Ad-blockers, subscriptions and money? ATS is worth $2 million and makes $466,920 a year

I'd say many of the thread authors who've made this site successful for you should get a free subscription.

they've all been banned.

a reply to: stargatetravels

So, ask for chat for free members then. They will most likely be able to provide an ad supported version - I have it on another social site that I am a non premium member on. I am prepared to put up with the ads because on that site I don't see the value in giving my cash to them, whereas on this site I do.

As far as I know, nothing is set in stone yet, they are just asking and listening to feedback right now.

a reply to: markosity1973

They wouldn't be subscriber perks if they were available to non paying members, I'm guessing that's the whole point of the section I quoted - those who pay get the perks.
That's cool, fair enough.

I'm not asking for anything - whatever happens, happens.

originally posted by: Rikku

I'd say many of the thread authors who've made this site successful for you should get a free subscription.

they've all been banned.

Lol true that!!!

Plus all the free content they wrote is now the property of ATS. I swear SO has the best gig in town.

originally posted by: stargatetravels
a reply to: markosity1973

They wouldn't be subscriber perks if they were available to non paying members, I'm guessing that's the whole point of the section I quoted - those who pay get the perks.
That's cool, fair enough.

I'm not asking for anything - whatever happens, happens.

The point of perks for paying members is to give motivation for people to pay a subscription. It's not about a class system or anything, it's business.

Nobody has really talked about it, but I am guessing that the donate now button on the top of our screens does not get pushed too often, hence why the adblocker / paid membership subject has raised it's head.

I'm in business myself and I know how difficult it is for small / medium enterprise. We should all be thankful that the owners are consulting with members instead of dictating or just saying 'this is too hard' and selling out to another fat cat shareholder corporation.

I was a lurker for a long time. It really DOES hurt to say, but the site HAS gone down hill. Hell, I don't even think I was suppose to use caps in that sentence.

The site has had good intentions, but the road to hell is paved in good intentions.

It is terribly ironic... that where folks fall on this particular issue, is strongly informed by their political bias and world view.

So, in the spirit of being an a-hole, I will posit a couple of questions:

- In what way, are you forced, against your will, to use and participate in and with, ATS?

- Based on your above answer, how is ATS obligated to answer your demands for "rights"?

I love ATS but this post annoys me.

Mobile traffic has far exceeded desktop traffic, for many of the top 10,000 websites traffic is 60-70% Mobile now compared to previous years.

So you are telling me your taking it in the can for 40% of the people who use desktop blockers? Most of the time i visit ATS and i'm not logged in. I get tons of ads on my mobile device.

How about this, go hire someone and build relationships with potential advertisers. Co/Cross Brand build with other potential businesses that are relevant to ATS.

Its basic marketing. you have a good thing here go make some #ing money and hustle. Bleeding your visitors is the wrong way.

-AngryPanda

a reply to: daaskapital

I couldn't careless what ATS makes. I love this site and would gladly pay monthly for it if it were an option. Of course the site will make money, most sites do!

I personally have never seen an AD on ATS while logged in. I don't use Ad block at all. I have an iPhone, iPad and iMac and not one has ads when I am logged in. When I'm not logged in I see ads. I still
Have no idea why I don't see ads. I know I've mentioned this in the past when these ad posts come up.

I honestly don't see why it matters how and why the site makes money. If people are going to use Ad-Blockers, they are going to use Ad-Blockers no matter what is conceived to alleviate the problem of Ad-Blockers.

originally posted by: Rikku

I'd say many of the thread authors who've made this site successful for you should get a free subscription.

they've all been banned.

Wow, that's a shockingly true statement. Kinda sad.

I´m sure some would be willing to shut off the adblocker for non intrusive ads. Like I wrote in the other thread, the reason why I have used adblocker until yesterday was intrusive, half-screen, sound activated ads when it was deactivated. So I activated it again. And the fact that I already gave some financial help to ATS via donation and if it was only 10$. But hey, better than nothing. If I have to enable adblock, there is zero revenue.

But most people do not deactivate to check if the ads have become less intrusive. If it´s lazyness or the "one chance, you effed up" thinking type is regardless. To be honest I count myself to the first ones. But I checked again and found that something has changed so I do not have any problem with the top advertisements. Until the next intrusive ad. Maybe it has to do with the rate of activity, I don´t know. It has been worse with the ads.

