Signing up with Sponsors B4 site is live?

[Alphawolf]

I'm about 2 weeks out from the launch of my site.

A big part of finishing things is to have all the sponsor link codes and banners so I can put them into my banner ad script.

I don't really want to initiate my dedicated server and waste money just to have a site for sponsors to see.

I can understand sponsors don't want just anyone to be able to sign up and get the free content.

I don't want anyone to get annoyed with me by providing a URL that isn't live yet except a sub domain to a video store.

Sometimes sponsors specifically mention URL's must be live and they will check them out to see if it suits their site.

Other times there's just a field for a URL.

If the sponsor doesn't note the URL must be live ya think it's OK signing up now? Last thing I want is sponsors to drop me due to a parked domain.

Someone on the flyntdigital board told me it was OK to sign up without the URL being active.

I guess I'm answerin' my own post as it's best to get the dedicated server and not use any links on the banners - THEN sign up with a bunch of them. This is a big hassle though.

Thanks for helping me answer myself.

[adamneve]

don'y know about other sponsors but you can signup by us
with out an active link you can also mention it on the url box

[Bill]

You're getting a dedicated for a startup project with no proven traffic needs? That's kinda crazy man.

Admittedly deds are very cheap now, but since it's easy to move up as your traffic grows, why risk the fixed overhead?

Anyway, whatever you do, get the server up now, you'll need all the extra time you get and every big sponsor is gonna want to see that you own at least one operating adult site.

[Alphawolf]

adameve: Thanks.

Bill: Ya- I hear ya. The primary reason for dedicated would be so I can install certain software on the server. I may be able to get an admin to install it on a virtual though.

Ya know...I'll probably just start off on a virtual. Less worries overall for me.

[Bill]

What type of site are you building? What traffic numbers do you expect, and where is the traffic going to be coming from?

Everything you can do to keep fixed unrecoverable costs down at the beginning you will be very VERY thankful for. Hard content costs can always be recovered thru future uses, but fixed unrecoverables like server rentals, feed rentals, that sort of thing can be the death of a new project.

[Alphawolf]

Originally posted by Bill
What type of site are you building? What traffic numbers do you expect, and where is the traffic going to be coming from?

Some typical free sites and a web board with a built in gallery/picture rating/slide show system- with some mods built into it. All sponsor based. The first is typical fodder that will conform to all the LL's rules.

The latter is sorta 'outside the box' and I'd actually prefer to throttle users via PPC campaigns. Don't think the Link Lists would list a free site built around a forum. There are a lot of unknowns as far as server requirements. The slide show which is cool- will have to be hard coded at an interval like say- 7 seconds or so. The SQL server will run off another hosting company. The board itself is highly scalable and nobody can post live links except myself and Moderators. They will be automatically stripped and replaced with "Link Removed". Should keep spammers away. People will vote for which picture set they want to see next. The board dynamically generated thumbnails embedded into messages. So, like I mentioned to Neriah in her thread- Polls with pics embedded clickable to full sized images and full galleries. Banners/links controlled from script to rotate and all sorts of cool stuff. Under each picture I can place link to my video store with best selling videos, then probably the girls official site (if there is one) and 1 sponsor site. Text links under the thumbs.

Sounds clumsy- but it's not in execution. Should be a perfect 'hands free' jerk off stop and/or a place to hang out.

Phase A = free (sponsor based) board. Phase B (if it works out) will be a pay based site...no ads, custom content, videos, etc...

Concerns are on the disk I/O even with moderate traffic. Ideally, all pics should go into a RAMDISK. But- this is a ways off and it may just putter along as a free site that does *ok*. 'least I will have tried.

It's taking every aspect of the stuff I know from network engineering, application support, web design, SEO, PPC Management, Web Forum deployment/marketing, and picky taste on porn images.

They say to do what you love and the rest will follow. Since I'll get feedback (good or bad) right away I can always transition to a more tradition 'free site' approach- or run both at once. The tradition free sites can get some LL traffic. Only the more virgin surfers will find the Forum based site...initially. The tone of the posts should be a fun and curious one, but not immature. Like rec.arts.movies.erotica only with pictures.

Everything you can do to keep fixed unrecoverable costs down at the beginning you will be very VERY thankful for. Hard content costs can always be recovered thru future uses, but fixed unrecoverables like server rentals, feed rentals, that sort of thing can be the death of a new project.

Understand 100%. I'm also just old enough to actually start listening to advice instead of just saying 'Yeah- I get it.' then plowing ahead doing it my way.

If the free loaders grind the virtual to a halt- as long as feedback is good and some sign up for paysites...it's all good.

Man, I'm tired though. |goodnight

Thanks for the reality check.