56 replies to this topic

[craiga]

GlaztoLuver, on 19 June 2010 - 04:35 PM, said:

These are my 2 cents on this issue

These forums are provided by IP board and costs $149 per year, from what I can see the main advantage of paying a fee for a forum is to get rid of adverts.

There are many other free boards available but they will have adverts on them, this is how they can provide a free forum, all the profits made from advertising will go to the Free Forum providers and not efestival.co.uk in this case.

So, I might be a bit cynical with this conclusion, but the reason why efestivals are paying $149 for a board is so that they can put their own adverts on there, not just to win the $149 back but to make to keep the rest to themselves, which is fair enough they do deserve some sort of reward.

I think that you are assuming that these forums are hosted by IP, which I very much doubt they are. Also, the software will not be bought as a one off and will incurr yearly fees.However, the cost of the forum software is minimal compared to the server costs. I am only guessing but the server could cost anywhere between 1-4k a year. Basically, its not cheap running a site as succesfull as this and have the odd advert is worth it to keep this site running.

[___S_o_m_a__]

Ads? Not ideal but if they are needed to pay the bills then fine. But at least make sure they work properly. The site has been running like a bag of spanners for days. Sort it out.

[Macca87]

dave_hales, on 19 June 2010 - 03:51 PM, said:

They should be underneath the avatar/star rating etc, I had them appearing over the posts a few days ago but they're back where they should be on mine now.

Sorry don't know of anything you can do to get them back.

I thought that might be the case. I don't know why mine are appearing over the posts, quite annoying really! Can anyone offer a solution?

[paddydog]

Macca87, on 19 June 2010 - 05:51 PM, said:

I thought that might be the case. I don't know why mine are appearing over the posts, quite annoying really! Can anyone offer a solution?

Clear your cache and login again.

[suedeboy]

...good luck with raising funds for the site though, would really miss this place if wasn't around, I'm sure plenty would donate something if you had a campaign or something X

Edited by suedeboy, 19 June 2010 - 07:28 PM.

[bombfrog]

Oh, BTW Neil, I don't know whether you know this but there are various scripts that can detect AdBlock. I can't vouch for their effectiveness but if I were you I'd detect who was using AdBlock and redirect them straight to goatse.

Or, even better, use context sensitive text ads between the posts. Everybody knows that banner ads are completely ineffective.

[rabid]

Macca87, on 19 June 2010 - 01:38 PM, said:

Does anyone know why I'm getting three small symbols (a person, an envelope and a book)on each post and is there a way of getting rid of them? They cover up some of the writing in each post so it makes it difficult to read.

Macca87, on 19 June 2010 - 05:51 PM, said:

I thought that might be the case. I don't know why mine are appearing over the posts, quite annoying really! Can anyone offer a solution?

Ctrl+F5

[eFestivals]

rabid, on 19 June 2010 - 10:58 AM, said:

So it's the same popup every time you change pages? Am I getting it evey time because it's getting blocked by FF?

Each page you load will make a call to the ad-server for a pop-up ad, but the ad-server will only actually serve back a pop-up ad if you've not had one in this session.

So there is only one pop-up ad a person will see.

[eFestivals]

JodiB, on 19 June 2010 - 11:01 AM, said:

Every single new page I open I start to scroll down to read the thread and the scrolling stops for about 6 seconds while an ad right in the middle of the page opens up.  Thats every single page and every new thread I open.  Not each "session".

It's too much.

The ads have to exist. They were placed elsewhere, and that kicked up a stink as well.

If "it's too much", then perhaps the subscription option isn't, where you can be ad-free here?

I say it again: the ads have to exist. Myself and others have subsidised your use for ten years, to the tune of several hundred thousand pounds.

There is no money anywhere to subsidise people's use any longer. There is no money. The ads have to exist.

If it's too much, you are free to exercise your choice.

If you use an ad-blocker here, I can't afford you. Please go away.

Does anyone need me to make that any clearer? Hopefully not.

[eFestivals]

Happy Chappy, on 19 June 2010 - 11:13 AM, said:

Neil - I paid up 'cos 1) I know how hard it is running a small business and like what you do, 2) the new mid-forum ad is *really* annoying (but I know is helping keep you afloat), and 3) I feel like I've had £18 worth of value from the advice, laughs, and people I've got to know... BUT... feel ever so slightly cheated, all the £18 has done is remove the bloody annoying ad in the middle, not any of the others - you need to make this clearer about what you get for your money, ad free should mean ad free and not just one less ad.

You've assumed too much.

It's simply the case that you've not had it set up yet, because I try to have a life at weekends.

No ads means no ads. Patience.

[eFestivals]

JodiB, on 19 June 2010 - 11:26 AM, said:

No I totally don't agree with fence jumping. What I meant is Glastonbury does not shove advertising in your face in every direction you look.

Glastonbury also has you pay them some money for what you get from Glastonbury.

Are you paying efestivals for what you get from efestivals?

JodiB, on 19 June 2010 - 11:26 AM, said:

I don't think you realise that every page we look at is interrupted by a pop-up ad now.

no it's not.

[eFestivals]

GlaztoLuver, on 19 June 2010 - 04:35 PM, said:

These are my 2 cents on this issue

<snip>

So thats my 2 cents... stop doing mindless advertising and do proper advertising.

Your 2 cents ain't even worth one cent.

These forums are provided on three hi-spec, very expensive dedicated servers with 24 hour support, at a cost of many thousands of pounds year.

Stop doing mindless bollox or put your own hand into your own pocket.

[rabid]

eFestivals, on 19 June 2010 - 08:30 PM, said:

Each page you load will make a call to the ad-server for a pop-up ad, but the ad-server will only actually serve back a pop-up ad if you've not had one in this session.

So there is only one pop-up ad a person will see.

So that's a yes then. I've allowed popups from efests now and it's stopped happening every page.

[eFestivals]

craiga, on 19 June 2010 - 05:11 PM, said:

However, the cost of the forum software is minimal compared to the server costs. I am only guessing but the server could cost anywhere between 1-4k a year.

Three servers.

Double it.

And add some.

[siman]

JodiB, on 19 June 2010 - 11:26 AM, said:

I don't think you realise that every page we look at is interrupted by a pop-up ad now.  

eFestivals, on 19 June 2010 - 08:44 PM, said:

no it's not.

Yes it is

[HandFedFred]

I am using a small mobile type device thingie made by apple which is  very efficiently refusing to let any adverts be displayed but this is not at my request, hope this is ok and it doesn't make me a freeloading c*nt.

[Mahdnyw]

I temporarily disabled AdBlocker to see what the fuss was about and while I can deal with the banner & side bar ads, that centre ad is too much IMO.

I'd be more than happy to add an exception for efestivals if that were moved to a more subtle location. However, I'm assuming that position pays a premium?

I'll consider the paid subscription after the festi season when things are a bit more solvent.