« Our costs and covering them via sponsored adverts etc »
Free adverts for the taking, subject to suitability!
Why am I offering this ?
A few reasons, all good to my way of thinking:
First off, you have visited us, so I assume you share similar interests.
Secondly, I like experimenting and think this will be a good feature.
Thirdly, it might make Ackadia even more popular, which appeals to my vanity.
Finally, it fills the column nicely.
Why should you bother ?
Fine line between apathy and cynicism, but here's a thought: I get some 180,000+ visitors a year. Far more if I try pushing our popularity. I can't speak for targetting, but it would appear on every page - gratis!
What's the catch ?
If you are thinking this, good for you. There is no catch here, but a certain amount of paranoia is a good thing where the Internet is involved in my expert opinion.
Free and unconditional ?
Free yes, but there is one, and only one, condition...
Ackadia is a family site. If your site isn't 'suitable', don't bother asking...
If you need to query my definition of suitable, you don't belong here!
Tempering that, if your site has profanities, or 'worse' see the above!
Ackadia's everylasting theme is computers, games, knowledge.
What it isn't is politics, religion and controversy! Be nice, children!
Ummm, what about...
I assume you have looked at the site, coverage is comprehensive...
I don't mind...
... if you have blog you want linking too
... if you want your first website mentioning...
... if you want your web hosting promoting
... if you have a better mousetrap and want to tell the world
I don't even care if you are a billion dollar corporation after a freebie!
But my own children see the site every day - I will check you are who and what you say you are!
How long will the ad/link stay up ?
Depends how popular it is to be honest so I'll play it by ear. I am planning on up to five or so at any one time. What I might do is a separate page saying, we featured...
Can't I add anything ?
Sure. Maybe not images, but a few one liners, aye, go for it. The images is partly bandwidth, partly design.
OK, how do we go about it?
Just use our Contact page and drop me a line. If you fit, I'll add you. Simple as that.
Taking it further...
Dang, we got a load of traffic from you, can we... how much for...
I might play it by ear, but the answer is likely to be no!
It may depend on what you want and my mood though.
For instance, every page has a link or 'advert' for CSE HTML Validator. Basically, I did a deal with Albert Wiersch, the programmer who wrote it. I genuinely like this product and in return for a free upgrade (I had a valid earlier version from a cover disk) I offered to promote him. I honestly don't know how many people follow the link, but I do know that when I grow to getting a million plus visitors a year, I will still have a link back to him on every page!
I made the same offer to TextPad (a shareware text editor) as I was equally impressed with them - I'm using it now - and they didn't take me up. Funny old world, eh.
Essentially, this is my website and I don't want it cluttered with ugly adverts.
Pretty much, offering me a bundle of money or software to run your banner for a month or a year won't interest me in the slightest if I don't believe in what you are promoting. Even then, it will depend if the design fits - I like my site as it is, thank you very much! But as Albert can attest, I do have my price. In his case it was a free upgrade in return for a lifetime button advert on every page.
All that said, there's rather a lot of extra equipment and software I want so, after much deliberation, I have decided I will consider accepting sponsored adverts. All the above about suitability will still apply, but if you are interested, follow the link on the menu to the left to 'sponsoring' have a read and if you are still interested, get in touch.
~ Paul
