I another way to generate revenue is to choose one or more categories where members are require to pay in order to post under those categories. For example one can choose Autos to be the revenue generating category. So, anyone desires to post an ad under Autos must pay a fix amount or variable amount. But one doesn't need to be a pay member to see the contact information for ads under autos.

Another less restrictive way to implement the above revenue generating method will be to allow members to post ads under every categories for free but will not be able to add photos to their ads under some categories unless they are pay member. Using the example above, only pay members will be able to add photos to their ads under the Autos category.

I don't know how to implement these. But I think they might be great to generate revenue and increase traffic.

What do you think?  Does anyone knows how to implement these?

KBLI

See this post

http://forums.asp.net/AddPost.aspx?PostID=1491349

You can extend it further do just what you are sugesting. If you look look at the PostAd page, it uses a link ( I think, not looking at it right now)
So you can  actually hide links for non paying members. That is show only the free links and put something like ...... click here for paid ads....

That is, they can post their Ads, but you control the visibility of Ad sections based on member status. If you look closely again, you will notice that most of the ad posting module is in panels and a wizard. That makes it easy to control what happens.

Another way to implement that will be to put the categories that members can post to in a dropdown control. Then when they choose a category that is for paying members, you redirect them to a page where they can  join as a paying member.

Cheers,

yousaid

KBLI:

I another way to generate revenue is to choose one or more categories where members are require to pay in order to post under those categories. For example one can choose Autos to be the revenue generating category. So, anyone desires to post an ad under Autos must pay a fix amount or variable amount. But one doesn't need to be a pay member to see the contact information for ads under autos.

KBLI

Dear KbLI,

I am not trying to disappoint you, but Your idea is not worth implementing.

here are the reasons...

(1)  In the classified Kit, you already have the power to approve or disapprove any advt.
So.......... Even if any visitor has posted his advt, its not going to be visible unless you approve it.
You can also approve his advt after you get the payment or delete it after some time.

(2) As an Admin, you also have the right to upload or delete photos at your end. Anything is at your command.

PLUS.............

(3) Th visitor also also the fcility, to post the advt and see it. Only he can can see his advt, not other can see his advt, unless you approve it. He will be glad to see hos actual advt online and then he can decide to pay for it or not.

The Main problemfor sending responses was solved today by our forum helping friend YouSaid today morning.

I am going to stdy his codes and try to imply it.

Thanks Yousaid once gain.

I will be in touch again, after implenting your code.

Paggy4u

You did not desappointed me. I never get desapointed and my idea is worth implementing. Here is why?

(1)  In the classified Kit, you already have the power to approve or disapprove any advt.
So.......... Even if any visitor has posted his advt, its not going to be visible unless you approve it.
You can also approve his advt after you get the payment or delete it after some time.

Response: It is not about the power to approve or desaprove an ad. I know as the admin i have the power to control any ad on my site. It is not wise to allow a user to take his time post and ad and not activate. The point is how does the user know that he or she has to be a pay members in order to post under certain categories and how does a user who want to become a pay member proceed and access pay categories. If you visit any pay classified website, the user must pay before they can post.

(2) As an Admin, you also have the right to upload or delete photos at your end. Anything is at your command.

Response: Again that does back to the point I made above and If I follow your theory, the admin has approve every single post. That is not efficient. What if you have 100, 1000, 100000, 10000000 post per day?

3) same as 1) and 2)

As Software designer, the point is not to design a site with a bunch  of feature. We need to worry about usability. How does the end user use this feacture? How easy to use this website? How easy it is to navigate through this site.

Thank for your reply!

Hmmm, you have a VERY compelling arguement. I assume you are coming from an engineering standpoint, but Peggy also has VERY good arguements. The question then is, which one is easier to implement and offer the best ROT (return on time).

