Supplemental Advice Washington DC

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Originally published at Internet.com

Not all that long ago, you were able to give away content for free and make money on advertising. However, you may have found that revenue stream to be almost dried up now. But e-commerce success may still be imminent -- you'll just have to adjust your business model.

If you have the traffic, there are a number of things you can do to supplement the limited advertising revenues you may be gleaning from your free content site. But implement changes slowly without revamping the site entirely, so as not to lose those valuable visitors. Here are some moneymaking additions: * Start requiring payment from your visitors to view content. Don't immediately switch to a full subscription model but you can begin by charging for premium or archived content.

* Create strategic marketing arrangements with other businesses. For example, if your site acts as a database for local restaurant reviews, try to form a deal whereby you purchase dining gift certificates at a discount and sell them from your site.

* Affiliate programs can help your Web site to earn extra money. Check out Cynthia Arko's series of articles on the subject:
Revenue Sharing 101
How to Identify Quality Affiliate Programs
Understanding Affiliate Commission Structures
How to Achieve Super Affiliate Status
Common Mistakes of Affiliates

Realize that if you are going to implement any changes that involve charging fees, you'll have to institute a shopping cart system. Here are some articles about shopping cart programs and their functions:
Checking Out Shopping Carts
A View from a Shopping Cart