Is it worth developing a domain with a low-CPC keyword?

[burgerman]

If you have a domain name and the keyword gets searched a lot but the keyword itself (according to the Google Keyword Tool) has a low average CPC (eg $0.50, or $1.00 rather than $5-25 clicks), is it still worth developing the domain? Is CPC a good indicator of how profitable a site can be?

For instance, let's say you decide not to use Google Adsense on your site and instead you create a paid directory listing on your site and also have direct advertisements.

Has anyone here decided to not use Google ads on their site because of the low CPC and made money through directory listings and direct ads on their site?

Please share your story. Thanks.

[katherine]

I think you've answered your own question. If you don't intend to use Adsense or similar service, low CPC is less of a worry. Plus, the low CPC could be offset by a higher search volume. Likewise, there are niche themes with very tiny search volume but very high CPC.
There are other monetization options than google, and it is a good thing not to depend exclusively on google for your income

[draggar]

Channel	Page impressions	Clicks	Page CTR	Page eCPM	Estimated earnings
XXXXXX	15,971	60	0.38%	$1.24	$19.73

This is for one site (one domain). Averaging about $0.32 a click yet it made close to $20 YTD (still a day or two left).

Pays for the reg fees and as traffic grows, the revenue will grow.

I don't think it's not worth it.

The domain is a niche FirstnameLastname.org that I run for that person. Only 12,000 results for hs name in quotes from a Google search.

[burgerman]

This is good news! Thanks for your input.

[PokerPie]

$0.50-$1.00 is not that bad. If it is a topic you are interested in and wont mind working on, developing content for - and one that you think will get a lot of traffic, then certainly it is worth developing it, particularly if there is low SEO competition for the keywords in your domain - that way you can rank fast and stay there. If its high SEO competition it might give me some pause.