Spectrum Computing

I agree with the majority of comments here -- adverts are intrusive and I'd be happy to continue to donate to avoid any financial reasons to implement them.

Next to that I don't like adverts for another reason: tracking.

I'm on board with no advertising unless it's absolutely necessary. This is the only site I visit which is ad-free and it's pure bliss!
I'm happy to donate and especially when it's needed, and thanks for sharing this topic.

I would / will pledge a donation to keep ads out of here. Sites like this are a nice escape from, and antidote to, social media and the rest of the crap on the web these days.

If it’s a decent company focused on retro products, then I don’t see the problem with sponsored content or small adverts. Advertising isn’t all evil and if it’s going to help keep a retro focused company going, then it’s a “good thing” in my opinion.

For me, I wouldn't mind advertising if it was just a thin static banner at the top that takes you elsewhere if you click on it.

But I would hate an intrusive animated banner trying to steal my attention from the actual site content...

Anyway this is just my opinion, the decision is not mine. Although I have been helping with site development occasionally, I'm neither an admin or moderator here, so this is not my call.

From current experience, I get MUCH more via a Ko-Fi link than from ads (ads provided by Google) - and the money is from fans who want to give you money, rather than indirectly from fans you're imposing ads on. It depends what your objective is - do you want to subsidise the website, or do you want to support companies selling retro stuff? I'm re-developing one of my websites and seriously thinking of dropping ads entirely and switching over to just Ko-Fi.

I would prefer that the whole site continues to be advertisement free.

Sponsorship is slightly different, but in some ways, this decision is harder to make, as sponsorship can work both ways. It may help a company that supports our hobby. And if they include links to Spectrum Computing, the site may have both an additional source of income and may pick up more visitors and forum members.

However, it would have to be carefully done. As others have said, tasteful and reasonably sized banners (as one possible example). Not moving or flashing images (regardless of which form).

I’ve contributed money to the site before, and am happy to do so again. I would rather the money flow directly from me to the site rather than via a company and an advertising agency. May as well cut out the middle(wo)men.

Although I am very good at ignoring adverts generally. So it is very uncommon for me to actually read / view / watch / listen to an advert and then buy the product or service that was being advertised. But there must be plenty of people who do respond to adverts, otherwise companies wouldn’t do it...

Mark

R-Tape wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:35 pm Definitely. I like to be able to enjoy my Speccy fix without distractions, perhaps while enjoying Parsons' Laverbread liberally spread onto buttered toast.

Hmm. Now I'm genuinely getting Parsons' Laverbread adverts on my Yahoo homepage...

I don't mind ads presented in reasonable way.

The internet isn't free.
A banner with a ref id is fine.
A tracking cookie, flashing, speaking, continuously scrolling, unblockable video ad isn't.

R-Tape wrote: ↑Sat Nov 28, 2020 11:15 am Hmm. Now I'm genuinely getting Parsons' Laverbread adverts on my Yahoo homepage...

This is beyond depressing. Probably thanks to Google's Analytics embedded in some of the forum soft.

akeley wrote: ↑Sat Nov 28, 2020 4:38 pm This is beyond depressing. Probably thanks to Google's Analytics embedded in some of the forum soft.

Not necessarily. I don't know how it all works really. I did search for it a bit using google, (so I could get the picture of a tin of Parsons' laverbread), so maybe it's because of that.

It's not a problem of course, because I plan to buy a box of the stuff anyway. Not only is Parsons' Laverbread a tasty toast topper, it's very nutritious - possibly even a superfood.

R-Tape wrote: ↑Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:28 pm It's not a problem of course, because I plan to buy a box of the stuff anyway.

I don't agree that it's not a problem, but I'll leave it at that. I'm trying to steer clear of these uber-depressing topics on this forum, keep it all happy and retro (and occasionally failing - to wit )

akeley wrote: ↑Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:43 pm I don't agree that it's not a problem, but I'll leave it at that. I'm trying to steer clear of these uber-depressing topics on this forum, keep it all happy and retro (and occasionally failing - to wit )

I'm kidding. I'm just saying that it's not necessarily related to the forum software, it might have been due me using google separately.

