The for HL2.net to actually earn $$GREEN$$.

[phantomdesign]

No, No, No….you’ve got it all wrong. It is actually possible for an internet forum to earn a lot of money, especially one that is this size and this active. Google ads won’t do it. These new advertisements that pop up every time you see a word won’t earn much money either & will piss off members. Asking members to donate would irritate donors if you had any advertisements.

So, what do you do? Most internet forums get something called SPONSORS. Basically, you contact various businesses that relate to the forum subject (in this case, Half Life 2) & tell them that you can offer them target advertising & say you have X,XXX,XXX visits per month, XX,XXX members, XXX,XXX posts/month, etc. You try to average about 15 to 25 advertisers & charge on a monthly basis. You might want to keep your prices low initially (like $75 per month), but once you get a few sponsors you slowly increase the price to around $150/month. If you get 20 advertisers @ $150/month, that’s $3,000/month. Play your cards right & you'll be topping $10k a month (not joking).

What you offer them is a slot on a rotating banner (like the one we currently have) & banners will be shown in a random order. Lets say Carl’sHardware (a name I just made up) is having a sale on 9800 Pro’s. Now, think about how many people would probably see the banner & buy a graphics card from Carl’s Hardware? At a place like this, I’d say a bare minimum of 25…maybe as many as a few hundred.

You need to target your sponsors & offer targeted advertising. That’s the only way forums make much money legitimately without alienating their members. It is a win/win/win for the Moderators/Members/Advertisers. You could even use the extra $$$ to sponsor HalfLife2.net contests & pull more members (and more advertisers). Imagine a $5000 prize with extras from companies that you got for free (like some x800’s from ATI) for a MODing contest.

Does this concept work? Yes it works & LOTS of forums do it. This website is a gold mine if you mine it correctly...forget covering costs & start looking at real proffits.

 

[oldagerocker]

Man, you got vision... you'll be the new Richard Branson. keep at it son.
p.s. remember to get them Sims 3 forums open quick...

 

[Maxi]

Ooo, nice idea. Me like.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

interesting idea.
i just hope if HL2.net does go this route, that the site doesn't turn into a total advertising hell.. thats my only concern.
as far as this site making money? sure, i think Munro could use a buck or two...afterall hes provided us a place to get our HL2 fix

 

[Sui]

wow... thast rather ambitios...

we COULD just put a paypal symbol that says "donations are appreciated"

 

[blahblahblah]

More than a couple of flaws.

1) What targeted advertising? Is valve going to buy ad space to sell HL2? I think not. The focus of this website isn't very advertiser friendly.
2) I would say it is a lot harder to get sponsers than you think it is. I have no real experience in this matter tbh.
3) You start jepordizing the status of this forum. If you started making money in this forum, you would likely have to create some sort of business (if they haven't yet). Who knows what the limelight would say if you started earning money without paying them first. Or the tax consequences in the US and UK.

There is a lot of work that has to be done if such a plan was to be done.

 

[ComradeBadger]

Munro knows this.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

wow... thast rather ambitios...

we COULD just put a paypal symbol that says "donations are appreciated"

yeah.. this idea combined with blahblahblah's idea of "donation drive" every 6 months or whatever it was he mention.
even if there isn't much interest in donating, it doesn't cost anything to setup a paypal account for donations right?

give it a go.. see how it turns out...u never know.. pple might just respond.

 

[DoctorGordon3]

More than a couple of flaws.

1) What targeted advertising? Is valve going to buy ad space to sell HL2? I think not. The focus of this website isn't very advertiser friendly.
2) I would say it is a lot harder to get sponsers than you think it is. I have no real experience in this matter tbh.
3) You start jepordizing the status of this forum. If you started making money in this forum, you would likely have to create some sort of business (if they haven't yet). Who knows what the limelight would say if you started earning money without paying them first. Or the tax consequences in the US and UK.

There is a lot of work that has to be done if such a plan was to be done.

Hey look, its the IRS

 

[ComradeBadger]

Things have to be done legally, in case you didn't know.

 

[Javert]

Does this concept work? Yes it works & LOTS of forums do it. This website is a gold mine if you mine it correctly...forget covering costs & start looking at real proffits.

Yes, all members are just depersonalized monies and assets. Mine us, exploit us, fill your coffers with our whims and discussions! Profit is key! Can't you see the possibilities (Mr. Anderson!), the Green, the $$, the moolah, the big bucks!!!

But really, go ahead if it works.
No, really...

 

[Sui]

Things have to be done legally, in case you didn't know.

pfft. who said that? the law?

 

[Pro[pH]et]

You don't have to obey the law when you run a web site, right?

 

[Munro]

You don't have to obey the law when you run a web site, right?

You're being sarcastic I hope

 

[Pro[pH]et]

hehe

 

[Raziaar]

Heh, I just watched the futurama episode "A Bicyclops built for two"

Such a cool starting for the episode. Heh, they log into the 3d reality of the internet. "My god... its filled with ads!" And they have to fight them kicking the no thanks buttons etc. Hilarious. =P


"Well, thanks to the internet i'm now bored for sex. Is there any place that panders to my desire of violence?"

Heh, and where fry fights in the video gameeee(edited to remove stupid ad) with his hands as guns. Hilarious.

 

[Duracell]

What sort of companies that are interested in Half-life 2 (or any source games/HL1 stuff) would pay that sort of money? The only sort of people I can think of would be other HL2 sites and VALVe fan sites.

I'm not trying to pull your idea apart but I'm just wondering what sort of websites/companies you thought would actually want to do it on this sort of site

edit- wonderful, my post is now an ad

 

[phantomdesign]

More than a couple of flaws.

1) What targeted advertising? Is valve going to buy ad space to sell HL2? I think not. The focus of this website isn't very advertiser friendly.
2) I would say it is a lot harder to get sponsers than you think it is. I have no real experience in this matter tbh.
3) You start jepordizing the status of this forum. If you started making money in this forum, you would likely have to create some sort of business (if they haven't yet). Who knows what the limelight would say if you started earning money without paying them first. Or the tax consequences in the US and UK.

There is a lot of work that has to be done if such a plan was to be done.

1)I disagree. Here's a few people that HL2.net could target.

• Anyone selling hardware, especailly video cards.
• Anyone selling video games, especailly if they offer a specail deal on Half Life 2.
• Video gaming magazines, prima strategy guide, cheat websites, etc...
• Colleges and recruiting agencies that relate to video gaming.

2)I do have some experience in the matter. It's not simple, but it pays off.
3)A lot of forums do this & you don't even have to do anything stupid like popup ads or the more recent in-post ads. All you need is a single unintrusive rotating banner at the top. If HL2.net currently has advertisments that are NOT enforced by limelight, I fail to see how the situation changes. I'm certain that any proffits would reasonably cover charges for hosting services.

I don't mind Munro making some pocket change :naughty: - he deserves it :angel:. I think we all can handle a single banner at the top.

EDIT: Disclaimer: I'm not asking him to make this an advertising hell, far from it. I'm just saying that he's taking the wrong approach with advertisments.