The Great Debate 2: To charge or not?

[stlewis]

This too is a bit off topic, but what do people think on charging for site adverts? The revenue from my site will be from a products and services directory. At the moment listings are free. The plan is to charge say 20% of the cost of magazine and paper directory advertising. I can either hold off from demanding money (!), ask just a sector of advertisers, and also offer eg 50% off if you sign up by a certain date.

What is your experience, or can you recommend a Talkgraphics-quality forum elsewhere for other advice?

Again, many thanks for your thoughts.

www.thelondonhouse.co.uk

[stlewis]

This too is a bit off topic, but what do people think on charging for site adverts? The revenue from my site will be from a products and services directory. At the moment listings are free. The plan is to charge say 20% of the cost of magazine and paper directory advertising. I can either hold off from demanding money (!), ask just a sector of advertisers, and also offer eg 50% off if you sign up by a certain date.

What is your experience, or can you recommend a Talkgraphics-quality forum elsewhere for other advice?

Again, many thanks for your thoughts.

www.thelondonhouse.co.uk

[Jen Worden]

Hi Simon ...

I don't think this is off-topic at all and it's a good question which will, I imagine, spark all kinds of debate. Thanks for asking it!

I think that ads are a legitimate money raiser if they contribute to the site overall. For example, I have no problem with advertising on a Tourism site that is linked to my destination - ie. B&Bs, hotel/motels, restaurants etc. - but I want to know that these have been paid for. That way I can weigh the "We are the best" knowing that it's the establishment's blurb and not your (read: the site's) opinion.

This moves into the grey area of "link payment", which I have more problem with; particularly for a tourism related site but really, with any consumer site. Because I don't know if the link is there because it warrants it (ie. it's a quality site) or because they paid to have it there.

I hope this makes sense, and I'd love to hear what other's have to say!

cfn ... Jen
Jen Worden
Web Developer
www.meadoworks.com