meta: A new way of supporting content creators
I'm sure many of you, like myself, use an adblock extension like Adblock, Adblock Plus, ublock, Adfender, etc. because you don't want to see any ads and/or want pages to load faster. Due to that choice, the websites we visit don't recieve any ad revenue. I know there was a post awhile back about using the Philanthropist extension to make sure every Amazon purchase essentially uses the Mgoblog at the top of the page and the Beveled Guilt is always up at the top right of the page as well, but I'm sure most people just skip right by it and forget it's even there, and there's a limit to how much those two can help the site in practice.
This is where a new relationship between the maker of Adblock Plus and Flattr, a micro transaction company that helps individuals give money directly to creators they want to support. The two have collaborated to create Flattr Plus, which will eventually be directly built into Adblock Plus. It would allow someone to set an allowance, say $20 a month, and they would use an algorithm to allot that money directly towards the websites you frequent and are engaged with the most. Their two main goals are to support engaging and thoughtful content and to give those that create that type of substantive content another stream of revenue to continue producing said content. A creator like Brian would have to join or enroll in this program, but this could be a way for sites like this one that avoid clickbait headlines and slideshows and create more longform content to get additional money that could be used for sustaining the site or any upgrades that might happen. On top of making Brian and Co aware of this option, I also thought that those on this site might also potentially want to take part in. This could be a new way of eliminating the advertising middleman altogether the way some people on Youtube have done with the help of Patreon. I've attached a link to an atricle that goes decently in depth about this.
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Yeah I realized that was a little more long winded than I expected. Long complicated story made simpler, in the near future you could use adblocker plus and pay a little bit every month into an allowance.The sites you actually use and are engaged with would get a percentage of that monthly allowance directly.
More money for sites like Mgoblog = better (or sustained) content on the web from sites you care about
Nice, a get-rich-quick scheme based on porn. Only four deadly sins to go.
Just to use the beveled guilt. Adblocker is going to take a 20% cut of the revenue, right?
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Even if only a small portion of users who are currently using adblocking are altruistic enough to use flattr, isn't that still a net positive for the site's bottom line?
I have no clue how successful the flattr project will be as a whole, but on the surface, it seems like a good deal for content creators.
I thought this was going to be a post about supporting me for writing 60+ diaries about boxscores. I guess I'll have to get up and go to work tomorrow morning.
You and bronx blue make Sunday/Monday visits to the site a lot of fun.
I will use this service. I hope they dont dilute the value of the service by charging crazy processing fees. This is a great way to get dough to the people that are focused on content and not selling out to squeeze every penny out of viewers.
enjoy my ads for Filipino singles and senior orgies. I swear I can't figure out why they keep coming up.
It takes two clicks to disable ABP for the site you are currently visiting, such as this one. It turns back on when you leave.
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There should be a plugin that does this, but which allows you to specify how many ads per month a website is allowed to show you, and which also selects for the least intrusive ads. That'd be a better (and still free) way to direct money to websites of your choice. Is there something like that available yet?
I'm in if it ends up sending Drupal to the graveyard.
It feels like native advertising! Where's Brian? Where's John Oliver? Where's the Atlantic?!?!
creaters?
creatures?
caterers?
It seems like mgoblog could also use Patreon. It isn't only for youtubers and seems to be a very effective way of raising funds. As a similar case study, the longform site waitbutwhy has done quite well using Patreon- they are bringing in over 13k/month.
Patreon would be my suggestion as well. I have seen it work with a lot of podcasters and it is something I think would be great. Also it would allow the MGoCommunity to directly fund things like the radio show or more podcasts.
Do I have to feel like I have to get money to Brian Cook? F this approach. If he wants money, he can get a JOB or CHARGE for this site.
I am no poser. I don't pretend to have gone to Michigan or have 39 degrees like the pretenders here. I don't pretend to visit the fancy placers the posers here do, and don't pretend to have "been out of the country" and thus missed a thread that I am re-posting for the millionth time. THUS I don't pretend to have money to give to a guy who CHOSE TO DO THIS FOR A L:IVING and is probably having fun doing it and would do it for free because he loves it.
Look, this is a capitalist society. If Brian need money to feed the babies he names after football players, GET A JOB.
If he wants to create a free site that is fun to read, then that's his choice.
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For our part I'd ask that you just turn off AdBlock for our site. We keep the crap ads away from you, and our advertisers are guys often the guys trying to reach you directly with something you'd value. Like if you're in Ann Arbor or just east of there you'll be getting MichiganLawGrad.com ads right now. This is a dude who reads this site and is an expert at dealing with the b.s. tickets they hand out like candy on Gamedays.
If you do insist on adblock just use Beveled Guilt and include a message that you felt guilty about blocking the ads.
Something like the above won't help us very much because their algorithyms are all off. We produce thoughtful longform content--reading an entire Upon Further Review would get us the same amount of pageviews as Bleacher Report gets for every slide of a slideshow top 10 they put together in 3 minutes. Most sites are calibrated to maximize ad impressions; ours is calibrated to be most enjoyable for the reader while still allowing us to make a living.
Seth, can you give an idea of how much ad revenue is paid per page view? I currently do use adblock, including on mgoblog, but I'd like to start making recurring contributions to beveled guilt. So, I'm trying to figure out what amount is appropriate to cover the lost ad revenue by my blocking of ads.
That's what I needed to know!
I usually whitelist or at work I can't even use an adblocker, so it just depends on which device or browser I viist the site on. I wasn't sure how much this could potentially help out, but when I first read about this it seemed like it was in a different vein from the usually clicks=$$ algorithm because as you said, Bleacher Report is the Buzzfeed of sports and this collaboration has the intent of giving longform and engaging content a higher portion of money. This would likely benefit an Arstechnica more than a Gizmodo (I would assume). Obviously the drawback is that it would be voluntary to start, so the opt-in rate, especially in the beginning, would likely be low.
This makes no sense. If you want to support the site, help them directly, by purchasing subscription (like HTTV) or going to sponsor sites (you know who they are). Involving third parties, who literally brings nothing to the table is just throwing money away.
I just turned off AdBlock for MgoBlog. Sure I see some ads, but they are easily ignored for the good of the site.
That's the base ad for UGP. And you'll see deals on there all the time for MGoStore stuff we're trying to unload. You'll also find an attorney who's an expert on Ann Arbor tickets, and a hotel in downtown Ann Arbor that's owned by the son of a former Michigan AD and the recruits all stay when they're on official visits until Harbaugh and Drevno come to the lobby to collect them. And deals on parking. And a ticket exchange where you can sell to fellow readers. And the HTTV counter. And free tickets to see the new Ann Arbor soccer team.