Parlays and Picks Small Business
Some of my sports obsessed friends got together and decided to start a sports picking business as a side income.They had a common problem many people have: they had no idea where to start. I decided it would be interesting to document their progress as they develop their business:
So these guys know their sports, but not much about how to create a small web business. They started mapping out how to sell their picks, but were stumped when it came to actually implementing the page on the internet.
I helped them setup a website on my server, showed them how to use the basic functions of Macromedia Dreamweaver, insert PayPal payment buttons and how to buy and modify a webpage template from TemplateMonster.com.
Here is what they came up with: ParlaysAndPicks.com
They tried advertising with Google Adwords, but Google wouldn't accept their ad because their site was considered a "Gambling" site. However, Yahoo allowed them to advertise, and they spent several hundred dollars getting traffic to the site through Yahoo. In return, they made more than double their investment back in just a month.
They have already proven they can make money with their micro business, now the goal is to make more. The next step is hiring a web designer to "clean up" the site and make it more professional.
I get questions everyday concerning how to start a small online business, so I think this will shed even more insight on the subject. I'll continue to document their progress.
posted by Neville @ 1:03 AM
24 comments
24 Comments:
I am surprised to hear that they were so successful with yahoo ads. I have spent nearly $200 AUD on adsense, and although I have got a few sign ups, according to my statistics, I have not made a single sale via adsense so far.
I am getting clicks, even though it is obvious from my addthat I am selling something, not giving anything away (It says 'Buy online, delivered to your door' on the ad) I have geographical targeting turned on too, so I am only getting Australian visitors. I don't know what I am doing wrong.
Any tips on this Nev? How was their add campaign so successful? Is anyone else having more luck with Yahoo than Google, when it comes to PPC text ads?
I then switched to Yahoo Sponsored Search, and that has been better. If adsense does not work for you, cafenation, you should definitely give yahoo a try.
Nev, I don't really understand your friends business. Do they just sell their analysis on the different games? Or is there gambling involved.
An online business that i started is Creditlovers.com. So far things have been good, but i have to say, relying on search engines for traffic can be very stressful. One day i'm on top, the next day i'm gone. I'm now trying to document the site operation thru my blog at Jonathan Radande
Nev, we should try a venture together, i'm always up for a new project.
J.R.
It will be interesting to see how much a nice design affects the sales.
I'm currently working on The Lost Blog. My main weapon against the "competition" is a great looking design and an easy way to quickly find the information you are looking for. Something I felt the other Lost fansites where missing. I know a Lost site is quite a tight niche, but I'm mostly doing it for the fun, if I earn some money, then that's a bonus.
If your friends are interested, I might be able to help them out with the design. Send a mail to andi at karmacube.com if you want to talk.
I think getting a webdesigner is a great idea and would attract others who simply leave the site because of its poor design.
Also, to the Anonymous above, this site is NOT a gambling site. There is nothing wrong with selling who you think will win. It's kind of like those stock picking sites that simply pick stocks they think will do well. What you do with that information is your own decision.
Great job guys, and keep us all posted.
I wonder how you guys get past the credibility issue because anyone can make up those records unless they've been following the site for some time. I mean you can believe the sidebar statistics but the site was registered in November of 05 and those picks go back to before that.
I don't mean to claim you and your friends are trying to commit fraud (I don't think you are), just wondering if you were planning on tackling that and perhaps improve your conversions.
There are websites out there (hosted in Russia) that sell Mp3's for 10 cents a song. They are still up and running.. because they are hosted in Russia :)
I don't know if your friend's site is legal or what not.. I got my fingers crossed for them
What are your thoughts on the Amazon Affiliate program? Sites like shopforpowertools.com, which use Amazon, seems like they have quite a bit of success, though I know the commission that Amazon pays out is rather low.
On the flipside, this is very interesting. I have been looking to sell my options picks via the web for some extra cash, and make some other people some money too. I think I'll start very soon after seeing how easy it was to get this sports site going
Great work
come on dude, you have no clue.
But selling picks is not illegal in any state.
I do find it funny though that your friends are posting a nice solid winning record going back to the start of the season, yet their site didn't start up until the first week of November.
Dissing aside though, I can't fault them for what they are doing, as I make most of my income from the handicapping business. Their best bet is to stay kind of small and under the radar because if they start taking money away from the big tout syndicates, lets just say that the industry doesn't haven't much in the way of ethics.
:)
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