Adf.ly or similar for all links

I really think this will help generate substantial revenue, it's not too annoying, and as long as we can put a portion of the money into improving the site, I see no problems with it. Since it will only be used for guest members, it will help us generate revenue from them, and also give them a reason to sign up.

Example:
I link customers to my website, RSUltimate.com, but it shows guests a short 5 second advertisement before moving forward. Not 30 seconds like those other websites.


How it can work:

• All links viewed by guests
• Only some links (1 in every 10) <-- Please at least let's do this
  [*]Would only be for external links

What this doesn't mean:

• You'll be asked to sign up or do something on each link you click
• You'll have to watch a long advertisement
• Doesn't necessarily have to be everyone: can be just guests
• Doesn't only make more ads: If it's revenue is substantial, the number of banner ads on site can be reduced

How much it can help:

• About $2-4 per 1,000 views
• Possibly several hundreds in revenue per month

Summary of feedback received from members for/against

• Will help earn more revenue
  [*]Not really that annoying, especially if only for guests
  [*]Will increase registrations
  [*]You can even apply it to non-donors
  [*]Don't apply it to regular members
  [*]Makes website look cheap
  [*]Might not have substantial income

inb4 FireZ'd

(edit) Changed the idea for only guests due to negative feedback.
​

 

Referral links are annoying to hell and essentially make a website look cheap. It would generate revenue. But I think people registering and using the site is more important than some extra revenue.

 

I don't think you understood this thread. It's okay though, you're laptop.

 

I don't do this often but I agree with Laptop. It is a cheap and very annoying way to get revenue and it makes the site look cheap and desperate. I mean if you are having to use adf.ly links to generate income something must not be going well.

 

Fuck no, this is seriously one of the shittiest ideas I've ever seen posted.

 

A lot of websites, including many popular ones, use this form of generated revenue because it is a higher rate per view revenue, and it means they can cut down on other types of advertisements. I don't see why this would be a bad idea for guests who leech off the community. Having to wait a few second to click a link without registering is bad? In fact, it can encourage signups.

The goal is to get rid of the overload of banner advertisements. Would you still prefer having two banner advertisements next to the site logo over guests viewing ads before viewing links people post on threads? I guess if you use adblock you won't be bothered either way, but I've switched the subject to guests only. Still a shitty idea? If it is, I guess I'm just a moron.

 

If you make it for guests you have to be painfully obvious that it'll go away once registered.

 

I'm sure that would not be hard. A custom plugin can be created where it displays that if you register (including registration link) they'll go away.

 

@Grave, for the record adblock doesn't get rid of the banners for whatever reason.

I guess it isn't a horrible idea, but the actual profits from this would need to be actually calculated. If sythe is getting say, $25 a month then it just wouldn't be worth it. If sythe is getting like $400 a month then I'd support it being implemented.

I agree with mage though that it would need to be made painfully obvious that once you've registered the links stop appearing like that.

edit: How difficult would this be to actually put in?

 

Not hard; probably several plugins for it for vB 3.6

 

Isn't sythe already getting paid per view on the ads or is that a set monthly rate? Either way the profits would be so small and what ever money is needed to improve the site already comes from ads/donations so what's the point.

 

Horrible idea.

http://www.sythe.org/sythe-org-news/148431-sythe-org-official-rules.html

 

I have no problems with adfly links so long as they don't occur on intra-site links. It would be too annoying to moderate the forums if every 10th link of the hundreds we click per hour made us wait 30 seconds for an ad to finish.

 

Yeah, the actual profits would need to be calculated.

Pretty sure Sythe can put whatever he desires on his own website.

Yeah, this would be just for unregistered users.

 

Thing is sythe isnt posting these stupid referral links. Nice logic.

 

Gonna have to go with support on this one, SO LONG as it is only for guests and not already registered users.

Not only would it help bring in a few extra bucks a month, but it would give guests another reason to register on the forum other than just trolling around on the threads.

 

It would bring in more than a "small" amount.

What's with today and people thinking referrals are the same as URL shorteners with ads on them.

Obviously. Maybe I should specify that.

 

Thing is he would be approving it, or by extension his admins.

 

I'm not sure "obviously" is fair, since your title says "ALL links"

 

Didn't mean to offend you. It was more like "shit that's what I meant but I can see how everyone could think otherwise."