Ads on the website - Please read BEFORE voting!!

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab I know this will be a somewhat touchy subject probably. However, I would like to see what every thinks about the prospect of putting up two small ad images on the website. These would be small rectangular banners about 100 tall X 250 wide. They would sit on each side of the Two Wheeled Texans logo at the top of every page. Ideally, as I get more places willing to advertise here, I would just have the banners rotate like the larger banner images in the center of the page.

:tab Why am I thinking of this you ask? Well quite simply, I need some money in a bad way. Our donations are covering the website hosting expenses for now because our monthly bandwidth expense is being subsidized by a VERY generous TWT member. However, as we continue to grow, this subsidy may not be able to continue with us. Right now, I would be facing $300-400/month for bandwidth charges alone at our current level of membership and activity if this subsidy were to end. Needless to say, our donations would not even come close to covering that.

:tab So here is what I am thinking, place the two small banner ads. Personally, I prefer to keep the ads to a minimum both in number and in distraction. I don't think I would allow animated gifs or anything, too annoying. I would STOP taking in donations unless you just feel like contributing. I figure that most people won't want to donate if I am getting commercial support. If I get lucky, I might actually make a little money to offset the serious amount of time that I put into the site. Who knows? I might even be able to keep one of the VFR's :-P

:tab So let me know what you think.

[Docspeed]

Scott,

Go for it. I'm sure you will keep it limited and tasteful, and if it helps you keep the Viffer, well. well. then it's the right thing. :chug:

[vessmech]

Scott,

I think banners are ok....as long as there not the annoying annimated gif's that say "your a winner!" or "click to win!". :evil:

Looking at these, even for a few seconds, almost sends me into seizures!
:shock:

Vessmech

[VFRinAustin]

No big problems here. Might be a good way for local shops or something like that to get a little ad space.

Anything to keep this going :-D

[ZapataZR7]

Scott:

Do whatever you need to do......!!!! I do not like banners, but if that's the only way....GO AHEAD....!!!!! :chug: :chug: :chug: :chug:

[TheCanuck]

Scott:


Again, I would prefer the cheese factor to be limited, but with that said, I see no problem wigth you making money from this site. It is interesting, and a service to the community. I will add two thoughts though

1) It would appear the upgrade worked, but it is a shame that we lost the member log in eeze of the old version. It was nice to have the member log in on the upper right, and when you did log in you went immediately to the page that list the number of messages since you last logged int.

2) It would be cool to have some descriptive text below the images. I am guessing that one is esier said than done. Currently I am looking at a really nice chunk of road, and wondering where in the **** it is :-)

Thanks again,
Tom

[Tourmeister]

Scott:
1) It would appear the upgrade worked, but it is a shame that we lost the member log in eeze of the old version. It was nice to have the member log in on the upper right, and when you did log in you went immediately to the page that list the number of messages since you last logged int.


:tab Seeing as how I never log out, I am not sure I know what you are referring to here? Are you referring to the main page where the announcements were shown? :? You can still cleck the "viewpost since last visit" link at the top right on the main forum page to see new stuff. Otherwise, you can still hit the login link in the upper right corner of each page.


2) It would be cool to have some descriptive text below the images. I am guessing that one is esier said than done. Currently I am looking at a really nice chunk of road, and wondering where in the **** it is :-)


:tab What would be cool except it would be hard to do. I'd have to make the text part of the images so they would stay together as the images swap out. That in and of itself would not be to hard except that I would have to try to remember where all the pictures were taken! :-P I think it would be hard to get the text large enough to read without it dominating the whole image. For the sake of our modem using members, I don't want to make the images any larger ;-)

Adios,

[sphpkr]

Go for it! Administrator's have to eat too!! :)

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab I know the colors are disgusting right now ;-) Those are just place holders at the top of the page to give everyone an idea of what size we are talking about. Seeing those colors makes me think that perhaps I should require all adds to have a white background.

:tab Right now I only have four test images. They are set so that each side roates through the images randomly and indepently of the other image. This means that with only a few images, there will be times when both images actually come up the same. The filesizes will be quite small so they should not take long to load, even for modem users.

:tab Opinions?

Adios,

[Tourmeister]

Well, besides the fact that my test banners are butt ugly, what does everyone think of th enew layout?

