5 Ways to Make Money with Your Own Business Directory Website
Whether you are looking for a full-time gig or to generate some additional income, running a local business directory website can be extremely profitable and provide multiple streams of recurring revenue. From selling listings and ads, to offering complimentary services, the opportunities are endless. Here are 5 ways you can make money running your own business directory and coupon website with Ideal Directories.
1. Sell Listings to Local Businesses
Selling listings to local businesses is by far the most popular way to monetize your directory website and will likely account for the majority of your revenue. The concept is simple; small businesses everywhere are always looking for new and affordable ways to advertise online and a local directory website is the perfect place to promote their business and coupons to nearby shoppers. Because it's much less expensive than traditional advertising like newspaper advertising or direct mail, it's much easier to sell. You can set multiple pricing plans based on the amount of exposure and the features each plan offers. You can sell listings directly to local businesses face-to-face, over the phone, by email or even through social media. Businesses can even sign up themselves. When they come to your site, they can pick a plan, create their listing, and the money automatically gets deposited into your account. This is the easiest way to create passive, recurring income.
The chart below illustrates how much money you can make if you charged an average of just $50/mo for each business to be listed on your website. Remember, this amount is just a suggestion and you can charge businesses as much or as little as you like.
1. Sell Listings to Local Businesses
Selling listings to local businesses is by far the most popular way to monetize your directory website and will likely account for the majority of your revenue. The concept is simple; small businesses everywhere are always looking for new and affordable ways to advertise online and a local directory website is the perfect place to promote their business and coupons to nearby shoppers. Because it's much less expensive than traditional advertising like newspaper advertising or direct mail, it's much easier to sell. You can set multiple pricing plans based on the amount of exposure and the features each plan offers. You can sell listings directly to local businesses face-to-face, over the phone, by email or even through social media. Businesses can even sign up themselves. When they come to your site, they can pick a plan, create their listing, and the money automatically gets deposited into your account. This is the easiest way to create passive, recurring income.
The chart below illustrates how much money you can make if you charged an average of just $50/mo for each business to be listed on your website. Remember, this amount is just a suggestion and you can charge businesses as much or as little as you like.
Income Potential Chart
The chart below illustrates how much money you can make if you charged an average of just $50/mo for each business to be listed on your website. Remember, this amount is just a suggestion and you can charge businesses as much or as little as you like.
2. Sell Banner Ads and Site Sponsorships
As you continue to gain traffic and visitors to your directory website, banner ads become more and more valuable. You can sell banner ads to anyone interested in appealing to the visitors on your website. This can include local businesses already listed on your site or even larger companies looking to market to local consumers. Our built-in banner ad feature allows you to add banner ads to your site in minutes and sell them for any price you like.
3. Add Google AdSense to Your Website
Just how you can sell your own banner ads and sponsorships (see #2 above), you can also add Google AdSense to your directory website. Using Google AdSense is like running banner ads on your site that you don't have to sell, but you still earn revenue from them. With AdSense, Google uses their technology and advertiser base to place relevant ads on your website. By placing these targeted ads next to your content, you’ll automatically earn money when the ads are seen and clicked. It’s essentially a hands-off way to start generating additional revenue from your directory website. Once you launch your directory website, you can start with Google AdSense by creating a free Google AdWords Publisher account.
4. Launch Multiple Directory Websites
Running multiple directory websites is a great way to maximize your revenue potential. You can launch multiple directories by creating a new directory website for each town or city you expand into, or even focus on specific "niches". For example; you can create a restaurant directory, wedding vendor directory, home services directory or even pet services directory for each community. The opportunities are endless. Running multiple directory websites is a great way to generate multiple revenue streams with minimal investment or overhead.
5. Offer Complimentary Products & Services
Running your own directory website is the perfect opportunity to cross-sell complimentary products and services to your clients. Print publishers will often sell premium directory listings to their advertisers to increase the value of their print advertising packages. Web designers will often start a directory website as a foot-in-the-door to sell their web design services to local businesses. SEO companies can run their own directory website to boost search results for their clients. Other opportunities to sell complimentary products and services include selling items that every small business needs - like business cards, social media marketing, promotional products, business consulting, and even plaques and awards that highlight their premium listing on your directory website.
As you can see, there are countless ways to make money from directory websites, but it all comes down to the time and effort you put in. And you can’t make a dime if you never get started. Are you ready to monetize your own directory website? Get started today with Ideal Directories.
3. Add Google AdSense to Your Website
Just how you can sell your own banner ads and sponsorships (see #2 above), you can also add Google AdSense to your directory website. Using Google AdSense is like running banner ads on your site that you don't have to sell, but you still earn revenue from them. With AdSense, Google uses their technology and advertiser base to place relevant ads on your website. By placing these targeted ads next to your content, you’ll automatically earn money when the ads are seen and clicked. It’s essentially a hands-off way to start generating additional revenue from your directory website. Once you launch your directory website, you can start with Google AdSense by creating a free Google AdWords Publisher account.
4. Launch Multiple Directory Websites
Running multiple directory websites is a great way to maximize your revenue potential. You can launch multiple directories by creating a new directory website for each town or city you expand into, or even focus on specific "niches". For example; you can create a restaurant directory, wedding vendor directory, home services directory or even pet services directory for each community. The opportunities are endless. Running multiple directory websites is a great way to generate multiple revenue streams with minimal investment or overhead.
5. Offer Complimentary Products & Services
Running your own directory website is the perfect opportunity to cross-sell complimentary products and services to your clients. Print publishers will often sell premium directory listings to their advertisers to increase the value of their print advertising packages. Web designers will often start a directory website as a foot-in-the-door to sell their web design services to local businesses. SEO companies can run their own directory website to boost search results for their clients. Other opportunities to sell complimentary products and services include selling items that every small business needs - like business cards, social media marketing, promotional products, business consulting, and even plaques and awards that highlight their premium listing on your directory website.
As you can see, there are countless ways to make money from directory websites, but it all comes down to the time and effort you put in. And you can’t make a dime if you never get started. Are you ready to monetize your own directory website? Get started today with Ideal Directories.
Questions? Interested in Learning More?
We'd love to hear from you. Contact us today to learn more about the Ideal Directories platform and how you can launch a business directory and coupon website in your market.