Ads on KFN?

[rms]

I've temporarily disabled adblocking and saw that KFN is serving ads. Should we lower our shields at KFN to support it?

[ronw]

Interesting. I disabled AdBlock Plus and NoScript on KFN long ago, but don't remember ever seeing an ad. Maybe it's Ghostery blocking SkimLinks?

[arochester]

My recollection is that, if you are a Member AND ARE SIGNED ON you will not see adverts.

If you are not a Member or you are not signed on you will.

[rms]

My recollection is that, if you are a Member AND ARE SIGNED ON you will not see adverts.

If you are not a Member or you are not signed on you will.

True, I was not signed in at the time I saw them.

[ardvark71]

Hi all...

While I certainly don't care for the ads (not that I see them anyway,) I don't see how KFN could generate the funds needed otherwise. I wouldn't mind seeing the paypal donate button that was present on the old SMF forum (and skip the ads entirely) but I don't think KFN would receive all that was needed from that method alone. :-(

I happened to find this site, which lists different methods for websites to generate income.

Regards...

[Snowhog]

While I certainly don't care for the ads (not that I see them anyway,) I don't see how KFN could generate the funds needed otherwise. I wouldn't mind seeing the paypal donate button that was present on the old SMF forum (and skip the ads entirely) but I don't think KFN would receive all that was needed from that method alone. :-(

That is true, and was true even on the previous KFN. Ads generate 'some' revenue for our host, but in no way enough to to cover the full costs of maintaining kubuntuforums. Since it's inception, Kubuntu Forums has been almost entirely funded out the personal funds our host, Open Source. Like Open Source Software, Kubuntu Forums remains free, as in 'free beer', and your host has been paying the tab.

The Paypal campaign was run was for a specific purpose and goal, which was to raise sufficient funds to make the move to a new hosting service and to cover the costs for running the new Kubuntu Forums for an initial period of time -- one year IIRC. That campaign goal was met with the generosity of several KFN members.

It has been brought up that establishing an ongoing donation campaign should be given serious thought. If it is done, we don't want it to be an 'in your face' affair. We are sensitive to our regular members. While there are members who would gladly help support KFN financially (I am one), the decision, if made, to allow members to donate financially to KFN will be our hosts alone. This is his forum after all, solely owned by him.

[bra|10n]

While I certainly don't care for the ads (not that I see them anyway,) I don't see how KFN could generate the funds needed otherwise. I wouldn't mind seeing the paypal donate button that was present on the old SMF forum (and skip the ads entirely) but I don't think KFN would receive all that was needed from that method alone.

+1

I like this idea. It would be nice to think that donations could fund KF.N entirely, though not really sure if this is feasable or not.

[Snowhog]

As of 'this moment', we have 763 'active' members. If each one of those contributed just $1.00 per year, our host Open Source would have more than enough revenue to run, maintain, and upgrade (when required) KFN for ever. This is, in my opinion, the biggest issue with any 'free' service/software everyone enjoys - they don't get it that even small donations add up to significant support.

[bra|10n]

Thank you Snowhog. Those numbers are certainly encouraging and certainly worth working towards.

:idea: First stop, KF.N self funded. Next, maybe sponser a dev lol!

[Ole Juul]

My recollection is that, if you are a Member AND ARE SIGNED ON you will not see adverts.

If you are not a Member or you are not signed on you will.

Hmm, I always read the forum while signed out, and I' haven't noticed any ads - except the underlined links made on certain words. My adblock is off on this site, but perhaps there's something else that could stop them - perhaps my eyesight? hehe

Responding to other statements here:
I can accept ads (if they're not large flashy CPU cycle eating ones) for the purpose of funding this kind of site. As for contributions, I'm pretty poor by most people's standards, but if there was a Paypal button, even I could put in a couple of bucks and would do so with a smile. Yes Snowhog, let's see that Paypal button!

[Open Source]

We are cooking something up in the kitchen and will get back to you shortly. If it doesn't work out, we will probably go the donation route...

OS

[ardvark71]

As of 'this moment', we have 763 'active' members. If each one of those contributed just $1.00 per year, our host Open Source would have more than enough revenue to run, maintain, and upgrade (when required) KFN for ever. This is, in my opinion, the biggest issue with any 'free' service/software everyone enjoys - they don't get it that even small donations add up to significant support.

Hi...

$763.00?! Wow, I would be curious to see the breakdown of what the actual charges are.

Regards...

[Qqmike]

Everyone assumes that everyone is set up with PayPal. I'm not. (And only two shops have my credit card--Amazon and Newegg)

Ads -- Though with my Leftist bent I've been called a socialist (by some of you!), I'm a capitalist, and in capitalismo, ads are what it's all about. Free enterprise. As long as they aren't too intrusive, bring 'm on. Ads are not bad if they are short and sweet; some are even somewhat interesting, but then I used to do some copywriting for small biz clients ...

Boy, $763 would seem doable by members when viewed as $1 per; or if just 100 helped, $7.63 a pop. I'm kind of with Ole Juul in that I could put in "something" (though self employed in a recession-hit business and still putting (through seemingly unending monthly payments) a young girl through college--computer sci--in an Asian country).

[Open Source]

Hi...

$763.00?! Wow, I would be curious to see the breakdown of what the actual charges are.

Regards...

Just to be clear, I don't think SnowHog was saying we need $763 per year exactly. He was simply using the active member count at the bottom of the webpage times $1.00 to show how easy it would be to raise enough funds if active members contributed. At the same time, keeping a site of this size up and running smoothly with backups, bandwidth, license upgrades, etc. does add up quickly. Not to mention it would be nice to not run month to month (a.k.a. paycheck to paycheck) and it would be nice to have a little excess if a hardware upgrade is needed next year due to forum usage, etc.

[Open Source]

Ads -- Though with my Leftist bent I've been called a socialist (by some of you!), I'm a capitalist, and in capitalismo, ads are what it's all about. Free enterprise. As long as they aren't too intrusive, bring 'm on. Ads are not bad if they are short and sweet; some are even somewhat interesting, but then I used to do some copywriting for small biz clients ...

I agree with using ads as well and was surprised to see how many people don't like them. They are only shown to visitors and anyone posting a message expressing their opinion about them should not even be seeing them in the first place. I understand that not everybody stays logged in at all times, but I didn't think they were that painful. But we want to listen to all criticism and make changes accordingly. We will keep you posted of the route we take for funding.

Thanks