A catchy and memorable domain name (maybe even a couple) paired with a nice clean and helpful microsite tied in with some of the popular social networking sites Facebook.com and Twitter.com is working!
Domainers have been stuck on what we call MiniSites. These minisites include about 5 pages of content and rarely get updated content there after. The Google Adsense and or banner advertising go along with these minisites is the main source of income for the site.
The problem with minisites that many domain investors build, they never get touched again after they are built. The content becomes outdated pretty quickly and search engines notice this. Whatever ranking the site does get, is likely to fade overtime and so will revenue.
I have been seeing several new styles of "Minisites" which are now being called more and more Microsites. Really the same thing, but when I think of a minisite, I think of a domainers version of the 5 pages of content and really no legs for the site to grow.
Microsites are great IMO!
CheeseAndBurger.com is a perfect example of a microsite with legs! It is helpful to people who use it and the users are likely to come back again and again. The Wisconsin Milk and Marketing Board is the creator of CheeseAndBurger.com and the microsite that goes along with it. With over 3 million members on Facebook.com, of coarse it is important to focus on connecting where the people are!
Getting people to Become a fan on Facebook is important for these microsites and not always the easiest task, but after you have fans, making updates or posting what’s new from time to time keeps people in the loop in their Facebook feeds. Posting these updates is like sending out a press release but it is free and only takes seconds!
Using Facebook Connect, like CheeseAndBurger.com does with it’s recipes (of the burgers) get’s people tempted by simply seeing the yummy looking burger. Don’t think people click the Share on Facebook button? I see the stuff all the time in my feed of friends on Facebook daily! People use it!
Currently, CheeseAndBurger.com has 58,217 "fans" on Facebook.
Wendy’s uses a similar style microsite with WendysRealTime.com . It get’s you hungry just looking at the site and their product is getting noticed!
Microsites like these can be built for selling a single product like the As Seen On TV products are or really used for just about anything. Recipes, Contests, Events, Concerts, Photographers, Race Car Drivers and on and on and on!
Having a catchy domain name will greatly help in your marketing efforts and clearly the microsite should allow for you (the site owner) to add and add and add to the site if you want to grow it in any direction you so choose! Include in contests, games and updated features and functions will also help keep people coming back, talking about your site and keeping new visitors coming in!
Connecting your site with Facebook is vital! Twitter is important as well. These two social networking sites should be your main focus for now, until something else starts gaining ground. Be sure to have something useful to your "fans" and make sure you connect with your fans! Do not over do it with updates as that can be annoying.
Want to be a friend of mine on Facebook? Send me a request at Facebook.com/dotweekly or become a Fan of DotWeekly.com here.
Richard
OMG, “The Casanova” swiss burger looks like heaven. Thanks again for sharing your game changing observations, and have a good weekend!
Jamie Zoch
No problem Richard. All those burgers make me HUNGRY! I think I would gladly try each one
Patrick
OK love the site http://cheeseandburger.com
Is that Patrick Warburton’s voice (Elaine’s boyfriend on Seinfeld)
But how is it monetized? Got any shining examples of micro-sites that appear to monetize well?
Jamie Zoch
@Patrick,
This site is monetized by people buying Wisconsin Cheese in stores! Having the recipe and image in their mind is “the sell”. Then when they are at the store, they need cheese for the cheese burgers they are going to make for supper! Same thing with milk ads.. they are not directly selling it to you, they just want you to buy it when you go shopping and the marketing is helping you remember to get the milk.
~
I would say the microsite is best for pure marketing or selling a single item via download or taking orders. Lot’s of As Seen On TV product microsites make all kinds of money! GetSnuggie.com is a good example of a power selling Microsite! They use that model for nearly all As Seen On TV products. I’m sure there are plenty of ways to monetize a microsite but it depends on what you are marketing or selling.