On p2pnet banner ads (2)
p2pnet.net News:- This is an update of the earlier ‘Banner’s article.
As per suggestions, I’m going to try a mini donor-drive once or twice a month, linked to a list of p2pnet Sponsors. They can, of course, choose whether or not they’d want their names on it in full, or just first names or handles. Or no mention, if they prefer. I don’t intend to publish amounts. $1 to one person is the same as $100 to another.
I’ll publish a regular (but not dynamically) up-dated tally of the amounts I receive.
I’m also thinking seriously about launching a print verison of p2pnet.
But what it all boils down to is: we (me and my family and p2pnet as it is) can just about get by on $1800 a month. However, my eventual aim is to have enough spare to be able to hire a programmer and at least one more writer. I can keep it up at the present pace, but another scribe would allow for better coverage than I’m able to provide by myself (not to speak of another perspective ; )
Since the last post, I’ve had three more contributions. So (in order of appearance, so to speak ; ) – thanks Steve, Victoria, Jody and Bryan. I’m really grateful.
In the first ‘banner’ post I said.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I have to laugh : )
I’ve had one post (make that two) and three emails already asking me not to put banner ads up at the top of the page.
This isn’t an attempt to ‘monetize’ p2pnet. It’s an attempt to have it pay for itself, and to support my family. I pay for the site myself, and I’m here 24/7. I’m not rich, and I don’t have any other income. As I said elsewhere, although I’m really grateful for the support I get from the p2p application operators, their ads don’t keep p2pnet (or me : ) going. And as for the new donations button, so far, only one person has clicked it.
One person doesn’t like the ‘flashing,’ which I completely understand, and suggested four static adds instead. I don’t know where I’d put four static ads, and one static banner wouldn’t answer.
I wouldn’t have ANY ads if I could figure out how not to. But as I said in answer to one of the Reader’s Writes, I’m doing what I need to do to keep p2pnet going. But I’m open to, and would really appreciate, suggestions as to how I can avoid too much advertising.
Cheers! And thanks. And all the best …
Jon
October 8th, 2004 at 12:50 am
Do what you got to do and let the complainers contribute so that the banner adds are not necessary. I may not like banner ads but I would dislike losing the site a heck of a lot more. So do what you got to do.
jack
October 8th, 2004 at 1:14 am
least it’s not popunder advertising
With Jack on this one – not all things in life are free and sooner or later the ripple effect happens. Either you work and p2p doesn’t get updated as regularly or people donate and get past the expectation that you are a being of limitless means.
Maybe time to hit up cafepress and sell p2pnet t-shirts? or do what beaties boys did – selling blank CD’s with their artwork on one side?
October 8th, 2004 at 1:19 am
heh
No worries. I haven’t gone on this long to pack it in. But cafepress and p2pnet t-shirts may be a thought : )
Cheers!
October 8th, 2004 at 1:48 am
I too find flashing ads very annoying, but small static banners are fine with me, as long as they’re G-rated.
I’d say that downloaders are probably the biggest customers of blank CDs and DVDs, so the manufacturers would probably do well to advertise here.
If I had the money, I would consider starting up a file-sharing magazine. It would be a guaranteed seller on college news stands. But then the Induce Act would kill it.
October 8th, 2004 at 2:23 am
“If I had the money, I would consider starting up a file-sharing magazine. It would be a guaranteed seller on college news stands. But then the Induce Act would kill it.”
That’s genuis. LMAO!
October 8th, 2004 at 2:29 am
I’m pretty sure I never said not to put banners.
As a matter of fact, I never complained about the other banner ads.
Yes, I can see them all around, kinda snuggly surrounding content.
I was talking about FLASHING banners.
Ever tried reading flashing text?
That’s annoying.
Think I would ever wait until it flashed back to the beginning to understand the ad?
Think again. That’s just poor communication.
So you want to add 4 banners. Fine.
You’re adding one banner to the top of the page.
The page is larger.
You can put two on the top of the page.
You can also put two banners at the bottom.
That’s four! Voilà!
Besides, good luck trying to find people to pay for part-of-the-time ads…
And if it works that’s fine too. I’m just sceptical.
And by-the-way, your donation button is javascript,
so the middle button doesn’t open it and you do not know
where it will send you.
Also, in my opinion, it’s not visible enough.
Have you tried merchandising?
Get your p2pnet mug and shirt!
Others have pondered on how to make money.
Here’s food for though: (about software, but still interesting)
http://hcsoftware.sourceforge.net/jason-rohrer/freeDistribution.html
Rock on!
October 8th, 2004 at 2:51 am
So, more or less at random, I checked what other sites do.
Freenet, for exemple, have diverse ways to contribute to the project.
Ok, so they say paypal is the only thing that works, but maybe…
http://freenetproject.org/index.php?page=donate
Which takes me to cafepress
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/sell/
I do not know them, but assuming you could make cool clever things
people would probably be proud to get a shirt with witty text to help you…
Apache has an interesting way to allow contribution:
donate your old car!
http://www.apache.org/foundation/contributing.html#CarProgram
That’s clever.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a sponsor way to buy stuff
so that part of the money goes to them,
amusing way to collaborate is
“Donate Your CD Price Fixing Settlement Check to EFF
turn your payment into payback!”
Maybe you could do a news story asking people how they would
be willing to help you?
Kind of a brainstorming?
October 8th, 2004 at 2:54 am
heh
Keep he ideas coming. Maybe I can get some of them to happen : )
Cheers!
October 8th, 2004 at 3:20 am
Err, well… let’s think…
Apparently, when you put a donation drive with a goal
that updates live that motivates people to donate.
As a matter of fact, freenet is doing that right the hell now.
All I know is that it apparently worked at ErrantStory (a webcomic)
http://www.errantstory.com/ (bottom of the page)
He got like 8638.01$!
You could probably do a bi-montly or some time period
drive to get an amount of money to cover your operational cost…
Hopefully without threatening to stop work if it’s not met,
though I understand that could be a powerfull motivator.
I’d like to specify at this point that I’m only brainstorming
and that I’m not suggesting or proposing anything other than though.
Also I think everyone wants p2pnet to remain free of charge,
so please don’t say I suggested otherwise.
October 8th, 2004 at 3:38 am
Hi:
You’re being helpful and I appreciate it. The donation drive might be a good idea. That never occurred to me so if you see it happen, you’ll know where it came from : )
October 8th, 2004 at 4:31 am
Uh, I hate to mention this, but banner ads are not very effective anymore….
Anything that jumps out at me gets instantly punted:
http://adblock.mozdev.org/
Try the other venues for $$$ generation. Ads dont’ work well in this day and age, particularly loud, noisy ones (especially flash).
October 8th, 2004 at 5:02 am
Cheers
October 8th, 2004 at 1:45 pm
The banners didn’t ‘flash’ in the first place – they rotated every five seconds. But I’ve now slowed that right down so, hopefully, that’ll take care of flashing.
But thanks for the help, and suggestions (and nary a rude one among ‘em ; )
Cheers!
October 8th, 2004 at 3:46 pm
way better – and the java don’t bother me
October 8th, 2004 at 8:47 pm
why not run interstisals, they pay 1-4.00 cpm and won’t bother anyone. (interstisals are like pops inbetween when i click on the artical and when i get to it thiers a page inbetween with an ad.
Manny B
MBenor@cydoor.com