Online Business Models

[AdamMaxum]

When you're creating a website should you be more concerned with figuring out how to monetize it(and structure it accordingly), or with attracting as many users/visitors as possible when that itself doesn't generate any income.

It's the classic facebook business model. Is it one to try and copy?

 

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[mrhahn]

I would say focus mainly on getting users/eyeballs/etc, but keep in mind possible monetization methods that you can implement later. If you don't have users to apply your extensive monetization model to, then what's the point? But you need to keep them in your plans b/c what's the point of starting a project if you don't know how you'll eventually monetize it?

 

[SwiftBlog]

A site without proper monetization and traffic can always tweak it's method and make money while a site with perfect monetization and no traffic will never be able to make money.

 

[Jeremy]

Ask anyone who has owned a high traffic website and had to pay server costs--eyeballs are a cost. Even "free" traffic costs you money in terms of your server expenses.

You ought to have an idea when you START of how you'll monetize those eyeballs, otherwise you're just spending money on servers for nothing. That doesn't mean you need to monetize from eyeball #1 (maybe start giving away things for free to build a brand name), but you had better know what you're eventually going to do with them.

Don't be fooled by $10/mth "unlimited" hosting plans....they are FAR from unlimited if you actually get high traffic and don't want your page load time measured with a sundial.

 

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[77startup]

I would focus on creating a lean start up.

 

[domular]

I'm sorry but I guess I'm old fashioned like Warren Buffett, I believe if you are going to create a business there should be a product or a service to sell for a profit. The idea that seems so popular today of creating a site to get millions of visitors for free and hope that you can sell enough advertising or get angel investors to give you money only because you have a bunch of visitors is looney to me. I smell internet bubble all over again. Just my $0.02.