picture rating sites generate decent ad revenue?

[Val_Resnik]

My previous thread got deleted because I mentioned the name of the most famous picture rating site, which I'm sure all of you have heard of. It's one where you rate peoples' pics with a score between 1-10. There are plenty of knock off sites.

Anyway, I got a couple of responses saying these types of sites are horrible. I find this hard to believe, though. If you get substantial traffic coming through this type of site, why can't it be profitable?

I'd like to create one of these sites but put a very unique twist on it. So for the sake of argument, if I can get lots of traffic in, what would be the best way to generate advertising profits?

[alphacooler]

Not gonna happen. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the reason that that particular site took off was because of it's 100% unadulterated novelty. That now is lost and hopes of getting a viral spread based on that idea are futile.

As for the ad-revenue. Sure you could make a little coin off that site. I watched an online interview with the founders and they were both driving new BMW Z3's; however, they had MAMMOTH traffic. The problem is that the traffic is complete garbage--untargetted and simply there to freeload images thus yielding very low paying ads.

Without a doubt your best bet would be cpm banners and perhaps some dating affilites.

[TeleCH]

They do have one of the greatest business models I've ever seen, though. You can become a member, and if you so choose, you can send a "virtual" flower to any one you see on the system.. It will cost you, though, and the prices start at $2 and go all the way to $10. All for the prialege of sending a gif of a flower to some girl on the interenet.