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!
About the author: Ashraf View all posts by Ashraf
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I’d have to agree with the majority, Your ads are very unobtrusive. No one tells me what I’ve won when I come here so it’s all good! LOL
That said, I’d pay if I could, this is a great resource!!
I didn’t realize that dottech uses ads except when I was obliged to browse it away from my laptop. I already block about 99% of websites ads and 100% of dottech ads. I hardly see ads on my lap. The only way to see if a website is putting ads is to browse elsewhere.
Thanks Ashraf but I dislike ads. Don’t blame me.
commercial ads are part of life, be it TV , Radio etc…
the ads are not intrusive on your site.
its nothing compared to the information you share, ads can be tolerated..
You’re site is so elegantly designed, I never noticed there were ads! I HATE pages that are full of ads jumping around and even making noise, but the ads on your site are totally tasteful and easy to ignore. You have tons of clean, empty space on your pages–maybe that’s because I’m still on IE6 (shudder…) and they just don’t come up for me…..:-)….? In any case, ads have never interfered with my viewing pleasure on your site!
I’m quite fine with ads on most any site. I tend to tune them out unless I’m looking for other things to look at. I have found some interesting things on the internet because of ads.
However, I really dislike any ad that jumps out in front of the content or makes noise. Especially the ones that grey out the page and you can’t interact with anything but the ad. Those two types of ads don’t belong on the internet, in my opinion.
It seems to me that some people think the subscription you suggested means a fee to access the site, instead of just for disabling ads. I wouldn’t pay for either.
I don’t see any ads…. My eyes are train to just look for what I want. So I cannot tell you which ads are on your site. The same on TV, news paper and etc. So I’m fine with ads.
But I find good business to get some money back from ads to pay some costs of creating this very good site. Thanks
I would pay 1$ a month for your site with Ashraf-approved ads. My concept is that you would then, for your paid subscribers, solicit and accept only ads for products you personally approve. Products you felt were worth their cost and that did what they purported to do. Quality by Ashraf!
I’m not bothered by the ads on your site. Actually your site is one of the few where I consider them tasteful.
I don’t use ad blockers. When I visit a site that has a multitude of flashing and/or intruding ads, I leave. I leave because all those ads give me the impression that the site owner doesn’t have anything worthwhile and is only interested in the revenue gained from the ads.
Would I pay to use your site ad free? I’ll have to think about it, but at this point I really don’t think so. As I said above, your ads are not annoying.
sounds like a good idea but…… what about the people like myself who do not use credit or pay pal? are we left in the dark?
ive come to rely on the reviews from this site but if i have to pay for it GOOD BYE.like i said sounds good but in reality it wont work and you will loose ALOT of visitors.
@Ashraf: “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.” Thanks for clarifying that, Ashraf. Whatever you do, please do not start charging for membership or access to this website! The ads you have now are not offensive and do not take away from the purpose of this website.
The ads are fine here, so long as they remain tasteful and unobtrusive it’s no problem – therefore I wouldn’t pay to remove them. (in fact I’ve just permanently disabled ad-blocking on the site… again? thought I’d done that already.. sorry)
One thing that occurred to me is that I’m happy to pay a nominal subscription ($5 per year) for a couple of sites that I use, but any recurrent monthly cost often gets dropped. The
If you had a small annual fee for “Membership” you could perhaps make some “DotTech exclusive” giveaways available to members only (particularly if you have a small number of licences to give away), while keeping all reviews, articles and links to general promotional giveaways freely available to all? People are generally unlikely to pay for something they can get free, so I think you would need to offer some perceived benefit for financial members. Ad-free viewing is not enough benefit when so many people indicate they didn’t even know the ads were there…
Just thinking out loud, so to speak ;)
I guess I have the image of “freeware” or “giveaways” as being just that, given away and free. Having to pay for a subscription to such a site is certainly a contradiction in terms, which frankly, should it occur, I could not be a participant. It is also why I do not frequent sites that require you to pay just to download freeware…not what the author(s) / developer(s) intended.
Your knowledge is applaud and appreciated by many, but applause and certain affection & appreciation for your generosity do not get the bandwidth or time paid for.
There are any number of give-a-way sites out there I could be visiting. I don’t. Why? Chiefly because the calibre of information provided is much lower, and often, so is the offer – It is why I hardly visit GiveAwayOfTheDay anymore…the best reviews covering the essentials of the apps reviewed, are your’s…the fact is, you bring many people to that site…hummm, wonder if there is an earning possibility here?!
