Jobs Simply

Changing website to subscription-based?

I have a blog that I use to list local job listings (very few resources for people where I live - including very few jobs listed in the newspaper - I'm able to easily find job openings most people can't). It started as a side project but I'm now getting about 5,000 views per month. The "sad" thing is that even with Adsense and a few affiliate links, I'm only making about $10 per month from it. I want to start charging a small fee for access (either per month with 30-day expiration or automatic renewal each month) but have no idea how to do this or what my options are. I'm familiar with payment options such as PayPal and Google checkout. I just don't know how to set up the website side of things (the part where access is blocked to non members and access is granted via user name and password for members). I figure I could maybe get at least 100 subscribers. I know basic design and basic html (but no actual coding or scripts). Worse yet, the existing site is a blogger site with a "real" domain name so I am aware I may have to move it to an actual host if a database directory of some sort is required. Any ideas on how to change my website/blog to a subscription-based site? Any ideas on software for noobs that may get this done? And if it's better to have a pro do this, any idea of cost (ballpark) and if their services would be needed throughout or just set up? (Again, I have tech aptitude, I'm just completely unfamilar with this side of web site creation). I'd rather go to a pro as a last resort only because I'm not sure if folks would pay to access the site. Thanks in advance to anyone who can point me in the right direction. Thanks to everyone so far. Keep in mind, I'm not seeking marketing advice - just how to set up a "pay per view" website. In an area where jobs are supposedly scarce, I'm finding several local jobs listings each day (by going direct to company or gov't websites) before they're even in the paper (if they are at all). TIME magazine just did an article about people paying for job leads, which gave me the idea. If I can get even 3 people to sign up, the site would generate more profit than it is now (again, kind of sad). If no one signs up, I'll scrap the site. No sense putting ten hours a week into something that's earning me $10 a month. Turning it into pay per view would be the last step before I ditch it. Thanks again all.

Public Comments

1. You should try Joomla - http://joomla.org - it's fairly simple to learn and it will cover all your needs. You could quite easily set up a subsription based site. You can find lots of free tutorials on YouTube. But yes you'd need some kind of hosting. I prefer Host Gator - but almost any linux based hosting like Dreamhost, Bluehost or even GoDaddy (linux) would work. Almost of these hosts allow you to install Joomla with a couple of clicks. It's very easy to use and once you get the hang of it it's smooth sailing. Like most open source CMS systems it's also got a very helpfull community and forums you can ask questions in. You will be fine.
2. Before you move ahead with this had you surveyed your users to see how many would be willing to pay.. although you may not get a concrete answer it may give you some indication. Although I don't want to put your idea down I am VERY dubious about the proportion of people who are willing to pay for anything on the internet. Is there any other way you could go? Could you expand the site, add other section than just jobs and that way build up the impressions... it wasn't till I began to get 10,000 impression a day that I started to make any real money... Could you sell advertising direct to local businesses, that normally pays a much better rate.
3. I use wordpress with a Paypal plugin.