How does sites like facebook and google make money besides ads?

[zlerner716]

Hey how does a site like facebook and google for that matter make money. Obviously ads arent enough money to cover all there bills. Like how do they get the means to pay there bills and expand, even earn a positive cash flow?

[Jasper]

It is pretty much ads,, i never see them though, i have ad block plus. ~

[spiritfiend]

Actually... Google sells a ton of ads, but was also initially supported by their IPO (selling stocks).

[jimstock60]

One of the biggest money making endeavors is that of games. Companies like Zynga or Hitgrab are making millions on these social networking sites and the sites get a portion. Then also contests run by companies, or sponsored by companies on some of these sites cost an enormous amount but get the companies great demographic and information about their customer base, a video contest on YouTube can cost up to Half a Million dollars.

[Hunter J]

Ads, ads, and more ads. Google's ad revenue is incredible. Take into account how much Google brings in through both its Adwords and Adsense programs and it's positively mind-boggling.

Facebook was operating in the red (and still may be) until they instituted their own ad program but they've yet to work out all the kinks in it. I do know that they've instigated stricter rules to try to rid the site of most of the spammy stuff, but a lot still creeps through.

Same with Google. They recently banned advertisers for things like teeth-whitening and other notoriously spammy stuff. They used to let a lot of that slide since it was so profitable (yes, spam does still appear to be profitable) but they are making enough money hand-over-fist that they no longer need to cater to the spammiest of the spammer advertisters any more it seems.

[Julia]

um.. its something to do with traffic. if enough people visit the site, then somehow you get paid. like for example if you built a website and you got as many views as a site like facebook, youd make as much money too. but to make good money you need to come up with some brilliant idea that spreads fast and evryone wants to visit, like twitter or something