I think I might have found a solution to the problem of paying for the server on a regular basis. As you might have noticed I've been testing the Google Adwords banners this week. I mainly wanted to get an idea of how many page views the site got per day and the types of ads that google would give the site. So far the site has been regularly getting around 45000 views a day. This is great because it means that we could easily pay for the server (and even get a better server) with the revenue from these ads alone.

The only down side is that we'd have to move the ads from the bottom of the page (where we've been getting about a 0.02% click through rate) to somewhere in the middle of the page. As an example I've added one ad to [this page on the dev site]. As you can see it's in a place where many more people would see it, but I think it's really not all the intrusive or ugly. What do you think?

Of course I've already made a script that will suppress ads for members of the Caedes Cadre, so that's just one more way for use to thank those contributers to the site. Now if I could only stop thinking about how to make money for the site (I'm starting to feel all dirty like a businessman ;-).

I found it neither intrusive nor ugly. And, as such things go (grin) it's quite tasteful. No flashing lights, no exploding/flaming letters screeching "buy me!", nothing offensive about it at all, in fact. As far as feeling all dirty like a businessman is concerned...heh! Take a shower and keep eating regularly while the ivory-tower aesthetics are starving.

I do think it is a little intrusive... but I also think the only people this would annoy would be the regular members, and since we should really be cadre members anyway, it shouldn't be a problem...

I agree Samatar. But, if it is going to fund Caedes.Net and get a better server, go for it. It is amazing that such a small blemish could generate so much revenue. The main thing is that it does not obstruct the great artists and photographers that present themselves here. Great job Caedes! Heres a pat on the back. ><}}}}}}(">

^^That looks more like a fish to me =)

Sorry, brain went off on a tangent( ;{)

There are only three things in my public life with which I take umbrage: smokers who allow their smoldering stench to trail into my face; boomboxes for the same reason; pop-ups on the Internet. Otherwise...

And I guess this isn't in that group then? I hope... =)

I think that it would probably look better at the top of the page so its not in the actually content. Would this make a big difference in people going to it? But whatever generates the most money is probably the best way to go.

I agree with Winter Night. The top would be so much better. However, the script that allows the Cadre to not see....right on! Every month I will give money not to see that. Everyone wins! ; )

it's not ugly but it is intrusive, it seems funny in the middle of the page. but i'll reiterate others points, the members who visit the most and contribute the most, and would thus be more likely to get annoyed, are more likely to be in the Cadre. and a slightly intrusive ad in exchange for a better, paid for server, is always worth it.

what about having it in the links bar <-----? I think it looks a bit odd right below the picture, it draws my attention away

Looks fine to me...but then again, I will probably never have to look at one on the site.
:c)

ya i think it is fine, too bad my add blocker doesn't block it :-( but the thing with it not showing up for cadre members is a good idea

hey is it possible to make the add run vertically under the "Control Panel" on the left side of the screen?
<----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah it is possible, but the bar on the left is already pretty full of stuff and the only ad that runs vertical is like 900 pixels tall.

oh, well then i guess u should leave it where it is on the dev site.....

i agree with winternight and TRACYJTZ, it would look better above the image rather than below, i think it is distracting in the middle.

Hmm, I would prefer it at the top of the image as well. Even above the image title. To have it sitting in the middle is too distracting.

Honestly, if you had pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed it.

i hate to be the party pooper but i honestly hate the banner...it wasnt so bad at the bottom...but i mean right in the middle?? its a good idea that if ur in Caedes Caedre it goes away...but still, i really wish there was an alternative. It realy takes away from the site..."set-apartness" if u know what i mean...

I'm just experimenting with it right now. The problem is that a banner at the bottom that no one looks at is just as good as no banner at all.

Oh, another question. I presume that the payment for the ads is for click-thru. Now, the question is, out of the 45,000 page views per day, how many will actually click on the banner? I would hate to see the usually begging message about "please support this site and click one of the banner". 8^(

Alright, I'm not a Caedes Cadre user and do not have that much photo's online. Also my Karma won't come anywhere near you guys. I just like to come here to take away the stress a little. Watch some wonderful pictures and see the talent.

Seeing the banner actually hurts me a little. The site is like infected with "The virus".

