The concept of building a business around a classifieds theme on its own doesn’t appeal to me. However, the concept of building a classifieds website in conjunction with a full blown affiliate website is an excellent idea. The two can leverage traffic and build up an even better online business.
This article about the best WordPress classifieds theme and how to make money with it has two parts:
- Benefits and description of classifieds websites.
- How to make money with a classifieds website as part of your business model.
- How to choose the best WordPress Classifieds theme for this business model.
1. Benefits of a classifieds website using it in conjunction with your product review affiliate website
- Content is user-generated. Once you have traffic and seed listings, the site grows on its own.
- Excellent opportunity to promote your main product affiliate website.
- Generate revenue on its own.
- Able to create a niche classifieds website that is a go-to classifieds website for a particular product line.
- Attract high volume of visitors (it may take some time).
What is a classifieds website?
It’s a website where people can place ads to sell stuff. The best part is that people submit the content. As publisher, you don’t generate content. You simply monitor what’s uploaded.
Classifieds websites can be broader. They can be job boards or other announcement type sites. Essentially, it’s a community-based portal where people can “announce” something for free.
2. How to make money with a classifieds website as part of your online business model
Big Picture:
- Create a product review website, which is the foundation of your online business. Get my Definitive Guide to Affiliate Review Websites to learn how to build profitable review websites.
- On a subdomain of your product review website, set install this classifieds theme.
- Restrict your classifieds website to the same products / topics as your product review website. Essentially you’re creating a niche classifieds website.
- Promote your review website on your classifieds website. You can place links to specific product reviews to drive traffic to your product review website.
- Place Adsense or other pay per click ads on the site.
- Place affiliate promotions on the classifieds website.
How to organize your classifieds website
- Ensure it’s narrow and focuses on the same products/topics as your review website.
- Organize it geographically and by sub-topics. Get specific so that visitors can drill down to specific topics.
Example of this merger of a classifieds website and your product affiliate review website:
Product niche: Washing machines
Review website: Reviews many washing machines of different types and brands. Also includes highly informative washing machine articles. For more information on how to develop a profitable affiliate review website, get my Definitive Guide to Affiliate Review Websites.
Review website washing machine categories: Large, small (apartment), eco-friendly/energy efficient, top-loader, side-loader, RV, etc. (research the various types).
Example domain: www.YOUR-REVIEW-WEBSITE-DOMAIN.com
Classifieds website: Dedicated to people listing and selling washing machines. Also offer washing machine retailers to submit listings of new washing machines.
- Use the same categories as the review website. Add geographic location categories. After all, people will prefer to buy a used washing machine locally.
- Invite washing machine retailers to submit listings. They’ll be delighted to get free or inexpensive advertising – especially if you structure your classifieds website geographically. The retailer listings could work well as seed listings so that you get a lively-looking classifieds website up and running quickly.
- Subdomain: washing-machine-classifieds.your-review-website-domain.com
Why use a subdomain?
- It’s free.
- You can install a theme different from your review website. This way you can install a specific WordPress classifieds theme.
Can you use a separate domain?
Sure. It doesn’t really matter. The concept is the same. Your intention is to generate revenue from the classifieds website and drive traffic to your review website.
Does this work with digital product review websites?
Not nearly as well as physical product affiliate review websites unless there are related physical products to sell. The reason digital products don’t work so well as people don’t generally list digital products for sale.
That said, classifieds websites can venture into other areas such as job postings etc. If you can think of a way to relate your digital product review website to a niche topic that works as a classifieds website, then go for it.
What to ask yourself to determine if the classifieds website concept is a good fit with your affiliate review website?
- Is there a demand for the classifieds concept (do your research – keyword research is a good starting place. Also see if there are classifieds websites that offer the same thing. If so, are there listings?).
- Will visitors to your classifieds website want to click into your review website? Although a high-volume and well-monetized classifieds website can make money, you want to stick to the objective of driving targeted traffic from your classifieds website to your review website.
Should you charge money for people to add a listing?
In my view, you should have a free listing option. You could consider charging for premium listing features (images, longer descriptions, maps, multiple categories). Also consider charging for premium placement (this is probably more attractive).
However, when you charge money, you’ll not receive as many listings. What you may consider is charging money to local businesses to add listings to sell their washing machines (or whatever product line you’re in).
Regardless, the best WordPress classifieds theme will include both free and premium listing options.
How to monetize a classifieds website
- Charge for lsitings (see above)
- Adsense or other pay per click ad platforms
- Drive traffic to your review website
- Place affiliate promotions (i.e. Amazon and other merchants)
- Sell ads directly to merchants
3. How to choose the best WordPress Classifieds theme for this business model
First, should you use a theme or a plugin?
The advantages of plugins are that the functionality works on your existing website. Therefore, with a classifieds plugin you could create a classifieds section on your review website.
I’ve tried various classifieds plugins and it doesn’t work very well. It made a mess of my website. If you make it work, go for it.
Therefore, I prefer a separate WordPress installation on a subdomain (or new domain) of a dedicated WordPress classifieds theme.
What to look for when choosing the best WordPress classifieds theme
1. Classifieds layout must be professional
If you want to attract listings, you need a professional-looking website. The listings should be easy-to-read and the overall site should look great. Yes, I realize Craigslist is not the prettiest website, yet it’s probably one of the most successful and largest classifieds website. However, since you’re a newcomer, go for the professional look.
2. Listing options are feature rich
You want to entice people and businesses to add listings. You want visitors looking to buy to like the listings. Moreover, if you wish to charge for premium listing features, you’ll need to have premium listing features.
- Classifieds listing options that you should offer are:
- Product description
- Image upload (multiple images is best)
- Choose multiple categories for a listing (a nice premium feature you could charge for)
- Google maps integration
- Listing duration options (i.e. listing remains for X number of days – let people choose the duration)
- Premium placement feature (charge for above-the-fold placement)
- Unlimited listings, categories, and search options.
3. Navigation and search features
Easy listing/ad search forms (multi variable is best – search by sub-topic, location, and price is a good set of starting search options).
4. Easy for users to submit a listing
It is critical that submitting a listing is easy. Yes, they should have to open an account, but the WordPress classifieds theme should make this process as easy as possible.
It should also be easy for users to add images and publish the listing.
5. Listing package comparison page
If you’re going to sell premium listings, you want a nice package comparison page so that people can choose the right package for their listing needs.
6. Integrated sharing options
This is a bonus. However, there are great sharing plugins to use, so it’s not a must-have feature.
7. Integrated payment gateways
If you charge for listing, you need a theme that easily integrates with the major online payment gateways.
8. Theme support
You want access to forum support as well as ticket support.
Which WordPress Classifieds theme does all of this?
Classifieds Theme for WordPress. It’s one of the most popular classifieds theme available. PremiumPress is a solid WordPress theme company with good support.
Click here to visit the official Classifieds Theme for WordPress website.
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