Should GD allow advertisments?

NigelT · Site Admin Location: Wellington

Hello everyone,

Recently the topic of advertisments on this site came up. The question was put - should we allow selected advertisments in exchange for contributing to the hosting costs of this website?

I know a lot of you rate the ad-free nature of this site very highly. On the other hand, it costs around $300 per year to host this site and keep it ad-free. Yes, there are advertiser sponsored options that would make it cheaper or free, and yes there are overseas servers I could use that would make it cheaper and a lot slower. Ultimately I think what we have going here works really well.

The question I'm asking you is this - would you be prepared to see carefully selected and fairly discreet advertising on the site (ie, no flashing banner ads)? I'm talking about King Of Swords, All Fired Up, The Medieval Shop, and similar companies who are part of the reenactment community or have significant interest in it, as apposed to ads for credit cards, Amazon or Viagra. This advertising would help keep this site running and would certainly reduce my personal costs.

On the other hand, several people (Bogue and KingOfSwords) have made kind donations towards this site already and we still don't have ads. So it's quite possible to keep the status quo with a few kind people making a greatfully received contribution now and then.

One more thing I should say before you vote or hit reply - my intention was always to carry the cost of the site myself, and I will continue to do so with or without any contributions from others. That's my choice and it makes me feel good that I'm giving back to the reenactment community as a whole. That said, contributions certainly make it easier to add more cool stuff, such as the photo gallery, which would not have happened if it weren't for the generosity of others.

Enough said. What do you all think?

Regards,
Nigel

griff · Location: Auckland

im all for discreet advertising by relevant companies like the ones Nigel mentioned

stephan · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:17 am

how does one vote?

gt1cm2 · Location: Wellington

click on the circle then submit

gt1cm2 · Location: Wellington

I'm undecided, I did choose the third option but I also like the first and second choice as well but I didn't choose those for a few reasons. If there is small discrete ad's then I don't feel there should be any posts that can be considered advertising or anything in the for sale section from people who are selling for a profit ie the ones that you mentioned in your post. For example http://www.gatheringdarkness.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?t=715 could be considered advertising (not picking on Justin just using as an example). This means from a moderators point of view you would be putting in more time and effort checking threads for "advertising" and deleting them. It is being anal but why should there be free advertising from members if there are people/businesses that are paying for their adverts?

But on the other hand if there is no advertising would there be enough from donations to support the board? keep the photo gallery going, add other cool stuff?

NigelT · Site Admin Location: Wellington

Bogue · Sponsor Location: Palmy

I voted no

I don't think we need advertising in the form of paid adverts.

We should be able to get by without it and those on board that do wish to advertise can place ads in the for sale section (isn't that what it's there for) with out turning it into trademe (No stab intended).

Those that wish to and/or can afford it, donate. Those that don't want to and/or can't afford it, don't. Simple as
There is enough of us able to donate to keep it free of paid adverts.

Cheers
Bogue

Bogue · Sponsor Location: Palmy

Hey Nigel the site seems to have dandruff.

Haven't you been using your Free and Lovely (Old ad some may remember)

Bogue

NigelT · Site Admin Location: Wellington

King of Swords · Principal Sponsor Location: Napier Hawkes Bay

Heres my Ad it's not full on .......every time I post a message I get a free ad

thats why I put in ...and you only get out what you put in !!!!!

I brought this up as I was worried that the site was going to fold and that would be the worse .... then a few ads
I have spoken with the boss and its all good .....Gathering darkness isn't going any where so yeah yeah ......Merry Christmas and a happy new Year to all : " hiccup " .....catch ya all at Taupo .....I will bring a few beers

My Donation to the cause is a drop in the sea compared to what everyone puts in

AND THANKS FOR THE SITE 100% to admin

Nigel you need to be knighted

allfiredup · Location: Taumarunui

i personaly think it should be up to Donations from clubs and in the cost of naama

if everyone just gave $5

wood we need advertisment?

what about yearly subs ??

White Knight · Location: Orcland

I would not be opposed to yearly subs as I think that would be fair and reasonable especially if it was a choice between keeping the site going by paying subs or letting it die.

Flashing ads are too intrusive and way too annoying.

Nathan · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:23 am

I went with the unobtrusive type. My thought was for someting similar to the top banner the the Armour Archive uses. I personally find these helpful as 1) they are linked to a review page with details about them and a basic rating system, and 2) each time you load a page the ad is a different one.

With this it allows both income generation for the board and the ability to find gear for sale etc.

Just my own opinion though

Nathan