Forum adverstising - help me buy some

affilate, banner or PPC?

[gpilling]

I have purchased a large quantity of widgets, 29 semi-truckloads of them in fact. It has taken two months to categorize, inventory and list them on a site, and to get the kinks worked out of the order processing procedures. Now I need to advertise, and I wanted to try some forums, in addition to the Adwords and Ebay programs I am now running.

Any feedback on what the current rates are? I have heard that 'ad blindness' is a problem with forums, so the cost per pageview tends to be less. But what does that translate to in dollars?

My widgets are very well priced, less than half of current ecommerce sites. This is only possible because of the way I bought the widgets. I am willing to do a percentage of closed sales, via a coupon or or affilate link with a forum owner - is this common for those sites? For example, I could offer forum members an additional 10% off my store prices, and even kick the forum owner 5% for promoting it.

I thank you in advance for the feedback on how you would want to profit from a deal like this. Please let me know your concerns about risk, credibility, or whatever you think of.

[rogerd]

Consider using an intermediary, like Adwords. You'll pay only for clicks.

Or, if you contact forums directly, consider a pay-per-click deal. Or do a modest-cost test before making a major commitment for CPM ads.

[blueheelers]

I think you are on the right track with the revenue sharing / pay for performance methods. One thing you may also consider, depending on the price of your widgets, would be to give several freebies to "influencers" on forums. Find out who some of the more prominent or outspoken members are and offer to give them one in exchange for their feedback (don't make it seem like a bribe).

I agree with rogerd that you are better off avoiding CPM and other pay per impression advertising. I have tried CPM advertising through AdWords and other services and have had little luck. Most visitors are just on the forums to visit.

Good luck!

[gpilling]

Some relevant tidbits:
-The widgets that I have are brand name. The brand is much better known that I will ever be, but they went broke and I had a big check to buy out the warehouse. '
-the widgets are for pickup trucks and have a retail price of several hundred dollars on average. So giving them away is pricey, and the brand is well known already.
-None of the forums I have contacted has responded yet! Is everyone making too much money?
- I have an Adwords program going, but it is not getting enough hits. I have the cost per click up pretty high, with many variations on ads. I may be suffering from a "too good to be true" perception.

Any additional information, please feel free to sticky me.

[rogerd]

>>None of the forums I have contacted has responded yet! Is everyone making too much money?

Probably the reverse. Relatively few forums have well-organized advertising sales efforts. Be persistent, and try contacting them by phone.

[Kurgano]

Persistence is key. You made a judgment call in buying, stick by it.
I'd liken what you're doing to cold calling, those forums weren't planning on what you're offering. Polish off your sales skills, nothing but hot apple pie sells itself.