| How do you make money when your services are | | | | most successful continues to dominate online |
| 100% free? By replicating existing paid or subscription | | | | marketing forums and blogs. The most obvious and |
| models then advertise additional, relevant | | | | common advertising options for a webmaster is |
| advertisements. This way, you are sending highly | | | | Google AdSense, CPM advertising (cost per thousand |
| targeted traffic to the advertiser and both the | | | | impressions) or affiliate sales (commission on sales). |
| affiliate and advertiser make money from the | | | | Although some would argue, but from my own |
| referral. | | | | personal experiences, and this scenario can vary |
| Internet dating is one of the worlds most searched | | | | depending on your industry, Google's AdSense |
| keywords. When this industry was realized to be a | | | | programme proves to be the most consistent |
| very feasible and sustainable business model, web | | | | income earner, and this is certainly this case for a |
| masters and IT developers around the world created | | | | well optimized online dating website. |
| a gold rush effect to claim their stake before the | | | | The landscape of online dating changed dramatically |
| market became too saturated. | | | | when Plentyoffish launched a 100% free online dating |
| Cyber matchmaking and other various internet dating | | | | site. The site is 100% ad funded and does not |
| options has become just as popular for online lovers | | | | charge a recurring subscription to its members. How |
| as it has for online entrepreneurs. The race to cash in | | | | could the dating giants of online dating possibly |
| on this opportunity for business owners has all but | | | | compete with this? No free trial or other offer by |
| come to a head. Dating companies that were the | | | | the traditional dating sites could better the offer that |
| first to secure a strong hold in the market continue | | | | Plentyoffish had come up with. However, given the |
| to command huge chunks of market share. | | | | massive international scope of online dating, both paid |
| As the dating industry grew into a billion dollar | | | | online dating and free models accommodate certain |
| industry, competition between the various dating | | | | needs and preferences for consumers. |
| websites has become intense in a competition war to | | | | One of the most profitable AdSense industries to |
| control the online singles market. Special offers were | | | | emerge is online dating. And because advertisers of |
| given to members such as free 30 day trials that | | | | dating sites pay a high per click keyword rate on the |
| would allow potential subscribers to try before they | | | | pay per click AdWords scheme due to the industries |
| buy. | | | | competitive nature, singles and dating related |
| In a scramble to secure market share, the dominant | | | | AdSense websites receive a decent cut of the |
| online dating sites offer various gifts and free offers | | | | AdWords click amount that the advertiser pays |
| to their members. Such offers can include free trial | | | | Google. How it works is like this. Online dating |
| memberships, holiday prizes, featured search results | | | | advertiser sets up an advert on Google's pay per |
| for profiles, free access to live chat rooms, or | | | | click AdWords model which appears along side the |
| membership upgrade upon completion of a paid | | | | free search results of Google. These same ads are |
| membership. | | | | also set up and displayed on participating websites, |
| For online marketers, Google's AdSense earn per click | | | | whereby the website owner receives a percentage |
| advertising programme is known as probably the | | | | (profit share) of the click revenue with Google. |
| most successful way to monetize a website. Few | | | | On average, websites that display dating ads through |
| online industries have been more successful the than | | | | the AdSense scheme will receive between 20 cents - |
| partnerships between online dating sites and the | | | | 60 cents per click. Which is not bad if you can get |
| integration of AdSense banner and text link adverts. | | | | the traffic. So in theory this is a great business |
| Fifteen years ago, this very combination paved the | | | | model, although due to the competitive and |
| way for a new concept in online dating - 100% free | | | | saturated nature of online dating, achieving a high |
| online dating sites. | | | | free search engine ranking to take advantage of |
| The debate as to what form of online advertising is | | | | website traffic can take several years to occur. |