Just let's be careful, we can't discuss specifics as if the comments were free promotions or advertising for the companies selling those services, let's talk about the cases and experiences. Sorry if the opening sounds too long but I believe we need to build some context first.
1- Over the years, here, we have discussed about diff advertising programs that use YOUR website space to place ads from clients. They get exposure and you get some profit, that's it. There have been complains about the effectiveness of those programs BUT based on how much money website owners earn money. I have no memories of discussions about the benefit of the advertisers, the clients. Actually in those cases we can't have any feedback because usually, direct contact with those clients is forbidden. So in shortit appears to me we have no clue on the effectiveness of those programs. We know clients come and go, some stay and some restrict their budget to X per month (fixed) and that's it.
2- On the other hand I tried in the past to bring awareness to website owners regarding their website effectiveness, how? in the form of "you have a complain? then why don't you advertise your own products and services on your own website?" if any... that is, because many webmasters have no products or services, many built their websites only to sell ad space (and that's ok). It would be difficult to discuss each casebut personal stories are welcome. At least I can personally say that I tried selling direct ad space on some of my websites, clients were secretive on the results (they always want more) but on a few cases I got to see that SOME products and services make no sense on my websites, but others got great results, enough to have a fixed advertiser for at least 2.5 years happy with the results, I got to see in that case they lost business when they didn't want to hire ad space anymore. Seem that one of my websites is a perfect tool for that kind of service (advertising).
3- Years ago, here, we talked about building websites, doing SEO and then readers or buyers would come via Search Engines. That was purely organic, it wasn't advertising it was content generation and search engine positioning. Some of us sold that kind of services to clients and by the stories shared here: it worked, at least I can personally say it did (for me and clients). BUT... things got more complex, not exactly reliable and I stopped doing this at least for myself and only sold those practices to clients. Eventually clients wanted more and more, and FASTER. Clients wanted to set up a website, appear on search engine results, GET EMAILS, SALES and phone calls, all in one month. Sorry but that's not possible organically without advertising.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
I have no experience in this area, it's more complex than that but to simplify the discussion that's an accurate statement. I built websites and still have some with decent traffic, so, most my experience goes to putting messages or advertising there and it worked to some extent (some things work, some won't). But over the years I think the results are too limited and there is uncharted territory left to explore. What I mean on having no experience in that area specifically is: what about ME wanting to advertise let's say "content generation" or "website building" or whatever, something like "tasty apples"?, for years I have been on the seller side without a real need to advertise, and I'n not sure how many around here are on the same page.
My limited experience from a few years ago
- Forums (advertising?)
Been part of many forums for years, but it was only around 2010 that I started buying second hand equipment, pretty happy with the low prices on a local forum. Then started selling some of my stuff because I didn't need it and it was taking some space. I was absolutely amazed by the results on that forum. I would get about 10 to 20 requests/clients the same day. There is a free section for buying (if you are looking to buy something) and a paid section for selling your products. Nothing would last more tan 4 days, sometimes I would bring my stuff to the office and put the post/ad, and I would have someone picking the stuff the same day in the afternoon, it was that effective. Sadly it changed, the forum got weaker and weaker, less effective because there is less public there. Yet you can still pay a small fee and sell something (product or service) in about 10 days, it's just way slower.
- FB and social media
My experience was accidental. A friend of mine started a small business (handcrafts) and started selling mainly on FB, the posts were just noise, little to no sales at all. Then she started paying for advertising, it was expensive but you could see the clients coming. Then she explained "I set up some limits and paid X monthly for advertising" to my surprise clients came fast. During some time, me having free time during the day, I helped delivering some products to clients nearby, I was very surprised on how effective this used to be. Sadly some changes were applied and people complained (if you advertise on FB then you know about this), people were paying but selling nothing, I can say this never came back to the past effectiveness.
As for now, over the past 2 years I sold some of my woodworking stuff there, at first it was amazing but over the past year not so much, in fact it sucks. I could put hard work on the images and text stating "FREE APPLES IN X city" and still I would get tons of messages asking the price (hey it says free) and how much for the oranges, also to please send the products to china and whatever. I can honestly say that I've been unable to recover from the conclusion that most people are dumb based on those experiences. I got to the point of people buying those free apples and then facing some person confused why there is no coconut. I know it sounds stupid, it is stupid. Readings about psychology and learning issues have been by companionship to understand why lots of this things have been taking place.
On a side note my wife works at one of the largest universities in the country (expensive) and they are struggling with new students unable to follow procedures and steps, something as easy as filling forms, it's amazing.
Back to the point, the main topic. Exploring the other side (because in the past I never had the need to advertise and sell, it was mostly effective worth of mouth or direct contact from my websites) it's been fun and interesting. Now I think I fully understand the need from advertisers on "hey I have US$200, I want to double that selling my products, what do I do?", sounds very logical but it's a matter of effectiveness. You need to secure a screw? you buy or pay for that, you need a desk? same, you need to sell? there is a need for paying in order to sell it.
Quite interested on reading opinions on this. I wish things were as simple and effective as that forum I described (how things used to be in the past, sadly it doesn't work like that anymore). At present time I'm surprised on the effectiveness of posters, printed design on paper placed on strategic places, it's often free and can't be beaten by many other experiments.s
