However, monetizing this website will not be easy. I think the most viable model for monetizing is through graphical display ads. But graphical display ads are still in their infancy in Vietnam. Even in the US, it’s challenging to monetize through graphical display unless site traffic is massive.

The central challenge with the business model on this site rises from the fact that the site provides what I call “soft value” instead of “hard value.” “Soft value” web sites provide interesting content but usually do not allow the user to take an action that immediately adds value to their lives (”hard value”). Examples of soft value sites are news, blog and video sites.

“Hard value” sites are sites that provide information or services that immediately add real value to me. For example, VietnamWorks.com is a hard value site because users can transact on the site to look for and apply for jobs. Caravat.com is a hard value site because it allows me to keep up to date with my contacts and learn what they are doing. VietnamSkills.com is 50% soft value, 50% hard value because it provides information about careers, but also practical links to courses that might be valuable to me.