(Unless everyone is now getting adverts for Parsons' Laverbread)

dfzx wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:58 am I wouldn't object to a subtle "Sponsored by..." header or footer on each page, ...

This really seems the only thing acceptable if we really need advertising (monetary support).

But having no advertising would be ideal.

RMartins wrote: ↑Sun May 30, 2021 12:42 pm But having no advertising would be ideal.

Whilst we are able to (thanks to generous donations) we will continue with no advertising or sponsorship. This allows us to remain impartial in terms of new products, magazines, books or crowdfunding projects.

I think donations are better in the long run, allowing the site to remain independent. Perhaps, a donation link can be better placed for all of us to see from the forum section.

[mention]Sparky[/mention],

It's on the forum homepage at the top (though not as easy to see on mobile), and on the main page. I want it visible but not in your face



This is the link for you:

app.php/donations

I hadn't realized it was there until you pointed it out! I wonder If other members also don't notice it? I'd make it stick out more.

Years back, I never did mind the odd advert and never bothered with any form of ad block stuff (when it was about) as they were relatively not intrusive.

On some sites these days you have a multitude of autoplaying (thankfully 99% can be stopped before they start) videos or annoying modal popups, worse if it contains even more ads.

When these things started to appear say 4 or 5 years ago perhaps a bit more, I then started to install adblock software

I'm not hugely against the odd one provided its not animated or flashing or a video as others have said.

If it needs to be done perhaps a banner in the footer area or if the topic contains more than say 2 or 3 posts, then an ad after the 3rd post (must not really be more than say 50 to 100 px in size and "look the part" as such imo, I can expand on this if needed) at a future point if further info is needed.

I do think perhaps small donations are the way forward maybe.

Sparky wrote: ↑Sun May 30, 2021 2:46 pm I hadn't realized it was there until you pointed it out! I wonder If other members also don't notice it? I'd make it stick out more.

Perhaps just a bold rather than a bright "in ya face" colour is all that is needed... I can't recall the phpbb templating system offhand however a simple strong tag around it (ti may be possible Peter to do this in the language file instead and it should be parsed, saves playing with templates)
Having said that I just edited the page directly in the browser and it did not stand out that much more. Larger font will ruin it though.

How much would you spend on a monthly Spectrum magazine?

Would it give as much information as this site?

A standing order takes minutes to set up.

Trouble is you have to be careful to not make it appear a "subscription model" in effect.

I've in the dim/distant past many years ago with donations and donators got a few small perks, however that half worked but a recurring (even if its really low) did not work too well, for me at least.

I do think they should be optional.

Should mention the 'perks' were for anyone who had donated, regardless of once or a few times it was simply a 'thank you' for it. The changes were minor , larger messenger and a larger attachment quota (realise not applies here)


Its a good comparision a cost of a magazine vs a donation. Assuming even "back then" prices rather than taking inflation into account ?

spider wrote: ↑Sun May 30, 2021 7:54 pm Trouble is you have to be careful to not make it appear a "subscription model" in effect.

Hi,

There is no intended subscription model. There is a link to PayPal and users choose what they want to do (be it a one off donation or a monthly payment - this is the default PayPal layout). Some users ask to pay in other ways too.

I had thought seriously about perks (extra message space and ability to upload small files), but then I thought its unfair to those users who may be struggling financially (or simply choose not to donate - which is of course fine), but may well instead contribute in other equally beneficial ways.

Oh sorry Peter, I hope you did not misread me as thinking you were planning that. I may of misphrased it a bit, I suppose I was just giving (poor) examples of what I'd tried many years ago.

It is a balancing act though with extras. I've seen everything ranging from a private area of a forum to extra space to nothing more than a 'donator' badge in a profile, and from that to no extras.

No problems [mention]spider[/mention]. It's probably me. It's been a long day!