[Chris 96 WS6]

I put a google ad bar somewhere on the message board?

I could place it across the top above the banner or down the left or right side.

Its not flashy, not animated, but displays contextual ads based on the content of this site, and the site earns money based on how many clicks the ads get. For example about 33 clicks is $1.

Just a way I have found to help keep the site expenses paid for going forward, but I don't want to hack all of you guys off because many of you are really picky about ads and things.

Before anyone says it again.....I WILL NEVER PUT POP UPS ON THIS SITE.

[CMC #37]

Sounds ok to me Chris! You have to grab whatever least obnoxious necessary evils! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[98_1LE]

I understand why you want to do this, but have to ask, given the finite and focused community here, how long do you think it will take to get 33 clicks?

[prockbp]

heh... do people actually click banner ads??


i wouldn't mind the ad

[KeithO]

Fine with me.

[RegaMaro]

good by me. I'll even click on it lots. I still like using google altho sometimes all I get are sweedish sites.

[sgarnett]

Personally, it just wastes valuable screen space and slows everything down.

Maybe if was ONLY on the (bottom of the) home page but not on any opened threads, and coded to download LAST instead of first ....

[Chris 96 WS6]

Personally, it just wastes valuable screen space and slows everything down.

Maybe if was ONLY on the (bottom of the) home page but not on any opened threads, and coded to download LAST instead of first ....

Then what would be the point? Nobody would see it or click on it.

[lateapex]

I think killing you would be rather extreme. Maybe one of us could just hold you down while the others rough you up a bit.

I view it like Chuck; you might do well to get a dollar or two a month from us clicking on generic “outdoor male” links. For the little revenue it might generate, I wouldn’t think it fair to give them more visibility than our current advertisers who contribute some real money.

Hey, I may be a contrary, uninformed naysayer, but at least I’m on topic this time.

[Chris 96 WS6]

I think killing you would be rather extreme. Maybe one of us could just hold you down while the others rough you up a bit.

I view it like Chuck; you might do well to get a dollar or two a month from us clicking on generic “outdoor male” links. For the little revenue it might generate, I wouldn’t think it fair to give them more visibility than our current advertisers who contribute some real money.

Hey, I may be a contrary, uninformed naysayer, but at least I’m on topic this time.

Good point.

[94bird]

I'd agree with Yang. 33 clicks for a buck doesn't seem like a good bang for the buck for having a banner on the site.

How short do you think you are on the budget to keep the site going Chris?

[sgarnett]

I do try to patronize sponsors, and a collection of relevant, small sponsor ads can actually be a valuable resource. One thing I liked on LS1.com was the sponsors page. In other words, keep the discrete alternating sponsor ad in the top corner as is, but maybe add a "Sponsors" link next to the "My Assistant" link that links to a page showing all of the sponsor ads with links to their homepages. I often used that resource when looking for something.

On the other hand, I NEVER click through on generic banner ads. If I'm searching for something unrelated to f-bodies I'll just go directly to Google or Amazon, but waiting for a banner ad to load before I can read the content I'm interested in simply does not inspire me to go impulse shopping.

[Lucas Black]

i have basically the same feeling on this particular banner proposal. i, just naturally, open up a new window if i find something i need to search for. this is mainly because i wish to continue to view the page that i was on at that time, but do some searching also. so therefore, i would never use the banner, unless maybe it opened into its own window. but even still, if it is only on the homepage, then i wouldn't want to have to click back just to get to it.

and 33 clicks with the traffic this site sees, i doubt would come that quickly. it might! but i doubt it.

[ESPCamaro]

I see this as most of the others do.

It will take up space, clutter the main page, and create VERY little income.

What would be really interesting is see a poll of all members who have 250 posts or more (Probably means those that produce the most "traffic" on the site) and see how many of them EVER click banner adds.

I know I don't.

[Chris 96 WS6]

Nevermind guys.

I realize the pointlessness of the proposal now.

The site expenses are covered for the year thanks to the sticker deal and the sponsors I've recruited so far.

[trackbird]

I know. Just put it up on the sponsors page and we can all go click it 20-30 times at the beginning of each month. That way everyone wins.