It´s kind of giving and taking. Give me quality ads that I may interested in, I take them. Give me intrusive scam ads, I enable adblock. It is also a way of showing "until here and not further".

But if you give me the option to opt out for a small amount so I can forget about the adblocker on ATS, I´ll take it.

originally posted by: gimmefootball400
I honestly don't see why it matters how and why the site makes money. If people are going to use Ad-Blockers, they are going to use Ad-Blockers no matter what is conceived to alleviate the problem of Ad-Blockers.

Personally I think some hard-coded minimally invasive affiliate links could turn out to be a viable solution to the ad-blocker "problem" for this particular site.

They'd probably find more of their members are interested in buying bongs and vaporizers than Jeeps.

But alas, these are advertisers we're talking about here (the owners of this site that is), and any mention of an affiliate marketing strategy is pretty much blasphemy to them. lol

a reply to: Bone75

Plus all the free content they wrote is now the property of ATS. I swear SO has the best gig in town.

Why would anyone one want an account here?
You can't even delete your account.
As far as bannings. protoplasmic traveller (find All Roads Lead to Rome)started his own sites, but his last posts stopped a year ago; and all his domain names expired. He had a stroke, wrote a few online posts and disappeared. perhaps he died?

I stopped posting pretty much here;and my philosophy has changed so much, i wish I could delete my entire account. thankfully, they eliminaed the media section, where i had some original songs. this is probably my last post.

this post will probably be deleted by mods. Maybe even banned for mentioning protoplasmictraveller, the most popular and prolific writer at the time of his banning. search google for his name, but most of his stuff is gone now

originally posted by: Bone75
Personally I think some hard-coded minimally invasive affiliate links could turn out to be a viable solution to the ad-blocker "problem" for this particular site.

There's a great deal of affiliate website URLs in the block list of the ad-blockers. That's not as viable as it seems.


The ad-blocker is even blocking static JPEG ads with a simple link to the advertiser... unless, of course, I pay the extortion fee. An amount which is more than those ads would make.

a reply to: eluryh22

Fair call..there is little transparency because from the owners end they are looking at numbers and not membership, i also believe they are looking at ways to make more money....which is all good, as long as management know where their bread and butter is... if they don't well i guess we all be chatting at some point in a different version of what we have here

a reply to: stargatetravels

Do you know of any business model that requires the business to be transparent in its earnings to its customers or clients ?

originally posted by: TheConstruKctionofLight
a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

The customer is always right and i agree us members are the heart and soul of the operation....

Whenever I see the customers is always right I know that they have never owned a business and have only gone to "church of the consumer", never visited the "church of the creator of jobs and services and investing your hard earned money in a venture". Wherever did you learn that mantra; do you find it amusing when little johnny throws a tantrum at his mother in a supermarket?

We may be the heart and soul of the operation but you can clearly see there are some sock puppets in the more controversial threads.

I'm still in 2 minds about a paid subscription but I think a nominal annual fee wouldnt be a bad idea.

You know what that is your opinion and if you want to pay to exchange ideas with others ...go for it....

As far as the customer is always right if that concept escapes you then i have nothing other than remember the money you have in your pocket is yours and you can choose to spend it wherever you like...if you believe you need to spend your money propping up a failing site than go for it

originally posted by: TheConstruKctionofLight
a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

if the business model is failing and needs its members to support it as far as i am concerned the business is not viable ....next thing you know they will be printing bills and fudging the books

So if a business goes through rough times its a "given" they will resort to fraud in your eyes? Wow...seriously do you have that little respect for the site your are posting on? why even go there?

Pull your head out....that is rubbish.....

I donated when they asked, i have no interest in paying a subscription, my comment about cooking the books was a joke....

For the most part i have to censor my own comments so as that i adhere to the T&C's, not a good business model if you want people to pay for the privilege.........

This is not about respect it is about a business moving forward and i have absolutely no loyalties for this regardless of my posting history....

originally posted by: tothetenthpower
a reply to: imod02

Actually, any member can reply to ANY post you place on ATS.

Regardless of whether or not it was directed at them. It's also a valid question. Members who complain about seeing ads, should simply contribute more, therefore removing the ads.

ATS rewards participation, it does not punish for it. As for the facts in the OP, all I can say is LOL.

If the members who tirelessly complained about all this, spent even half the time trying to help SO and the staff find viable solutions, we probably could fix this a lot faster...

~Tenth

My question is still not answered.