Scam Types dot Com

Can you offer any suggestions on how to monetise this site?

I’ve asked the question before, via the comments on one particular post. However, I thought I would ask again here as I know some of my readers are successful blog and website owners.

Scam Types dot Com continues to grow. Last month I had to increase my web hosting package and, for some reason, it looks like I am going to exceed my bandwith limit once again, despite more than doubling the amount available.

Due to personal circumstances I cannot afford to upgrade my hosting again. Therefore, with the domain name coming up for renewal in a few weeks time, I am seriously considering letting the domain expire.

The reason for this is because I have tried to make money from this site and failed. I don’t need a huge amount, I just need to cover the costs as I absolutely cannot afford to pay them out of my own pocket.

Can you suggest any means of making a modest amount of money?

The site receives around 60,000 visitors per month, page views may well reach or exceed half a million in November… surely there is something I can do?

What I’ve tried -

1. Google Adsense

This pays quite well but, due to the nature of this site, is best not used here.

2. Kontera

This paid $7 a day when I received 1,000 visitors per day. Now that traffic has doubled, it typically comes in under a dollar which seems rather poor to say the least. It can also be rather annoying to visitors with the double underlined words.

3. Commission Junction

I’ve tried my hand at affiliate marketing, both by displaying ads in the sidebar and also by incorporating them into content relevant posts. Results so far.. 87,000 impressions, zero sales.

4. Widgetbucks/Auction Ads

Unfortunately, neither of these offer ads that have any relevance to this site. Therefore earnings when tested were zero.

5. Bidvertiser

I ran this for a week and, despite doing well on other sites I’ve had in the past, they only generated an income of 6 cents from 157,000 impressions.

6. Text-Link-Ads

When I ran this I received fairly good earnings. The problem of course is that Google will penalise anyone selling links without the (rel=nofollow) attribute added so this is no longer an option.

7. Private Ad sales

Despite the volume of traffic I receive I have never been able to generate any income from selling text links or banner ads directly.

Help!

I enjoy researching and writing for this site, along with some of the conversations I get into with visitors, either through the comments, email or on IM. I wouldn’t want to lose that, however I cannot afford to continue the site as things stand.

Can you offer any suggestions for making a small amount of money that I haven’t already thought of? (Please don’t suggest a ‘donate’ button as I would never stoop so low as to beg for money).

Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.