Hey all…
Although there are still some lingering small issues (working on some ,like the forum runner issue), most of the site changes are done. The major issue overall was many of the plugins here are old along with Vbulletin 3 and are no longer supported. Essentially you fix one thing and another fails. However it’s nice the site still runs and looks the same.
Going forward, something I did post to the mods/admins about are ads. For me/the site this is a slippery slope. I have been pondering this for some time, the best way to handle it.
The important thing in my decision was this sites history and the support it received from so many members. Also not plastering tons of ads all over the site from various ad networks like many places do. So in order to keep things as they were as much as possible, the decision I think best to try is to not show ads to current members.
I do want to try local ads, something the size of what’s seen in the sidebar on the homepage already, like 150x150. That would be the only ads shown to members.
Other than that folks not logged in, the goal would be to show only an ad under the navbar and in the first post from an outdoor based ad network. Maybe test a footer one later. Not sure. There will be a sidebar on the forum pages as well for the sponsored ads. I prefer sidebars on sites, in this case going to great lengths keeping the old software for everyone, I want to not show the sidebar to members logged in as well.
I know this will not be a popular move, the mods and admins I’m sure would prefer zero ads. However I have to find some balance and I hope this plan will work. This is not just my call, however I am going with my more very minimalist approach. Along with I will be doing more giveaways and such. I think it could really work out.
Thanks!
Although there are still some lingering small issues (working on some ,like the forum runner issue), most of the site changes are done. The major issue overall was many of the plugins here are old along with Vbulletin 3 and are no longer supported. Essentially you fix one thing and another fails. However it’s nice the site still runs and looks the same.
Going forward, something I did post to the mods/admins about are ads. For me/the site this is a slippery slope. I have been pondering this for some time, the best way to handle it.
The important thing in my decision was this sites history and the support it received from so many members. Also not plastering tons of ads all over the site from various ad networks like many places do. So in order to keep things as they were as much as possible, the decision I think best to try is to not show ads to current members.
I do want to try local ads, something the size of what’s seen in the sidebar on the homepage already, like 150x150. That would be the only ads shown to members.
Other than that folks not logged in, the goal would be to show only an ad under the navbar and in the first post from an outdoor based ad network. Maybe test a footer one later. Not sure. There will be a sidebar on the forum pages as well for the sponsored ads. I prefer sidebars on sites, in this case going to great lengths keeping the old software for everyone, I want to not show the sidebar to members logged in as well.
I know this will not be a popular move, the mods and admins I’m sure would prefer zero ads. However I have to find some balance and I hope this plan will work. This is not just my call, however I am going with my more very minimalist approach. Along with I will be doing more giveaways and such. I think it could really work out.
Thanks!
