Contributor

From Google AdSense Inside Quarterly

[keyplyr]

From Google AdSense Inside Quarterly:

Contributor is a new source of revenue for your site, funded directly by site visitors. With Contributor, users pick a monthly contribution level (either $2, $5, or $10) and a portion of those funds are used to pay you - in place of showing ads.

[nomis5]

Or identify that Adsense is being blocked and serve alternative ads that aren't blocked. I know which I prefer,

[dethfire]

It's an interesting program that I bet very very few visitors will take part in

[tangor]

Yet another attempt to make the Internet like bundled cable.

These things are hilarious, as if they don't think the average user will see the little guy behind the curtain.

The User already pays monthly to get the net. Ads have become so obnoxious that by a small monthly ransom you can view the net ad free.

In the old days you bought a radio or tv and paid the electricity to run it. The "content" was broadcast. No additional fees required (though I believe the UK does things a tad different). Back then, to support CONTENT, advertising was sold and appeared at regular intervals during the broadcast of the content.

THESE DAYS the Content is free (nominally) and the ads are not, ie, additional expense to the user in bandwidth/data plans where in they are getting ads instead of content.... a much less perfect method than the old broadcasting model.... then again, the internet is NOT the broadcasting model, never has been.

Contributor sounds cute: no ads for a fee.... but that won't fly since no ads for free by installing an extension/plug (or just using the latest Firefox in Private mode).

Now, if Contributor is used to select partners and winners and losers via G serps, then that might be something different. I would, however, examine any terms of service for being party to Contributor to see if the site content partner gives up any rights to the mighty black box.

This is all speculation and some commentary... but these kind of things get written on the wall in bits and pieces a little at a time.

[EditorialGuy]

It's a noble experiment--like a "Donate" virtual tip jar, but with a benefit for the donor. It may not succeed, and it certainly isn't appropriate for every site, but if some publishers want to test the concept, more power to them.

[netmeg]

It might work, but I doubt it. I'd rather just ask my audience to chip in a couple bucks directly for an ad free and premium version of my sites. I don't need the middle man.

[keyplyr]

I don't see why anyone would pay anybody when they can get the ad-free version with any browser nowadays, or any number of ad-blocking apps. I don't think the subscription model works for most sites other than news and it barely works there.

For all those Adsense publishers who kept saying Google would come up with a fix... this is it I guess.

[keyplyr]

Google Contributor Info: [support.google.com...]

[ning]

Nomis5 wrote

Or identify that Adsense is being blocked and serve alternative ads that aren't blocked. I know which I prefer

How do you serve alternative ads if the ad blocker already has detected?
Please elaborate.
Thanks

[keyplyr]

@ning we had a couple discussions on adblockers and various techniques available to deal with them.

[jmccormac]

So Google takes the contributor money...

Yep. This will work out well. It might be better for publishers to have thir own donation button on the site.

Regards...jmcc

[EditorialGuy]

It might be better for publishers to have thir own donation button on the site.

Or, better yet, refrain from panhandling altogether. :-)

[tangor]

Looks more like a test to see if paying to NOT get ads will make more money than selling ads. :)

A left hand turn approach to making the user pay for something "free". (Content... unless that content is subscriber based from the get go). The user is currently paying to get ads, which are not content being sent over their fixed data plans which have never been ad supported, hence the rise of the adblocker!

[trebuchet]

The problem with Contributor is that it's not an ad-free premium service at all. The 'contributor' just chips in a few dollars each month and they go into the ad auction, to compete against other bidders for ad slots. If the contributor wins the auction then they don't see an ad. Presumably Google still takes its 32% cut.

If someone signs up for $2 a month, how many Adsense ad slots is this going to buy out? Not too many I'm guessing.

[explorador]

Contributor is a new source of revenue for your site, funded directly by site visitors. With Contributor, users pick a monthly contribution level (either $2, $5, or $10) and A PORTION of those funds are used to pay you - in place of showing ads.

This is a great day, thanks Google I was wishing this new option, it's so amazing! people funding my sites... and SOME portions going... eh... whatever. A better idea: remove the thing in the middle (G).