Too niche?

[RB]

I am undecided whether to go down the path of a general poker room affiliate site (such as ipokervip.net) or a more specialised poker room affiliate site focusing on one or two games (i.e. reviewing the best poker rooms for Razz/Stud/PLO).

There are already a lot of medium to big websites that do general poker room affiliation. They get a lot of traffic and rank very well in the best keywords. So am I not only saturating the market by doing and offering the same services as the big dogs but getting a lot lot less traffic?

I'm leaning towards on creating an affiliate site focusing on one or two games because 1) More keywords/phrases that I can rank higher with as I keep pumping out content specific to that game and work on SEO, 2) Not many sites currently do this, 3) Players that enjoy Razz/Stud/PLO may convert better since we're offering much more detailed reviews on each poker rooms (but for their particular game) etc.

But the downside of doing this is that:
- Not enough searches for playing any one particular game of poker online (aside from no limit hold em)
- My understanding from reading posts from pokerprop is that recreational players don't care much about rakeback nor do they like to get sold to (with rake races, freerolls and bonuses) so we're limited to what we can offer.
But I guess my main concern is how much traffic we will attract - after doing some research on Google keyword and Wordtracker, it seems that the second most popular game of poker (PLO) hardly get any searches on a monthly basis.

I realize that no-one can decide but myself. But I would appreciate all insight, experience and thoughts on this.

Thank you guys!

[pokeraussie]

If you are considering going down the path of a specific poker room affiliate site, then I'd suggest checking out this thread HELP S.O.S !!!? DO you promoto PKR with PKR in the URL ?

Yes the traffic likely converts better, but is it worth the risk when you're first starting out and need the cash flow? I doubt it.

[RB]

Not poker room specific! Poker game specific

[pokeraussie]

I am undecided whether to go down the path of a general poker room affiliate site (such as ipokervip.net) or a more specialised poker room affiliate site focusing on one or two games (i.e. reviewing the best poker rooms for Razz/Stud/PLO).

Was just replying to this...

[pokerprop]

To be clear it's not that they don't like to. It's that the more natural and less confusion the conversion process is the more effective it is. If you're website has something of value and they read you'll plenty of opportunities to convert naturally. All the hard sell and bonus code, rakeback, use our links, clear cookies, makes it less natural and therefore less effective then it could be.

Ideally a site should have some CTA - that are catchy - such as US Credit Cards Accept, Payouts in 1 Week (Sitename.com) etc. Something that stands out. but then should support opportunities to convert naturally in text along with opportunities to visit other pages of the site which those contain additional opportunities to convert as well (and it all keeps spiraling together, the endless web of cross linked great content). If it's all natural and sincere, your sign up to first time deposit ratio with be out the roof in comparison to industry averages.

As far as which market to choose. Strategy is a tough market as a core thing to build a site off of however can be done. I'd much rather start with a theme that involves a brand name that sounds logical enough to rank for a really good term. I wish i had an idea off the top of my head to toss you here but I can't think of one but like PokerScout (which is obviously taken) and its theme is scouting all the major "online poker sites" which is your bigger term goal and can get other versions of it. From here you have stuff like bonus clear rates, game volumes, site features and all sorts of other things - and can build strategy off it. Would we be great is if you could come up with something people could think to reference. Perhaps covering tournament promotions, chip stacks in SNGs, thinks with side by side comparisons. Another good idea is covering currency options at different sites, banking methods by country and site. All types of stuff that your theme is scouting online poker sites and having all the information someone could ever look for all easily accessible by category. From here hot topics are forum complaints and drama, prop bets between members. things that get the forum community digging your site as these are the guys who link places and give tweets. Plus if your popular on forums, other sites popular on forums might link to your content. Without speaking a word you exchange the favor, they do the same, and it starts to build, google trusts your site and you have these other terms to rank for. Now in and around this could build nice strategy if that's your thing and can build it around game names, as well as strategy for specific "online poker sites which your site scouts".

Your not American so not sure this reference makes sense, but there are tons of Mitt Romneys and Obama's out there. If you're sites the Ron Paul it might not win site of the year awards or affiliate of the year awards and the like, but it could for sure have the most passionate visitors. My advice is to think it out really well and find an idea you like and our passionate about and just run with it. At the worse you recognize okay this is not working and you then adjust or start fresh. If this happens okay no worries now you have a site to do 3-way link exchanges from for your next idea etc. In time you'll have experience and a much better understand if your idea is likely to work or not. However you seem to be asking the right questions in advanced which is good and increases the chances you'll find a good spot out of the gate.

