Are visitors searching for 'Free casinos' worth attracting?

[penny-slot-machines]

Hi

Having put the word 'free' on my site front page a little while ago, I have been getting a huge amount of traffic (well, huge as far as my normal traffic goes...) from people searching google for terms like "free casinos", "free slots", "free penny slots" and the like.

None of them have deposited (which I guess should have been predictable)

However, I wonder whether in the long-term, these players are worth attracting to my site? Maybe they will come back and play for real money in a year or two? Maybe they will tell friends about the site who will then play? Maybe they will blog about the site? On the other hand, could they be a negative influence?

Does anyone have any experience on customers searching for 'free casino games' etc?

I'd add that even though my site is far from complete (it's a long way off, with nothing at all on many of the pages), the visitors do spend a lot of time on my site, they look around a lot and they most-often return back later...

[Fortune Palace]

I've offered free games on my site from the start. They've always attracted interest, but it's hard to say how many of those visitors have converted into real money players.

Free games seekers are by definition looking for freebies, so they're probably not the kind of traffic who will deposit.

But any visitor is a good visitor. If nothing else, they might spread the word to someone who WILL deposit.

I've thought about dumping the free games and focusing on getting the cash, but my thinking is: they're not doing any harm, so keep em!

Have free games as added value (a kind of loss leader), but ensure the main focus of your site is on players looking to deposit.

[pokertramp]

In poker, which is what I deal mostly with, I have good luck with the "freerolls" and no deposit offers attracting real money players down the road. There are times I get 100s of clicks and no deposits but then, boom, a big player shows up or a few small, they all add up and over time it's all a numbers game, get as many downloads as possible and you will eventually get some real money players, that's how I look at it.
You will always have the bonus hunters and freerollers but in the end, a few real money players make it worth it. It will take a little longer than some sites, but it works eventually.

[thepokerkeep]

Attracting "free" or "play money" players is an important part of the business. Everyone has to start somewhere and once you've got these players signed up as "play money" players, they'll be tracked to you when they decide to deposit.

[penny-slot-machines]

Many thanks for the comments everyone, it's really useful to get people's thoughts on this.

[GamTrak]

I started using the "free" & "no deposit" terms over five years ago and managed to sign up xx,xxx players.

The reason I considered those terms is because when I first started playing online I searched for every free bonus available in order to try the different software, etc. Once I found a place that I liked then I would make a deposit.

[brean78]

yep, I would never discount the value of these players. They may just be looking to get their game together before they play for real money.

[Fortune Palace]

I'm encouraged to hear that people have had experience of free money players eventually converting to real money.

But is there any time limit between registering for free and converting to real?

I know that there have been issues with cookies expiring between players visiting and registering. Can the same happen if a player has signed-up for free play or will they be tracked if and when they convert?

[Nodepositworld]

The message that im seeing from most including myself is that most online gamblers start out knowing there are free chips and will move from casino to casino until the free chip vault is dry. I know thats what I did when I started out. Now here is something that should make you happy...regadless of what any affiliate or player says ...THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE CHIP" So with that said, anybody you get looking for a free chip will always have to deposit.

Dont even get me started on the "cookies" thing because many cookies are deleted by pc owners with programs such as crap cleaner ect. The only thing you can hope for is to get the players you sign up to deposit as soon as possible. But have no fear, they do come, Im living proof.

Puma

[LiveCasinoPartners]

I'm surprised that there's so many positive comments of "free" keywords. I've tried using those keyword phrases, and got players.. with 0% conversion.

I'm avoiding specific cost driven keyword phrase marketting for "bonuses" and "free" type keyword phrases.

[TheGooner]

I think that the "cookies" comment here was misleading.

If a player signs up under your affid - even as a free player - then you have them as long as they continue to use that player ID at that site.

Cookies don't matter once the player is registered - and were only used to track the original registration.

However, you will frequently lose players due to one of :
- players changing rooms
- players changing PCs (new PC?) and loading new software and a new ID
- rakeback affiliates teaching players to delete software and load under them.
- players losing money and working out it's hard to win gambling online.

-----------------------------------------

But I'll agree with Wager-X. Traffic looking for FREE stuff is generally the lowest likelihood of actually spending money. they've said that they're not looknig to spend when they typed their search.

With good quality traffic, and appropriate selling you should be able to get registration rates or 3%,5%, or even 10% (clicks to registrations) and half of those registrations should be spending.

Most affiliates with FREE traffic are lucky to reach 1% registration and a similarly low deposit rate. Why? Because they specifically optimised thier website to find the free-loaders.

When you see affiliates on here (and on PAP/PAW) complaining about their low conversion levels a quick check of their website shows that they are NEARLY always promoting FREE offers.

Yes - some freebie hunters may eventually move onto being paying players .... but when they do I bet that they search the net again - and that they will NOT be searching for FREE poker or FREE casino etc.

[mojo]

This has been debated alot. While I agree with Gooner, there are two sides to the coin.

While there are certainly are freebie hunters with no intention of depositing, there are also alot of quality players. I have a site devoted to no deposit offers and I wouldn't give it up. I have gotten many depositers and some high rollers too.

