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We’re dropping Google Ads

groundup.org.za

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Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#541

Post by Mz »

joshuamorton wrote: post #540
Mz wrote: post #527

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I kind of agree with your basic point, but people with this issue don't solve it by "saving up" and some people will never be well off. It is inherently problematic to design a world where only The Haves can contribute. I am homeless. I have been treated vastly better by second hand stores and payday loan places than by any charity organization that has helped me because I am a customer and they need my money to pay…

>but people with this issue don't solve it by "saving up" and some people will never be well off. Agreed. Although at least for patreon, which in my experience is freemium, you aren't worrying about basic access. If we were talking about a newspaper subscription or internet access or an all access subscription to some content creator who only gave access to patrons that might be different, but "premium access to extr…

Funny, last I checked, even billionaires are a bit scared about financial security in the crazy world we live in today.

But, I have other things to do and trying to bridge whatever communication gap exists here is not the best use of my time ATM.

Best.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#542

Post by username223 »

Mz wrote: post #496
username223 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You can also just do a tip jar model or patreon. I've contemplated this kind of thing, but it feels like panhandling, and I'm reluctant to go there. I would do it if I thought I could do so tastefully and respectfully. I'm a (non-tech-related) "content producer," and I absolutely refuse to put up ads or be a shill or "native advertiser." Instead, I wrote a book, and if people want to support what I do, they can buy…

When I had donate buttons, I literally had someone tell me I was panhandling the internet. Tip jars are a better way to signal "It took work to create value here and compensation is appreciated." It has gotten a very different response from people. I am glad your strategy is working for you. But, if you are interested: http://micheleincalifornia.blogspot.com/2015/11/how-to-make-...

Thanks for the link. I may give this a try and see if people use it. I think I have more drive-by readers than regulars, so this probably makes more sense than Patreon.

BTW, kudos for writing the "Survival Guide." I ran across it at random awhile ago, and it has some great advice.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#543

Post by joshuamorton »

Mz wrote: post #541
joshuamorton wrote: post #540

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>but people with this issue don't solve it by "saving up" and some people will never be well off. Agreed. Although at least for patreon, which in my experience is freemium, you aren't worrying about basic access. If we were talking about a newspaper subscription or internet access or an all access subscription to some content creator who only gave access to patrons that might be different, but "premium access to extr…

Funny, last I checked, even billionaires are a bit scared about financial security in the crazy world we live in today. But, I have other things to do and trying to bridge whatever communication gap exists here is not the best use of my time ATM. Best.

I'm honestly not sure how that has to do with what I wrote.

In any case, have a nice day as well.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#544

Post by logfromblammo »

jessaustin wrote: post #516
logfromblammo wrote: post #498

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or you could hire an IP attorney to file a trademark infringement suit against that competing business? How is that not intentionally causing marketplace confusion? Also, if you roll over and pay Google, you are damaging your ability to defend your own business name as a trademark. Trademarks are lost if you don't defend them. Talk to a real lawyer, ASAP.

Do you mean to say that Chevrolet has never bought the AdWords phrase "Chevrolet"? I would be shocked to learn that. We've considered seeking legal counsel. Part of the problem is that the two primary words of the business name are a generic service offered by this type of business (40 years ago SEO was not a big consideration). Also very few of our customers take the care to quote the two-word phrase, so their queri…

Ah. I was assuming that it was a situation like Ford buying AdWords for "Chevrolet". If it is more like Speedy Plumbing buying AdWords for "snake" and "plumbing" when your business is named Snake Plumbing, then I don't think you have much of a trademark case there.

In that case, businesses exist that can help your business search for and monitor more defensible trademarks. If you are truly hurt by competitors buying AdWords, you really should thrust your hand into the fire and suffer the pain of rebranding now, because it's only going to get worse the longer you wait. Switching from "Snake Plumbing" to "Jessaustin Pipewranglers" would hurt temporarily as you trained your existing customer base to use the new name, but uncommon or newly coined words are so much more defensible.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#545

Post by Mz »

username223 wrote: post #542
Mz wrote: post #496

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I had donate buttons, I literally had someone tell me I was panhandling the internet. Tip jars are a better way to signal "It took work to create value here and compensation is appreciated." It has gotten a very different response from people. I am glad your strategy is working for you. But, if you are interested: http://micheleincalifornia.blogspot.com/2015/11/how-to-make-...