I love your site. I deeply appreciate all the work you do and the quality of the applications you provide (Yes, I have voted for your site a number of times, and no other.) Truth be known, I am a disabled computer forensic scientist – former CSI kinda’ guy – money is terribly tight, probably true for many these days, and your site has brought me much free pleasure…keeps my mind playing, if you know what I mean?
With all that said – ads are not a problem for me and I have clicked a few just to check things out – boredom mostly – perhaps if everyone would click an ad a day??? Hummm?
Hi Ashraf
You are doing a great job!. Your reviews and offerings of free softwares / links are greatly appreciated. At the same time, running & maintaining servers / websites also costs you. And you are right about ads or the subscription fees. As of today, as far as I am concerned and in the boat I am sailing, I would go with the ads. But either way, I would be visiting your website no matter what.
Again Thanking you for all the kindness.
Bharat Trivedi
Wouldn’t be interested in paying for an add-free dotTech.
I understand your need to raise funds, but this idea, while very fair because you would be offering people the option to pay or not, isn’t one I’d suggest trying.
As I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, the mere idea of having to pay a subscription fee is insulting to many people (me included), so much so that a lot of people aren’t even getting to the part where you explained that it would be an optional payment and that site content would be the same whether or not the subscription price is paid.
My opinion is that you may want to continue exploring other ways of raising funds for the site. Maybe it’s time to look at the t-shirt idea again?
Does dotTech get paid for all ads clicked on???? I didn’t know that!!!! What a wonderful way for us financially strapped folks to make a token donation without money….:-)….!!!! From now on, I will click on ALL the ads on this site! Does it count if you click on the same one(s) more than once?
Believe it or not, I actually don’t mind website ads.
1. They subsidize websites. If all websites moved to a pay-per-view model, the expense could be very unwelcome–like cable TV.
2. I actually can learn from the ads, finding good sites and products.
Of course, the issue is having good ads, and ads that are tasteful/inobtrusive.
I have my ad blocker turned off for dotTech (so that Ashraf can make some moolah), and have not minded it a bit.
As a previous commenter states, I, too, would be interested in knowing how dotTech makes income from the ads: is it only if the ads are clicked or does the mere placement and viewing generate income; and how much is/can be generated (if that’s not too intrusive)–are we talking microcents?
I make a CAD$10 donation from time to time, and will continue to do so; and I encourage those who can afford it to do likewise.
A small monthly subcription fee would be a nuisance on my bank statement.
Personally, I am not bothered by ads, which are often useful.
Mike puts the case very well in the preceding note.
How many microcents are we talking here?
xØx
jd
Hey Ashraf,
I would not pay for an ad-free dotTech… I just skim over the ads…they dont bother me at all :)
See http://dottech.org/ask-dottechies/13746
I think we’ve already decided on paying?
Hi
Give us the choice just to make a donation as some of us don’t have a lot to give but your site is great and I would try and give as much as possible just like you do with your wonderful site. I give a donation to another site and have done so for years and as my position changes so does my donation.
Take care
Ritchie
don’t worry about the ads. if you use fire fox there is a ad on called adblock plus, it makes ads go away.i never see an ad here,didn’t know you had any.
I don’t actually notice the ads, but because of your valuable input, I would be willing to click on a “donate” button on pages where your information has provided me with a unique perspective.
Given that, I probably owe you money now. ;-)
Not only do I not mind the ads but I applaud you for being a true entreprneur and trying to support your business with advertizing. We are all happy to get TV for free by needing to view commecials, so why should anyone object to the same on the Internet. My suggestion? Sell more advertizing if you can–especially if it allows you to make a better income and maybe contnue to improve yoru business.
Hey Ashraf, are you insulted by the people who chose “I already block the ads you loser, HAHAHAHA”.
‘Cause those guys called you a loser! =O
Lawl… how do you even block the ads? Did Dot.Tech wrote about it before? I do know about the IE7 one, but how about other sites? Write a tutorial about it please?
Anyways, the ads are placed very organized and neatly on Dot.Tech. Unlike AskVG or Raymond.cc, the ads are placed in areas I don’t mostly prefer. Keep on the good work sir!
@DrLongBear: “With all that said – ads are not a problem for me and I have clicked a few just to check things out – boredom mostly – perhaps if everyone would click an ad a day??? Hummm?”
I’d go for that idea, I also think that the majority of ppl who come here would as well. Anything to help Ashraf!!!!!
I also have clicked on an ad from time to time to help out, and also out of curiosity. This is the only site where I have clicked on ads. Anywhere else I don’t bother.