Forum Moderators: skibum
I am the owner of a successful web site that pageranks 8.
The site took 2 years of hard work. It has Adsense and text link ads.
I am now working on another web site. In Arabic, this domain name means mobile phone. Believe it or not, I am actually studying Arabic as I speak!
The site pageranks sort-a well. It's now 5 - which is a pity, because it used to pagerank 6. And that's _without_ contents!
I was wondering if you believe I could actually make money out of this domain. I was thinking of creating a forum in Arabic for people who want to communicate using their native language. I set everything up (just click on "forums"). Now, assuming that people start talking to each other (I would love to see this happen), do you see this site as a possible money-making business?
I went as far as I can go with my knowledge: I set up the site and the forums, I put google ads there (it's making less than $30/month, which is negligible). I also have a couple of important sites linking to it. What worries me is that howardforums.com pagerank just 6... in my experience, if you don't pagerank at least 7 or 8 you can't sell text link ads, and get very little traffic. If something as busy as howardforums.com only pageranks 6... maybe I am indeed wasting my time!
Do you have any thoughts about this one?
Bye,
Merc.
[edited by: jatar_k at 1:06 pm (utc) on Jan. 22, 2007]
[edit reason] no urls thanks [/edit]
First of all, apologies to the moderators for including the URL.
I am finding it very hard to get Arabs interested at all in the web site. I set up a ringtone shop, but it only seems to work if your audience is aged 10 to 15...
And nobody - nobody - will write a single line in the forums.
AND, I don't speak Arabic.
Hummmm it sounds like teaming up with somebody from there might be a good solution... but who?
This is really quite frustrating!
Merc.
thats the best way toi get a knock on your door from someones counter terrorism unit I can think of ..
and I dont say that just because the langauge is arabic ..the same would apply to hosting any forum in a language that you dont speak / read / write / understand ...
but given the current world situation ..there are easier ways to make money than to wave red flags infront of the security agencies of many countries ..
Fingers crossed!
Merc.
And nobody - nobody - will write a single line in the forums.
Even with seeding, forums take a while to get going. Start with three or four folders (not hundreds!). Keep working on it steadily.
A question and answer folder is a good way to get people to sign up to the forum - if you do it right they will see it as a good source of free information on how they can save money on mobile tariffs at home and abroad, what sim cards to use when travelling, etc.
A general chat folder (like Foo at WW) can have more relaxed rules than the rest of the forum and be a social space where members can let off steam.
You will be able to use the forum as a promotional tool to direct people to other parts of the site that you want them to see. You'll also be able to insert your own affiliate links directly into the forum.
If you like, you can use the forum as the centrepiece of your site - it won't make much money on its own, but it's a very useful tool for directing people to the pages and the sections on the site which have the affiliate programs which will make you money.
