Online Adv Sucks...but...

From: Ramon Ray <ramon_at_smallbiztechnology.com>
Date: Mon 21 Jan 2002 09:22:51 -0500

This CPM debate has helped me so, so, very much and
it's very interesting to read the experienced and
spirited debate of this list.

All I can tell you is in brief, my own experiences and
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

Online Advertising - from what I can tell DOES NOT WORK -
the usual way UNLESS you have a LOT and I mean a LOT of
traffic.

I use BurstMedia for online adv and even though my traffic
is low compared to other sites pulling in 100,000 or more
page views per months, I think I could get more adv money
if I had higher CPM rates.

I've tried to sell this and that (low sales) and even ran
some affiliate programs via CJ for Oracle and several
others, very targeted to my audience, but very low CTR and
no sales.

HOWEVER, what is working like CRAZY is

1) my real life seminars (people love them),

2) "Small Business Technology Report" (several indirect
revenue opportunities have developed from that - free lance
gigs, deals, other things) for the media/pr/analyst - a lot
of good things are happening with that

3) there is a need for quality and paid consulting services
by smaller businesses who want to run their businesses and
have some great technology to help them do it

As (maybe) a last ditch effort my plan is to segment my
business (online and with "branding") 1) a fee based
technology solutions side; 2) my current tech media
business and 3) "Small Business Technology Report" - a
premium site (spun from
http://www.smallbiztechnology.com/sbtr.htm ) for
SMB marketers/media/pr/analyst/consultants

Online based businesses can work - but I'm not so sure
about online advertising revenue alone anymore...or even
at all. I may do away with online adv completely in
favor of revenue directly from my audience and
possibly full scale sponsorships.


Ramon Ray, Editor/Analyst
ramon_at_smallbiztechnology.com
Smallbiztechnology.com
http://www.smallbiztechnology.com

News and analysis for small businesses and
small business technology marketers





Received on Mon Jan 21 2002 - 08:22:51 CST