When we took over this business the primary website had a very low amount of organic traffic. The previous owner fudged the numbers during due diligence.
Within 6 months we got traffic WAY up. We're cruising now between 4 and 5 million visitors a month. Not bad considering they had 400K a month when we started.
We're doing well with ad sales but need to find another revenue line and since we have a history with lead gen from our previous company we've made an effort this year to build up a strength there.
The funny thing is that we thought we knew what the customers wanted. We were building lead flows, serving offers, and choosing offers from networks that we thought would work well. Nothing seemed to really hit. Offers did ok, but nothing did that well.
Then a new guy we hired chose an offer from a new network...something I never thought would've done well. And it is doing REALLY well right out of the gate. If the numbers hold up we'll hit our monthly goal.
I'm still amazed that is doing well...but just goes to show that I need to get out of my own way and test everything, not just what I think will work.
Details? ;)
What the offer is?
yes, basically what surprised you and why you think the offer works with this particular market
The offer that surprised me was for a life coaching program...kinda like Tony Robbins. The creative looked like shit and the ad CTR isn't even that great, but the post click conversion is fantastic.
Now that we've had time to review..I think it is doing well because the economy is down, we're coming out of a tough recession, a lot of people are unhappy with their jobs or pay, and/or a lot of people are unemployed....which leads to an offer like this appealing to people.
And for it to convert the user doesn't have to enter a CC or anything...it is a pretty simple form submit with a nice payout.
That's a good story. I have to wonder how many opportunities I miss because I get set too much in my ways.
Loads i bet.
I go on business coaching courses and have a business coach for my other line of "work". It is all to easy to say "I know" or "that wont work". Sometimes a different approach can make a huge difference.
How many of those shit websites have you seen that do great business. Each to their own.
All I will say is this :
The money is in the list
Turn your traffic into an e-mail list and you will bank like crazy. Typically people that subscribe to a lifestyle/coaching thing will not do anything with it, but will buy every other program that promises they will come out the other end richer/wiser.
If you promote one offer then you are giving the partials to the persons who owns the offer for free.
If you capture their data and then in the thank you e-mail send them the offer, if they don't signup then at least you can try them with other things.
Ancillary income streams have become a big deal for me now. Exit pops, cross sells, one time offers, upsells. It's the same traffic always.
I don't think that I'm overstating to say that this may very well be the most important thing you hear. ever. (and by "you", I mean anyone reading this, not just Andrew.)
Quote from: jimbanks on November 28, 2010, 12:15:03 PM
All I will say is this :
The money is in the list
Turn your traffic into an e-mail list and you will bank like crazy. Typically people that subscribe to a lifestyle/coaching thing will not do anything with it, but will buy every other program that promises they will come out the other end richer/wiser.
If you promote one offer then you are giving the partials to the persons who owns the offer for free.
If you capture their data and then in the thank you e-mail send them the offer, if they don't signup then at least you can try them with other things.
Ancillary income streams have become a big deal for me now. Exit pops, cross sells, one time offers, upsells. It's the same traffic always.
Do I dare to say that we have never ever collected a single email on any of our sites. Some of the bs reasons:
- if we dont send them any news for a while, the list will die
- have never done it, so the basic feeling is that it wont work.
- Email legislation in Scandinavia will rip you a new one for sending anything remotely spammy.
I know it's bs and we leave a LOT of money on the table. Specially after seeing that my gf can make with her 10K and 2K lists. Amazing.
Doug has some tips on collecting emails
3 million newsletter subscribers in about 10 months 8) Changed the way all the big players operate.
Like Rumbas I have really never build an email list on any of my sites and I always kick myself for not starting it 10 years ago. When I see the "gurus" that can send an email out to their list pushing the next big product release and make a few hundred grand off just a few minutes of work I make myself sick.
With my football jersey site if I would have been collecting email addresses and sending out info when a new player is signed and their jerseys are available or something like that I could probably add a nice chunk of change to my bottom line.
Quote from: jangro on November 28, 2010, 03:15:32 PM
I don't think that I'm overstating to say that this may very well be the most important thing you hear. ever. (and by "you", I mean anyone reading this, not just Andrew.)
Quote from: jimbanks on November 28, 2010, 12:15:03 PM
All I will say is this :
The money is in the list
Turn your traffic into an e-mail list and you will bank like crazy. Typically people that subscribe to a lifestyle/coaching thing will not do anything with it, but will buy every other program that promises they will come out the other end richer/wiser.
If you promote one offer then you are giving the partials to the persons who owns the offer for free.
If you capture their data and then in the thank you e-mail send them the offer, if they don't signup then at least you can try them with other things.
Ancillary income streams have become a big deal for me now. Exit pops, cross sells, one time offers, upsells. It's the same traffic always.
Great advice guys, thanks.
>>>>Doug has some tips on collecting emails
Who? Would love to get more info!
Dougs > http://th3core.com/talk/profile/?u=37