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Can this work? (monetization)

by Sandra Martinez
13 replies
Ok, here is the thing. I have a community. It is completely non profit, I don´t even have adsense there. There is a store attached, but that is a different story because I don´t promote it, it is just a lost link on the top menu.

The times I tried some monetization the "energy" got weird, so I took it out.

BUT, I was just thinking... how about selling links on the side for seo purposes? There are over 9000 pages indexed, and we actually have much more than that.

I still don´t know if I want to do it, but... for those who have big sites, does this work? how you go around it?

Just putting a link there can make google find any page fast for example. If it is a page in a place like squidoo, it can make it go green.

What do you think? Where would you offer it? fiverr? other place? It would be for a short time? longer time?

Any help is highly appreciated.
#monetization #work
  • Profile picture of the author WarrenPeterson
    How were you trying to monetize the community? Why do you feel the energy got weird?
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    • Profile picture of the author JeffMitchell
      If you are putting your work into the community, it is work and you deserve to be able to monetize it. There are costs involved with running a website. Yes you may lose some members, but if they are devoted members then they should understand and accept that your needs.

      Start with small google adsense, or sell link/banners to the members!

      ...just my 2 cents!

      Jeff Mitchell
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      • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
        Originally Posted by JeffMitchell View Post

        If you are putting your work into the community, it is work and you deserve to be able to monetize it. There are costs involved with running a website. Yes you may lose some members, but if they are devoted members then they should understand and accept that your needs.

        Start with small google adsense, or sell link/banners to the members!

        ...just my 2 cents!

        Jeff Mitchell
        Thanks, but it doesn´t feel right. I can´t explain it in words, because for us communication goes in many other layers.

        This community is important for us, and the members give me a lot, things that are priceless. It is just that money is out of the equation.

        I will be putting one of the free ebooks in kindle and sell it for 99 cents.

        I´m sure some would pay for readings for example, but i don´t like to mess up with that.

        And some might pay for classes. I saw it in other communities, but again.. this is against the spirit of the community. We assume each person has a unique path toward their higher purpose, and we help each other to walk that path and embrace all the stuff that comes with it. (some of it is not nice)
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      Originally Posted by WarrenPeterson View Post

      How were you trying to monetize the community? Why do you feel the energy got weird?
      I tried three times:

      One time I tried to add book reviews with my affiliate link to amazon. We actually do book reviews there. We have two groups that deal with this: "library" and "Book worms". The energy got wack, big time.

      The second time; I put the store. It is a new age type of store and some of the members do buy from it to help sustain the renewals an stuff. I might be able to push this a bit more.

      The third one I put up an ebook for sale instead of free, like the ones I created for the community. The energy got really weird.

      People in that community are HSP taken to the next level, extremely sensitive, borderline woohoo, and that is the one place where they can be themselves. I wouldn´t change that.

      This is why I joke that I challenge anyone to try to fool these folks... can´t do.
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      • Profile picture of the author JeffMitchell
        Put up a "Donations" link. If people appreciate it, some will drop a few bucks.

        Jeff
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        HELP NEEDED! My Mother And Her Brother have been taking care of the mother with the help of Hospice. He just had a Massive Heart Attack while taking a short vacation. My mother had to go to Florida from Indiana to be with her brother and is not financially stable from being off work to be with grandma. Any Help Would Be Appreciated. http://www.gofundme.com/vg5kt4c

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      • Profile picture of the author WarrenPeterson
        Originally Posted by Sandra Martinez View Post

        I tried three times:

        One time I tried to add book reviews with my affiliate link to amazon. We actually do book reviews there. We have two groups that deal with this: "library" and "Book worms". The energy got wack, big time.

        The second time; I put the store. It is a new age type of store and some of the members do buy from it to help sustain the renewals an stuff. I might be able to push this a bit more.

        The third one I put up an ebook for sale instead of free, like the ones I created for the community. The energy got really weird.

        People in that community are HSP taken to the next level, extremely sensitive, borderline woohoo, and that is the one place where they can be themselves. I wouldn´t change that.

        This is why I joke that I challenge anyone to try to fool these folks... can´t do.

        OK, my basic thoughts on this concept. People never mind buying things - but sometimes they don't like being sold.

        Although we all say we don't like being sold to, the reality is we don't like being sold the 'wrong' things. When was the last time you (in general) went to the store and they had exactly what you wanted to buy, at a price you wanted to pay, and you didn't like it? So selling isn't the problem, it is when the wrong thing is sold, or the wrong message is used.

