Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
Depends highly on the quality of the traffic as well, as others have commented.
Let me give you an example that illustrates the case. We have an English-language Islamic book site. As most Muslims tend don't tend to be affluent (a lot of traffic from third world countries) and not terribly interested in reading/can't afford to buy $20 books, we tend to only sell one book for every 1000-odd visitors! (I am a Muslim myself, so am not criticising them: just stating a fact as observed after eight years trying to sell Islamic books and magazines.)
Conversion ratio of Islamic book site is so low that we were thinking of closing it down or adding more pop-ups/unders. Bandwith and other charges higher than sales.
Similar site for general British book-lovers sells one book for every 200 visitors. Therefore each visitor to the site is worth five times more.
1) Increase revenues
2) Reduce costs
Both would be best. Try diversifying your range, either in subject or language. You currently have a fairly narrow target market, English-speaking/reading Muslims with Internet access
This tends to imply either native US/UK Muslims, or a relatively small subset of Muslims who are relatively affluent and educated from those nations where Islam is more widespread. You say that a lot of traffic comes from 3rd world countries. One of the first rules of sales is "You can't sell to people with no money". $20 represents a lot of cash in many nations
I would see about improving the sites profile in the UK and US markets if possible. See about locating other theologically focussed sites, and exchange links and traffic with them. If you capture more affluent visitors, $20/book becomes less of a barrier to a purchase
The other thing to do is look at cost reduction. Scout out the market and see if you can find a hosting/bandwidth provider who can provide you with a better deal than the one you currently have. If you could halve your costs, your revenue requirements would drop also
.39 cents today for me would be very nice. I would even pay somebody else to take the checks to the bank.
I love pop-unders! And if they drive people away, I don't care...