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Free Republic 1st Qtr 2024 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $74,893
92%  
Woo hoo!! And we're now over 92%!! Thank you everyone!! God bless.


Alternatives to donor based, ie, freepathon business model?
Click here if you wish to continue the donor based business model and free participation for all ^ | April 19, 2012 | Jim Robinson

Posted on 04/19/2012 1:22:35 PM PDT by Jim Robinson

I've checked with an ad agency. We can probably raise the funds we need to operate FR at our current level and at the current market price for online advertising if we run a banner ad at the top of every page and at least one rectangular ad in the above the fold body of the page and a couple rectangular ads in the sidebar. If that doesn't generate enough revenue, we can also run pop ups or pop unders and we can even run audio and video ads if need be. But of course, if we go full bore commercial, we'd have to insure strict copyright compliance with very brief excerpting of all articles to avoid lawsuits. And the agency would require that we install a filter to censor out any bad or unacceptable words in our posts.

Or, of course, there's always the membership model. We could setup a members only system where paying members get full access and non-paying members get throttled back, etc.

I don't like either of the above models and think we'd soon lose a lot of our readers and participants. Of course that may happen anyway if we can't fund it and if we cannot get our equipment problem under control, or if my refusal to vote for or support an abortionist/homosexualist/statist who has plans to install ObamaCare, er, I mean RomneyCare into all 50 states runs everyone off.

The donation model has served us very well since 1997 when we first started using it. It's very clean, uncomplicated and we attract participants who perhaps can't afford membership dues but do want to join the discussion and join our rallies, protests, prayer sessions, etc. And the advertising model would probably bring in the revenue, but it comes with strings attached.

I'm sure there are other ways and ways to combine features of various models, sell books, cds, gear, etc, offer no ads for paid subscribers, etc, even ISP services, but all of these also complicate matters.

I'm an old dog and I like to avoid new tricks, new complications, additional overhead, additional accounting, additional rules and regulations, etc, wherever possible. I like to stick to simplicity and with what works.

Thank you all very much for your continuing participation and support.


TOPICS: Free Republic; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: advertising; commercial; dues; fr; freepathon; freerepublic; jimrobinson; memberships; merchandising; noncommercial; zot
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To: onyx
So you have not answered me. You stated that monthlys are bring in 480K a year. Is this a fact?
281 posted on 04/19/2012 8:07:12 PM PDT by ladyvet ( I would rather have Incitatus then the asses that are in congress today.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Try the ‘ad’ routine, Jim. Ads for firearms, ammo, survival goods, etc should be available, especially in these times.

But only if the money’s good!

Stay well, my dear friend ......................... FRegards


282 posted on 04/19/2012 8:09:19 PM PDT by gonzo ( Buy more ammo, dammit! You should already have the firearms ... FRegards)
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To: DJ MacWoW
What I don't have is any expectation that I will be any more safe than the tons of banned who had more to offer than I ever have. Present company excluded.

Open mindedness has nothing to do with debating. Which frankyly, DJ, dear, you lack skills on both counts. The name calling and trashing others with similar goals gets you where?

I don't think you have enough money.

LOL...twice I have now been insulted for not having enough money in the opinion of some. If there was ever a fee for using the site, you might have a point. Instead you're just one of the growing number of elitist mean spirtied right wingers on this site who give conservationism a bad reputation. You are not the majority on the board, thank goodness, but you are the loudest.

283 posted on 04/19/2012 8:09:27 PM PDT by fml
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To: Jim Robinson
Look Jim, it's seems you're pretty dead set against the ad model and merchandizing isn't gonna get the job done either though a free Don't Tread on Me T-Shirt with the FR emblem on the other side would seperate some folks from their money who may be otherwise inclined.

That being the case the only way to increase revenues is to increase membership. I would guess that you can count on x% of members to donate y amount of money even though the donors are a very small percentage of users. So you have to increase the users.

How? Go back to the old free wheeling FR where true believers from every nook and cranny of the right, center and occasional liberal got to tee off on each others views without fear of getting shown the door or harpies calling moderators because some poster isn't toeing some line.

Keep it clean but move it back to the free wheeling FR where the wars between libertarians, socons, Econs, believers and non believers were epic, so to speak.

That is where the donation money is, among those who are true believers in whatever it is they believe and are guaranteed an ad free site where their views can be aired without fear of "zotting" if they play by the rules.

284 posted on 04/19/2012 8:10:09 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Do what you need to do Jim. This is the only sane place left to go..keep it alive by all means.


285 posted on 04/19/2012 8:10:24 PM PDT by Earthdweller (Harvard won the election again...so what's the problem.......? Embrace a ruler today.)
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To: RedMDer; FReepers
PREFECT ©



Donate to Free Republic Here!!

286 posted on 04/19/2012 8:11:19 PM PDT by onyx (SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC, DONATE MONTHLY. If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know.)
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To: Outlaw Woman
The following is from a long time FReeper 'out there' on other boards as an alternative to the atmosphere on FR...

