Ads vs Classifieds Site for Making Money

[Jason76]

No offense to Forum Promotion and others, but I think ads are annoying to a lot of people - but I'm not sure how many. Anyway, also there are ad-blockers - so in that case, to sum it up, I'd rather sell classifieds.

OK, a third option is having forum links that are ads. For instance, a forum section or blog sidebar link could redirect to the sponsor.

 

[Page]

I don't mind ads! us long as there aren't over the top and makes it hard to enter or even browse the site. Also never like popup ads that goes full screen, then also don't like when having an page that's full of ads that takes longer for the site to load and makes it slow and lag when you are browsing around.

I understand that having ads on site's will earn income or just helps with the costs, so ads are fine if there are not so many.

 

[Jason76]

Also never like popup ads that goes full screen

That's why those 1000 visitors for a dollar sites are bad. That's the source of their traffic.

 

[Sam]

Forum links as topics or on the main board page? I think a native link ad approach could be quite effective actually. Ultimately these are all ads though.

Everyone seems to be switching to native ads. The radio stations that I listen to are almost ad free. Instead, they have competitions and other events which serve as ads. The announcers/ presenters will talk about and "promote" the company. One of the most popular TV shows in NZ is filled with native ads.... the contestants eat McDonalds, drive Suzuki cars etc.

You could also ask for donations to fund the forum (perhaps donators get a glowing username).

 

[Jason76]

Forum links as topics or on the main board page? I think a native link ad approach could be quite effective actually. Ultimately these are all ads though.

Everyone seems to be switching to native ads. The radio stations that I listen to are almost ad free. Instead, they have competitions and other events which serve as ads. The announcers/ presenters will talk about and "promote" the company. One of the most popular TV shows in NZ is filled with native ads.... the contestants eat McDonalds, drive Suzuki cars etc.

You could also ask for donations to fund the forum (perhaps donators get a glowing username).

If there is truly a good product to produce, Patreon would be an option. The patrons giving a dollar or so a month would support the website.

 

[topned]

I heard several american baseball and football stadiums have ads plastered anywhere there is white space. Life is nothing but ads my friends.

 

[Jason76]

I heard several american baseball and football stadiums have ads plastered anywhere there is white space. Life is nothing but ads my friends.

That would mostly be brand awareness. However, that works in the long run. Also, that is a new form of SEO strategy.

 

[lucycarter]

I am okay with ads only if it don't interfere while browsing any website. Ads that result in opening of additional popups are very annoying. I just hate them.

 

[overcast]

Some classified ads sites are struggling to make money. Not a lot can be done these days with such sites.