How will this impact on this forum??

Yes - I don't like that the advertising invites spruiker types into our nest. But on the upside it might encourage people to pay for the site so they don't notice.

 

You can change it to whatever you like as like somersoft

 

I had a long chat with Sim about this last week. I'm certainly not a fan of banner adds, especially when a lot of it is advertising products that are in conflict with what most people would consider makes for good investing. An even worse outcome would be to involve corporate sponsorship and for this type of site to become a platform for that sponsor and not the educational site it's meant to be.

Simply put, any forum costs money to run. A site like Somersoft had a massive user base and an even higher turnover of visitors. That amount of traffic requires significant resources to moderate and Somersoft was very well moderated which was the primary reason why Somersoft was so successful and such a great resource. I'd like to see the same level of commitment here but I don't expect it to be uncompensated.

This forum needs to raise revenue and the obvious way is to charge members who get business from it, the question is will that be enough? Members also need to ask themselves how much value they got from Somersoft and what's this forum worth to them? Given the entertainment and social value some of the regulars get from this community, $99 is a small price to pay. People then need to ask themselves what they think the education is worth?

I'd suggest that anyone who's been a regular on Somersoft and has been inspired to build a successful investment portfolio owes it to the community and the moderators. $99 a year is the cheapest and best education anyone can get.

 

I can sell my house in 7 days too - if I virtually give it away.

 

I agree, $99 a year is the best paid Investment Property education you will find anywhere.

 

From what I understand, the ads are driven by Google Adwords, and differ person to person. They are tailored depending on your google search history, surfing history, etc.

 

I don't think so, or mine would be full of roller skates, which it isn't. I've got barely any adds that show up & those that do, are mostly property related.

 

There are free software to turn off trackers, hence less "personalize" add banners.
Another is to use "incognito" version of the browser.

 

I keep getting the one of the unattractive old woman who had the face-lift. Anyone else get that one? It irks me a bit - a few assumptions there.

I'll be going 'premium' for sure. Ads are rude.

Maybe it could become a thing that posters pay at 100 posts??

 

1. Use Chrome or Firefox
2. Install ******* addon (free)
3. Like this post
4. No ads

Not sure how this will impact on the advertising revenue for Sim though.

 

What ads?

 

I think that advert is classic for most new website.

Google algorithm gets in to action
Male 0 female 1
Old 0 young 1
And goes on and on

 

What happens if one skips point 3??

 

I just did..and im waiting for the consequences of that decision...

I like the sigs too.. especially the ones with their investment portfolio updates or interesting quotes..

 

I agree that once you get to 'x' posts premium should become a requirement. Or, that freebies are more heavily restricted - ie, can't watch threads, can't get notifications, etc. If it's just slightly annoying, more people will pay

 

Plus, you can put signatures on when you're premium.

 

I can't yet - anything I put in says it's too long