Newb question: Google ads vs. local ads

[gottaloveit]

Hi all,

I'm working on a site that will have information for local bars in my city but am a total newb to online advertising. I'm trying to decide which method of advertising will generate the most revenue: using google ads, or selling ad space to local bars.

Since this is a city specific site, the traffic won't be astronomical. I estimate that if I were selling ad space to local bars I could charge about $100 per month (at first anyway), and since there would not be many ad spaces the revenue would be a few hundred dollars per month.

Thanks,

Jamie

[taekwondokid42]

Adsense is okay, but I think that you could make a lot more money off of the local bars.

Thing is, getting the local bars to pay will be pretty tough. First, you will need enough traffic to make it worth the bars time (say... 1000-5000 hits a day from people who have access to the bars). Second, rather than charge them $100 a month, charge them $1 every 1000 times their ad is seen or something. (or maybe ~25 cents every time it is clicked on)

If you can get advertising from local bars, it most likely be higher paying than adsense, but you will have a hard time convincing them that it is worth their money and time.

[gottaloveit]

Very interesting. I will maybe start out without selling ads, then try to sell after the site gets some traffic.

[vol7ron]

Very interesting. I will maybe start out without selling ads, then try to sell after the site gets some traffic.

Ennnnn (sound of the buzzer) wrong. Adsense not only pays you, but helps get your pages seen. It'll help bring traffic to your site and get your page listed via Google. From there, sky's the limit.

You want to make sure your site is built with about 500-1000 pages then put some adsense on there and then update your site every day.

By the way when I'm not at work (around 8 EST) send me a PM I've been thinking about making a similar site and would possibly like to work with you on my personal time.

[gottaloveit]

Cool, thanks for the input. That is a good point about getting listed on google.

When you say 500 - 1000 pages, do you mean a site with that many pages? My site will have few pages, since it will be database driven. I couldn't see it having more than 20...

Also, does anyone know, would google penalize me if I have adsense as well as local ads? I've heard rumors that they downgrade your position if you do your own advertising.

[componentwarehouse]

I dont think they penalize you if you have other ads on the page. Although I would start with Google adverts until you are getting lots of hits, then take the Adsense adverts off when you can sell advert space to bars. If you have proof that your site gets 1000s of hits a day, and theyll get a banner at the top of the page, then itll be much easier to convince them its a good investment. But Google will help your site grow in the meantime.

Alex

[gottaloveit]

Again, thanks for the good tips. When I get this sucker up and running I'll let everyone know how it worked out.