A "No Ads" Option For ShoutWire Users?

71

Shouts

7

Bashes

A "No Ads" Option For ShoutWire Users?

Posted by bulshoy Promoted 132 days 13 hours ago 4016 views editorial

Other / Other General | 71 comments |

Stumble it!

Every day, the comments and my inbox are littered with complaints about advertising on ShoutWire. Too many pop-ups, too many re-directs, and too much bullshit are the usual complaints.

I have forwarded many complaints to the owner, and he sent me a response today. It seems that he is anxious to reach a compromise with users. He'd like to make ShoutWire a more user-friendly site, while at the same time he'd like to make a couple bucks (or at least break even).

His idea is one that I hadn't heard. What he'd like to do is give all ShoutWire users the option to select "No Ads" in their profile. Users who make that selection will not get any pop-ups or pop-unders, re-directs, or banner ads. Naturally, there's a catch.

People who select "no ads" would immediately be greeted with a splash page containing various ads. It would be uncloseable for 5 seconds, then it would vanish. This splash page would re-appear after x number of hours (he said 12 hours, but that number's not set in stone).

He also related a classic dilemma. Those really annoying sound-enabled ads make lots of cash, but they drive away visitors. He was wondering if ShoutWire would be more successful he either removes all of the annoying ads, or keeps the annoying ads but allows users to earn some of the money that those ads generate - some kind of profit-sharing scheme.

Basically, we're trying to find a balance between ad revenue and visitors - more ads generates more cash, but less visitors. Less ads generate more visitors at the expense of revenue. See the dilemma here?

The floor is now open to suggestions and comments. Lately, the owners of ShoutWire are open to user suggestions, so share your thoughts so that we can make ShoutWire a better place!

My Shout Count

Comments

These comments in RSS.

Comment View Threshold:

NaziEskimoes, on 4/25/2008 8:44:38 AM
Total Posts: 33, Joined: 4/3/2008

Buy stock in Tubaroo and demand that your investment be secure in the company by removing the ads on the site bringing back the users shoutwire once had.

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

Flik, on 4/25/2008 8:52:05 AM
Total Posts: 461, Joined: 12/13/2007

Hardcore advertisements etc.

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

bulshoy, on 4/25/2008 8:53:40 AM
Total Posts: 6072, Joined: 11/15/2005

^

Yeah i pitched your idea to him just now, flik.

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

KennyDuehit, on 4/25/2008 8:54:33 AM
Total Posts: 52, Joined: 9/19/2007

I Love the idea of the uncloseable for 5 seconds popup much more then random picture ads scattered everywhere making all surrounding look ugly. I like slick clean looks to web pages.

As for profit sharing, unless I'm going to make enough to buy lunch once a week, don't bother. I can only imagine that there are soooo many users on shoutwire that revenue would be spread very very thinly.

Hell, if that unclosable pop up had sound in it I would not mind at all if it only happened once ever 8 hours (3 times a day MAX)

Thx owners for demanding our (the users) input. much appreciated and makes me feel welcome and encouraged to stay.

| Comment Score: Excellent | Edit Comment

JudgeThreeWayDisciple, on 4/25/2008 9:00:12 AM
Total Posts: 570, Joined: 4/26/2007

NEVAR FORGET! http://tinyurl.com/4o5jyr

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

damasterwc, on 4/25/2008 9:02:39 AM
Total Posts: 156, Joined: 5/30/2006

I'd be down for the profit sharing option... maybe it'll add up to like $100 a year...

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

KennyDuehit, on 4/25/2008 9:03:56 AM
Total Posts: 53, Joined: 9/19/2007

Lest we forget Judge, Lest we forget

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

jd8coke, on 4/25/2008 9:04:09 AM
Total Posts: 815, Joined: 2/5/2006

This does sound like a good idea.

Even though all the content is user generated this guy still has to pay the bills but if it's not a profitable site then why run it at a loss? Why not sell it to one of us?

I would be more than happy to buy it (for a small amount as he said it himself, it doesn't make much money) and run it without outside ads. It would be funded by a pub raffle style competition to win a mobile phone and once the site's costs and the cost of the mobile were covered, the competition would be closed.

Who here would put in £1 for the chance to win a phone and to help the site go ad free?

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

KennyDuehit, on 4/25/2008 9:04:51 AM
Total Posts: 54, Joined: 9/19/2007

100$ a year per user? your fuckin kidding me, right?

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

KennyDuehit, on 4/25/2008 9:09:38 AM
Total Posts: 55, Joined: 9/19/2007

jd8 I'd give 2$, so shoutwire could go get some Timbits, but i know everyone won't do that, many users I'm betting are still below the credit card level. and High schoolers are to lazy to send a dollar in the mail. But i still like the idea. and I'd paypal my 2 bucks any time. I love this place!!

| Comment Score: Neutral | Edit Comment

Comments per page: 10

Post your comments

Your Message:

This system allows you to use html-like tags in replacement of HTML. These tags are easier to use and are widely supported on messageboard systems.

HTML DISABLED
CODE DISABLED

You must be a registered user in order to post comments.
Please sign in or create a new account.