By the way, if you are wondering why anyone would spend money building a free site, AdSense can be a serious earner - see this article about someone who is on course to make $1 million a year from it:
[Add www. on the front] jensense.com/archives/2005/08/interview_with.html
Makes AdSense tempting for our own sites, doesn't it?
Self-Catering-Breaks.com
Incredible! I've seen some stunning sites that WORK produced for a fraction of that.So far we have spent close to £100K on the site on a gamble that we could make it work for everyone concerned.
I'm not so much surprised that there's 2 sites using your server but the scb one, with its massive content, doesn't have its own dedicated server - now that is amazing!
That pop-up is definitely lazy, stupid and evil.
Great article, cheers. I've been reading about Jason Calacanis on my travels and Paul Scrivens - CEO of 9Rules. I would say that most of my internet viewing is of weblogs these days. Blogging is beginning to shape the web, or rather re-shape it, into the vision that Tim Berners-Lee originally had: the read/write web.
You should experiment and put them in the forum but to make that sort of money you need world-class content - and, lots of it.Makes AdSense tempting for our own sites, doesn't it?
more
Adsense revenue can be very good don't doubt it, but this guys has 20 sites and a huge amount of traffic
Garri.......there is a lot more to a web site than just a web site. Some how we had to contact all those owners. Someone has to run the accounts, etc etc. Hobby sites are cheap to run I would agree. This is not a hobby site.
SCB grew beyond all expectations so fast hence why it is still there.
That popup was a way to make cash....ie like renting out properties. Come on we will try things to see how they work.....this one does but not greatly.
Crap......if enquiries are crap then yes we are crap:)
Doug
Garri.......there is a lot more to a web site than just a web site. Some how we had to contact all those owners. Someone has to run the accounts, etc etc. Hobby sites are cheap to run I would agree. This is not a hobby site.
SCB grew beyond all expectations so fast hence why it is still there.
That popup was a way to make cash....ie like renting out properties. Come on we will try things to see how they work.....this one does but not greatly.
Crap......if enquiries are crap then yes we are crap:)
Doug
I'm well aware of that, cheers.Garri.......there is a lot more to a web site than just a web site.
Cold calling? Sending fake enquiries through other listings sites?Some how we had to contact all those owners.
It's free though isn't it? So what 'accounts' are there to speak of other than counting your adsense revenue and paying your hosting service?Someone has to run the accounts.
Not talking about hobby sites but never mind.Hobby sites are cheap to run I would agree. This is not a hobby site.
My input on this thread is at odds with your assertion that I'm using it to 'have a go at the competition' as I have offered some constructive advice to Doug, where appropriate, and let's not forget, I am a potential user of his site from the other side of the fence - you know, a punter! One of those people who help owners get a return on their investment.
However, I can appreciate that you feel compelled to remind readers that I am working on a 'listings' site.
However, I can appreciate that you feel compelled to remind readers that I am working on a 'listings' site.
This is not constructive advice, it is having a go.Garri wrote:Cold calling? Sending fake enquiries through other listings sites?Some how we had to contact all those owners.
This forum is not for punters either. It's for rental owners to speak to each other, and to listing site owners when appropriate. There are forums for punters, and webmasters - this is not one of them.
Paolo
Lay My Hat
Lay My Hat
I've been away for the weekend and obviously missed a lot.
I agree that this thread is important so that owners can see everything we see about SCB (if they make it through the whole thread).
But why are we giving free advice about how to improve the site? Maybe it might help us in the long run, but I'm doing fine right now without inquiries from SCB, so I'm not desperate.
If Holiday Rentals, French Connections, Abritel, or Holiday Lets asked us to do this, what would we say? I myself would say, sure -- for a perk or reward of some kind. Not for free.
I'm serious -- if we spend our time reviewing and critiquing such a large site, what do we get out of it? I say Paolo and Lay My Hat should get a reward for providing an apparently eager pool of participants to SCB. There are a lot of people here who know a lot about SEO and site design and navigation. I normally charge for my time when providing a service to a business... what about everyone else?
I agree that this thread is important so that owners can see everything we see about SCB (if they make it through the whole thread).
But why are we giving free advice about how to improve the site? Maybe it might help us in the long run, but I'm doing fine right now without inquiries from SCB, so I'm not desperate.
If Holiday Rentals, French Connections, Abritel, or Holiday Lets asked us to do this, what would we say? I myself would say, sure -- for a perk or reward of some kind. Not for free.
I'm serious -- if we spend our time reviewing and critiquing such a large site, what do we get out of it? I say Paolo and Lay My Hat should get a reward for providing an apparently eager pool of participants to SCB. There are a lot of people here who know a lot about SEO and site design and navigation. I normally charge for my time when providing a service to a business... what about everyone else?
Brooke