Thanks for the link. I may give this a try and see if people use it. I think I have more drive-by readers than regulars, so this probably makes more sense than Patreon. BTW, kudos for writing the "Survival Guide." I ran across it at random awhile ago, and it has some great advice.

It would be great to hear (via email) if the tip jar works for you. So far the only data I have is my own.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#546

Post by ashark »

paulcole wrote: post #77
mikestew wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Twist it however you like, but just saying things like they're a fact does not an argument make. Making your case without accusations would be a good place to start.

Your argument boils down to "I feel entitled to something so I'll take it." I call it as I see it and am not falling for, "I didn't sign anything. I'm just going by what I signed up for years ago."

I'm definitely entitled not to let your document which you chose to send me on request cause my hardware+software to do things I don't want it to, like make any ol' network request it pleases without my say-so.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#547

Post by gozur88 »

jes5199 wrote: post #442
aws_ls wrote: post #419

I think this speaks for 1000s and 1000s of small(er) website publishers. All squeezed by Google. For example, we run a website having millions of page views a month. And similarly frustrated. If we can divide the slot between 10 advertisers directly, we might make much more. Perhaps even double than what Adsense pays. The only reason, why we don't attempt that is time and effort getting directed in an unwanted direct…

Internet advertising is a bubble - it delivers so little value but so much money is flowing through it. It has to pop sometime.

What's the alternative? Broadcast television viewership is shrinking, and skews older. The demographics advertisers like are spending their time playing games and watching youtube videos.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#548

Post by return0 »

_m8fo wrote: post #448

If no one would pay money for your service then isn't it inherently valueless? Advertisements is just a scam that's gonna pop eventually. I'd pay a lot of websites a buck a month for access. Multiply this by millions and you see. It's only when you introduce advertisements that the craziness begins.

> Multiply this by millions and you see

I would be curious to know how many websites have millions of paying subscribers.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#549

Post by protomyth »

joshuamorton wrote: post #536
protomyth wrote: post #532

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This whole thread ended up being about a replacement for Ads. So, when news / entertainment goes to a payment arrangement like Patreon, what do those people do? The answer "don't" and "save" are not realistic. Especially if a simple change would open up some help by being a bit more user centric. Waiting a month for an expense you actually have the money now for is just plain poor manners on the billing agency. When…

>Waiting a month for an expense you actually have the money now for is just plain poor manners on the billing agency. Perhaps, but I also don't necessarily think of Comcast as a design we should follow. If I understand >Think about that statement in the light of a non-ad supported web. correctly, your implication is that this will cut people who can't pay out of services (ie. things become subscription based and then…

> I also don't necessarily think of Comcast as a design we should follow

I think when Comcast does it better, people should consider that the bottom level they need to achieve.

I do imply it will cut people off. People need to think about these issues as soon as "free" dies. I await the various Netflix-for-news attempts.

Just as the next level of problem is the bank-less. That is one more step down the line. A lot of the bank-less have jobs that pay above minimum wage but had a bad streak. Walmart understands this given their financial services. I'm starting to think with ads going down the tube someone dealing with web content better start walking through the implications.

Re: We’re dropping Google Ads

#550

Post by yjain »

Antrikshy wrote: post #483
alexchantavy wrote: post #149

Off topic: this is the first time I've heard of GroundUp, and I really like the "Dear Editor" format of the comment page on this site. I'm used to seeing mainstream newspaper websites with downright toxic commenting environments, so seeing "Dear Editor" followed by a thought-out response is very refreshing. Maybe they have a "better" readership/screening process/whatever, but I think this higher quality commenting be…

It's not just the framing. They call their comments "letters". Try clicking the "Write a letter in response to this article" button. The UI is designed to promote constructive comments.

Thanks for the comment. I found a link to http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/free-guides.html there which is very interesting!
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