Virtual Postcard Sites

What Is The Usual Business Model?

[austtr]

Can anyone advise how these sites typically generate a cash flow?

Or refer me to a site with some worthwhile information. I have some sites which are probably suited to offering a postcard capability but I don't want to get into that if its not worth the management effort.

[bartek]

I'm not an expert on this, but advertising banners and email harvesting/profiling are likely a good portion of it. With banners in the gutter and market saturation today it might be a challenge. On the other hand offering this as an enhancement to your established site with the right audience - it just might produce.

[Marcia]

>enhancement to your established site with the right audience

Good point bartek, enhancement. That's what I've also heard it referred to as.

I believe the current consensus is that banners are done for, but inline text affiliate programs can be workable for revenue to some degree, if done right and in context. You'll find good information and ideas in the Website Advertising Forum [webmasterworld.com]

austtr, I've heard mention of postcards on sites in conjunction with viral marketing techniques, a whole study in itself.

[Drastic]

3 main benefits I know of for postcard sites.

1) Make money from the sending of the cards with a tell-a-friend affiliate program. A couple of them listed here [webmasterworld.com].

2) Get signups for ezines/newsletters inline with the sending of the card. (Already setup with superTAF)

3) Put text ads in the card emails.

Depending if you run ezines or not, #2 can be very productive.