A player that doesn't deposit today may very well deposit tomorrow. I've seen players come back three months later to deposit. Sometimes they are unable to deposit for one reason or another and just want to play. If they are treated right from step one they will remember and are likely to come back when they are ready to deposit. Some just want to test the casino. I have done this myself. If there are snags I won't go back. I've taken most of the free chips and picked my favorite casinos to deposit at. I understand that alot of webmaster don't call this quality traffic but I don't want to exclude anybody.

I guess it's a matter of personal choice and how it would perform for you and fit on your site.

[Nodepositworld]

I think Mojo has it right on the nose when she says

"I don't want to exclude anybody"

And isin't that what we are all trying to do? We are trying to get all the players we can regardless of their intention when they do a search in google. Im just thankful they came to my site.

Is it true that a player is announcing they are not going to deposit when they search google for no deposit bonuses? maybe.

But as soon as they do that "no deposit search" they have labled themself as a "gambler" and thats the traffic I want regardless if they are ready to deposit or not.

You cant get huge amounts of traffic without a healthy mix of both.

[LiveCasinoPartners]

I think Mojo has it right on the nose when she says
"I don't want to exclude anybody"

I agree with that BUT I like to try to get the most amount of profit with my limited time I have. I remember Michael mentioning the 80%-20% rule of thumb where 80% of your profit will come from 20% of your players. With the limited time I have, I have to target them to yield the most return for my time. If or when I saturate my niche on that group I'll then go after the other 20%. I just don't have the time now.

I do agree, it's just the cost vs. benefit that drives my priorities.

Cheers

[Ziggy]

I agree with much has been said about "FREE" players and I understand Gooners points. I do not push free; but I do bonuses. Conventional wisdom has always said not to push free play since they tend not to be high rollers.

At the same time, I had a player download last April and played for real money NINE months later.

Indeed, a long time for free play; but somehow it evetually does pay off; but I wouldn't recommend it unless you had HUGE amounts of traffic.

[AussieDave]

Hi all,

I think it depends on the niche or even the sub niche of that niche.

For instance, I've got a couple of sites running exclusively free casino games. All have been open 4 months or less and all turned revenue the first month of opening. So far I've pocketed 2.5K and I'm only pushing one casino brand.

I too held the opinion that free players were low rollers. However, I've got a couple of players who are dropping over 1K a month each, every month, albeit they've won, but a winner is a grinner and eventually the table turns.

Where as I've had other sites that didn't do jack for 6 months & even then they produced very little & cost me a heap of time to set-up.

I personally think it depends on a number of variants, but for me marketing and site aesthetics has proved to be profitable over a short period, least in the free niche market.



Cheers



Dave

[mojo]

There are excellent insights to this issue here anyone considering promoting free chips. There is one more thing to add.

The free chip issue wouldn't be here if Casinos didn't promote it. They know it works. My advice is that if you are going to advertise it, read the terms and conditions. There are some wild t/c's! Convoluted and unclear double talking in the cash out rules will make your players run for cover. My advice is do your homework.

Best of Luck!

[MrKay]

There are excellent insights to this issue here anyone considering promoting free chips. There is one more thing to add.

The free chip issue wouldn't be here if Casinos didn't promote it. They know it works. My advice is that if you are going to advertise it, read the terms and conditions. There are some wild t/c's! Convoluted and unclear double talking in the cash out rules will make your players run for cover. My advice is do your homework.

Best of Luck!

This is good advice, I have been trawling through t's & c's for a while now and building up a nice database of all the sites offering 'No Deposit Required' promotions and in a majority of cases the terms are terrifying.... so many offers will be removed (or atleast re-worded) with the next generation of my website... it makes no sense disappointing players by mis-selling them no deposit required promotions when a deposit is required.

I think making two clear paths for the two different audiences (Bonus Hunters with no intention of depositing and people who are looking to 'Try before they Buy') and diverting them to the appropriate and correct properties is a great way to start.

[penny-slot-machines]

Many thanks, once again, for everyones input on this, it's been very useful.

Some of my 'free' players have stated to convert since posting, which backs up the view of many that I should be going for them as well as those that convert better

[AussieWebmaster]

I think that the "cookies" comment here was misleading.

If a player signs up under your affid - even as a free player - then you have them as long as they continue to use that player ID at that site.

Cookies don't matter once the player is registered - and were only used to track the original registration.

However, you will frequently lose players due to one of :
- players changing rooms
- players changing PCs (new PC?) and loading new software and a new ID
- rakeback affiliates teaching players to delete software and load under them.
- players losing money and working out it's hard to win gambling online.

-----------------------------------------

But I'll agree with Wager-X. Traffic looking for FREE stuff is generally the lowest likelihood of actually spending money. they've said that they're not looknig to spend when they typed their search.

With good quality traffic, and appropriate selling you should be able to get registration rates or 3%,5%, or even 10% (clicks to registrations) and half of those registrations should be spending.

Most affiliates with FREE traffic are lucky to reach 1% registration and a similarly low deposit rate. Why? Because they specifically optimised thier website to find the free-loaders.

When you see affiliates on here (and on PAP/PAW) complaining about their low conversion levels a quick check of their website shows that they are NEARLY always promoting FREE offers.

Yes - some freebie hunters may eventually move onto being paying players .... but when they do I bet that they search the net again - and that they will NOT be searching for FREE poker or FREE casino etc.

Great points especially of things being done to steal your sign ups or ways you can lose them.

but no one mentions grabbing emails from the free sign ups.... these can be used to market direct with lessons, bonuses etc. - always grab the email asap