Video Ads

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for willing to pay a fee to avoid ads. I found this site in 2009 when I was pregnant the first time and have used it regularly since.

Jeff, do you have any idea what kind of subscription model would be sustainable?

In a post above I discussed the infrastructure challenges. Quite a bit of development and administrative overhead would be required.

About the only workable idea I have now is to create a Patreon account and ask for donations in return for stopping the video ads. It wouldn't really be a fair system because I can't offer anything beyond stopping the video ads in return for donations. Also, those who pay would be footing the bill for those who don't. But this wouldn't requite any development.

You have a lot of well off folks addicted to this site. Set a target to raise to get rid of the ads and put it out there. You’ll raise that money in no time. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

I don't love it, but will put up with it if it means extra income for Jeff so this site can keep going.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for explaining the work involved to take payments. But... it may be worth it (of course this is making a big assumption you have the time for it). Based on your guesses on how many users would pay, how much would you need to charge a month or year for ad-free?

Who knows, you may come out quite ahead by doing so.. depends on how many are willing to pay and your costs.

I don't think a huge number would be willing to pay. Consider that only about 40% of our users are returning users. The drive-by users who find us via Google and come to read one thread that was in their search results won't be interested. Of the 40% who are returning users, I would be surprised if even 10% would be willing to pay.

[Anonymous]

Jeff, I really think you should go the Patreon route that you suggested.

Now, in the interest of disclosure, I am not donating; however, I think you have a good chance of collecting what you need to remove the ads.

I think the pop-up ad is really the biggest problem for users.

[Anonymous]

Another here who would be willing to pay for an ad-free experience--even if it's a donation system that results in some footing the bill for other users.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Another here who would be willing to pay for an ad-free experience--even if it's a donation system that results in some footing the bill for other users.

What if it is only video-ad free but the display ads remain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jeff, I really think you should go the Patreon route that you suggested.

Now, in the interest of disclosure, I am not donating; however, I think you have a good chance of collecting what you need to remove the ads.

I think the pop-up ad is really the biggest problem for users.

Lol

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for explaining the work involved to take payments. But... it may be worth it (of course this is making a big assumption you have the time for it). Based on your guesses on how many users would pay, how much would you need to charge a month or year for ad-free?

Who knows, you may come out quite ahead by doing so.. depends on how many are willing to pay and your costs.

I don't think a huge number would be willing to pay. Consider that only about 40% of our users are returning users. The drive-by users who find us via Google and come to read one thread that was in their search results won't be interested. Of the 40% who are returning users, I would be surprised if even 10% would be willing to pay.

That is likely true, but if you can raise the revenue you need from that 10%, what is the difference in the long term? What number do you need to raise to turn off the ads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for willing to pay a fee to avoid ads. I found this site in 2009 when I was pregnant the first time and have used it regularly since.

Jeff, do you have any idea what kind of subscription model would be sustainable?

In a post above I discussed the infrastructure challenges. Quite a bit of development and administrative overhead would be required.

About the only workable idea I have now is to create a Patreon account and ask for donations in return for stopping the video ads. It wouldn't really be a fair system because I can't offer anything beyond stopping the video ads in return for donations. Also, those who pay would be footing the bill for those who don't. But this wouldn't requite any development.

You have a lot of well off folks addicted to this site. Set a target to raise to get rid of the ads and put it out there. You’ll raise that money in no time. Seriously.

I’m the PP who said he should go the Patreon route. I have no idea how any of this works. How often would Jeff need to solicit donations? Monthly? Annually? Only once?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff, I really think you should go the Patreon route that you suggested.

Now, in the interest of disclosure, I am not donating; however, I think you have a good chance of collecting what you need to remove the ads.

I think the pop-up ad is really the biggest problem for users.

Lol

I’m just being honest here.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another here who would be willing to pay for an ad-free experience--even if it's a donation system that results in some footing the bill for other users.

What if it is only video-ad free but the display ads remain?

I’d totally be fine with that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for willing to pay a fee to avoid ads. I found this site in 2009 when I was pregnant the first time and have used it regularly since.

Jeff, do you have any idea what kind of subscription model would be sustainable?

In a post above I discussed the infrastructure challenges. Quite a bit of development and administrative overhead would be required.

About the only workable idea I have now is to create a Patreon account and ask for donations in return for stopping the video ads. It wouldn't really be a fair system because I can't offer anything beyond stopping the video ads in return for donations. Also, those who pay would be footing the bill for those who don't. But this wouldn't requite any development.

You have a lot of well off folks addicted to this site. Set a target to raise to get rid of the ads and put it out there. You’ll raise that money in no time. Seriously.

I’m the PP who said he should go the Patreon route. I have no idea how any of this works. How often would Jeff need to solicit donations? Monthly? Annually? Only once?

Wikipedia does annual drives. I’d be fine with that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another here who would be willing to pay for an ad-free experience--even if it's a donation system that results in some footing the bill for other users.

What if it is only video-ad free but the display ads remain?

I’d totally be fine with that

Agree

[jsteele]

Let's let the video ads run for a few days. In the meantime I'll think more about the Patreon idea. Perhaps, as the poster above suggested, I should just set a goal and try to raise that much. But, in the meantime, it would be nice to see what sort of revenue the video ads raise. If they don't raise very much, I'll stop them without you guys doing anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for willing to pay a fee to avoid ads. I found this site in 2009 when I was pregnant the first time and have used it regularly since.

Jeff, do you have any idea what kind of subscription model would be sustainable?

In a post above I discussed the infrastructure challenges. Quite a bit of development and administrative overhead would be required.

About the only workable idea I have now is to create a Patreon account and ask for donations in return for stopping the video ads. It wouldn't really be a fair system because I can't offer anything beyond stopping the video ads in return for donations. Also, those who pay would be footing the bill for those who don't. But this wouldn't requite any development.

You have a lot of well off folks addicted to this site. Set a target to raise to get rid of the ads and put it out there. You’ll raise that money in no time. Seriously.

I’m the PP who said he should go the Patreon route. I have no idea how any of this works. How often would Jeff need to solicit donations? Monthly? Annually? Only once?

Wikipedia does annual drives. I’d be fine with that

Ah, OK. That makes sense.