building_communities_futures

What to do when asked the question, “how much money can i make from my website or blog?”

A client recently asked me to put together a forecast for revenue generated online. Alex Cleanthous at Web Profits published an excellent mindmap to online marketing. For any small organisation, startups and green group, online marketing presents the green marketeer with a veritable minefield. Visual representations of where web profits can come from start here.

When focusing simply on potential income from marketing and advertising activites, on revenue, follow these simple steps to obtain an estimate:

1. Calculate monthly visitors.If Google Analytics, or pre-installed visitor analytics package is collecting data, take the current month as Scenario 1, then extrapolate your monthly visits for 12/24 months given either a percentage increase or predicted increase. This is Scenario 2.
2. ‘2 to 3% will click-through’ – your Conversion Rate.As a widely accepted industry average 2-3% of your site visitors convert casual content views into desired actions. Use Scenario 2 to obtain a best outcome.Scenario 1 is based on current site stats and reflects reduced income. Put another way, as you implement improvements and build content, this reflects in increased visitors.
3. Calculate total leads generated in both scenarios:

Potential Revenue Channels:

1. Google AdSense

Set to show image and text based ads and find. 250×300 pixel ads work best (usually with a blended design).

2.www.greenaffiliateprograms.net/ and in the UK, the newly launched eee.coop offer green online marketers a means for promoting important environmentally and socially friendly campaigns and products, on a partnership basis.

3. Chitika

Also WidgetBucks. Chitika offers a range of ad units to experiment with.

3. Amazon Associates

While the commission on some items is only 4% this adds up when those that you refer buy higher ticket items.

4. Private Ad Sales/Sponsorships

This includes ad sales of the 125 x 125 ads as well as possible private ad deals

Other potential sources –

• Revenue from subscription access to content. A range of documents can be accessed for a period of a month or typically a year. For example, FT.com access to the digital technology section for around $80 per year.
• Revenue from Pay Per View access to documents. Here payment occurs for single access to a document, video or music clip which can be downloaded.
• Revenue from Sponsorship of site sections or content types.
• Text Link Ads (Adsense)
• Miscellaneous Affiliate Programs
• Miscellaneous Advertising Programs Including AuctionAds, Feedburner RSS ads, Vizu (a poll advertising system), Kontera and Bidvertiser.
• Charge for adverts placed in its newletter.

Example Channel Distribution

The distribution of your converted leads can fall in all, some or just one of your chosen channel/s. The key is to monitor conversions and adjust your channels accordingly.