[RB]

Thank you once again sir! Tons more to learn but definitely felt I learnt quite a bit from this forum and your posts in the last 48 hours. Been up for just over 24 hours, not finished with working yet though haha.

To be clear it's not that they don't like to. It's that the more natural and less confusion the conversion process is the more effective it is. If you're website has something of value and they read you'll plenty of opportunities to convert naturally. All the hard sell and bonus code, rakeback, use our links, clear cookies, makes it less natural and therefore less effective then it could be.

Ideally a site should have some CTA - that are catchy - such as US Credit Cards Accept, Payouts in 1 Week (Sitename.com) etc. Something that stands out. but then should support opportunities to convert naturally in text along with opportunities to visit other pages of the site which those contain additional opportunities to convert as well (and it all keeps spiraling together, the endless web of cross linked great content). If it's all natural and sincere, your sign up to first time deposit ratio with be out the roof in comparison to industry averages.
I'm not sure I quite understand where you said 'your sign up to first time deposit ratio'. Are those two the same thing given that the players that visits my site will sign up as a first time depositor.

As far as which market to choose. Strategy is a tough market as a core thing to build a site off of however can be done. I'd much rather start with a theme that involves a brand name that sounds logical enough to rank for a really good term. I wish i had an idea off the top of my head to toss you here but I can't think of one but like PokerScout (which is obviously taken) and its theme is scouting all the major "online poker sites" which is your bigger term goal and can get other versions of it. From here you have stuff like bonus clear rates, game volumes, site features and all sorts of other things - and can build strategy off it. Would we be great is if you could come up with something people could think to reference. Perhaps covering tournament promotions, chip stacks in SNGs, thinks with side by side comparisons. Another good idea is covering currency options at different sites, banking methods by country and site. All types of stuff that your theme is scouting online poker sites and having all the information someone could ever look for all easily accessible by category. From here hot topics are forum complaints and drama, prop bets between members. things that get the forum community digging your site as these are the guys who link places and give tweets. Plus if your popular on forums, other sites popular on forums might link to your content. Without speaking a word you exchange the favor, they do the same, and it starts to build, google trusts your site and you have these other terms to rank for. Now in and around this could build nice strategy if that's your thing and can build it around game names, as well as strategy for specific "online poker sites which your site scouts".
I understand the part about pokerscout.com, not quite sure how I could incorporate all the forum stuff with my idea... yet! My original idea was to provide extremely solid reviews for a particular game (let's say Stud) in 4-5 poker rooms. Do you think this is a good core thing to build the site off? I mean everyone out there has a review for a site. But I want to have reviews so specific where we're telling the visitors (along with the obvious RB%/VIP programme, deposit bonus etc) the traffic of Stud say on PokerStars down to the hour, the level of player pool in Study on PS, the difference in limits of Stud on PS etc etc. I will make those reviews the best and most detailed in the industry for Stud and then work on Stud strategy articles afterwards and use what you said about start to spiral the reviews with strategy articles etc etc. Any criticism on this idea or just general thoughts Sir?

Your not American so not sure this reference makes sense, but there are tons of Mitt Romneys and Obama's out there. If you're sites the Ron Paul it might not win site of the year awards or affiliate of the year awards and the like, but it could for sure have the most passionate visitors. My advice is to think it out really well and find an idea you like and our passionate about and just run with it. At the worse you recognize okay this is not working and you then adjust or start fresh. If this happens okay no worries now you have a site to do 3-way link exchanges from for your next idea etc. In time you'll have experience and a much better understand if your idea is likely to work or not. However you seem to be asking the right questions in advanced which is good and increases the chances you'll find a good spot out of the gate.

Cheers

[pokerprop]

.

To be clear it's not that they don't like to. It's that the more natural and less confusion the conversion process is the more effective it is. If you're website has something of value and they read you'll plenty of opportunities to convert naturally. All the hard sell and bonus code, rakeback, use our links, clear cookies, makes it less natural and therefore less effective then it could be.

Ideally a site should have some CTA - that are catchy - such as US Credit Cards Accept, Payouts in 1 Week (Sitename.com) etc. Something that stands out. but then should support opportunities to convert naturally in text along with opportunities to visit other pages of the site which those contain additional opportunities to convert as well (and it all keeps spiraling together, the endless web of cross linked great content). If it's all natural and sincere, your sign up to first time deposit ratio with be out the roof in comparison to industry averages.
I'm not sure I quite understand where you said 'your sign up to first time deposit ratio'. Are those two the same thing given that the players that visits my site will sign up as a first time depositor.