I was bored over the weekend( I play in a band (garage)  when I am not coding and we were not playing this weekend) so decided to test your idea, well, it was kinda easy to implement using a dropdown. I followed your logic and  segmented the categories into free and paid. I then put the categories   (It was already in a dropdown), but you have to add a new field to determine member class (paid or free). When a user tries to post to one of the categories for paid members, I redirect them to a page where they can register and pay if not already
To do this,  you will then also have to segment your users into paying and non paying members like Peggy suggested in another post post. So as you can see, it is not very dificult to implement. (as Peggy pointed out, see my other post for alternative methods)

Personally, what I am working on is,    I am building a portal using  Classifieds, Club, SmallBusiness and Personal StarterKits.

I am using the Classifieds for Ad listing, I will then use Club for community events, I will use SmallBusiness for news and other stuff and finally use Personal  for personalization.
Integrating these 4  starterkits is kinda ambitious, BUT doable. I am trying to figure out a way to make money out of it, and if I can not find one, I will stop.

Cheers,

yousaid

yousaid:

Personally, what I am working on is,    I am building a portal using  Classifieds, Club, SmallBusiness and Personal StarterKits.

I am using the Classifieds for Ad listing, I will then use Club for community events, I will use SmallBusiness for news and other stuff and finally use Personal  for personalization.
Integrating these 4  starterkits is kinda ambitious, BUT doable. I am trying to figure out a way to make money out of it, and if I can not find one, I will stop.

Cheers,

yousaid

---------------------------------------------------------------

P.S.:- Thanks a bunch for helping us.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Paggy4u
 

Well thanks Peggy, I already have forums as part of the modules to implement in the portal. I have already finished extending the CLUB, CLASSIFIEDS and currently working on  SmallBussiness. Then, a  friend suggested I use Commerce SK for Ecommerce. So I am looking at the codes for that SK to see if it is doable. So if I decide to do it, I will have a full blown portal where  a user can sell, buy, list, post news items and blog. I stopped work on the forum, because I thought a public blog is more practical than a forum. I will keep you posted.

Yes, you are correct, CS is great, but very Bloated. If you are looking for a simple C# blog, take a look at SubText  @ http://www.subtextproject.com/

Cheers,

yousaid

Hi Yousaid

I am an Engineer and I was also PM at a sofware firm. So my thinking is more PM than Dev. As for your revenue generating portal. I think you have a great idea. You might wanna add job starter kit to the list. I think you can generate a lot revenue with the full classified site ( like craigslist.org). The classified online market is wide open and the only real leader right now is craigslist.org . If you can make the classified kit easy to use like craigslist and add functionalities craigslist does not offer, And you can mount other starter kit to it such as commerce SK, Personal SK, Club SK, etc....I think you have a winner. Reminber craigslist charge for posting is some market.  If you need my help with your project, let me know. I might not be able to help with code since I am new to ASP.net but there are others ways I can contribute.

Did you publish the final release for extended classified yet? ( I mean the unzip and run one without configuration)

KBLI

Hi Yousaid,

I agree with KBLI, This is also a nice way to go.

Along with craiglist, you may also have a look at Built2go.com Classifieds at ( www.built2go.com ) its in PHP, but

we can always note down the additional features.

I am reasonably good at Web Design, i can even help you to maximum level in designs.

Thanks 

P.S.:- waiting for your zip version of extended Classified Kit.

Thanks

Paggy4u

Greetings,

The extended version will be available tonight (my side of the world) PROMISE. See my post on that thread on why it was not as previously promised.
Yes, KBLI is right and so are you. Those are great ideas,  Although I have done extensive work on integrating these starter kits into what I call MOASK, (mother of all starter Kits,  LOL), I have not not really put them together to make meaningful sense to anyone else except myself.

I have finished extendeing the Club and  Classifieds (done for now), I am currently extending SmallBussiness.

When I finish SmallBusiness, then I will start piecing them together, so for now, I don't have samples to show other than the Club and Classifieds.
I will let you guys know if I decide to pursue the project, but it depends on my work load (in real life) and my other engagements.

Cheers,

yousaid