Monetizing your short domains can be a challenge.
If you have keyword domains with type in traffic or existing traffic from a previous use of the domain then parking or mini sites can give returns.
but, for most short domains monetizing them can be difficult, over the next few weeks we are going to look at several ways to monetize your short domains.
The first thing i would like to do is dispel a common misunderstanding, if you have a domain be it short or otherwise, just parking this domain or putting a mini-site on it will not return you anything unless the domains gets type in traffic or as traffic from a previous use of the domain.
In order to monetize a domain we need to install a site, get traffic to it and then turn that traffic in to an income.
This normally is very time consuming, here we are going to look at some easier ways to do that.
the first method of monetizing short domains we are going to look at is Directories.
Putting a directory on a short domain can be a good and relatively easy means of monetizing your short domains.
Software:
there are several options out there for directories, but i would recommend phpLD, its SEO friendly, easy to install, customize and operate.
there are two options, version 2 witch is free and version 3 that costs $25 per site license.
whilst both versions are well supported with themes and plug-ins, i recommend you cough up the $25 for version 3, it as loads of extra features, its also a article directory and more fine tuned for SEO.
its also much quicker to maintain your directory with version 3, approving links can be done in bulk, where as version2 requires you to deal with each link one at a time, so, unless you have a lot of free time on your hands pay the 25 bucks and get of on the right foot.
one of the first things you will face once you have installed your directory is categories, creating 700 categories and sub categories can be time consuming, I have a category dump that will save you time here, PM me for a copy.
If you intend to create your own categories then jump to "Site Setup"
To install the category dump:
Once you have your hosting setup, log in to your cpanel and create a database.
For those of you not familiar with cpanel or databases here is what you do.
click "mysql database" select create new database, give it a name, for example dir, then create a new user, again, this can be anything (no spaces) for this example we will use dirU and also enter a password.
scroll down and select "add user to database" select the DB you just created, select the user and click "add to database" and under permissions select "all"
once you return to the mysql section of cpanel you will see your database the database name will be the user id you use for your cpanel plus "_dir so if your cpanel id is fred then your DB will be called "fred_dir" and the user will be "fred_dirU"
Now we are going to upload the category dump before we install the script.
go to "mysql admin" you will see in the left column a list of your databases, if this is a new hosting account for this directory there will only be two, select the one you created (it will show 0 records) then on the right select "upload" click the browse button and browse to where you put the category dump you got from me.
leave the default settings on everything and click "upload" once finished you are ready to install the script.
Site Setup:
Once you have your phpLD script follow the instructions to install, its very easy and quick, at the point in the installation where it asks you for your database information, enter the details as you set them up above.
example:
DB name: fred_dir
DB user name: fred_dirU
password: THE PASSWORD YOU ENTERED WHEN YOU SET THE USER UP
once you have finished the installation process (takes about 5 minutes) you then have your directory setup with 700 categories.
Directory Settings:
log in to the admin panel of phpLD (using the log in details you created during setup)
have a look around, its very easy to administer and most sections are self explanatory.
You can have a play and go through each section later, here we will just cover the important things you need to setup to get your site read for going live.
Profile:
you need to make sure you have an active email address setup for admin, for payments, setup this section, leave everything as default but select "enable payments" leave a standard listing free but enter the amount you intend to charge for a featured listing (for a new directory with no PR i recommend $3) make sure you enter your paypal email address, enable subscriptions, this will mean your advertisers who pay for a featured listing will be charged automatically every year (unless they cancel their subscription)
Getting traffic and submissions:
right, once that is done you are ready to start taking submissions.
There are several ways to get submission, but the simplest is to post your directory in webmaster forums, most have a section for this for example
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/forumdisplay.php?f=65
posting your directory to just the one above will get you a steady stream of submissions, one thing to consider here; the more places you post your site the more submissions you will get, your submissions will need to be approved, I say this as if you post your directory in too many places you will be swamped with sites to approve, so take it steady, submit to the above and see how it goes, if you want more sites submitted then post in other forums, also list your directory in other directories (you will find plenty in the sections you post in as above)
two things to bear in mind
submissions are traffic
submitted sites are content.
So, you now have your site setup, receiving traffic and content, once you have done one or two you will find you can do all the above is less than 30 minutes. (it takes me about 10)
Stage one complete, now for stage two.
Monetization.
At this point your site is setup and ready to receive featured listings at $3 per year, this is not going to earn you much, while your site is a PR0 you will not sell many featured spots.
So the next stage is about improving your PR (page rank)
Your site even in its default state is SEO friendly, you can install a theme or customize the look if you like, but it is not a requirement, i have PR4 directories still running on the default theme.
