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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

3072 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/17/2004 : 13:07:52

I'm wondering...

Many other organizations help support their web sites by hosting a section for "classified ads" , "sponsored links" or by offering some advertising space on the tops or margins of their web pages.

On the downside, advertising is something that could get carried away and turn people off... also I can see that it might be opening a can of worms by introducing too much workload for our all-volunteer staff.

On the other hand, the revenue might allow the organization to expand it's services and reduce the financial headaches of keeping the organization/web site going.

Thoughts?

-----------------------------------------------------------
IMHO follows on the topic of 'signature line advertising'...

For my part, I don't find a simple text signature line that offensive. If there was some sort of splashy graphics or excessive verbiage, it would be a different story. Just my 2 cts.

WOTAM - '77 Catalina 25 SK/SR Sail Number 158

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2004 : 14:24:51

Any venture that advertises in any way here--signature lines or whatever--is benefitting from a "free" resource that is paid for by the members. At a minimum, we should insist that nobody even mentions their own product or service here unless they have paid for a membership. Better yet, we could allow non-Catalina-owners a special ($75?) membership that allows them to advertise in a signature line (within limits). If they are helping to fund our resource, I don't mind them mentioning their products. I might learn something...

However, I would ask that vendors be honest about their affiliations, unlike a recent sail vendor, and not pretend to be their own "happy customers".

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2004 : 15:11:16

I might not object to having links and banner ads on the "Links" page, but I don't know if I'm keen on having banner ads on any other association page because I really like the fact that this site does not look like a gaudy commercial website with banner ads flashing and popping up all over the place. These ads are not only visual distracting, they also slow down the loading of web pages.

I don't mind paying to support this site through my association dues because, like Practical Sailor and HBO, I like the fact that they are commercial free(no ads).

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2004 : 15:15:33

I just tried to find Bill Holcomb's survey... and couldn't. I was thinking that Spike placed it somewhere and maybe it just escaped my quick perusal. It had questions that dealt with advertising on the web site. I won't risk trying to remember those conclusions but they should serve as a guide to our actions unless there is cause to believe that some significant changes have set the stage for a different course.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2004 : 16:04:24

Dave wrote:
"At a minimum, we should insist that nobody even mentions their own product or service here unless they have paid for a membership."

That's a good idea...

Don wrote:
"don't know if I'm keen on having banner ads on any other association page "

Absloutely.. gaudy banners, flashers, pop-ups... no way...
Something like this is more what I was thinking about.. http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/

A couple un-obtrusive 'sponsor' ads over on one margin... any more would be too much.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2004 : 16:15:30

If the national association could generate a few hundred dollars of income by allowing commercialization of the forum, what would that money buy us? Probably the first thing that would happen is that people who don't know any better would constantly try to make commercial use of the site without paying, and it would be a constant hassle to stop them.

The national association doesn't need to make money. Our dues adequately meet the association's needs. I think we ought to be able to chat with other Catalina sailors about sailing, without being distracted or annoyed by politics, religion, or commercials.

Edited by - on

Mark Loyacano
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2004 : 17:47:03

There already is a commercial venue for paid Catalina boats advertising. It is called "The Catalina Mainsheet" (Catalina Owners Magazine). They accept display and classified advertising. Every member of our organization gets a copy four times per year. If our dues don't cover our expenses, I'm willing to pay more in order to remain commercial free.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2004 : 18:37:36

Our sailing club allows adertising on one page of our monthly news letter. You can look at that page or not.
For this site I agree with Mark. If we are outvoted I would like to suggest that perhaps a seperate section like on the home page only, leaving the forums clear, be used.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2004 : 23:11:04

There are two things that make this web site so outstanding. One is the fact that there is no advertising, spam, pop-up adds or anything else to draw attention away for its main purpose of members helping and learning form one another. Two, that anyone interested in Catalina sailboats is allowed to use it FREE. Yes, we would like all that use it to become members of the ASSOCIATION, but it is not a requirement for use. I would hope we can keep it that way. I agree with Mark that we have an advertising venue in the Mainsheet which reachs all the membership. As someone also said, I would not mine a dues increase if that is what it takes to keep the site channeled on its main purpose.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2004 : 07:02:30

Ah, but we already have "advertizing" on the site. Click on "Links" which connect to sites of interest for Catalina sailors, including other associations and vendors that we might use. Including one that is part of an affiliate program. By through them and support your association.

I agree that the forums should be free of advertising, but on the links page, when it benefits the Association, and doesn't cost membership anything, that's good.

Edited by - on

svmoxie
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
331 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2004 : 09:53:14

Good topic,

Your member dues pay for the website so you won't ever see pop-up ads and you won't see banners all over the site. We have decided to add "Affiliate" links and banners to the "Links" page. Those links will pay the Association a small percentage of any purchases that our members and visitors make through that link. We intend to offer another "Members Only" page that will list the various retailers and others that provide a discount to our members.

I dislike even more the free advertising of posting a message in the forum by bot programs. All attempts of that sort will be deleted.

I think that for signature line advertising to work you would need to contribute here a lot and I hope that everyone would speak up to the offender if it was in bad taste.

So don't worry, you won't find ads promising a bigger, harder mast on this website!

Edited by - on

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