Question
I'm preparing to launch a marketplace that will promote SaaS products and services. This marketplace is an extension of an existing product that launched a month ago and is slowly building up.
Our site doesn't have much traffic yet (1k unique a month), but we expect this will go up significantly over the coming months.
Is it silly to think I can sell some early advertising packages to SaaS vendors (pre-launch), to help bankroll growth of the marketplace?
I had mulled over the idea of offering something like 2 to 3 months of prominent product placement in their respective categories for really cheap (e.g. $250 - $500) while we work to build up traffic.
Since the traffic is low right now there won't any ROI guarantees, but I wonder if sharing the product and marketplace vision with them (which I believe will resonate) and offering a cheap package might convince them it's worth taking a chance? Or is this a pipe dream?
Answer
It’s not a pipe dream at all! Offering early advertising packages can be a smart way to generate initial revenue and build relationships with potential SaaS vendors. Your idea of providing discounted rates for prominent placement while traffic is still growing is a reasonable approach. Make sure to clearly communicate your vision and growth potential to potential advertisers. If you share your plan effectively and offer them a good deal, you might find some vendors willing to take a chance. For some additional insights into launching and marketing platforms, you might find this article helpful: https://www.cleveroad.com/blog/how-to-make-a-casino-website/, which, while focused on casino websites, offers valuable tips on pre-launch strategies and advertising.
