Google Adverts for guest users

sp3ctre

sp3ctre

Administrator
Staff member
Hi all,

Due to the lack of success raising revenue through the limited advertising on the forum, I have decided to trial Google adverts for NON MEMBERS or not logged in users.

In my opinion these are too in-your-face to put upon logged in members and to be honest I don't think it would be of value anyway, but I think it may work well for non members and not logged in users for the following reasons:

1. New visitors are much more likely to get value from the links, as they will not have seen them before

2. It will encourage more people to sign up

This is only a trial, and if it doesn't work I am happy to remove them, but lets see how it goes.

As always, feedback appreciated.
 
PaulN said:
So we wont see them?
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No, I don't want to bombard our members with adverts.. I don't like them myself on other forums so I don't want to inflict them on you guys.

If you "want" to see them, just log out :thumbsup:
 
Is one way not to become an "agent/referrer" for other commercial sites, like Amazon and stuff? I buy a fair bit from Amazon and if there was a link through from here that would generate a percentage cashback then I would do that, it's not like it costs you (the purchaser) more or anything.

If we all did a bit maybe that would generate something :scratchhead:
 
Do it.
It's a good idea. (to pay for some bandwidth)
(...and the Amazon thing is easy to do also)
 
I logged out and checked out the adds, I really do not find them offensive ... IMO it would be a small price to pay to help keep the site going. I also like the Amazon idea.
 
Thanks guys, I don't want to jump the gun just yet, we'll just go with it how it is for a week or so and see how it goes. Thanks for the feedback!

As for the Amazon thing, I have signed us up but need to work out where it cound go... Amazon aren't too flexible with their search forms, so there is limited place we could put them on this site without getting in the way. I'll look into it.

Thanks again everyone :thumbsup:
 
To be honest, I don't mind unobtrusive, relevant adverts. I used to like PH in the old days when they only had carefully selected adverts - and all the advertisers I spoke to were extremely pleased with their ROI.

Now Haymarket took over, the ad rates were increased 4x for 1/4 of the coverage - subsequently the small companies couldn't afford it - and adverts for loans etc took over, and I adblocked it.

I would welcome some decent adverts for companies such as LeatherZ. Every little helps at the end of the day.
 
Mattt said:
To be honest, I don't mind unobtrusive, relevant adverts. I used to like PH in the old days when they only had carefully selected adverts - and all the advertisers I spoke to were extremely pleased with their ROI.

Now Haymarket took over, the ad rates were increased 4x for 1/4 of the coverage - subsequently the small companies couldn't afford it - and adverts for loans etc took over, and I adblocked it.

I would welcome some decent adverts for companies such as LeatherZ. Every little helps at the end of the day.
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I get your point and I agree. Unfortunately the company you mentioned does not have an affiliate scheme as far as I can see. The last thing I want is to become like mini2.com where you have to scroll down half a mile to see the content. I am not looking to make a fortune from this, just cover costs, that's all.

From my point of view the most important people are the members... if guests have to see more ads then so be it.

Like I said before, I am just trialing some different options, if at any point the consensus is to remove something then I will, it's your forum to and the last thing I am going to do is plaster it with ads.

The response so far has been encouraging. Thanks.
 
sp3ctre said:
As for the Amazon thing, I have signed us up but need to work out where it cound go...
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I though it was just a referral link you need, not anything else. So if you started a sub-forum called "Member Shop" or something like that, inside an "Amazon" thread all you would have to do is click a www link to Amazon but it would generate your referral code. IIRC it leaves a cookie on that machine for several days so anything purchased during that time would generate a referal fee.
 
How about introducing a new form of upgraded membership, where for a nominal fee (say £5/£10 a year) you wouldn't get any adverts?

You could then decide whether to be a non-paying member with some adverts or someone who makes a small contribution and has none.

This format works well on another forum I am a member of as people have the choice and it helps support the forum as well.

I know you have asked for voluntary contributions but I don't see some form of distinguishing those who contribute from those who don't as a bad thing at all.

Maybe you could call it a Gold Membership, a Platinum Membership or maybe even just a ///Membership? :wink: :D
 
lawnmower__man said:
or maybe even just a ///Membership? :wink: :D
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hehe, I like that!

You make some good point there, I will see how this current situation goes and then take it from there. Thanks for the feedback :thumbsup:
 
lawnmower__man said:
...I don't see some form of distinguishing those who contribute from those who don't as a bad thing at all.
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Not sure about that, I think there can be a number of reason why people don't or can't contribute financially, I actually think it makes for a "them and us" scenario, and I think that non-premium members may feel discouraged from posting because they're not "in the club" and TBH it's the new members posting that keeps the forum alive to a degree (even if it is the same question over and over again :D )

With contributions, as long as you know you have done your bit, and sp3ctre knows too, then it doesn't really matter IMHO anyway.

I stil think the affiliates / referral schemes are the way forward, especially as almost all online stores have them now.
 
From my experience, with pay schemes when you're in "the club" it's fine, and to some degree it keeps the trolls at bay - however once your membership lapses and you don't use it enough to bother paying for, there is too limited use to bother. I ended up never visiting again, it became an 'all or nothing' scenario.
 
@ Wondermike: yup, I agree, I don't expect everyone to contribute... people are having a difficult enough time at the moment with fuel prices and the global economy going nuts as well. I do appreciate every little bit we get, but it is by no means expected.

You make a good point though Mike, if you're gonna spend £50 on Amazon anyway, you may as well go through the site first. :thumbsup:
 
Yep, I reckon I've spent over £2k this year online (bought a new laptop!) from about 6 different places, if you got between 2 and 4% of that, which is common, could have had a reasonable amount there.

PS I will be buying a new washing machine and an LCD telly this year too, so get it sorted quickly :lol:

If everyone listed where they usually shop online, or gave some ideas, it might help to select. These are my main ones I go to -

Amazon
Play.com
Expansys
Dell
Boots
Marks and Spencer
Debenhams
ASOS.com
Empire Direct
Firebox
 
Cheers Mike... will look into it...

I just had an idea... maybe I could sell "postcount" in bundles of 50... Aebous and PhilDZ4 would be buying it up like it's going out of fashion :rofl:
 
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