[Lucas Black]

anyone know how to write a program that will just automatically open up this website, "click" on the ad on the sponsors page, then reload the frrax.com page and do it over again? that should help with revenue.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[98_1LE]

Lucas, it is not that easy. The software logging the click through records the IP of the host making the request, and if it sees a bunch of duplicates, knows that someone has done what you described.

[Lucas Black]

Lucas, it is not that easy. The software logging the click through records the IP of the host making the request, and if it sees a bunch of duplicates, knows that someone has done what you described.

it was more of a joke (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[sgarnett]

I know. Just put it up on the sponsors page and we can all go click it 20-30 times at the beginning of each month. That way everyone wins.

Some variation of that is not a bad idea. I think Amazon has some kind of deal that sales generated by clicking though can generate a small percentage kickback.

The basic idea would be, if you're going to buy something from Amazon anyway, start from frrax.

I've seen something similiar on another community site such as this (except I think it was woodworking). The purchase cost to the buyer was the same either way, so there was no penalty for starting from the website you hang out at anyway.

[sgarnett]

I realize the pointlessness of the proposal now.

The site expenses are covered for the year thanks to the sticker deal and the sponsors I've recruited so far.

BTW, we DO want the site to stay solvent (and not become a burden to you), and "ya gotta do what ya gotta do", but hopefully there are less annoying / more constructive ways.

[robz71lm7]

There will always be decals, donations (could use a paypal donate button), and say stuff like t-shirts that can be sold to support the site. You could setup something like that with cafepress for t-shirts andmisc merchandise. Gary K designed the decal-perhaps he could give you an image suitable for that.

The people here are a tight group and will do a lot to support the site if need be.

[LT4Firehawk]

I'd rather have a Paypal donation option. 33 clicks for $1 just doesn't sound like that good of a deal. I'm sure there are plenty of us that would donate $1/month or more to keep the site active.

[CMC#5]

I know. Just put it up on the sponsors page and we can all go click it 20-30 times at the beginning of each month. That way everyone wins.

I love it. If there's a generic term for people that will stretch rules to the max, I think "racers" is it.

I'd be up for cool FRRAX paraphenalia like shirts & what not. That kind of stuff has a really good chance to keeping the place solvent.

[Dewey316]

I'd be up for cool FRRAX paraphenalia like shirts & what not. That kind of stuff has a really good chance to keeping the place solvent.

I like that idea also, i would rather pay, get something tangable, and still help the site out more than seeing banner ads that i will probably never really click on.

[Chris 96 WS6]

I like the shirts/mugs/mousepads concept. Like that a lot....

I do not like donations as a concept or rule. To me it makes this site much more of a public property realm and less of a private enterprise. I try to operate this board in a way that pleases the people who use it, but I am very cool on anything that creates any implied or express strings where somebody might think I "owe" them something for their donation.

For example: For the forseeable future, this site isn't very expensive to operate. A couple of sponsors a year is all it takes to pay for it assuming we don't grow 5-7 times the size in terms of bandwidth. [edit: by my guesstimates, I have enough bandwidth in the base hosting package to accomodate 5 times as much traffic per month as we get here now...so that's the growth ceiling beyond which it will cost more to operate the site].

Having said that...if I bring in new sponsors...that's profit in my pocket. I hope no one here has a problem with that. If they do then we've already got issues with the concept of this site and "ownership" thereof.

Now, I didn't start the site for you guys with the idea of making money. I knew it was a possibility, but the smallness of this niche...f-body guys that turn left and right.....precluded any kind of "windfall".

However, for me to accept donations for anything more than a break-even endeavor would be disengenuous IMO. But fee for service or fee for product is different, because the buyer gets something in return.

I don't think its inappropriate at all for me to make a little extra money from the site, considering I went through the trouble of setting it up and paid for the expenses up front. My time in doing what management needs to be done can be compensated in this way. If I make $1000 net a year off sponsorships, etc....that's pretty cheap if you divide by hours I would end up working on the site in a given year.

I agree that with the traffic this site has, the google ads are a joke in terms of the return I would get. So that idea is gone. If we were getting 100,000 visits per month I'd reconsider it, but at those levels, I could command much higher sponsorship fees, which would far outstrip any earning potential the google ads would have. But ultimately I'm not going to do things with this site that you guys don't like, because without members this site has Zero value to anyone.

