I would like to break down the numbers for a mini-site project I just completed and some plans.
Development costs:
- Domain Name $7.05
- Theme $0
- Install $15
- Logo $30
- Articles $65
- Article Re-Write $15
Total: $132.05
Time spent was about two hours managing the logo creation, site setup and article implementation.
I probably paid a little more than some of you out there. I’m not tech savvy so didn’t do the WP install and I didn’t feel like doing the rewrites for the articles. For me the extra couple of dollars spent is worth the time saved.
With very little work I have already recovered $100 of my initial investment. I sold three links a few months back on another poker site so I just contacted them to see if they were interested again. One of the three responded and purchased a link on the home page along with a review article.
Within the next week or two my goal is to have sold at least one more link at $35 to break even on the development costs.
Upadate (1/12) I just sold another link for $35 and have broken even on this project.
Now that I have broken even on the project I a few choices…
- Sell the mini-site as is for $100-$250 (take the money and run)
- Leave it alone until the next page rank update (with a higher pr i can sell links for more)
- Continue selling links and work on SEO (build up and make real money)
At this point I’m really not sure what I will do. Because I’m not into building up my mini-sites I’ll probably go with one of the first two options. Now for everyone out there wondering what if I selected the last option. Well, affiliate programs like Party Poker pay $75 just for someone signing up and playing poker. I also have a learn how to play poker banner on the site that pays $23.50 on the initial sale and another $7.50 every month. Real money can be made, it takes effort and time.
A side note for everyone, Google does not allow any of their ads to be displayed on gambling sites. Their is a little trick to this, as long as you are not promoting or directing anyone to an online gambling site you can use Google ads. That decision is up to you, either high paying affiliate sales or Google ads.
Patrick,
am i mistaken, isn’t advertising and and puting links to gambling sites illegal in the U.S?
Not illegal to my knowledge.
If the guys at poker tournaments can wear hats that say PartyPoker.com I’m sure it’s legal to put it on a website.
I would check into this issue.
Thats pretty thin ice your walking.
Here a link.
techdirt.com/articles/20080811/0231561939.shtml
Good advice…definitely sounds in the “gray zone”…I’ll keep reading.
Patrick,
Just to let you know. Selling or buying links without a “do not follow” is against Google TOS and could get your site banned from Google as well as the others that bought links.
It is best not to talk about this on any public forums. Google has been encouraging people to report such behaviors which opens you up to your competitors taking advantage.
Not judging but just alerting you.
All the best
Barry & Duane,
Thanks for the info, appreciate it very much.
Honestly though, Google can ban my poker site if they wish. It was a cheap project and something I did more so to pass on information and educate newcomers.
What I will do is take away anything on the article referring to the domain name.
Freedom of Speech, Google can’t stop me
JOKE, if your reading I LOVE you guys, LOL.
Wow, some beautiful articles on that site Chef
I love the design as well. Personally, if I were you, I would sell the site, take the money and run. I think it’s best because then you have another $150 sitting in the bank, ready to be invested. You could get 600 gumballs if you are a big gumball fan like me 
Good karma to your gambling site.
What do you like when we visit you in jail?
I would also sell the site since you have made back (close to it) what you already spent on it. Let us know how it goes.
Looks great! nice job! If you find out more about the legalities, please post it. But I know on TV, they can’t use .com that’s why they use .net for any poker sites, but it’s all legit. We’re getting ready to ramp up development on PocketPair.com so anything you can share, would be great.
PocketPair.com, great name.
Doubt I will research poker/site guidelines but if I do I will definitely post it.
looks nice, but you need to completely re-do the SEO on the site as it will lack ranking for the keywords you chose to use in the articles. Also, try to reorganize the home page with the “featured content gallery” plugin which is compatible with the revolution two themes. The logo totally overwhelms the site and the text is barely seen. Good luck!
