Forum Moderators: skibum
EVO
They know it costs money to host sites etc, especially popular forums, however they are also probably jealous of the possibility of people clicking on your ads and you actually making any revenue to cover those costs.
It's a fine ideal to believe in "free" however the reality is it doesn't pay the rent nor keep the bank manager very happy!
But this is a great argument for NOT putting up AdSense on a brand new site.
Better to wait until it is well-established, like you obviously have.
But this is a great argument for NOT putting up AdSense on a brand new site.
Not so sure I would agree YesMom.
At least when you use Adsense from the start it is clear to everyone that you have the intention of the site at least covering its costs and I feel that is even more pertinent when it comes to forums.
Some forum sites have their ads belended nicely, some are plainly obtrusive.
Is there anyone with this experience since I have been contemplating trying a new type of forum for my industry?
We get around 4,000 visitors per day and not 1 e-mail has mentioned the ads.
The complainers then got extra flack from other member's that told the complainers to make their own site if they are going to complain.
It's a forum that has a great community, so the fire was put out swiftly.
On another semi-related note, I added the adsense google search box and actually got all kinds of praise for the additional tool. However, I'm only seeing pennies from that.
I added the adsense google search box and actually got all kinds of praise for the additional tool. However, I'm only seeing pennies from that.
In my experience that is completely normal. If your users are using it then keep it, if not, remove it asap since I found that it did actually affect regular Adsense earnings.
Anyone else found that?
I just laid down the facts to the complainers, like what it costs to run a site and then pointed out that the ads are clicked by people
Isn't this in a sense encouraging people to click on the ads in an indirect way?
Maybe the site is relevant, maybe posting URLs is allowed in that forum, but people get testy when they see others trying to get free advertising for an ad-heavy website.
If your users are using it then keep it, if not, remove it asap since I found that it did actually affect regular AdSense earnings.Anyone else found that?
We tried the search box on three sites and found that except for a few odd days the return was well under $1 per day. Total earnings in May for search on 3 sites was just over $18.
It was obvious that people were using it so I deleted it in June and replaced it with a single small square normal ad on 2 of the 3 sites (we have a common bottom border and it was in there). Our results are up substantially.
In the first 18 days of July return is over $29 for 1 site with search and two sites with the small ad. The end result this month will be an increase of revenue of 100%.
It seems to have helped our AdLinks results as well which are much higher this month. We have the AdLinks box in the same bottom border.
I figure once someone has read the page info and gotten down to the bottom of the page after bypassing our regular AdSense ads then anything that I pick up there is gravy.
I no longer send people there for informationI no longer send people there for information
That's why I tend to put less ads on pages that I want to attract incoming links.
E.g. on the homepage of a multipage article I put only one small adblock, or only adlinks. I assume this helps, since many webmasters who review a site don't actually read the content.
I know, because I've linked to sites that didn't actually have the content they promised (the 'content' was an ad for a book).
Since ads are my only source of revenue, I ignore people who complain about ads in the content. You just cannot offer valuable content for free without ads.
Works well.
Had I waited for it to become established and then added the ads, they would have thrown a fit
When I recently added Adsense Search, I got complaints because they thought new members wouldn't know how to search the forums
Some members have offered to pay a membership fee for no ads, but I would only be able to do that for the forums.
Is that not what they were asking for?
If I overdid it, I would scare away members and advertisers.
How do you know if you have never tried?
If I didn't do it at all in the beginning, I would lose members who found it unacceptable to add them later on
Oh boy, have they got YOU on puppet strings?
You have a recurring theme running through your post. You are scared that if you charge/charge/do anything different, that you will lose your members.
I have news for you Celicaphile,
IF YOU DO NOT IMPLEMENT THESE NECESSITIES, WHICH YOU KNOW ARE REQUIRED, YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER!
Sorry about the caps, they were necessary for effect.
You have no business plan, you have no loyal base, you are being USED.
Stop being so much Mr/Ms Nice Person and wanting everyone to love you.
If your site and information is truly worthwhile, they'll live with your new implementations.
It has been my belief for some time that the internet would become less free to users at time marched on, I still endorse this. The facts are that websites must be paid for by somebody.
I also have a high traffic forum. My rules are almost identical to WW rules. I do not allow forum postings which direct to a website of commercial nature. My forum, as WW, is about answers and solutions. I do allow links to non-commercial websites which offer significant knowledge value.
About visitors whom complain about the ads, ask them how they suggest you pay for the website. This may shed some light on alternative revenue streams.
This means you can't have a site that anyone with an extra $5.00 in their pocket each month could put together and sustain.
I know in some segments, communities and forums were often supported by getting donations. I am not terribly keen on this.. And depending on your audience could be something to suggest to them. You can have ads to help support the existance and on-going maintenance of the site and people don't have to worry about getting hit up for donations and paypal links.
If someone really doesn't like your ads, they are free to create their own compeittive endeavor and do it for gratis. I think you really just have to feel out your userbase. If there is a portion of them willing to pay for not having ads, then offer it as an option. Why would you turn away money? People who want to actively avoid ads are probably the ones least likely to click on them to begin with, so it really is free money.
How do you respond to these people?
It's a typical example of no good deed goes unpunished.
You could switch to a subscription model insted, introduce them to PAYPAL, see how they like that! ;)
You could switch to a subscription model insted, introduce them to PAYPAL, see how they like that! ;)
Yeah thats basically what I told the main complainer: "The 'please donate' button didn't work" :)
I also asked him what he thought of newspaper and television advertising. Have not heard a repsonse.
Ignore them.. the more you get caught up in the discussion the longer the argument goes on. No one but the stupid and idle have the energy to prolong this sort of discussion and it will die a natural death.
My terms of use for the sites and newsletters clearly state they will contain content of a commercial nature, and that if that doesn't suit them, please don't use them or subscribe, and we'll be sorry to see them go.
Almost never receive a complaint - so perhaps the above helped.
When I do get a rare complaint, I agree with Shri - just let it go.
1. If they are not particularly requesting a reply, just having a moan, file it away and move on.
2. If it is an important customer, a brief and polite reply reminding of the policy and reason for it should suffice.
3. If they are unnecessarily abusive, I unsubscribe them on the spot (from any subscription they have which is free).
I expect you do need to be concerned if you're upsetting MANY of your visitors/subscribers, but in my experience it is usually a very tiny group who complain. and yes, the same ones who want everything for free.
I suspect, faced with the option, most of the idealists who complain about adverts, will stick with the version that has ads.
I have a very visible link at the top of every page where people can read a letter I wrote all about the time and effort I put into the site and why I need to show ads. I think this must help a lot because I've only every received ONE complaint about showing ads.
