I have a forum I started a bit less than a month ago (in my signature) and I've got 48 members right now (not bad for me in 3.5 weeks).

I have been reading around on here, but much of it is going over my head, and doesn't apply to me because my forum is smaller right now. Is there anyway to maybe just break even on my forum as it is now, (like 10-15 bucks a month).

I've got accepted into Google Adsense, but never see much revenue out of it.

Basically, what I'm asking is, how do you get started making money on forums...

What I do know is I'll probably need to make an Advertising page, showing my Uniques and Traffic, but what can I do to get Advertisers/Profit from it?

Personally, I don't even try making money on forums from adsense or similar programs for the first year, maybe less if the site is doing really well. I think it is important to build a community that is free of ads until you get a critical mass that aren't going to go away if you introduce some ads.

I'm not really a fan of how most advertising looks. I'd like to push "Forum Sponsors" or vendors, where they buy a forum on the site, where they can have an image, and then post sales and things if they'd like to, and members could ask them questions and things. This all depends on who and how the advertiser is though.

I think you are talking about "F-Body Online - Your source for all things Camaro and Firebird".
Try and get some more back links and increase your site's PR. Then start selling advertising on a monthly payment basis. $5-$10 per link. Sell like 4-5. Gives you about $40 per month and doesn't annoy your visitors as well... (It's just 4 simple text links...)
Hope that helps.

Forums are generally considered long term projects. Very few lucky ones start making money from the very start.
Bye

I think alot of people are correct in saying do not have adverts on a small new forum but in my case I have implemented ads from a very early stage and with some editing in VB you can make it so ads only show to guests. I add a line of text above the ads saying "Register to remove these ads" and this often pushes people into registering and also gives you chance to earn off those pesky guests who are just trawling.

im not a pro but its another way to look at things and could open up other options for you.

I added advertising to my TSL forum on the first week. I still have a small user base almost 70 members now, but no one has complained about the ads. I try to only show them to guests as well.

Work hard on increasing your search engine ranking. Submit the site to web directories to get backlinks and increase your page rank.

Grow the membership. Once you have a threshold level of members, go recruiting actual shops/parts companies to sponsor your site. This is really the only way to go in an automotive forum, as your users tune out the adsense ads quickly. Your only hope with Adsense is to use it as a suplement or a way to cover some costs. You're not going to "profit" with adsense on a car forum, however.

I agree that you should try to build up a strong member base and get better in the SE rankings, then try some private advertising. I have google ads show up for guests with "register to remove these ads" and it's not bringing in a whole lot.

Originally Posted by Moelman

I agree that you should try to build up a strong member base and get better in the SE rankings, then try some private advertising. I have google ads show up for guests with "register to remove these ads" and it's not bringing in a whole lot.

I have the same setup, and it brings in about 50 cents/day. The alternative is making the ads visible to everybody, which is going to annoy your members and make them not want to come back. Maybe in other niches it works better, but on car forums the regulars just ignore the ads.

I don't really even think having ads viewable to members does a whole lot, most forum "regulars" are used to having ads on forums that they just ignore them or adblock them.

I had a pretty large forum that didn't make anything off of adsense. I would try to find some private advertisers.

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

I've added the site to many directories and things, so hopefully that is a start and I'll just keep chugging along :yes:

Hey Rocket 442..are you a member of realoldspower? I've contacted the admin and asked if the forum was for sale..lots of good members and posts. The site has so much potential and I would love to own that community.

I have a 1971 350 Olds Cutlass S btw..

Originally Posted by Moelman

I don't really even think having ads viewable to members does a whole lot, most forum "regulars" are used to having ads on forums that they just ignore them or adblock them.

I find that members don't click PPC ads like Adsense and YPN. However you can gain a bit more income by showing them CPM ads from Tribal Fusion and such.

Originally Posted by RidinHighSpeeds

Hey Rocket 442..are you a member of realoldspower? I've contacted the admin and asked if the forum was for sale..lots of good members and posts. The site has so much potential and I would love to own that community.

I have a 1971 350 Olds Cutlass S btw..

I have "lurked" around there for a while.

I'm signed up, I just did. Definitealy could be a good community though.

I'm not liked around most Olds forums, since I sorta "hacked up" a 1 of 3 F-85 442 with power windows :whistling: