, 11:46 AM

What's your forum about?

**sasquatch** · 07-16-2006, 12:09 PM

It's a niche hobby or sport. Call me paranoid but I don't to release the url yet.

Your forums seem really diversified. Hows the CTR on your forum.

**petertdavis** · 07-16-2006, 12:19 PM

CTR and eCPM varies wildly on my forums. Why do you not want to release the url?

**sasquatch** · 07-16-2006, 01:22 PM

As I said paranoia. In the past I made a post on a board about new features that I was planning and working on. Next thing I know the competition had the same thing done before I had mine ready to go live.

**yoey** · 07-16-2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasquatch

As I said paranoia. In the past I made a post on a board about new features that I was planning and working on. Next thing I know the competition had the same thing done before I had mine ready to go live.

I dont blame you. You should try what the other guy said; use paid banners instead of pay per click. For example, make a dummy banner that says "Your AD here $50 a month" or however much you want to charge there. Stick that in instead of the adsense banner and see if it sells.

**amarquart** · 07-16-2006, 01:56 PM

Have you checked out Lee's other site, forumtrends? He even has a podcast.

**petertdavis** · 07-16-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasquatch

As I said paranoia. In the past I made a post on a board about new features that I was planning and working on. Next thing I know the competition had the same thing done before I had mine ready to go live.

It makes sense to not talk in public about future plans, but you said your forum as 2000 members and 8800 posts, how is that a secret? Must be at least 2000 people who know the secret, then, or do the join up and post without knowing the url?