Advertising on this forum

[FabianPattberg]

Hi members,

I wanted to ask you what your opinion on the recently introduced advertising is.

The reason for me asking is that one member has expressed his concerns that this forum is run to make a profit for me personally.

I want to clearly say that this is not even close to the truth as I am solely running this forum to make my bit to help make our planet a better place to live for us and future generations.

The advertising revenue is used to finance the development of this forum. We have a brilliant forum now but as it grows we need to make changes and this forum software is basically the standard software and I need to pay for any further additions and new features. And to be fair, the revenues are not that spectacular so far. $6 USD so far this month but growing.

I would therefore like to ask everyone about their opinion about advertising in order to make a democratic decision about this.

[Corey]

Would say ouch to only 6 dollars especially when software in general is not cheap.

Curious, I thought you were running this for a company (not yours)

I don't mind your advertising it is not in your face or overly intrusive. meaning it blends in with the background so as not to over stimulate the eyes when you mean to focus on what is being written

[FabianPattberg]

Hello Corey,

No, I am running this as a private person. This forum is one of my passions!

I am planning to have a web designer build a proper Content Management System (CMS) to expand the possiblities we have and include the forum in it. That cost estimate was min 150 $USD and higher hosting costs so we have some way to go!

But I am sure we will get there in a few months.

I have tried to keep the advertising very much in line with our forum layout in order not to lose its clarity and usefulness to get information and opinions across.

Let me know your thoughts on this.

[Corey]

I have no problems with it being a non-profit and appreciate it.

This would include a modest income for the administrator of it as well so as not to get carried away. you need way to pay for your home and food and maintenance cost of operating the site. It is when greed creeps in is when I have a problem. As long as you get paid for what you are actually worth no problems.

I am glad that this is your passion, it makes it easier for people to connect with out all the overhead and energy required to drive and meet at a central location which I believe to be unsustainable. Waste of fuel and such.

keep up the good work :peace:

[FabianPattberg]

Thank you for your kind words Corey. Much appreciated.

We will think about the admin income once we crack the 10.000 member mark!

[Corey]

wow 10,000 that's going to take a while..... but then what would I know of it lol I am no administrator...

[FabianPattberg]

We will see Corey.

Once we have a solid member base and I can put some revenues into advertising like Google etc.
And once members recommend this forum on an ongoing basis I see us getting beyond the 1.000 in the next 6 months!

I am an die-hard optimist I know! :peace:

[Corey]

lol we need both optimists and pessimists and well realists too many of any one and views tend to start to distort. Kind of like what "Bush" did.

[Dandarius]

You know it is issues with money that people harbor that keep them from the very resources that are needed to convert the infrastructure to a more sustainable foundation. Even if you were making money on this site for all of the hours and hours of work you do is there anything wrong with that? Something given for nothing is usually treated as nothing....you work will not go unrewarded Fabian...

Be Well
Be Free
Dandarius

[abhi_mgmt]

Hi Fabian

Good of you to ask us if it is OK to raise some funds for the further development of this forum.

In my opinion, raising funds is normal for enhancing and maintaining the quality of the forum. As long as the adverts do not overpower the forum, it sounds great.

Anyone against the idea should have some time to volunteer for administering the forum :peace:

Great work and Good Luck

Cheers

Abhi