Where do I advertise?
 

I just don't have the time to put in a lot more promotion for my sites right now, but I want to do something to get traffic moving. I have decided to consider buying traffic/advertising. The question is, where the heck do I do?

Some background... I run a pair of sites that fit in the following three niches:
1.) Gothic
2.) Artistic Erotica
and, to a lesser extent
3.) Amateur

I am looking to spend about $100-200 (each) initially on a few different sources of traffic, to see what converts. The idea is to see if I can get a good return on investment, and if so, to stick with that source of traffic. (And keep looking for a couple of additional new ones.)

I have tried the bargain route... I bought 25,000 hits from AdBuyTraffic. Alas, they are coming in very inconsistently. More unfortunately, they are not converting. I am sure this is a matter of a mismatch, and don't want to disparage their traffic when it is my site that isn't converting. So far 6,000 hits and 0 sales. I'd need about one sale per 3,000 hits for it to break even.

I have looked into a more premium route. My guess is that for my sites, upscale erotica sites... Slightly more "art" than "porn" are the place to go. The first place I looked was Jane's Guide. The smallest package they sell is $250 for 100k impressions, and they say it converts to clicks at about 1%... That would be $250 for 1000 hits. Even with good traffic and good conversions, I don't think I'm gonna make 25¢ per click, or one sale per 65 hits.

So, what do I do? Is there anyplace I can make out well buying traffic, or is paying for traffic no longer economical? I'd love some feedback, or even some good old fashioned spam... Anyone?

I'd start setting up some link trades with gothic websites. Then buying a small steady stream of traffic to bulk up those trades. Getting your link on as many site's as possible is a good start. Search Engines are your long term money maker. Link trades will get you headed in the right direction.

Buying traffic is a short term fix for a long term issue. If you need money RIGHT NOW & you can't pay your bills, then do what you gotta do. But if this is something your willing to build up over time do it the right way.

Where is this Jane's Guide?? Been trying to find it...

link trades.

pr0,

Thanks for the feedback. It is good that the first post was constructive, not "GFY" as usual. ;)

I am not just getting started with this... We have a number of good trades and traffic from directories and elsewhere. We are also getting about 25% google traffic. What I would like to do now is add things that can boost the amount of traffic significantly.

I am also working to build up traffic in the sorts of ways you mention. A large part of that is starting to get serious about my referral program. Some of that should start paying off in the next few weeks. Hopefully more-so, as I learn how bes to promote that, and learn what people want. Beyond that, I have other plans to build real traffic, but time for promotion is limited.

In the meantime, though, I am considering buying some traffic... as an experiment. I mean, if I can buy traffic, and get more out of it than I pay for it, why not? The thing is, I am not sure traffic that good is out there to be had.

If you aren't joking, try here:
http://www.janesguide.com

Don' know how you could have missed it, so I assume you are... but on here, you never know.

gothweb, no I wasn't joking....thanks for the info...I too need to get traffic but it's to a penis program...thanks for the info..

I would think the penis stuff might still do okay with exit traffic, TGP traffic, and the like... It isn't the newest thing, but it seems to appeal pretty broadly to the general adult market.

Part of my problem is we're just not in that market... (...and we don't want to be.)

Isn't anyone at least gonna spam me with their ad rates? wow...