Zoomba Zoomba

Weekly Poll: Site Sponsorships

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Weekly Poll: Site Sponsorships

An incredibly important poll for subscribers!

https://www.wincustomize.com/webpoll.aspx
from WinCustomize Forums

This week's poll is a little different from what we usually talk about.  This week it's all about how we support and fund the site.  Currently we support WinCustomize primarily through subscriptions and web ads.  However we have repeatedly turned away the much more profitable ads because they're just so darned annoying.  We know that at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how well an ad pays if it drives users away.  That's why you'll never see pop-ups, hover ads etc on WinCustomize, even though they pay extremely well.

That said, we are still looking to find additional revenue sources, especially as the cost of the site continues to climb.  One of the ways is through a "Site Sponsorship" program.

A "Site Sponsorship" is basically where a company decides to sponsor WinCustomize for a month or more at a time.  They would get something akin to the image to your left as a static image placement on the site.  In the case of the example here, it would be a box added to the WinCustomize sidebar.  It's not a typical ad.  It doesn't bounce, flash, play sounds or in any way impact your browsing.  It's merely a logo placement, perhaps with a brief text message that would be a part of the site.

There's a catch though (there's always a catch).  If we were to secure these sponsorships, they would have to be displayed to ALL users, even subscribers.

That's where today's poll comes in.  For all of you who are subscribers, or who are thinking of subscribing.  Would a sponsorship placement like what I've described be acceptable to you?

Of course, you'd get something in return for such a placement.  Sponsorships like this one, run over the course of the year, would directly fund projects like new Subscriber Suites.  We could actually afford to hire skinners from Stardock Design to draw up and build several Subscriber Suites in the course of the year.

So, if you were to get additional subscriber suites, would that make the sponsorship placement more acceptable?

Go ahead and vote.  We'll tally it up next Monday.  And please use the comments here to discuss the proposal, and what would make the addition acceptable to you if it were to happen.
43,724 views 127 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sponsorship has to be a good way to good, as long as done well.

Take a look at sport most of it is sponsored and most of the time you don't even notice it's just part of it now days logos are there but unless it is of interest to you and a product you want, you blank it. So the money is coming into sport in a big way as firms are just happy to have their name coupled with whatever sport/team it is.

So logo or something say at top of the page would be there to be seen but unless you were interested in that company you would soon just accept it being there without it having a bad effect on the way you viewed the site.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's my job to take WinCustomize and turn it from a site that loses money every month to one that at least breaks even, and hopefully turns a profit. The better we do financially, the better this site can be.
End of quote


If it helps secure the future of the site and improves quality....it's a great idea......sounds like you've organised it to be tastefully done.......look forward to seeing the projects you come up with the with extra $.....
Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Would be even better if there is a price break on the software too! Like say an extra 10% off that new Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended... Like ya go for it. I've seen where things like this help not only the site. But also the members of the site!!!

Cool~!
SGT  
Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have to say . . . if the group posting is representative of the community here I and again impressed.

When I saw Zoomba's post I thought there would at least be a minority of folks who would start screaming about how they were promised no ads if they subscribed.

I never understood how WC could be self-sufficient with teh subscription model it uses.  Not if what I suspect are the number of subscribers vs registered users.

Well thought out plan Zoomba.

And everyone that's posted so far, you guys are great!
Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top
At the end of the day, I'm the guy you get to yell at over web ads on the site. It's my job to take WinCustomize and turn it from a site that loses money every month to one that at least breaks even, and hopefully turns a profit.
End of quote


And I think we don't credit you enough for this. This web site runs very smooth and has always looked great. As times progress and the money gets tighter, we all welcome a better way to manage these things that allow all visitors to enjoy the content provided. Wincustomize has always been top-notch. The progress made over the years has been phenomenal. Props to you and all the Wincustomize staff for the great work done here.

Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If the costs of running this site are exceeding that of the subscriptions and money that Stardock are willing to put into it then there is not alternative but to get revenue from elsewhere. I say "Go for it"...........  
Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top
a minority of folks
End of quote


uh-oh....I guess I'll be a slight minority.

I'm reminded of cable tv. Before CATV we had broadcast and you were stuck with the major networks and "family" style programming, BUT it was 100% free. We were exposed to 5-6 minutes of comercials during a 1/2 hour show and we had PBS if we couldn't handle it. In the beginning of CATV we got signed up because of better programming (movies mostly) AND it's "COMMERCIAL FREE".....anyone remember that? Today there's something like 10+ minutes of commercial for every 1/2 hour of broadcasting and that's when the show isn't 100% commercial. It was several years before the first cable network started slipping in ads. If I remember correctly it was one of Ted Turner's networks.

I've been telling those I know looking to move to satellite radio that it's just a matter of time before "some" commercials show up. Then more and more over time while "free" radio deteriorates due to listenership being lost and before you know it we're all having to pay for something we got for free originally.

I'll say this, as long as it's non-intrusive and there's no "active" text I can live with it. I just won't be surprised if in a year or two it's "well it's only a banner"
Reply #34 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I didn't subscribe to get rid of the ads. I subscribed to support the company. This is the only site/community I subscribe to,I visit this site every time I'm on the web and can't justify not spending a little money to help keep it running.

That being said, it wouldn't bother me in the least to have sponsors. the joy of it is there are enough libraries on the site to dedicate one library to each sponsor. I have to agree with others though, it wouldn't be a good thing if the sponsors had any say in the content of the site.

I'll trust ya'll to be wise in your choices, ya haven't let me down yet.
Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why not have more corporate themes. Say I dunno, BobSmithtek sponsors the site for a month- part of your deal with them is that they get a full theme created for then. Users can download this and it is free advertising for the company. It is unobtrusive for customers and many will see it as a bonus instead of an infringement.

For example, I loved both the Asus and Alienware themes. I'm pretty sure they got a huge amount of advertising off them- it may be indirect and less visible in the bottom line, but it is probably more effective than a banner on a site which a lot of people dont even see anyway (adblock etc).

Sell your strengths.
Reply #36 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sounds like an acceptable means to help the site.  :) 
Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I wouldn't have a problem with ads as long as they weren't those annoying buzzing/talking ads that are in your face type of ads. A lot of other sites I go to have ads and they don't bother me at all...I fully understand the need to generate revenue...but sites that that deploy those extremely annoying in your face type ads I leave and never go back.

The bottom line is...you gotta do what you gotta do...and hope it doesn't come back to bite you in the ass.

Not to sure about the "Anything" that supports the site though. Might want to re-word that.

it would likely be near the top so it appeared "above the fold"
End of quote


As long as its "near" the top and not the first thing you see. Nothing more annoying than going to a site and having to scroll down to find the actual contents of the site.
Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top

And I think we don't credit you enough for this.  This web site runs very smooth and has always looked great.
End of quote

This part is 100% due to the work of our web dev team that I named already in the thread.  When you sit down and look at the site, click a link and it actually works.  When you upload or download a skin.  When you post a comment on the forums or rate a skin.  That is entirely the hard work of our developers.  I can't take credit for that.

Me?  I'm the content side of things.  They make it work, I work with you all to fill it with interesting stuff.  News, articles, forum policing, contest, promotions etc.  I work to make the money adds up in the end, and then take that money to get new and better stuff for the site.  Suites, more frequent site maintenance etc.

And like I said, I do it with the help of people like Island Dog, Jafo and the moderator team.

To the concerns that this may be a stepping stone to more and more ads for subscribers as time goes on.  That's not how this is going to go down.  If nothing else will calm that fear, let me say this... I browse the site on the same subscriber settings as every other subscriber.  Everything that I have placed on the site that impacts subscribers, I have to live with too.  So does Brad, KarmaGirl, T-Man, Jafo and everyone else who have been with the site forever.  Do you think a single one of us wants ads getting in our way?

