About the new ads...

[Bonsai Nut]

I am trying something new with the Google ads. I know they are more obtrusive, but I want to see if they make a huge difference in ad revenue.

The truth is, the ads currently cover about 1/3rd the cost of the site, after taxes I am trying to figure out a solution so I don't have to underwrite as much of the site expense.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

What ads, I've got AdBlock for Chrome


You really should let us do some sort of auction every once in a while to raise funds to help you pay for the site. With as much work as you do, I think it'll really lessen the burden for you.

 

[sorce]

First. I don't mind the ads.

But, do you think they advertise cat litter cuz we post about it? Crazy. Next, pink thongs. Crazier!

Craziest. ....I Drove by an indoor skydiving place the other day, thought about how fun it would be, and then had the add on my phone, I think my phone hears my thoughts. Of course, google maps noticed it is all, and sent it to ad world, but, (insert sounds of one going crazy) what's next?

It reminds me to get my pot material for spring too, so, Sunnyside up folks!

Sorce

 

[JudyB]

Gotta do what you gotta do. Glad that you are willing to keep us going at all.

 

[Smoke]

First. I don't mind the ads.

But, do you think they advertise cat litter cuz we post about it? Crazy. Next, pink thongs. Crazier!

Craziest. ....I Drove by an indoor skydiving place the other day, thought about how fun it would be, and then had the add on my phone, I think my phone hears my thoughts. Of course, google maps noticed it is all, and sent it to ad world, but, (insert sounds of one going crazy) what's next?

It reminds me to get my pot material for spring too, so, Sunnyside up folks!

Sorce

This whole paragraph makes me wonder just what "pot material" you are speaking of.....

 

[qwade]

Burpee seeds

No big deal for me. Google already has my number. Figured it out before this post since another seed vendor ad popped up. I'm an avid gardener and always get flooded in january with seed catalogues ads etc. Sometimes I am concerned__ it seems l Big brother is following me. However I am still in control since I choose to 'surf' the internet.

Side note___ Like the upgraded photo upload editor. If it was there before I didn't notice it.

BN again thxs for providing this service. john

 

[Vin]

You should start charging per argument. Imagine the revenue flow you'd get from that!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Back in the day...

I used to be able to choose the ads that would be shown on this site. Therefore I chose gardening, bonsai, camping, nature, Japan, etc, ads. However Google didn't like that. In about 50% of the cases now, your ads will show something related to a recent Google search. So if you are seeing ads for pink thongs... too much information

I need to figure out the whole site funding thing. When people talk about the $5000 bonsai... for me it is this site

I'm thinking I will try a voluntary fund-raising campaign to see how we do. My cloud host keeps telling me to do it

 

[KennedyMarx]

What ads, I've got AdBlock for Chrome


You really should let us do some sort of auction every once in a while to raise funds to help you pay for the site. With as much work as you do, I think it'll really lessen the burden for you.

You should make an exception for this site on your Adblock list. I'd hope everyone would do the same. It's the least someone could do considering the site is free with no begging for donations.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Pardon my ignorance, but with the ads here, how/at what point is revenue generated for the site? When I click on the banner, simply go to that site, or go to that site and actually buy something?

I think an auction could be a fun way to raise some revenue. I'm sure I have a few items to contribute.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Pardon my ignorance, but with the ads here, how/at what point is revenue generated for the site? When I click on the banner, simply go to that site, or go to that site and actually buy something?

I think an auction could be a fun way to raise some revenue. I'm sure I have a few items to contribute.

Ok I have to be careful because I don't want to breach Google's terms of service. I get a tiny bit of money for people to just SEE the ads. I get more money if people click on them. However I cannot as a web site owner TELL people to click on the ads because it breaks the terms of service. But all I will say is... if you see an ad that appeals to you... click on it and see what it has to offer. If it doesn't appeal to you, ignore it.

The frustrating thing for me - and you will laugh - there are many times that I see ads that DO appeal to me, but I can't click on them. I saw an ad today for Dallas Bonsai that I almost clicked on... but instead I had to back out of the site and go there directly, because as a site owner it might appear that I was trying to inflate my revenues.

Rather than an auction (at least at this point) I would prefer to try an optional donation campaign. I want to make clear to people that I am not going away, and the site isn't going away. But as the costs of the site have gone past $1000 per year... and then $2000 per year... it starts to add up

 

[Redwood Ryan]

You should make an exception for this site on your Adblock list. I'd hope everyone would do the same. It's the least someone could do considering the site is free with no begging for donations.

I wondered the same thing Brian brought up. At what point is revenue generated? Surely it isn't from the ads simply being displayed. I thought it was only from clicking on the ads themselves.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Aaaand the head Nut just answered that for me.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Thank you for explaining it. I'll be clicking.

Do you have an account set up to which donations can be made?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

You know, I did recently pick up the art of burning wood

I could send out some custom burnt wood BNut gifts to those that donate.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Thank you for explaining it. I'll be clicking.

Do you have an account set up to which donations can be made?

I will set something up and have a "formal" announcement. I want all my bonsainut friends to know this will be completely voluntary. We have some people that have been through some tough times, or are just short of disposable income at the moment. I want everyone to feel like they are welcome here whether they are free to donate or not.

 

[dpowell]

You should set up a Patreon account or something similar, works on donations and can set it up to be recurring (just like your costs).

 

[small trees]

It might not hurt to have some member title or badge that appears when you donate so that others who might not be aware for whatever reason could see the badge or title and be motivated to donate as well.

edit: Also, I didn't even think of it before now but adblock is now off for this site for me as well. I refresh the page enough, you should see a bump from me alone

 

[JudyB]

The sound you hear in the background is me click, click, clicking......

 

[jk_lewis]

Dunno if it has anything to do with the new ad scheme, or not, but but SOMETHING caused B-Nut to require that I change my password before I could log in. That's a bit of a pain.