Pontoon builder has asked to pay to advertise on our site!

[mike]

What say the masses? Should we keep the site free of advertising? Should we let them advertise but rather than give money, have them provide pontoonforums.com hats and stickers to the members? Any ideas?

I will leave it up to the members to decide...

[sprintfan]

If you do mabee give them there own tab to do it in so if we don't want to see it we won't go there. Of course any fees or charges to do and maintain it would be covered by them. And also there would be a unanimous exclusion for some kind of fins

[rockymax]

I prefer a no advertising site.

[t_birder]

Hey Mike,
That's a hard one to answer. I think there could be good and bad to letting companys advertise.
On the down side, you could possibly end up like that charicter on that other pontoon forum that throws people off at a dizzying rate for talking about products other than yours!
But from a forum members viewpoint, I don't mind seeing links (I assume thats what the manufacturer wants to do here) on a forum if they're all kept a uniform size. That kind of keeps the site looking nice.
From a companys stanpoint, I like to display on forums. I have my links (Sharkhide) on quite a few different sites. Some sites charge me and some don't. I'm in the process of setting up a page on my web site of links to fourums that I have my own link on. This kind of helps us both as far as traffic goes.
If this site does end up allowing adds/links, and charging for it, maybe we could use the add proceeds to help fund an anual forum get together. Or if the forum lets them advertise at no charge, maybe have the manufacturer place a prominent link to this forum on their web site in exchange.
Just a couple thoughts.

Clint

[badmoonrising]

Yes, but some advertisers have problems with the pics I post...although they'd sell more boats if their brand was posted with a crew of topless women

[wwind3]

I dont care.....uhhhhhhhh----who gets the money?

[mike]

All good points... I personally don't see any harm in letting a mfr contribute to the forum and compensate in some manner for a banner logo link as long as they don't try to have any control in what gets posted. I think it would be cool to have the advertiser offer something to the forum members in exchange for advertising, this would reward the members and should make everyone happy! Just brainstorming here...

[HandymanHerb]

I'm with you Mike, if they want to run ads because of who we are and not want to steer us to a site they want.

[mikeherb]

Slippery slope. No way they don't have an issue at some point with the content. We're all here for the very reason it makes poor sense to let advertising into the forum.

Besides, I get enough advertising in virtually every other aspect of my life. I'm waiting for billboards to appear next to my tree stand.

[lakerunner]

After reading Clint's post I tend to agree with him. As a business man in the toon care biz having a link to his product and others would be ok with me. As far as paying thats up to Mike

[Woody]

Slippery slope. No way they don't have an issue at some point with the content. .

That's what I was thinking too, and I would hate to have to change the content....

[Heatman]

I really don't see a problem with it. I would like to see some aftermarket sponsors myself. It would be nice to find someone to possibly offer group buy type discounts to members.

[curtiscapk]

I think it would get us out there as far as more members, but part of what we are all here for is the content wether its politics or tits.... , so if nothing changes it's all good specially if there are freebies to be had

[brumbyvet.1044]

Like others have said, I have no problem with advertisers but I think it should be understood up front that they will have no say in the content of the site. It is fine just the way it is and if they don't like it they can go elsewhere.....

[mike]

Like others have said, I have no problem with advertisers but I think it should be understood up front that they will have no say in the content of the site. It is fine just the way it is and if they don't like it they can go elsewhere.....

Absolutely! F'em if they dont like the way this forum works and what gets posted...