Not to sure about the "Anything" that supports the site though. Might want to re-word that.
End of quote

What?  You think the Moderators Swimsuit Calendar is a bad idea? 

Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What? You think the Moderators Swimsuit Calendar is a bad idea?
End of quote


There will be hell to pay for it that comes out before I get my 2008 Autograph Winky Calendar  :LOL:  ;p  ;)  :LOL:  ;p  ;)  :LOL: 
Reply #40 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I voted " I don't care "
Basically because I've learned that what will be - will be.


Reply #41 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You think the Moderators Swimsuit Calendar is a bad idea?
End of quote


Oh wait!.....You don't mean like uh...Jafo in a speedo or anything like that!?
Reply #42 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So does Brad, KarmaGirl, T-Man, Jafo and everyone else who have been with the site forever. Do you think a single one of us wants ads getting in our way?
End of quote


Seeing how the income from sponsors/ads ( call it what you want, I'll call em ads ;) ) goes into their pockets, it's a little different, dontcha think? :)

Gimme the revenue and I'll look at the blinking lights til retirement. :)

Do what you gotta but the site already has a major sponsor and that's Stardock. :)






Reply #43 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You don't mean like uh...Jafo in a speedo or anything like that!?
End of quote

That ain't going to happen.  Last time I was seen in a pair of Speedos I was about 5....;)

Reply #44 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Last time I was seen in a pair of Speedos I was about 5.
End of quote


we know you sit at your PC in a speedo and headgear. It's common knowledge.  ;) 
Reply #45 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What? You think the Moderators Swimsuit Calendar is a bad idea?
End of quote
/me needs to borrow Nickie's pole if we're doing that.

But I'm ready!
*

*Image by Po'

Reply #46 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A bit off topic here...Why are smilies showing up in half of the posts as they should be but not in the other half?

And Zubaz....that is one scary looking animated image.!
Reply #47 from WinCustomize Forums Top
And Zubaz....that is one scary looking animated image.!
End of quote

Source.  In context it makes more sense.
Reply #48 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Context: I presently only have reasonable site access for approx 10-12hrs per day. (it takes me that long to write some of my posts ;))

If my computer access was restricted to evenings (UK time) I would struggle to access the site at all. So for me, extra goodies aren't so much the issue, as being unable to cache already needed scripts from existing servers. It is only this site, it is always the same time period, it isn't client dependent, nor does it matter whether or not I'm logged in.

Not a moan, I'm a full grown fella and it isn't a 'real life' issue. So I work around it and enjoy the site regardless. The point, is that extra suites and additional goodies aren't necessarily a selling point to me. In fact as it stands, any goody that substantially increased server demand further, may actually have a negative impact on my experience, unless it's offset by additional resources..

If you want/need to introduce limited, well placed sponsorship slots, then I can work with that. As outlined in the OP it doesn't seem unreasonable.

If however, the principle was extended to the 'anything goes' philosophy, or Jafo's suggestion that a sponsorship slot every 10 skins in the gallery is acceptable, then were those slots filled, I would feel uneasy.

Not because of the impact on the site, all things being equal, as a site supporter, I'd cope with that if it was genuinely about sustainability. I'd struggle because the impact of the visible difference between sponsorship and adverts at that frequency, would have diminished to a degree where I would feel present subscriptions had been misrepresented.

I understand that's not the original stance and also the spirit in which Jafo made the statement. That said, as the position has been presented, it seemed reasonable to generate a different point of view.
Reply #49 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it seemed reasonable to generate a different point of view
End of quote
Somethign of an "alternate setting" as it were.

Good feedback AS.
Reply #50 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, seems to me if you don't have to do it, then don't. If it is essential for the site, then why ask? (or is this a notification?) Just get on with it! No big deal in the over-all scheme if things.