Monetize Your Build a Niche Store
January 15, 2008 · Print Post · Bookmark post
Build a Niche Store is becoming more popular over the internet and I have seen several so far on the net. Guess what they all look a like and I just go away since I know what it is. Templates for the BANS network are very shallow and there really is no template out there dedicated for BANS. Users change color and add different logos, but the layout is still the same. Also, it is all eBay feed nothing else.
I think users get the Build a Niche Store and just let it be, hoping to get a sale or commission. But there are other ways to earn from your BANS website. I notice a lot have been adding Adsense and I know there are specific issues with Adsense lately, a lot of updates on their end - which I will not discuss in this post. But Adsense is just one way of monetizing a BANS store.
Build a Niche Store is just an eBay feed slapped on to a webpage. It redirects the user to ebay - so can we say your build a niche store is a landing page? I think we can. At the same time why just leave it to just ebay? or leave it just to eBay and Adsense? We can add so many other monetizing widgets to help increase your profits.
With BadCircuit.com I have 6 other ways I am earning money. I use Pay Per Click other than Adsense such as TTZ Media, Chitika, and WidgetBucks. I also use Amazon Widgets, CJ.com Banners, and NeverBlueAds Campaigns. So you can really say my Build a Niche Store is a landing page for affilaites!
As you can see to the left I am monetizing my BANS to its fullest. I think of my Build a Niche Store as a landing page because I am redirecting users to another site where they do their final purchase. So why not create the ‘landing page’ into a page with all affiliates BUT blend in all the other forms of advertising on the website?
My BANS layout is very unique because it resembles a scroll like blog, where the users have to scroll down to view more items. So looking at this web layout there are several factors what the users see first. Upon entering the website they are greeted by my logo in the upper left hand corner then by the 728 banner provided by NeverBlueAds. From there it page seemed like it splits and the user is shown ‘Today’s Top Electronics Deals’ then the eBay feed.
A lot of users read from left to right so the most important factors should be on the left (my own case study). At the very bottom after they scroll they are then exposed to an amazon widget text cloud, which shows popular electronic items from Amazon.
Already, I am giving 4 opportunities to my readers to purchase something or direct them elsewhere. If they do not find anything they like they can search, pick a category or there are other options in the forms of banners and TTZ Media links. There are multiple ways a user can find the item they are looking for and if they do, I am getting paid either by PPC or an affiliate commission.
There are so many other ways to utilize your web layout and monetizing your store. If you are getting good traffic to your BANS, try to increase revenue by adding a couple lines of code to help increase commissions. What you do not want is to just clutter your layout. Strategically place banners and widgets in proper areas of your layout. Your layout is crucial to all your readers, so split test and split test again! Once you know where certain areas are more targeted, use it to your advantage.
For BadCircuit, I just hired a web designer to re-design my layout, creating my Build a Niche Store even more unique and a better user experience. I already know what I want and where I will be placing specific ads and widgets. Take the layout to the left as a good example of strategic placement <- my opinion.
There is a Chitika widget prior to the eBay feeds and there is an Amazon text cloud after - create interaction with your users. There are multiple ways to monetize such a site instead of just using the eBay feed as a source of earnings, expand your horizon and earnings! Think about if you were a user and you arrived at someone’s store; what would you look for, how are you looking at the webpage, where are you looking at, etc.
Just think what you can add to your Build a Niche Store to help it grow. How can you blend other forms of advertising within your store? Soon BadCircuit.com will have a new layout and new design, giving my buyers a better experience - first impressions are important!
January 15th, 2008 7:18 pm
Ian - Did you custom build this, adapt an HTML template, or heavily modify BAN’s theme/CSS? I really like the layout of the site (very non-BANS) and want to do something similar. I agree on the idea of using it to push numerous other ways you can make money. Looking forward to V3 in a few weeks which should make theming easier I hope.
January 15th, 2008 9:08 pm
> Kris
yea I heavily modified the HTML and CSS with a template from a Wordpress theme - it was fairly simple except I had to go deep into the code to modify the ebay feeds a little. but yea I dont like looking like everyone else, I make sure I stick out from everyone else =P
I look forward to V3 as well - hope upgrading is simple
January 16th, 2008 2:02 pm
Thanks Ian, going to experiment then.
I hope the upgrade is easy but since it’s so soon I’m delaying some new projects until it’s released.
January 17th, 2008 5:57 am
I glad too see this interest site, I tell my friends about it! They like sites like that: site
January 19th, 2008 6:11 pm
Here is a great way to promote your BANS site. It is a pixel script site and is free to place your header ad and link back to your BANS site. You can take a look here..
http://www.million-dollar-website.com/pixel/public_html/index.php?grid =3
Neo2012
January 24th, 2008 10:32 am
Another way if you don’t like the templates with BANS is to use Wordpress and phpBay Lite or if you want to buy it get phpBay Pro. Then you can choose any template that Wordpress has to offer and the integration of phpBay is very easy. It’s a little more work adding categories but there are plenty of upsides.
If your hooked on BANS or just want to see what can be with BANS there are plenty of people that will hook up a template for you. They are actually pretty easy to manipulate and customize. There is even a way to take a Wordpress template and use it with your BANS store.
With EarthArticles.com we actually did a combination of phpBay and BANS. It came out decent and it is what we wanted. With the right amount of traffic you will make plenty of money if you have what people are looking for. Adding Ads is important for that other clicky traffic. If everything that is clicked on the site makes you money then go for it but don’t take away from the real money maker. Remember the more traffic you have buying through your site the higher your commission is and obviously the more you make. Adwords advertising doesn’t hurt either.
January 24th, 2008 11:13 am
> Ern
Yup it is very easy to manipulate the traditional BANS template. The current template I am using is a wordpress theme with alteration ofcourse. I actually use phpbay on another one of my websites, its an interactive self sustaining website as well, but it does not give me the return that BANS does
yup I agree! I too use adwords and other means of advertising as well - always optimistic
February 22nd, 2008 12:31 am
Ian,
Love the site, and it makes things easier when I’m reading tips and tricks from someone within my age group. I have been contemplating BANs for a while.. I have heard nothing but positive things during my research.
Anybody I’ve noticed that has something bad to say about BANs is usually referring to a functionality within the program, or the script, and it’s usually coming from self righteous script monkeys who speak to eachother in code or romulan.. but for the regular, ambitious, and self-taught individual like myself, it seems like a great starting point to learning the ropes of site building, affiliate marketing, traffic generation, etc…
Any feedback on similar scripts like CB Niche Builder, Niche Creator, Content Creator Pro….???
Best of luck to everyone in 2008!
March 16th, 2008 7:45 am
Pretty cool design, one stop shopping place from various provider.
Love it
April 3rd, 2008 5:32 pm
on this site on the right section (the 2nd portion) has these links with text underneath. i think the urls are CJ right? what kind of linking method is that? some kind of feed?
how did you move/customize the search box? great site btw.
April 30th, 2008 2:31 pm
I think it’s good to get away from the standard BANS look, but I prefer a simple look for visitors who actually want to make a buying decision. 800 different ads is overkill.