I didn’t design the site for SEO at all. I threw it together to make a few bucks on links and that is it. But hey, 8th for the term “poker fun facts”. Wooo Hooo, lol.
The logo is my favorite part
I think Patrick is just glad to see something up on his domain rather than yet another parked page. Keep having fun Patrick and just remember, GoDaddy’s the biggest gambling site on the web
It is a nice site and better than any ppc page imo.
Hi Chef,
I just checked out your new Poker mini-site and I like the way you developed out the domain. I also like the way you approached the development phase. By investing money instead of time, you have created a situation to where your ROI will be well worth the resources invested. Keep up the good work!
LOL Jamie – Way to bring your GoDaddy hating attitude in here
I was actually thinking about this, and what I would recommend is selling more links, and then sell it when you run out of link buyers. Maximize profit, the maximize profit a second time…What do you think?
Interesting comments here from lots of people patrick!
I think this is a great example of how a little cash and not alot of work can bring together a nice little mini-site.
You do need to be careful about your site in the US.
Where is it being hosted?
Best Of Luck
Regards,
Robbie
Patrick,
Thank you for sharing this information it is very useful. One question I have is whether you had to provide any traffic data in order to sell links, and if so what was that data?
It seems to me that this site would have very low traffic volumes, and is below PR1 so does not have authority value. I am not trying to be critical, and I really appreciate the insights, but I am just unclear as to why the purchaser saw value in the links? How much traffic does one need to demonstrate in order to sell a link?
Thanks!
The only data provided was that the site was BRAND NEW.
I have no idea why someone would by a link on a PR0 site but that is not for me to argue, the customer is always right
thanks for the reply Patrick. Just this week a PR3 site contacted my PR0 site asking for a link exchange – perhaps some people go by the look of a site, but don’t have the Google toolbar to see the PR.
this was a very interesting post – I think you should remove it now, before Google sees the content. They may decide to delist chefpatrick – you never know, and we just want the maximum ongoing success for your site.
and when will we get another vlog post
Google isn’t everything…. freedom of speech is more important than being scared of being banned by Google. Google doesn’t own the world (yet).
Thanks for your support Mr. Mini.
Vlog post coming tomorrow actually, shhhh
I suggest getting someone to take care of the project as in link building and just sell more links, selling will be hard with gambling sites that have low-traffic.
Oh and by the way, next time you need a wp-install, send me an email, I’ll help you out. Stop wasting money, build a network of people that work your stuff
I think you have a good point with some link building and seo work. I will definitely do that before selling the site. If I can throw a few bucks into it to make it worth it for the next guy it would be my pleasure.
For the wp-install, appreciate it. I love my guy too much though. Yea I throw him money to do some installs for me but he does sooo much more for free. On top of that he is a friend.
We’d love to hear an update on this project in 6 months, in terms of traffic and revenue. We just moved several of our Gambling Related domains like PocketPair.com and TexasHoldemCentral.com over to Fabulous.com. We thought this would be a good first step first, before going to a mini site or fully developed brand. They certainly can monetize the look and feel of a poker domain better than anyone (unfortunately, no Turtle mascot though
Will do, if not sold already
Please keep me posted on PocketPair.com, great name!!!
Nice blog. Your info is very informative and it is very useful to every one. Thank you for sharing.
Well done! I really thought it was imposible to sell a link on a PR 0 site. But I probably have looked too much into this linking.
Chef, What a great story. Have you made any decisions yet? Could you share with us what WP theme you based the site on?
Super work!!
Charlie
No decision yet, just been letting it sit there.
Here is a link to the theme, http://www.revolutiontwo.com/themes/church
Nice blog. It is appreciable very much. Thank you for nice info. Keep posting like this.
Patrick,
Thanks for sharing this info, its concise and very informative.
Who do you use to make the logos for sites like “PokerTurtle?”
David O.
http://checkersonlinegame.com/
Hey Dave,
I usually post a contest on either DigitalPoint or NamePros forum for logos. This way I get a few choices