Looking at the new Mall

[GMSkarka]

In addition to the benefits of association with a "brand name" like RPGnet (which, although minor, IS a factor), the other thing that is gained is a simple factor of business, which does apply, even in an online world.  As the old maxim says: Location, location, location.

Yes, you can always put your stuff on your own site and sell it.  And you should.

However, putting up a few products on RPGnet makes sense.  Why?   Location.  Simply put, you'll get more impulse buyers that way.  It's a central location on one of the most heavily visited game sites on the net.  Your product is in a central location where more incidental traffic will occur, whereas your site is a destination site...not much incidental traffic.  Largely, people coming to your site MEANT to be there. People coming to RPGnet went there because they're into RPGs in general.

When I ran a games store (back in the late 80s/early 90s), I learned something about retail placement.  In short: you don't put your businss away from where your competition is...if possible, you put it on the same street, or in the same mall, etc.  Because, if you can create the connection in the customers mind that tells them that HERE is the location where they go for this type of product...then your traffic will increase because your competition's customers, and your customers, will be heading to the same location, and cross-traffic will occur.

Same case here.  Put your products where other products are, in a location that (literally) says "RPG".

Then send the folks who buy from you there to YOUR site, once you've hooked 'em.

Gareth-Michael Skarka
Adamant Entertainment

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Gareth,

In theory, I agree. In practice ... well, no one knows. Not for on-line sales, not for RPGs in the short or long term.

Several possible variables may act against the possible advantage you cite. (1) The particular mall site may have other aspects with a negative connotation, due to elements that have nothing to do with the quality of the products at the mall. (2) The number of products at the mall may produce a swamping effect that keeps my product from being noticeable in any way. (3) The quality of the products there may be so variable that consumers don't bother to look at individual products any more. (4) Advertising at the well-traveled sites to bring people to my commercial site, primed for "customer mode," might be just as effective for more profit per unit.

All this current discussion is hypothetical "could be, should be," which is fine, but right now - a solid year of data is what we really need.

Best,
Ron

[GMSkarka]

All this current discussion is hypothetical "could be, should be," which is fine, but right now - a solid year of data is what we really need.

True...

What I'm recommending, I guess, is offering a single product through the mall, with pointers on how to get the other products from your own commercial site.

Hell, if you offer that single product at your own site as well, it seems like it would be a win/win.

GMS