[Vee Dub Nut]

Scott.. do what you need to do.. I really enjoy this place, so do what ever needs to be done to keep us afloat!

opps.. didnt realize how old this topic was :mrgreen:

[Chirpy]

I already voted for ads...with dollars :chug:

[GixxerMan1980]

Sure, sounds fine. As long as its not pop-ups. I've found some great sites on www.gixxer.com, just from the adds.

[Texas T]

While I'm late to the discussion here, I'd like to relate some relevant info. I've been a member of Glocktalk.com for going on five years now and the board is six years old.

In the early days Eric was able to run things on a shoestring budget and everything was fine, but as word of the board grew and grew it placed incredible financial strain on him to keep it viable. For the longest time Eric refused to accept donations and paid everything out of his pocket but eventually he began to accept advertising, donations, did raffles, etc.

My point here is not to follow the same route. Plan the financial path you want to go with this board and start implementing things now. Assume the best (that this will become the most used board by Texan motorcyclists) and assume the worst (that it will cost you a fortune to keep it that way).

Banner advertising? Go for it. As a new rider I want to be pointed to relevant vendors.

Raffles? Works for me. I send money every time Eric runs one - maybe one of these days I'll win the nice big .50 cal.

Donations? Sure thing. When a site is good the members will work to keep it going, and if that means money out of their pocket the serious ones will cough it up.

[Mer]

I've got no problems with small tasteful banner ads. No popups though please.

[Spider]

If its pop ups, I'll never see them. Firefox makes certain of that. I wouldn't mind advertisements directly related to two wheeled stuff. Wouldn't bother me at all. If anything might actually be considered a service if they were actually useful. But overall, I say, do what you have to. Its much better to have the site payed for than not have it at all. So whatever you do, Scott, I'm with ya.

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

Right now, the biggest demand is time. I get a lot of PM's and emails to respond to. Then there is just the general house keeping stuff. Eventually I will have to break down and pick a few moderators to help me out with some of the policing of the forums and maybe some of the admin stuff. However, most of our members are pretty good at self policing and keeping things very cool. I really appreciate that because I don't have to waste time playing teacher on the play ground ;-)

I may eventually get some paying ads back up again. I am reluctant to have an actual sponsor because they would then want to exercise control over the style and feel of the forum. I will also probably put some up for the rides I plan for next year. However, what I do for next year is a bit up in the air right now so I am not ready to lay out specific plans.

Adios,

[kawgrl]

Scott,

:bigokay: Do whatever you need..afterall you are the administrator. Pop ups annoy me but I think the ads are a great idea. Raffles could be a neat idea if a lot of people were willing to participate.'

Sounds like it could be a little tough getting everything together though. Good luck buddy!

[Texas T]

However, most of our members are pretty good at self policing and keeping things very cool. I really appreciate that because I don't have to waste time playing teacher on the play ground.
This is one of the most well-behaved forums I've had the pleasure to participate in, but just like the money issue, as the board grows it will tend to become populated with trolls and idiots just like every other successful forum out there.

As a BBS Sysop back in the early 90's I understand what you have to go through to keep this thing running and you have my sympathies (and thanks).
:chug:

[Tourmeister]

There will be no pop ups.

[fergie]

Are you still thinking about this?

I know this is an old topic, but my two cents are.....

I think just about everyone understands what you put into this site,
TIME, money etc...
It is only fair for you to get some type of re-imbursement for your effort.

[Mellow]

$300-400/month seems pretty high, I don't know what your traffic numbers are like but I know www.powweb.com, which I use for my personal site, provides 5gig/day of bandwidth. That's their basic package which is $7.77 per month. I'm not associated with them, just a customer.

They aren't the best service out there but they aren't the worst either.

[Tourmeister]

Right now we are running about 15Gb/mo with a one time high of 20Gb/mo. The site has been growing not just in numbers of registered users, but also in terms of unique visitors regsitered and unregistered. The logs show a steady and constant growth. Right now, I have a fantastic hosting solution ;-)

Adios,

[thestudent]

Thanks for this great site!!!

My $0.02

I fully support your decision to make your life easier, and don't want this site to disapear.

[fast_yellow]

Do what you have to. I have no problems with advertisements. As I am able, I will contribute financially as well. I thoroughly enjoy this website and want to do what I can to make sure it stays up.