Have you got a Voucher Code site?

[geordiboyo]

Hi there all,

Just a quick post and was wondering how many of you have a voucher, discount or promotional code website?

Any experiences, ups and downs or tips?

Anyone developed a voucher site and then gave it all up?

Mark

[Azam.net]

No voucher code site... too much work! I can't even begin to image how much effort would be required to negotiate voucher codes with merchants, add them, remove them when they expire, deal with issues of people nicking them etc.

Also there's a lot of brilliant voucher code sites out there, so might be difficult to develop a presence in the market unless there's some new twist or huge marketing budget.

[max99]

have a couple myself, but not updated anymore, once were but time wasnt on my side and so have just left them as they are.

Ups : good repeat visitor rates
Downs: time

[Barry]

Yep, been running one for around six years - it never made anything till about two years ago. Now its generating revenue like a dream.

It does take a while to keep updated but your biggest hurdle to begin with will be creating the initial database of stores to add discounts to.

I would suggest at maybe hitting just one specific area to begin with - say womens clothing, and make a specialist portal of discount codes for shops that sell womens clothing. A sort of 'niche' with the voucher code area. Then expand as necessary.

Ta

Baz

[geordiboyo]

Originally Posted by Azam.net No voucher code site... too much work! I can't even begin to image how much effort would be required to negotiate voucher codes with merchants, add them, remove them when they expire, deal with issues of people nicking them etc. Also there's a lot of brilliant voucher code sites out there, so might be difficult to develop a presence in the market unless there's some new twist or huge marketing budget.

What I thought to be honest, "time is key" was my initial thoughts and after reading a couple of post on here looks rather interesting.

Nevertheless think I will be giving it a go, lets see how things go. Misses is nearly finished developing site and a CMS for me.

Thanks for your knowledge and opinion.

By the way Azam, nice new site design!

Mark

[geordiboyo]

Originally Posted by Barry Yep, been running one for around six years - it never made anything till about two years ago. Now its generating revenue like a dream. It does take a while to keep updated but your biggest hurdle to begin with will be creating the initial database of stores to add discounts to. I would suggest at maybe hitting just one specific area to begin with - say womens clothing, and make a specialist portal of discount codes for shops that sell womens clothing. A sort of 'niche' with the voucher code area. Then expand as necessary.

Great to hear your advice Barry and glad to hear things are going well, looks like there are a few leading players in this field and your one. Nice voucher site.

Your advice on starting out on a specific area, sounds a really good idea and was something I thought of but opted out of that and now going for the full hog although I will be keeping sections to a min.

When you say 6 years running your site and only 2 years been making money, any particular reason you can share? or was it just time and updating?

Thanks

Mark

[ChristopherB]

I would suggest at maybe hitting just one specific area to begin with - say womens clothing, and make a specialist portal of discount codes for shops that sell womens clothing. A sort of 'niche' with the voucher code area. Then expand as necessary.

This is gold advice, i've been doing this for 3 months now and i've noticed for certain voucher, code, discount searches i'm beginning to outrank certain larger voucher code sites because my site is specific to a certain niche with articles, products, product reviews, retailer reviews and discount codes all dedicated to this niche.

So as barry says, womes clothes - articles on fashion, promo codes, womens fashion retailer reviews, buying guides ect... all one one site will pay off in the long run.

[renegade]

We operate 2 code related sites and if you're getting into the game you're going to have to be prepared for lot of work, a lot of flak and you'll need deep pockets to compete. Get it right and the rewards are there but for how much longer is anyone's guess. Our original site has been online for eight years and was not originally profitable in terms of effort versus reward - it takes time.

[geordiboyo]

Originally Posted by ChristopherB This is gold advice, i've been doing this for 3 months now and i've noticed for certain voucher, code, discount searches i'm beginning to outrank certain larger voucher code sites.

That is great results especially after only 3 months of trying it, I guess you been into AM for a long time.
I considered getting a domain like fashiondiscountcodes.co.uk and creating a site, nevertheless as mentioned above, its all or nothing unfortunately. Think misses may be a little upset if I changed my mind now

I only been into AM for around 6 months and its been the best thing I have ever done, got a few sites running at the moment and needed a good project to get my teeth into which Is why I chose discount and vouchers etc. Site is due to launch end of this month, so these dark nights are spent writing lots of retail content, loads of fun. Sure you've all been there and unfortunately paying for content at present is'nt viable.

My misses is a web developer so this does help alot although time is scarce as she informs me she work hard whilst at work I plan to leave work and get into AM full time, well at least a % of AM and maybe an online business of some sort too

Thanks for your advice and info,

Mark

[geordiboyo]

Originally Posted by renegade We operate 2 code related sites and if you're getting into the game you're going to have to be prepared for lot of work, a lot of flak and you'll need deep pockets to compete. Get it right and the rewards are there but for how much longer is anyone's guess. Our original site has been online for eight years and was not originally profitable in terms of effort versus reward - it takes time.

Nice to hear from you Joe, prob not recognise me from around the A4U forums reason being is I tend to keep quiet and just read lots of excellent advice, debate and information from you guys and fairly new on here.
Thanks for replying to my thread and as you said, time is something I have and don't by any means expect overnight successes but I will be giving it my best shot, its just over the last couple of months I been chatting to a few guys from here and making relationships with some network managers from Buy.at and Awin. Really feel as though my knowledge has picked up alot and is rather exciting if the truth being known.

Deep pockets is maybe something I don't have but deep enough to experiment, this voucher code site will be a massive challenge for me.

Thanks for advice,

Mark