[trackbird]

I know. Just put it up on the sponsors page and we can all go click it 20-30 times at the beginning of each month. That way everyone wins.

I love it. If there's a generic term for people that will stretch rules to the max, I think "racers" is it.

Whatever you do, don't look under my car..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I guess I've been figured out, that didn't take long.....

[robz71lm7]

Chris it's not wrong to make money off the site. The issue people have had with that is at an LS1 related site where the owner never put the money back in the site. Never upgraded the server when necessary, etc. As long as the site is kept in tip top shape all is fine.

[sgarnett]

Having said that...if I bring in new sponsors...that's profit in my pocket. I hope no one here has a problem with that. If they do then we've already got issues with the concept of this site and "ownership" thereof.

Now, I didn't start the site for you guys with the idea of making money. I knew it was a possibility, but the smallness of this niche...f-body guys that turn left and right.....precluded any kind of "windfall".

However, for me to accept donations for anything more than a break-even endeavor would be disengenuous IMO. But fee for service or fee for product is different, because the buyer gets something in return.

I don't think its inappropriate at all for me to make a little extra money from the site, considering I went through the trouble of setting it up and paid for the expenses up front.

I agree completely. Heck, I hope it does turn into a windfall for you.

I would hate to see things evolve to the point where sponsors have editorial control, but that's certainly been covered already. Other than that, more power to you. If you can retire early, so be it (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

In other words, thanks for doing it (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[CMC#5]

Man, I couldn't agree more. It takes time and effort to run things like this. If that means you end up getting a free set of tires or whatever a year, thats great. Personally, I know I get a lot out of this site, and I think the guys and gals that are regulars here do too.

[robz71lm7]

I made this page as an example of what could be done. I jacked the prices up so nobody will order-since this is an example.

http://www.cafeshops.com/frraxcom

[sgarnett]

Looks good!

[tonycook]

I personally do not have a problem with donations for the site. Most of us cannot contribute to the day to day operation of this site in any other way.

[sgarnett]

I personally do not have a problem with donations for the site. Most of us cannot contribute to the day to day operation of this site in any other way.

I don't have a problem with giving donations either, but I understand Chris's point about donations having a hook (even when not intended by the donor).

I'd happily buy an Ash Gray t-shirt or two as pictured, though not at Rob's current pricing (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[trackbird]

I am diggin' the $50 coffee mug.....

[robz71lm7]

I personally do not have a problem with donations for the site.  Most of us cannot contribute to the day to day operation of this site in any other way.

I don't have a problem with giving donations either, but I understand Chris's point about donations having a hook (even when not intended by the donor).

I'd happily buy an Ash Gray t-shirt or two as pictured, though not at Rob's current pricing (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm sorry you dislike my current pricing. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) Here's what the base cost is for some items:

Plain white t-shirt= 13.99
Ash grey t-shirt= 14.99
golf shirt= 16.99
sweatshirt= 20.99
mug= 10.99
ball cap= 12.99

That's with no markup-you could add a dollar to each item and that would generate some revenue. Even if you made nothing at all it's a still a win-win situation since it helps promote the site. It would be nice if we could get a big version of that image to span the back of the t-shirts. I'm sure Gary could give us a larger high quality jpeg of the images.

[robz71lm7]

I ordered a FRRAX.com shirt from my site to see if the quality was decent. It shipped today-I'll let everyone know.

[CMC#5]

Man, that cafeshops deal is soooo cool. I'm eager to hear about their product quality. I think that's such a cool thing.

[NataSS Inc]

I havent read all the posts other than the first. So take this FWIW.

I am not big on adds unless they are a paying sponsor. But if its going to throw a few bucks in your pocket to maintain one of my favorite sites......so be it. I'll live with it or die with a grudge.

[NataSS Inc]

I made this page as an example of what could be done.  I jacked the prices up so nobody will order-since this is an example.

http://www.cafeshops.com/frraxcom

GOD DAMN! A 55.00 THONG! I love the way my wife looks running around the house in a thong and would love to see www.FRAXX.com right above the kitty but DAMN! 55.00! Bring that down to under what Victoria Secrets is charging and I'll get her one.

OOPS! I didnt read the "this is an EXAMPLE". OK I am a tard. Sorry.