GPWA Times - Issue 21 - May 2012

send newsletters or promotions when they truly add value for your members. You can also leverage the two methods mentioned above in conjunction with each other to better monetize your community. For example, if you are hosting an exclu- sive promotion and have also collected the e-mail addresses of your members, this offers a great opportunity to reach out to the people on your list via e-mail and introduce them to the promotion. Sell or give away your own product Affiliate marketers often get stuck in the paradigm that they should only be promoting the products of others. And as gambling affiliates, more than likely we are just promoting online casinos and poker sites. When thinking outside the box, however, there are several more ways to make money than just through affiliate links. For example, write a strategy eBook, develop a widget or perhaps even put up an online store where you sell a variety of products such as poker chips, cards, branded merchandise, etc. If you have a loyal following within your community, you might be surprised at the sales you can drive by simply selling your own non- affiliate products. Paid advertising and sponsorships Once you have an established commu- nity, you don’t necessarily have to rely on monetizing it solely through affiliate links or even selling your own product. You should also consider selling advertis- ing space or sponsorships to brands that would be ideal targets for the demo- graphic of your community. In order to sell sponsorships or advertis- ing, however, it is critical that you add value for both the operator purchasing sponsorship as well as your community members. There are several ways to monetize your site through sponsorships. You can offer premium advertising space for a monthly sponsorship, or perhaps even bring on a promotional sponsor for one of your exclusive promotions. If sponsorships or paid advertising is part of your monetization plans, you should also have a professionally designed media kit with comprehensive statistics for your potential advertisers to see. Though challenging at times, operat- ing an online community can be a very gratifying experience for webmasters. Having the ability to bring individuals together with common interests from all across the globe is truly rewarding. Even more rewarding is doing something you love and being able to earn an income at the same time. One of the best ways to develop your monetization plan is to first start by tak- ing off your “owner’s” hat and putting on your “member’s” hat. Think to yourself, “If I were simply a member of the com- munity, and not the owner, what types of things would bring me the most value?” When considering the best ways to mon- etize your community, always remember that no two communities are alike. What works for some will not work for oth- ers. The key to successful monetization, however, regardless of what the com- munity or niche is, will always be having a thorough understanding of your traffic and members. Jeremy Enke is the CEO of Poker Affiliate Listings. He has dedicated over eight years to the poker affiliate market, with an overall mission of helping affiliate marketers reach their full potential and become more successful. “Relying on banners and text links to provide a consistent source of revenue in a community is setting yourself up for disappointment.” 47