Post by QueueMistressMags on Aug 30, 2013 14:20:46 GMT
Some of you reported on the Shoutbox that you saw ads on the forum this morning. Here's the thing: ProBoards is a hosted service, and shows ads to support the operation of the forums. The difference from the old forum is that we installed the forums on a webserver. We paid for the web hosting, and then used it to display the forums. So either way, you have to pay. With ProBoards, either you pay by viewing ads, or you pay them directly and see no ads.
All new forums get two weeks ad-free, and I guess this morning was the end of that. The good news is that the service seems pretty inexpensive. I've paid for one month, or 50,000 pageviews. I don't know if that's enough for our community, but I guess we will find out.
Once I understand the community's usage and get an idea of what it will cost, I will ask for volunteers to sponsor the forum. I'm still working out exactly how it works, but I think you will be able to pay a gift towards the running of the forum via your own account. If that's how it works, it will simplify fundraising tremendously. I'm hoping to acknowledge each member who contributes as a monthly sponsor of the forum. If 50,000 pageviews is enough, it's $6-8 dollars a month, so like I said: not expensive. Even if we end up using more, it's $6-8 per 50,000 pageviews, so not tremendously expensive. (And please don't think I'm asking you to use the forum less to "save" pageviews: I'm not. I just have to figure out what we will need going forward. Whatever we need is what we need!)
Also: guests (meaning anyone not logged in) will see ads. That way we won't be using up pageviews for non-members; also it encourages lurkers to join the forum. (Come on in, the water's fine!) So if you arrive at the forum and for some reason are not logged in, PLEASE DO NOT FREAK OUT if you see ads. As soon as you login, they will go away.
Thanks as always for your patience and support! If you have any questions, please let me know. Also let me know if you see ads, because it means we've passed 50,000 pageviews and need to upgrade!
All new forums get two weeks ad-free, and I guess this morning was the end of that. The good news is that the service seems pretty inexpensive. I've paid for one month, or 50,000 pageviews. I don't know if that's enough for our community, but I guess we will find out.
Once I understand the community's usage and get an idea of what it will cost, I will ask for volunteers to sponsor the forum. I'm still working out exactly how it works, but I think you will be able to pay a gift towards the running of the forum via your own account. If that's how it works, it will simplify fundraising tremendously. I'm hoping to acknowledge each member who contributes as a monthly sponsor of the forum. If 50,000 pageviews is enough, it's $6-8 dollars a month, so like I said: not expensive. Even if we end up using more, it's $6-8 per 50,000 pageviews, so not tremendously expensive. (And please don't think I'm asking you to use the forum less to "save" pageviews: I'm not. I just have to figure out what we will need going forward. Whatever we need is what we need!)
Also: guests (meaning anyone not logged in) will see ads. That way we won't be using up pageviews for non-members; also it encourages lurkers to join the forum. (Come on in, the water's fine!) So if you arrive at the forum and for some reason are not logged in, PLEASE DO NOT FREAK OUT if you see ads. As soon as you login, they will go away.
Thanks as always for your patience and support! If you have any questions, please let me know. Also let me know if you see ads, because it means we've passed 50,000 pageviews and need to upgrade!