Wouldn't it be nicer just to look for sponsors? Like in Canon, or Kodak or whatever. I would not mind to see a nice Canon logo on the right or left top, even though I use Leica :-). Aren't there any rich businessmen at the top of big companies that would like the idea?
How much datatraffic does this site generate? How much does it cost you?

An other suggestion... Cadre users don't see the banner but is it maybe also a nice idea when also the pictures posted by the Cadre members just don't have this banner? Also when seen by a non-Cadre user, like me?

"While we are postponing, life speeds by." - Seneca

Could you put the banner at the bottom or whatever, and send a message asking everyone to click on it every once in a while? i'd rather do that than look at the stupid thing

ADS MUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTT DIEEEEEEEEEEEE OR KEVIN WILL KILL KILL KILL!!!!! AAQRRRRGGGG!!! HAHAHAAHAH JACK THE RIPPPEREERRRR!!! HAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAAHAHA

..........alll the pretty horsesssssss hehehhahhahahahahahahhahaahahhaa

glooh has a really good idea. Maybe just a Canon icon link to their website or somthing that you can get money for. But this banner kills the sites greatness. Next time u flush the toilet, watch very closly, that exactly how the coolness of the site will go away! ( =) hehe i had to give some life to what I was saying)

glooh's idea would be great... wait for it.... _IF_ it would result in $$ from canon (et.al.). Looking for advertisments from such big name corporations would be at best time consuming and at worst a total waste of time.

jono00's idea is very clearly deliniated as against the rules in just about any advertising agreement I've seen.

tbhockey: Without $$ the site will go down the toilet much much more quickly than a little banner could ever take it. Right now the server needs a dual cpu server (the little $99 server that we had won't cut it). Those server's go for about $250 a month right now.

Everyone keep in mind that I'm just testing the system right now. I'm going to leave it on the site like this for a week to get some good statistics to use when making a decision about where to go next (what server to get, money to spend, etc.).

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Really.

For those of us who have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, this site -- we need to support it with $$$$.

Ya, just deal with it, the site needs money and it gives people incentive to donate to the cadre

Off the topic as to whether or not the banner is annoying I just had to share this incident of the banner - while checking on my Divine Jazz Divas - I had an ad for - what for it - a Sarah Vaughan boxed set!!! Now, is that kismet, or what?

i thought this was a free site...i hate those ads. i have enough pop up ads as it is but i didn't know even caedes would give me those annoying ads...

at least there not those flashing ads that spawn popups, there just there and very non intrusive, however, i think it would be a good idea to have like sponsors, like canon and such.

Kazadoodle: The google system caches what words are in the page, and presents an ad that is generally related. The idea is that targeting an ad to the page being viewed will result in more clicks, and more revenue, and be less intrusive to people viewing the page.

As ads go, the ones run by google are about the least offensive. I'm not sure if I think they'd be better at the top of the page than the middle, the continuity seems to be broken by the ad placed between the image and comments. On the other hand, at the top of the page, focus may be taken away from the images. Try the ads out, if the cash isn't there, or a better idea comes along, we can all try something else.

I'll tell you one thing for sure... if I was running the site, and I had the opportunity to make some cash... CHING CHING!

Having looked at the Test page, it's not too intrusive where it is. Is anyone going to click on it, though? As a general thing, I hate ads, but at the same time I appreciate how difficult it is to run the site.

I think I could happily live with it as shown on the Test page. Like xentrik said, maybe you can try it out - is there a minimum period?

Actually I've been trying it out for the last two weeks. You've just not noticed because CC members don't get the ads. =)

Yeah, I just noticed that this morning cos I wasn't automatically logged on like I usually am. I realised that it's pretty goos value, $36 gets you a whole year with no ads!

I had been seeing the ads, and then they 'disappeared'. I guess that is when you implemented the script?

yep
, i think

there is a site that I visit a lot... www.2flashgames.com. It also has ads by Google. These ads must generate plenty of income because this particular site has an insane number of flash games. They place their ads at the top of the page of the game you are playing and just today I noticed them. So, by this experience, I would say that by placing the ad at the top of the page, it would be non-intrusive yet still generate plenty of income for this wonderful site :)

I was just at another site, and saw that they did this. Maybe we could have an amazon.com account here, where if you buy something through this site at amazon, they (amazon) gives caedes.net 10% of your purchase total. Another way to get money for the site.

ya that would be good cause i use amazon alot, my school does that too

ooh ill buy stuff like crazy from amazon