Hmm....why are you hanging with the zottee crowd anyway? Are you feeling disaffected? You sound like it.

287 posted on 04/19/2012 8:11:26 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: jwalsh07
How? Go back to the old free wheeling FR where true believers from every nook and cranny of the right, center and occasional liberal got to tee off on each others views without fear of getting shown the door or harpies calling moderators because some poster isn't toeing some line.

+1

288 posted on 04/19/2012 8:12:21 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: Tribune7
Why is anyone going to participate in a political site if they can't say "we should support this candidate because . . ."?

Why would a conservative, activist site back a liberal? That makes no sense. "If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything".

Now, FR calls itself a conservative activist site.

That's not new.

There are a lot of people who consider themselves conservative activists who think Obama must go.

And?

I don't think I'm going to go out on a limb when I say that the segment of those who think of themselves as conservative activists who think Obama must go is a whole lot larger than those who think it's OK for Obama to have a second term.

I haven't seen anyone on FR trying get Obama a second term. If you do, tell Jim.

If Romney is the nominee I'm voting for him. Is that cause for a zot?

I haven't seen Jim zot anyone for that. What I have seen him say is "Vote your conscience". I have also seen him say that there will be no campaigning for liberal Romney on FR.

289 posted on 04/19/2012 8:12:41 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
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To: fml
People pay to use the site and are not guaranteed use of the site?

You've got 'payment for services rendered' confused with 'donations'.

There is a difference.

290 posted on 04/19/2012 8:14:22 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Tribune7
If Romney is the nominee I'm voting for him.

Me too and I won't lose a minutes sleep over it. Romney is orders of magnitude better than Obama with a dem congress and at least one order better than Obama without a dem majority.

291 posted on 04/19/2012 8:15:34 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (.)
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To: Windflier
You're mixing two different discussions there, but I'll try to answer you. ... Do you consider those who consistently manage to generously donate, 'elitists'

No I am not, go back and read when I came into the discussion. Just the snobby ones.

292 posted on 04/19/2012 8:16:17 PM PDT by fml
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To: onyx
FWIW, we have almost $40K in Monthly donations, so you have NO idea what you're spewing!

Is that accurate?? Interesting

293 posted on 04/19/2012 8:16:46 PM PDT by Outlaw Woman (The biggest Hate group in America is located in the White House, Congress & DOJ)
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To: ladyvet

I’m sorry, I miss several of my pings during FReepathons. I think that’s for quarterly purposes, just like our FReepathons are for our CURRENT quarter’s expenses.

Jim rolls in the Monthlies during the current Quarter’s FReepathon and it gives the FReepathon a huge boost.


294 posted on 04/19/2012 8:17:17 PM PDT by onyx (SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC, DONATE MONTHLY. If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know.)
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To: fml
Open mindedness has nothing to do with debating. Which frankyly, DJ, dear, you lack skills on both counts.

And yet you keep trying!

LOL...twice I have now been insulted for not having enough money in the opinion of some.

You've been insulted for admitting that you freely use something that you have no intention of supporting.

you're just one of the growing number of elitist mean spirtied right wingers

More nasty liberal garbage. Why are you here? You obviously disapprove of conservatives if you believe that. It makes no sense.

295 posted on 04/19/2012 8:18:14 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
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To: Windflier
You've got 'payment for services rendered' confused with 'donations'. There is a difference.

Actually, there is a distinction without a difference. In either model, when the customers go away so does the money. When that happens, the owner better figure out a way to attract more customers, or reduce the expenses. Business 101.

296 posted on 04/19/2012 8:20:11 PM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: jimrob

I’m in as a monthly as of right now. I have been so broke for so many years, it was always “someday I’ll do it.” BUT, lately we have three people in the house hitting the servers, and I’m actually gainfully employed. Yay!

I for one wouldn’t mind seeing ads. I would like to see the website prosper. I like the ad free look, but if it would help the cause, and could still be a pleasure to use, I’m cool. I go to a lot of websites with ads all over them, so I wouldn’t complain.


297 posted on 04/19/2012 8:20:26 PM PDT by Big Giant Head
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To: fml
I don't throw my money away when at any moment I may not be welcome. That has been clear from early on in my time at this site

So, instead of reading Jim's Mission Statement, and being in firm agreement with it, thereby feeling privileged to support this site with your donations, you've sat there enjoying the benefits of membership without once lifting a finger to keep the site here, because you want it both ways.

Is that right?

298 posted on 04/19/2012 8:21:19 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: onyx

*Shared*
:)


299 posted on 04/19/2012 8:22:08 PM PDT by RedMDer (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=93)
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To: DJ MacWoW
Why would a conservative, activist site back a liberal?

Because we want to get rid of an out-and-out communist who wants to sell our children into slavery. It isn't complicated.

Come Tuesday, I'm voting Newt who I'm not all that wild about either. Maybe some miracle might happen.

300 posted on 04/19/2012 8:22:08 PM PDT by Tribune7 (GAS WAS $1.85 per gallon on the day Obama was Inaugurated! - - freeper Gaffer)
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