Monetising a retro website.

[Rayban34]

Hi all,

First of all I would like to say thanks. Thanks for all the awesome how to's, news, reviews and downloads that are shared here constantly. I've found most of them insightful.. and I made my first $40 today after trying a few things on here. Awesome stuff! Keep sharing.

I have an 80's retro website with at least 50-100 visits per day and an Adsense account which barely gets any clicks. My Facebook fan page which links to the website has a HUGE amount of engaged fans. I have over 6,000 fans (not much, I know) but a few of our posts have went viral: nearly totalling 1 Mil views. I am really struggling to think of ways to monetise it all. In fact, from everything I've barely seen $10 from it, and it's been running about 10 months now.

I have sort of let it go on the back-burner and I've let my content slip slightly, I've not updated it since the middle of last month. However I have no fear my fans will perk up again into a mass frenzy as soon as I post something relevant (as they always do when I come back after time off).

Could anyone point me in the right direction? I read tutorial after tutorial and scroll through tons of "how I did it" posts but I feel none of them relevant to my niche. (Maybe I'm not seeing the bigger picture, but I'm open to suggestions!)

So I thought I'd put a thought in the air and ask all of you.

What do you think?

 

[lord1027]

Just because it's retro it doesn't narrow it down. You'll have to give us more details about your niche if you want some advice you can apply.

 

[Rayban34]

Thanks for that!

Well, it's 80's Media (films, themes and songs) reposted from youtube or anywhere else I can find a video. There's a blog there too which does "Things that make you an 80s child" et al (which is all typed in by me)

My demographics are 99% UK based on the Facebook page, and slightly mixed for the Website. People are also starting to filter in via google when they search for a movie, or a song.

 

[Machkiavelli]

Optimize your Adsense Ads maybe?
Adsense seems to be your best choice..

 

[Rayban34]

Thanks guys.

I guess I'll keep at it

 

[Machkiavelli]

You can also try to sell retro stuff from amazon/ebay. Should work too.

 

[srb888]

Write some boring content... when you're not getting Adsense clicks, it may mean that your content is too good for the people visiting it. Or it may mean that you have no boring videos/texts on it! Simply downgrade the overall quality and at least your Adsense income will definitely grow!!

Disclaimer: I'm just kidding! lol

May be list only the various vintage songs for the free visitors, and give a link to the top-listed vintage video when they are weekly/monthly/annual subscribers. Display the link to your subscription page along with every top-listed song. Of course, show some video-links to the free visitors, just to make them greedy for everything else on the site and turn paying members! Real music fans cannot sleep better without seeing/hearing it all...

 

[Y M C M B]

try promoting amazon offers, boost your page's posts to gain more enthusiasts, and if it doesn't work out, you have 10$/day adsense to fall back to

 

[lord1027]

Here's how I'd do it:
1) Limit song plays for each visitor to 3-5
2) Make free registration for those who want to listen more songs (you want their emails, creating an account is the best way here)
3) Look for retro stuff on amazon (pickup players for example) and promote them.

Just get their emails, monetization ways will be available.

I'd see how this goes and adjust it if needed. Good luck!

 

[srb888]

^^ is one great way!

I would add that if your members (list members) are from tier 1 countries: US, UK, Canada, Eu, Aus, etc. then they can possibly buy what you try to sell related to your site. That's because those are targeted visitors you have who would buy because they are already in the niche that you've targeted, and they like your "products", and they are known to buy easily.

Here's how I'd do it:
1) Limit song plays for each visitor to 3-5
2) Make free registration for those who want to listen more songs (you want their emails, creating an account is the best way here)
3) Look for retro stuff on amazon (pickup players for example) and promote them.

Just get their emails, monetization ways will be available.

I'd see how this goes and adjust it if needed. Good luck!