Recently I started getting serious with 2 websites, one about multivitamins and one about paperbacks. The domains have been online and indexed for a while but not had a website properly set-up on them. Now they are properly set-up and initially my aim is to grow traffic and subscribers at the expense of revenue. So for example, where I would normally have a banner ad I now promote my RSS feed.
But I’m now thinking about how long can I go putting design ahead of profit?
The obvious answer is “duh! As long as you can afford to”. Well thats the thing, in theory I can afford to for a very long time, but then it loses the whole point of being a business. At what time do I stop and say “ok, we need to start making some profits here”.
Do I set targets of visitors & subscribers, or do I set a time schedule? Say 12 months and then the profit making begins. To be honest I’m not sure which way will be most beneficial for the site from a long-term viewpoint, or if in fact whichever I choose won’t matter and ultimately long-term the site will have the same success/profitability.
The 2 new websites have only been live a couple of months so there is no hurry. I think I’m going to mull it over and come to a conclusion as soon as I can so I know the plan and where I’m going.
Image: mikesansone