        I would guess that the reason for the change was not that you were trying to monetize, but rather that the specifics of what you were trying to sell, or the ways you were trying to monetize didn't fit the mindset of your visitors.

        Even the most hardcore (if that is the correct term) non-profit needs revenue to survive and continue.

        So, all that being said. Why are your visitors at your site? What is drawing them to your site? What are their common pains, problems, and needs?

        Start there with some serious analysis on who your market is and what they are struggling with. Only after you really know that inside and out, if you do not already, are you in a position to monetize.
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        • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
          Originally Posted by WarrenPeterson View Post

          OK, my basic thoughts on this concept. People never mind buying things - but sometimes they don't like being sold.

          Although we all say we don't like being sold to, the reality is we don't like being sold the 'wrong' things. When was the last time you (in general) went to the store and they had exactly what you wanted to buy, at a price you wanted to pay, and you didn't like it? So selling isn't the problem, it is when the wrong thing is sold, or the wrong message is used.

          I would guess that the reason for the change was not that you were trying to monetize, but rather that the specifics of what you were trying to sell, or the ways you were trying to monetize didn't fit the mindset of your visitors.

          Even the most hardcore (if that is the correct term) non-profit needs revenue to survive and continue.

          So, all that being said. Why are your visitors at your site? What is drawing them to your site? What are their common pains, problems, and needs?

          Start there with some serious analysis on who your market is and what they are struggling with. Only after you really know that inside and out, if you do not already, are you in a position to monetize.
          Oh, I know them very well... not problems there. They are empaths, most who come in do it moving from second chakra of development to third. With all that implies. Some have come a long way. Each one of them is unique.

          What happened is that I was not feeling conformable selling, and that changes the "energy" of the place. Heck! people know if I am having a bad day by the way the place feels even if I don´t talk. They are that sensitive.

          I sold some into the idea of creating personalized blends of oils for others, you can create blends that will help people in certain situations (for example to stay awake in traffic, to sleep, to be focused when studying) and it can be personalized with a lil bit of intuition. Some actually went that path, but they ended up buying from my dropshipping provider because they had a bigger selection and better bulk prices (I did give them the link, the problem of doing business with friends).

          yeah.. don´t say it.

          I am going the fiction path now, I think many would be happy to buy books.

          But what I wanted in this thread was.. well, to monetize the site to third parties somehow without touching what we have there.
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  • Profile picture of the author ScottieDog
    I quite like the selling links idea - I have a Forum, which like yours, I refuse to put Ads on, I know those Ads would get clicks and earn some revenue but I do not want to do that with this particular site, the site has its purpose but Ads are not part of that.

    I would however follow your idea of the "selling links".. I will follow this thread with interest to see if anyone can come up with any bright suggestions.
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  • Profile picture of the author MKCookins
    Offer another FREE gift then have people give you their email address's in return for the book.

    Once you do that - you can start email marketing to your list, by giving the high quality value then occasionally selling solo ads or sell other people's products by sprinkling your affiliate link in there.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      Originally Posted by MKCookins View Post

      Offer another FREE gift then have people give you their email address's in return for the book.

      Once you do that - you can start email marketing to your list, by giving the high quality value then occasionally selling solo ads or sell other people's products by sprinkling your affiliate link in there.
      I have all their emails... it is a community, they have to register.

      Thing is... the community cannot be touched in terms of money this way, it would kill what took us 2 years to build.
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  • Profile picture of the author WarriorTraffic
    You could promote a charity ! I think it may even have a better impact on you than just selling ads ^^
    I'm quite sure there is even some "green" or "ethic" cpa offers...
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      Originally Posted by WarriorTraffic View Post

      You could promote a charity ! I think it may even have a better impact on you than just selling ads ^^
      I'm quite sure there is even some "green" or "ethic" cpa offers...
      Thanks.

      I don´t believe in charities. All the money ends up in the wrong hands or used for the wrong purposes.

      I used to donate, but what they did in Haiti is just unspeakable.

      I could promote the stuff in the store more. Many of them use essential oils for example, and some are experts in natural living.

      But I don´t want to sell to them, I want to monetize in a different way that doesn´t touch the integrity of what we have there.

      I know it is a weird concept, but that is how it is.
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