Ask dotTechies: Would you pay to view an ad-free dotTech?
July 20, 2010 60
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For a while now a thought has been rumbling inside my head. I don’t like ads, and you don’t like ads; but ads on dotTech are necessary to keep this website going. What if ads were not necessary? In other words, what if a different revenue model could be launched for dotTech to enable people to view dotTech ads-free? Yes, yes I know everyone can go out and download AdBlocker or NoScript or [insert advertisement blocking plugin here]; this article is not to discuss the blocking of ads (ad blocking plugins really don’t help dotTech’s cause, but I don’t hold it against anyone that uses them). This post is here to brainstorm and see how many, if any, dotTechies would be willing to pay a small monthly subscription fee to view dotTech ad-free. Of course, under this model dotTech will still be 100% available to people who don’t pay a monthly subscription, but those people would then be viewing advertisements just like how dotTech is right now. So, please cast your vote:
[poll id="18"]
NOTE: All values are in USD (United States Dollar) terms and are monthly subscription fees.
In addition to casting your vote above, please post your thoughts on this matter in the comments below. Thank you everyone in advance!
Depends upon the number of free programs you might provide us. The profit should be on either side.
thannks.
@digish: The content on dotTech is not going to change. In other words, what you get now is what you will get later, generally speaking.
I am fine with your ads…. so far. But if you start having ads that flash or otherwise demand too much attention by jiggling about, then i start going elsewhere. I already use FlashSwitch – it’s brilliantly simple way to enable/disable flash player
@roger-u: I hate Flash ads as much as you. In fact, all ads on dotTech are text only, except for the ones at the top.
I wouldn’t pay if the content was the same. There are other blogs out there. The content would have to increase in quality for me to pay for it.
Not to say the content here is bad (I love it) but I expect extra features if I have to pay to view.
@Llulu: I understand. Thanks for the input.
@Llulu: Just as a small correction, you will never *have* to pay to view. Rather, you are paying to remove the ads. The content will always be fully available to everyone.
I just switched off my blocker to see what you were talking about–I didn’t know you even had ads!
The ads aren’t TOO obtrusive, so if they stay about the same, I’ll keep my blocker off for dotTech.
Glad to help and thanks again for your work.
I love your website and value your opinions, but as a pensioner I am unable to afford monthly subscriptions …. sorry
ads? what ads? My brain has a google-ads filter – I really don’t see them. So no problems here :-)
@etim: Mighty thanks!
@Carolyn: Don’t sweat it – it is no problem at all! I am just throwing around ideas anyway.
@njwood60: You are like me =D.
@Ashraf: Hey A, why not just ask folks to turn off their blockers for your site for a bit and just give the ads a try? They can always turn it back on if they’re bothered that much…
@etim: Great idea but I don’t really want to be that self imposing, if you get what I mean. If people want to block ads, that is fine – its their choice. If they don’t, that is great too. Most people that block ads probably wouldn’t even click on them anyway.
In fact I was thinking about writing an article showing people how to block ads, for those that do want to block ads. At least after that I will know the people that aren’t blocking ads on dotTech are doing it to support dotTech and not because they don’t know how =).
If the ads are enough to support the site, just leave them in place. Subscriptions, whether simply to remove the ads or block them, is an unnecessary complication for you.
Personally, I block the ads in Fx (didn’t even know they were there until I opened the site in IE!) and I still donate anyway. This place is well-respected; I do it because I can.
@OldElmerFudd: Good point; setting up a subscription system would bring its own problems.
That said, thanks for the donations!
The ads on your site are fine, I think it’s fair enough to put up with a few text ads to be able to see the content.
I generally block flash ads or any ads that are otherwise intrusive, but I’m happy to leave alone them on sites like yours as a sort of quid pro quo for the benefit I derive from being able to access the site.
Hi Ash…
I’m ok with the current ads, no real problems there but I do feel your site is worth paying a few bob a month for.
So if you decide to start a subscription service, I’m in.
Regards
Brent
No, I wouldn’t pay. Subscription or otherwise. It might be ok for those who have disposable incomes. But that is something I do not have. And I’d be out of here in a flash if it came to that, to be honest.
Hullo Ashraf, I very much appreciate the service you provide and the hard work that you must put into it but, and I mean no offence by this, there is a similar post provided by Gizmo’s Freeware which must be considered. Though not sure, I do believe that he asks a small annual subscription, Also there is a limit to the number of applications that we can fill our PCs with. So in my case your service mainly satisfies my curiosity and provides me with a means of keeping up to date with advances and improvements. I do not wish to sound superior, but I am puzzled why so many people are still suffering from ads when there is so much software around to restrict them to a tolerable level. Thanks to you and other freebie providers!
count me in if it will be in my budget off course in Indian currency and if the stuff is worth it
Dr Nitin
Until you mentioned ads, I didn’t even know dotTech had them… I wouldn’t be willing to pay to see an ad-free site. Partly because I can already block ads (and even if I didn’t, I just zone them out), and partly because there’s other sites out there that provide mostly the same information. I don’t *have* to use this one. (That said… I do like your site…)
I hope that the ads which appear on your web site have been screened by you to confirm their authenticity and eliminate any scam artist. If that is the case then I respect those ads and may even purchase their product. incidentally, I have given you a donation in the past, but do not recall how long it has been (early senile dementia). If you keep a record and it has been almost a year then please notify me so that I may do it again. Even though I am retired on a fixed income, I do want to help support your efforts because the information you provide is valuable.
Ads don’t bother me a bit. It’s a fact of life.
I would not pay to block the ads. I actually do not even care about ads unless they are Flash ads. In fact I have even clicked on a few of the ads from time to time just to give you a few clicks and help support a little since there is no other way for me to do that. Hope the ads are enough or that a subscription will help if not enough.
I love the site and the content, i have been here for a while now and i like the other members, we all get along.
But to be honest Ashraf, i would not pay, simply because i am 15, i don’t have much money, i’m lucky to have this computer right now, and i only got his because my parents knew i needed a new one. Some people may be able to afford a subscription, but, same as Phoeniix_Rising, i cannot pay. If it came to a pay to access content thing, i would have to leave, sorry but that’s the way it is. Not everyone can afford to pay a subscription and some more of us don’t like paying for things online.