You'd be surprised about how much revenue comes from those pesky ads.

The ads don't show if you are a WinCustomize subscriber.

Adblockers deprive websites of income.  That's why I never use them.  

Forum advertising and website advertising are two different beasts.

This method works for me.

More people would see the ads if Adblockers disabled the Download buttons.

I don't click ads, I don't buy stuff from ads. I got an adblocker. I see no problem. If you depend on ad revenue for a website, force it on the user. Don't take the middle road and complain.

That's an interesting idea.

For mine, ads on the front page are better placed and more likely tolerated, but inserted into forum pages and threads is downright rude and less likely to be tolerated.  People are in forums to catch up with news and friends, so being confronted with ads when ads are placed elsewhere on the site is more likely to be considered overkill and quite annoying.

That may be so, but flashing banner ads can have detrimental affects on some people, epileptics for example, and ad blockers are essential to browsing the web.  I have issues with flashing banner ads and can become quite nauseated if subjected to them for even a short while, so I find an ad blocker essential to my online experience and comfort.

Unlike you starkers, there are many who 'use' the site and download art without a care to helping defray the costs of the site.... 

The idea of 'ad blocker' extensions disabling the "download" button would seem to neutralize the policy which is in place of allowing a certain number of downloads to non-members (to encourage membership).

It might be more beneficial to only allow 'trialware' to apply the skins which come with it (if that's possible), and to decrease markedly the amount of Mb's which can be downloaded by non-members.

Perhaps rendering the ads "ad blocker" proof (if that's possible) for non-members is the way to go.

When commenting on ads in forums I was speaking in a more general sense than about Wincustomize.  As a member I do not see ads so it's not relevant to me here.  However, there are other forums I have visited in the past and the ads were not just annoying but downright distracting.  On one site I was trying to read a post that interested me but the flashing banner ads on either side were so prominent and distracting that I had to give up trying due to the nausea they caused [was in the day prior to my discovering ad blockers].  However, I do agree that non-members on WC should have the download button disabled if all they're doing is ad blocking and leeching while giving nothing back.

Ok, so what could be an answer? Raising revenue to be able to maintain a forum is important is what I hear. How else to continue making it available?

Some forum/website also must help make money for the owners - as part of their income - I'm not saying anything wrong with that, it's totally up to the site/forum owners, they provide for us, we provide for them.

But on a forum where that is not a factor... I imagine a web community driven for its own existence, the money making could stop each time the hosting and maintenance costs are met... monthly? yearly? Or should just always keep raising money for 'the future? (your idea?)

And there are few ways to get to any needed amount - donations, ads, selling things on website. (your idea?)

I've thought of one idea for a different member experience: regular participants in a community can have no ads.
This means casual visitors, or just down-loaders can still enjoy themselves, but they 'contribute' by having ads.

And of course, a member who actively participates with posts, replies and artist feedback, or a most valuable person - skinners/artists who provides content for the community to consume, could have no ads!

What do you think? Any other ideas?

As you might imagine I am very curious about new dynamic ways to interact with a web community because of the new Skinning Community Forum which I am helping administrate at the moment. They are trying to think of ways to give something different to the skinning community.

I want to pose your questions and ideas to them.

In the late 90's there was this 'thing' called the Dot Com [.com] business/enterprise model that IMAGINED/BELIEVED there was massive wealth to be had via site owning/hosting/advertising.

It ended when the majority of the 'high fliers' took their last flight out of a window of a high-rise.

The advertising 'model' was/is flawed.  It won't sustain/balance the costs of website hosting....never did...never will.

The DESERT which is today's world-of-skinning-sites is testament to that.

They either remain VERY small where the costs can be absorbed as a write-off or will NEED direct financial support [such as is the case here]...

Yes, I'm waiting to see how much bandwidth a skinning only site might build up to. I can get about 500gb of bandwidth a month for $10AUD/month - with community donations, some advertising income and my own contributions - I'd think that would be more than sustainable, even for a moderate or large community.

What did you think of my 'money model' for a forum Jafo - do you think it's impossible?

As for the desert of skinning sites... here's hoping - I have confidence in our ideals.

'We shall succeed, because we know we shall, and we are different. Though some before us have fallen, they have fallen from different horses! Ours she is a strong and loyal steed.'

*giggle* Come riding with us.

Careful Heavenfall! That's a punishable admission!

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