RailServe.com: The Internet Rail Directory
RailServe.com Home Page Browse 14,000 rail-related sites Search 14,000 rail-related sites Events Calendar Post and view Classified Ads Train Simulators Support & Advertising History of RailServe.com

Who We Are: The scope of Internet resources is expanding exponentially, increasing the need for specialty web portals that provide high quality content in well-organized directories. Such sites enable users to truly browse by topic or interest rather than rely on broad Internet searches. Committed to this single vision, RailServe.com is the largest and most visited rail directory and rail search engine on the Internet and provides a highly targeted audience for advertisers.

Why Advertise With Us: RailServe.com has provided advertising solutions to nearly 200 clients, ranging from sole proprietors to the Fortune 500, with an annual retention rate exceeding 95%. Serving the needs of travelers, hobbyists, and the rail industry for 12 years, RailServe.com's flexible advertising solutions reach 2,500,000 targeted users annually.

What We Offer: RailServe.com offers three primary advertising types. Please select from the following options to learn more about the unique advantages of each method. Or, contact RailServe.com with your advertising goals and let us propose a variety of advertising options just for you.

  1. Banner Advertising: for maximum exposure, a picture is worth a thousand words
  2. Premium Links: distinguish your listing in any category for just $145/year
  3. Sponsorship: home page placement starting at just $50/year

 

Banner Advertising

For banner advertising sales and information, please contact RailServe.com.

Since 1996, banner ads have been the most popular form of RailServe.com advertising. Banners allow advertisers to use both pictures and words in highly visible locations to reach potential customers. To determine whether banner advertising is right for you, please consider the following benefits:

Targeted Advertising: Choose from nearly 150 advertising locations throughout the site to target specific audiences best suited for your products, services, or website. RailServe.com is primarily used by train hobbyists, travelers, railfans, and industry stakeholders.

Fixed Banner Placement: Many sites rotate ad banners throughout numerous pages or sites, leaving the advertiser without sufficient control of their audience. At RailServe.com you simply select the desired locations and length of advertising term. Your ad is displayed upon every page view, similar to traditional print advertising. When choosing among advertising locations, RailServe.com can provide you with a guaranteed impression count (ad views) per month.

Highly Effective Banners: As a rail directory, most RailServe.com users come to browse or search for web sites by category of interest. Coupled with a selection of targeted full-size ad banners in highly visible locations, we like to think of RailServe.com advertisers as "featured sites," supported by a history of strong advertising response and high retention rates since 1996.

Flexible Packages for Your BudgetRailServe.com gives you the freedom to select one or many advertising locations for any desired period. Category pages (such as the Model Railroad Internet Retailers Page and the Locomotives & Railcars Page) start as low as $15/month and generate up to 30,000 impressions (views) per page per month. Rotate multiple ad banners in the locations you choose for maximum exposure to repeat visitors to the site. Start advertising today and pay later - RailServe.com billing is flexible to meet your needs.

Advertising Benefits: Select RailServe.com banner advertisers are entitled to a free Premium Link (value $15/month)! For example, you may wish to run an ad banner on the home page to reach the maximum possible audience. In doing so, you will also be provided a premium listing on your respective category page, with a link placed above all other free listings. Additionally, select banner advertising packages include a complimentary "Sponsor" designation on the RailServe.com home page.

Maximum Advertising Exposure: RailServe.com has a solid history of growth since 1996 and served 2.5 million unique visitors in 2007. To provide the most accurate representation of your advertising potential, we do not use overall "hits" or "page views" when describing site exposure, nor do reported figures include client or affiliate sites. Also while advertising, you may view your live ad stats (impressions/views and click-throughs to your site) and make desired changes to your ad banners at any time.


^
A "visitor" is defined as a single user session. For example, if one uses RailServe.com for one hour while visiting numerous pages, they are recorded as a single visitor. If they return to the site once each month, they are counted as 12 visitors for the year. Additionally, RailServe.com resources linked from external sites are excluded from this count. As a result, this count is considerably more conservative than sites reporting total "hits" or "page views," or that utilize hit counters across multiple pages.


Premium Links

Many RailServe.com category pages contain hundreds of listings and reach more than 10,000 viewers/month. To leverage the benefits of RailServe.com's popularity and distinguish your listing among hundreds of others, RailServe.com offers the opportunity to upgrade your listing for $15/month or $145/year.

A Premium Link will move your listing from its present alphabetical order to the top of the category page. Not only will your link be placed at the top, your site's title and description will appear in bold with a icon beside it to further distinguish your listing.

Low Cost, High Exposure: Even in the most popular categories that reach 30,000 viewers/month, your site can be highlighted at the top for just $145 a year. If your site is related to multiple RailServe.com categories (i.e. a retailer that sells both books and videos, or railcar leaser that also provides maintenance services), discounts are available for multiple premium links.

Targeted Advertising: Choose from approximately 135 categories throughout the site to target specific audiences best suited for your products, services, or website. RailServe.com is primarily used by train hobbyists, travelers, railfans, and industry stakeholders.

High Effectiveness: While distinguished by their high placement, bold text, and icon designation, premium links still appear in-line with other listings and are not presented as commercial advertisements. Even if a user skims past the ad banner on a page in search of a specific listing, they are likely to see your listing first.

Convenience: No banners. No waiting. Payment can be made online and your Premium Link begins within 24 hours.

To upgrade to a Premium Link, please contact RailServe.com.


Sponsorship

RailServe.com sponsorship provides a unique, inexpensive opportunity for placement on a site that reaches more than two million users annually. Starting at just $50/year, you may place a one line text sponsorship listing on the RailServe.com Home Page. Sponsors are listed in descending order of sponsorship amount, so greater sponsorship amounts yield higher placements. Many clients choose to combine sponsorship with banner advertising and/or premium link advertising on specific category pages.

For more information about current placements or to begin sponsorship, please contact RailServe.com.