Playing with Ads

[Andy]

As you may have noticed, we've been playing around with the advertisements we display on YWO. In July, we made about half as much money as we need to cover costs for a month, so we're trying out things with the ads to see what works best in terms of raising money.

Naturally, we're trying to keep the ads as out-of-the-way as possible, but at the same time their presence is a necessary part of keeping the site online.

We've added a thin gray bar of ads at the top of the Search Results pages. The bar is the same size and color as the forum description bars you see at the top of every thread, so it's nothing larger than what you're already used to. Again, it will only appear on the Search Results pages, including New Posts and New Literature.

In addition, if you're viewing a thread as a guest, it's possible you will see image advertisements at the bottom instead of the usual text ads. But if you're logged on - no image ads, period.

Hopefully this will be enough to get the site's funding back on track. Thank you for bearing with us.

[Nyx]

I would've never noticed it if you hadn't pointed it out:P

[Shaun]

Well if you guys donated a million dollars we'd never need ads in the first place :P. Which one of you is a millionaire?

[Midnight_Moon]

It ain't me. But if I ever get famous, I'll totally donate tons.

I never really noticed until you said so. I was to busy reading the threads.

[Nyx]

-hands Shaun a million dollars-

Oh what? You meant real money?

-takes back board game cards-

[Carraka]

But I just recently started to click on them ...

Are you telling me my efforts are completely wasted?

No, of course not.

[Alex]

I think you guys are being too cautious with this. I really don't care at all, fill the place with ads as long as they aren't in places to intimidate new members, and once you've saved enough money cut them back down again. That will let the site grow, and by the time you cut down all the ads the site should be able to run itself on a low number of adds because of increased membership and hits.

At least thats what I think ((without knowing any of the economic figures, of course)).

[Andy]

I think you guys are being too cautious with this. I really don't care at all, fill the place with ads as long as they aren't in places to intimidate new members, and once you've saved enough money cut them back down again. That will let the site grow, and by the time you cut down all the ads the site should be able to run itself on a low number of adds because of increased membership and hits.
The problem is that the more ads we put on the site, the more new visitors will think the site exists solely to earn money. You obviously know that's not the case, but they don't.

Shaun and I are hoping the store will raise a good amount of revenue, and we're also looking into getting sponsors to pay us a fixed fee for their ad on our site for a certain period of time.

[Alex]

Well see, Andy, that is where we differ. I couldn't care less about people joining who can't see that the shear number of posts on this site make it a viable source for young writers to use.

Ok, fine... you're right, I'm not winning this argument. Even if I did, what would the point be, all that would happen is that my time would be wisped away until the next suggestion thread *cries*. No... no... its quite alright, there is no need to console me.

EDIT: Truthfully, though, I don't feel adding a bar of ads at the top and bottom of the community and literature sections would be that big of a deal. I mean if it helps the site it helps the site. I never notice the ads, and I'm pretty sure most people don't either, so adding a few more, even thin bars of them, shouldn't be that bad. Of course you know more then me though so I will shut up now. Just don't want the sites revenue to be based on 'hope' =p

[Nyx]

I have to say, Alex has a point. I mean the thin bar on New Posts is barely noticable to me, I don't think a thin bar here and there would really be much...Specially if they're places like New Posts where people don't really spend much time on, it could be distracting in the Lit Forums and such but you could easily [I'm assuming..,]add another thin bar to places like Who's Online, etc.
And like Alex said, they could just be temporary till YWO has some money saved.