Business model for a forum like city-data? (sales, advertisement, companies)

[flamadiddle]

I have an idea for a niche forum (no overlap whatsoever with city-data) but I'm struggling to understand how a site like this generates revenue. I've seen other forums that charge money or pepper the site with ads, but I don't see that here. What are some ways these forums generate revenue? Not looking to make a lot of money, but setting up and maintaining a forum based web site is far from free.

[Brookso]

Originally Posted by flamadiddle

I have an idea for a niche forum (no overlap whatsoever with city-data) but I'm struggling to understand how a site like this generates revenue. I've seen other forums that charge money or pepper the site with ads, but I don't see that here. What are some ways these forums generate revenue? Not looking to make a lot of money, but setting up and maintaining a forum based web site is far from free.

Judging by main website(not forum) "Advertise with us" tab - there are some sort of ad campaigns companies can buy/use as a target advertisement. Maybe it's within actual analytical tools and not forum itself(?). Not sure if there are any Pay-only tools on the website, but that's one way to do it. Forums usually monetize through googleads(I think it's called adsense or something) as well as premium subscription for users. I've seen some also create "sponsorship" tabs for dealers(mainly auto-moto forums I've been to, they promote some of the dealers by giving 'em a section to advertise as well as special Dealer tag).

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Just a guess. On many website, if you join, then you don't see ads. If you read the site as a guest, then you see a lot of advertising. Or in short: the members provide the material to draw the customers and those who come to read it are the ones who get to see the advertising.

You could try signing out and see if that gets you some advertising. It certainly does in several other sites that I belong to. If the power goes out and I have to sign in again, there are a lot of ads until I get signed back in.

[StealthRabbit]

Lot's of your information is being collected. (Whether you see ads or not)

That's of value to somebody.

More hits & sticky (time spent on site) = more of your data being gleaned for higher value. (To somebody)

You are using a filter? Say yes.!

[margaretBartle]

Often, the business model is to build up traffic to the point that it becomes attractive to a buyer that knows how to generate ad sales.

There are ads in other parts of this website, also.

The main thing you need to be concerned with is generating traffic - that's the hard thing to do.