Backlinks:
this is very important if you want to make money from your directory.
Building backlinks can be done in several ways, if you don't have time, then i suggest using a backlink service, I will post one or two in the resource links at the bottom of this article.
As most of you know my main occupation is SEO & SEM, as such i do not approve of automated software for building backlinks.
While manual submission is the best, it is very time consuming, however, I recently found a piece of semi automated software that is very good, its not as good as manual submission, but its the next best thing. I was so impressed I bought the resell rights, I will be listing it in the SDN$ Store soon where you can purchase a copy with your SDN$, if you need a copy before then click my SDN$ and donate SDN$200 with the subject "Directory submission software" and then PM me with your email address where i can send the software.
Backlinks:
For those of you not familiar with building backlinks here are some tips.
1. use different titles and description
submitting to directories or any other resource with the same title and description can be seen as link spamming by some search engines.
Alway use multiple titles and descriptions.
2. don't waste your time with directories that require a reciprocal link.
3. Build your links steadily, if your site suddenly gets 1000's of backlinks overnight, google will smell a rat and you can end up being penalized for it.
Generally when you submit to directories your submission will not get approved immediately, depending on the directory owner, it can be anything from a few days to a few months, so if you submit to 200 directories the links will not all be active immediately, this helps to avoid link spamming.
As a guide, if you are using the submission software then spending an hour twice a week will work well.
4. Always use an active email address for your submissions, some directories will immediately delete your submission if your email bounces, if you don't want to receive site submission reports in your main email, then create a email address to use just for building backlinks, but check it regularly and make sure the inbox doesn't get full and start bouncing emails.
I would also recommend reading the submission reports as some directories owners have more than one directory and they will give you links to their other sites in the submission email.
STAGE 3
Increasing Price for listings:
personally, i leave my settings at free for a standard listing and $3 per year for featured listing until the directory achieves PR3.
Once you have PR3, then i would recommend changing your featured price to $5 and your standard listing to $1, all prices quoted are per year.
I would also set "free no follow listings" this enables people to submit their sites free and get a no follow link, this will help protect your PR while still increasing content.
once your site achieves PR4 you can increase your prices again, i would recommend $6 to $8 for featured and $3 to $4 for standard.
Some charge $10 or $15 for a featured link on a PR4, but i have found if you set your prices reasonable, you will get SEO agents and backlink building companies using your service, this gives you a nice steady income.
MULTIPLE DIRECTORIES
Once you have multiple directories then this is where your returns can increase quickly.
When you get a client purchase a link, you then email them with a list of your other directories.
You can set this up to be automatic by adding them to the "approved email template" in admin, I prefer the personal touch and email them manually, I find this works well with promo agents, once you get a few of these you will find that they return regular, so if they have 3 sites they are promoting for their clients, you will get 3 featured link sales from every directory you own.
Once you have a few of these under your belt you will have a steady repeatable income.
ADSENSE:
There are several themes out there that are adsense ready, adding adsense will bring in some extra income.
NEVER be tempted to sell site wide links or homepage partner links.
In the past you could get away with selling up to 10 without affecting your PR, but now, its 4, anything more than 4 and your PR will suffer, i would recommend you don't sell any.
Site Admin:
Always try and keep up with your link approval, you need to do this IMO at least once a week, with featured paid links i always activate the link as soon as i receive notification of their payment.
Initially when first building the site i will be less critical of the sites i allow in, I stick to certain rules.
1. Priority number one, the link must be in the correct category, you will;; soon realize that you don't have time to mess about moving links to the correct category, so, if the webmaster who submitted the link cant be bothered, then i delete the link.
2. reasonable sized description, remember links are content, if there is no description, or just a one liner, i delete.
3.no URLs in the description, i will allow "website.com is a online gaming site .... " etc, but
www.website.com or any other URLs and again i delete.
Once your directory is PR3 and you have changed your setting to paid for standard links, and "no follow" free links, your submission will reduce, this is a good thing as your directory requires less maintenance at this stage.
at this point i am very selective witch "free" submissions i allow in, basically i only approve sites that i feel add to the quality of the directory.
One final point, reaching PR4 is relatively easy, there is a considerable amount of work to do if you want to get your directory to PR5, consequently unless you have a lot of free time on your hands PR4 is the place to be.
Good luck with monetizing your domains, if there is anything here you have not understood or you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.
Links and recourses:
phpLD Link Directory Software
Free phpLD themes
for the free 700 category DB dump PM me.
to see the categories in use
http://www.kcba.biz
Article Submitter:
donate SDN$200 to me with the subject "Article Submitter"
Monetizing Short Domains
Monetizing Short Domains
