Dan

Having an ad free forum seems almost foreign because all the other forums have so many ads. Would you guys like to see a limited number of ads, say a few rotating banner ads for different companies where the speardiver banner is right now?

What started me thinking in this direction is not revenue from running ads. I know that as long as spearfishing related businesses don't have another place to advertise, especially small businesses, they're at the mercy of Spearboard and the grogan. I know of at least one instance where the grogan threatened a spearboard member who has a spearfishing related business, and until now has been able to do some light promoting on SB, with banning when he found out this member bought Speardiver gear and was recommending it (outside of spearboard). I'm actually considering offering free ads just to spite grogan. I'm not committed to this course of action, just looking for your thoughts here..

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Speardiver Gear

Bulit 7

I have no problem with it. Spearing related ads are a resource. Personally, I think you should charge for it and make some money back to offset the time you take to run this place.

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Atlantic Offshore Yacht Services

Wishihadgills

I dont really have a big problem with seeing the ads as long as they arent obnoxious (not saying they will be) I am curious how this will affect the users. I know I have asked before about promoting my local dive shop in my signature. Will things like that be affected? I dont see a problem with charging for advertisement space as I think it would even help a bit.

Like Built said it would be nice to see some of the smaller companies get a chance to advertise. If it wasnt for this forum I wouldnt have found Pursuit which now makes up a good portion of my gear. If it wasnt for incident on SB I would never have learned about Sturgill Spearfishing. So I think it would be nice even if it was less advertisement and more "representation" but I also like how "quiet" this forum is compared to others.

You could also have a trial period. If you dont charge anyone you could always take the ads down.

spearstuff

I'm fine with seeing spearfishing ads.

Just don't put up flashing animated ads that blink different colors. Those ones are really annoying.

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Daniel Burke

http://www.sturgillspearfishing.com

yardsale

I like seeing simple banners for a wide variety of spearfishing related companies, I actually have found out about a few solid companies through their banners. Just no crazy animation/flashing.

dustyyoungblood

Dan, I sorta like that. Not only because it could benefit the small guys , but because it opens my mind to new companies or products that I may not have been aware of. I was not aware of Pursuit until very recently. All because of the other forums strict censoring.

Free ads seem fine. I like that better than companies paying to get permission to start a thread about their products a certain #of times per month, then blackmailed to renew sponsor$. You will get bombarded with dozens of ad requests I am sure.... that will be a pain to deal with. No matter how you implement them, it will be called "unfair" by some folks I am sure. I would do a lottery and cycle them 2 or 4 times a year. Honestly, I would be less tempted to plug my own gear in a thread if I knew I had the opportunity to have a free banner ad.

Maybe offer a couple banner spots for a gear donation, then give the gear away to the board members? Full circle, no income.

Whatever you do, I am sure it will work, the folks on this forum are just happy to have this place.

dustyyoungblood

Wishihadgills

I agree completely

Reefchief

I think ads could be a good idea. Although I can see the issues involved with any system.

How would this change the current forum rules re: advertising? Would advertisiers with banner ads be allowed to contribute towards the forum as a representative of the company?

Perhaps you can give advertisers a specific area to make and reply to posts about their products and or services, but keep that kind of selling via posting out of the rest of the threads?

I also like the idea of using ad revenue to better the forums in various ways (more prizes, faster servers etc)

japsw

I don't mind the ads, I agree with a donation required to post up a small ad, raffle it off or maybe even have a forum get together/bbq/competition. This website is for all the underdogs