Ad Banners

Invariably the funding issue comes, including donations and ad banners. For once I'm taking a serious look at ad banners (Google Ads) as a way of offseting cost.

First I'd like to stress MFGG is actually doing okay as it is right now, so until that changes, I'm going to regard ad banners in MFGGer's best interests. If ad banners were to be placed on the forums, they would appear at the bottom of the page, just above the copyright/server load. They would not appear on the main site.

If the banners were put in place, the offset costs could mean bringing the main site onto the same server as the forums and integrating the databases, so you'd have a single user account for site and forums. It could also mean upgrading the board software, but as far as I'm concerned IPB 1.3 is still serving us well.

So yeah, opinions. If the majority of you don't care, I'll probably trial the ads, but if most of you (or substantial number of you) would rather not see them on this forum (anywhere), I'm going to drop the issue until there's a pressing need.

Examples of what these might look like (with adjust colors)


Or if the above is still too big,

Hmm... I dunno about the merging the two onto the same server idea though. If one goes then the other goes.

Nah, in my opinion, i can stand a little bit of extra text at the bottom. I've seen them being customisable, as far colors goes, so i don't really think there should ever be a problem making them blend in with the skin either.

Im all for it.

if it helps, put the ads.
Especially if they are going to be at the bottom.

The pros far outweigh the cons. A small ad banner at the bottom of the page where none of us will probably see it anyway is a small price to pay for the revenue it would bring in and the chance of integrating the site with the forums.

Only if the server physically goes down, in which case it will invariably come back up. MFGG's available bandwidth would be about 5 times what it is currently, and it would be throttled separately of the forums so one could not suspend the other.

At the bottom?


Sounds good.

I wouldn't mind at all.

This makes sense to me. We know you arn't pocketing any money out of it.

If we're offsetting costs, do it.
I don't care because I adblocked the Google ad server.

I agree with everyone else. If it helps pay for the site, do it. I don't mind...

Sounds good to me as long as they are pr0nless XD

I'm for it. It's easy money and they won't be seen.


*thumbs up*

If everyone's talking about pr0n on the topic constantly, then it probrably will be a pr0n ad at the bottom. They take words from the page and try to find the right thing to advertise for, that would appeal to the person looking at the page or something. But it wouldn't be an image or anything, just "CLICK HERE FOR PR0N LOL"

As for the fact that the site and forum will be on the same server... some forum integration is in order.

Like, perhaps, sending a link to the Moderation Queue on the site when a new Submit-it topic is posted.

filters

I wouldn't mind it. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Porn brings in alot of revenue.

If they're at the bottom, and out of the way, I'm okay with it. However, I'd rather not have them lagging the forums' load times.

As long as they're not where I can see them, then it's alright. I should seriously look into something similar for KS since we need a new server and some cheap revenue would help defray some of the cost involved.