I'm so sick of banner ads!

[gordof]

@$1

well, OK, but aren’t endemic ads just banner ads with a connection to site content? In which case “I don’t mind banner ads” is still relevant.

while yes, they’re still ads, i’d have to think having random, ugly, non-surf-specific ads (pharmaceuticals, insurance etc) has to impact the soul of swaylock than a foam-ez or greenlight ad, ya know? the right ads in the right place would be an enhancement to the information here IMO.

[Huck]

Oh yeah, I would love it if all the shapers and suppliers here had cool ads on swaylocks, the people we really WANT to support.

[mattwho]

Think a few missed Mike’s thoughts,

@$1

I don’t know about you, but I am so sick of banner advertisements showing on Swaylock’s. Unfortunately, at this point, they are the simplest way to pay for the site. And trust me when I say it’s just barely at that…

I’ve been thinking long and hard about how to replace them with a great alternative to generate some real revenue for this thing I’ve been running for close to 20 years. I’m interested in hearing opinions from the community. I have a few of my own – and would like to hear from the community first. Once I get a few ideas, I’ll run a little poll to see where the wider community stands.

Post #6.
Looking for ideas on how to generate revenue for swaylock’s other than banner advertising.

Thanks,

Mike

Myself, I am upside down on just (small fry) website investment, and I am hit up enough with ads to generate $$$.
By doing so, (using banner ads) I consider it intrusion of soul.
“We are surfers, we do it for the love of it.”
True nuff.
However, at this magnitude the cost has to be a burden.
Mr. Paler is reaching out for help with the load of maintaining a greatly appreciated site.
My 2 cents…
Like a number of you I fail to see those ( banner ads) .
Some sites have become so polluted with banner crap , I hate it, and therein lays the truth, maybe I should be more like SammyA!
The last post by Huck hit a nerve.

@$1

Oh yeah, I would love it if all the shapers and suppliers here had cool ads on swaylocks, the people we really WANT to support.

I suggest hitting up the suppliers as a #1!
‘Ow ‘bout it ???

[hans]

This guy making wave forecast for the north sea seems to have figured it out.
The site has a lot of ads but they are all surf related.
Maybe you can contact him to figure out how he accomplished this.
http://surfweer.nl/surf/

[Swied]

Have you considered using Patreon?
https://www.patreon.com

I don’t know what your monthly costs are, but, this guy (see link below) is making $1,600 per month from 177 patrons.
https://www.patreon.com/photonstorm

[mako224]

Another issue is you are competing with social media. Facebook has several very good groups for board builders. There are many familiar faces in these groups. Attempting to monetize the site via the users would likely just drive people away. Perhaps seek out the assistance of the supply companies and blank companies. That might be your best bet. Anybody who is computer savvy at all put adblocker on their browsers many years ago because the web in general became so flooded with ad content that it became unbearable.