Advertising on this site

[loftgolf]

Hello! I am a happy, active member of this forum and would like some information in regards to advertising my website here. Can someon help?

[Slingblade61]

I can help but in your case it would be a conflict of interest so I'll have to turn you down.

On the other hand, if you have $3,000,000 in cash you can just buy this already well established, revenue generating mofo.

Now, failing all of that. Get an adsense account. This is your only clue, I'll say no more.

[loftgolf]

Hmmmm, well I do have the 3mm you spoke of but I was hoping that it would give me 4-5 months of exposure on this site. Oh well, I guess I'll give my 3mm to Google!

Ummmm, by the way, how is this a conflict of interest?

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by loftgolf

Ummmm, by the way, how is this a conflict of interest?

Stupid questions will not be tolerated.

It's obvious that you have a golf forum.

R35

[loftgolf]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

Stupid questions will not be tolerated.

It's obvious that you have a golf forum.

R35

Yup, yup I do! I guess that would be the conflict the, huh?

[Slingblade61]

Yes, that was a stupid question.

Take heart though. Any other golf forum would have squashed you from the get go. I, however, in my magnificent benevolence, allow you to live.

All praise.

Amen.

[loftgolf]

Honestly, I am not looking to compete with this forum. I am more interested in selling shirts and such and may delete my forum, but I will keep the blog. I do not want to compete with this forum 'cause i like it! Yup, I love this forum and think of every member while in bed preparing to sleep. Well, not really, but I do like the people here! If I drop the forum will you all participate on my blog? Or would that also be a conflict?

[loftgolf]

One more thing, I have been a very loyal poster to this site and have never tried to market my site here. I just thought that was important to state.

[Slingblade61]

You're young, aren't you?

20 something?

I ask because what you are asking makes no financial sense.

Just pay me the 3 million. I'll stay on for one year in an advisory capacity and sign a 2 year no compete clause.....such a deal!

[JamesR]

Originally Posted by loftgolf

have never tried to market my site here.

You sort of just did. You basically did what people on other golf sites do to bump their Classifieds ad

[loftgolf]

Originally Posted by Slingblade61

You're young, aren't you?

20 something?

I ask because what you are asking makes no financial sense.

Just pay me the 3 million. I'll stay on for one year in an advisory capacity and sign a 2 year no compete clause.....such a deal!

Funny you ask, Slingblade. I am a "young" 47 year old that has been self employed for most of my adult life. The last business I owned was the largest boat dealership in the state of CT with sales in excess of $12,000,000 per year. Prior to that I owned a large mergers and acquisition firm, also in CT. This is my first effort with anything but a "brick and mortar" business. I am experienced enough to realize that there is NO web forum that would bring enough of a return to justify a $3mm purchase price, regardless of the covenant you are willing to sign. I have not insulted you, or the work you've put into this site, and I would appreciate the same consideration from you! What part, short of my sarcastic offer of $3mm makes no sense to you?

[Slingblade61]

Originally Posted by loftgolf

One more thing, I have been a very loyal poster to this site and have never tried to market my site here. I just thought that was important to state.

You had a link to it in your very first post.

We are very similar. You have a year on me but I too have been self employed almost my whole life, the difference is that I have never had "brick and mortar" but that's just an aside.

Getting to the point;

Yes, going blog only would remove the conflict.
The part I do not understand is why you would want to pay to advertise a blog on a specific website. To me you would just be throwing money away.

There are zillions of blogs and almost no successful ones as compared to the existing numbers.

I do not see how (or why) anyone would buy your gear if it were not attached to a thriving community or blog. It LOOKS nice and the phrase is catchy if you know what it means but to me, you need to do some serious work to build an audience before you're going to sell any swag.

Content is king.

You can advertise here if you want to but if you don't have the goods to back it up, you're just wasting your money.

I very strongly suggest that you develop the blog (or forum, or both) in conjunction with a google adsense campaign. You will gain MUCH more exposure there than you will here.

[loftgolf]

I really do appreciate your input, Slingblade, and feel the advice is good. However, I am heading in a different direction than you. I am not interested in adsence as my monetization plan is through apparel sales, not web base ads. I was opposed to the forum in the first place but the research I'd done said it would be a way to get people to the site more often. I feel there are more than enough golf forums/blogs on the internet, and many are quite good, including this one. I designed my site to bring people back as much as possible but am relying most on the 'cart girl competition'. I find the forum and blog to be very time consuming and I realize I can't re-invent the wheel. We now have hundreds of shirts, golf accessories, etc., with more items incoming. That is what we're looking to sell, not ads!

One other point, you stated that I had a link in my first post. That is correct, but when you explained the forum rules I immediately apologized and took it down instantly. As a businessman yourself, you really can't blame me for trying.

[Eracer]

I suspect that you will now leave us to pursue other financial opportunities. Thanks for being here.

[loftgolf]

Originally Posted by Eracer

I suspect that you will now leave us to pursue other financial opportunities. Thanks for being here.

It was never my intent to pursue any financial opportunities here! I'm doing just fine on my own, Eracer. Thanks for your concern.