When you start affiliating you'll see stats like 10 people signed up and only two deposited.

Some terms:
PMP means play money player (we also call this just a "sign up")
RMP means real money players (we also call this a conversion)
Your sign up to conversion ratio if you get 10 sign up 2 who deposited is 2/10=20%.

Other stats you'll eventually be looking at are click to sign up ratio.
In the end once you have a bit site what is important is how much you earn per click, and how you can get more clicks.
Of course profit is the most important. You don't avoid low cost clicks so you have a higher stat. You just to understand why you earnings per click are a certain way.

This is all stuff you're quite a way away from needing to worry about.

However to give an if at one site can generate a good number of clicks and know it takes 12 clicks per 1 sign up and 4 sign ups per 1 RMP. and average first year player value is $144. So It takes 48 clicks to get 1RMP and are earning $3 per click.

This gives a good gauge for future. 7th grade math and writing lessons are huge assets in affiliating

As far as which market to choose. Strategy is a tough market as a core thing to build a site off of however can be done. I'd much rather start with a theme that involves a brand name that sounds logical enough to rank for a really good term. I wish i had an idea off the top of my head to toss you here but I can't think of one but like PokerScout (which is obviously taken) and its theme is scouting all the major "online poker sites" which is your bigger term goal and can get other versions of it. From here you have stuff like bonus clear rates, game volumes, site features and all sorts of other things - and can build strategy off it. Would we be great is if you could come up with something people could think to reference. Perhaps covering tournament promotions, chip stacks in SNGs, thinks with side by side comparisons. Another good idea is covering currency options at different sites, banking methods by country and site. All types of stuff that your theme is scouting online poker sites and having all the information someone could ever look for all easily accessible by category. From here hot topics are forum complaints and drama, prop bets between members. things that get the forum community digging your site as these are the guys who link places and give tweets. Plus if your popular on forums, other sites popular on forums might link to your content. Without speaking a word you exchange the favor, they do the same, and it starts to build, google trusts your site and you have these other terms to rank for. Now in and around this could build nice strategy if that's your thing and can build it around game names, as well as strategy for specific "online poker sites which your site scouts".
I understand the part about pokerscout.com, not quite sure how I could incorporate all the forum stuff with my idea... yet! My original idea was to provide extremely solid reviews for a particular game (let's say Stud) in 4-5 poker rooms. Do you think this is a good core thing to build the site off? I mean everyone out there has a review for a site. But I want to have reviews so specific where we're telling the visitors (along with the obvious RB%/VIP programme, deposit bonus etc) the traffic of Stud say on PokerStars down to the hour, the level of player pool in Study on PS, the difference in limits of Stud on PS etc etc. I will make those reviews the best and most detailed in the industry for Stud and then work on Stud strategy articles afterwards and use what you said about start to spiral the reviews with strategy articles etc etc. Any criticism on this idea or just general thoughts Sir?

None of those games are very popular. I think its a great idea. However why not make it expandable. Start with doing the same for 2 or 3 games, but use a domain where you scout EVERYTHING! about sites (not just the details of one game). In time can keep growing and growing.

The reason I suggest this is:

1) Your site needs fans.
2) Your site needs to make money.

Making money off a small niche like a specific game will be a tough to make a living.I know this because I tried it and built one of the best sites imo on a specific game niche possible and even ranking for all the desired terms and using conversion tactics that worked well for me for years wasn't much luck.

Of course anything is possible. I just suggest at least considering not limiting your expansion possibilities. Plus poker is still brand new in many markets and more booms will happen.

My final advise is I can't give you the idea nor can anyone else. Your passion for your own website will help a lot.

Here's a good article I wrote for someone's site: How to Build Websites that Make Long Term Money



Your not American so not sure this reference makes sense, but there are tons of Mitt Romneys and Obama's out there. If you're sites the Ron Paul it might not win site of the year awards or affiliate of the year awards and the like, but it could for sure have the most passionate visitors. My advice is to think it out really well and find an idea you like and our passionate about and just run with it. At the worse you recognize okay this is not working and you then adjust or start fresh. If this happens okay no worries now you have a site to do 3-way link exchanges from for your next idea etc. In time you'll have experience and a much better understand if your idea is likely to work or not. However you seem to be asking the right questions in advanced which is good and increases the chances you'll find a good spot out of the gate.
Cheers