Something to consider if you want to start a website that is Ads based.

[CGM]

Just a thought I had while brainstorming last night, and I have not put this into effect although I do plan on doing it with my current and next projects.

So, you want to start a website? You think you can make some money from google ads and referral links. While this is possible, and many people do do this, some with more luck than others here is something to consider.

Upon launching your site, it is new. No one knows about it. First impressions are the most important thing when someone stumbles upon a new site. Four-seconds is all you have before that visitor makes a subconscious decision to stay and continuing browsing your site, or leave and find one that stands out better to them. These are the visitors you simply can not afford to lose as a start up.

But you want to make money! You put a banner ad at the top of your page, a big skyscraper ad along the side and a big square banner between every paragraph in your articles.

If your first time visitors are like me, then this could be highly annoying. Especially depending on the type of website. If its a membership based, community driven website then new members may go elsewhere simply because of the cluttered, unclean look a lot of ads based websites have.

Solution? Wait until you have created a steady traffic flow, have developed and built a content rich website before implementing ads to it. The sleek, clean look of your website initially may be what draws visitors to come, stay, or join.

I am not saying don't put ads on your site, that would be a crazy thing to say. But think about how your cluttered brand new websites full of ads looks to a new comer. I myself am a picky web browser. I know if I search for something and I don't like how a particular website feels to me, there are a hundred others with the same content/information.

Just something to think about. In a nutshell I am just saying this:

Don't launch a brand new website full of ads, maybe a banner is good but often times it gets over done. Don't do that. By building a steady traffic source and obtaining repeat visitors you have the competitive edge of having a sleek, clean, non cluttered website. After you know have the traffic that you need to where it would be WORTH IT to put banners, then it is ideal. If you're getting 8 page views a day, there is no need for 4 adsense ads on your page.

See what I am getting at?

Let me know your thoughts.

[ikjosh]

You are correct. You don't want to lose those potential regular users, and you're not going to make much money off those ads anyways until your site has a significant amount of traffic. Focus on creating value and retaining users, then implement your revenue structure

[CGM]

Exactly.

I just feel as if some people truly believe that if you make a website today, then tomorrow you'll have money. It doesn't work like that at all.

Often times those overbearing annoying ads drive people away (We've all been to those sites that have way too many, and that shit sucks), and as a new website you can't afford to lose a visitor who clicks on an ad and then goes to a better website than yours.