Embrace free market capitalism - sell ad space!!!
Just donate. If you love this site, then pay for it.
Selling ad space chews up loading times and makes the site beholden to potential advertisers.
If you don't want to keep this forum alive, then leave now. You won't find a better site. This place is unique.
” - - - Embrace free market capitalism - sell ad space!!! - - - - “
Let us start a serious dialog on the topic of selling ad space.
Better Homes and Gardens (BHAG) had a Seal of Approval that they stamped on a advertiser.
That Seal of Approval meant that BHAG management had found that the applying advertiser had met or exceeded the quality standards of BHAG.
If an advertiser fell below those standards, that the Seal was removed and the advertiser could no longer advertise on BHAG until the advertiser had made correct measures.
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Since FREE REPUBLIC is the best of the best Conservative Site, “As Advertised on Free Republic” should be a valued promotional tool to be used the Advertiser.
By starting small, and gradually allowing more and more high quality advertisers, the brand of the Seal of Approval for Free Republic will be in greater demand for new advertisers, and thus higher rates to the newer advertisers
The increased income to Free Republic will allow more time for the staff at Free Republic to emphasize the Goals, articles and activities that are the essence of Americans in a truly Free Republic.
I am mindful of the desire to be independent of outside advertising, but this could be controlled by limiting the total advertising income to be no more that 49 % of the total Yearly Budget, and thus requiring the FR membership to increase their donations as FR increases in membership.
In this way, the balance between advertisers and Membership would effectively be control by the Membership.
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On the “ZOT” topic, I would favor a gradational system of writing discipline, with several levels of probation, rather than an either-or system of THE ZOT.
For example, the Admin. Mod. would issue a one negative “Viking Kitty” per comment on the thread to a FReeper who flagrantly had violated one of Jim’s Rules.
After five Viking Kitties received by a FReeper in one FReepathon quarter, Jim Robinson would review the penalized FReeper, and “suggest” a more mature expression of thought.
After 10 Viking kitties in one 3 month period, a one week suspension; Eleven Viking Kitties/ 3 months, a one month suspension.
Re-instatment to ZERO Viking Kitties for a slow-learning FReeper would be decided on a case by case basis by Jim Robinson, his Son, or whomever Jim designates to decide such matters.
IMHO, a financial re-instatement fee, based on ownership of Viking Kitties or similar matters, should receive serious consideration by Jim.
Just as there is no such thing as a “Free Lunch,’ there never will be a Free Republic.
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Disclaimer:
* The best means of conversation is eyeball to eyeball.
* Down the list is the telephone, where at least one can pick up clues of humor, sincerity or sarcasm.
* Way down the list in the written word, with pecious few clues of the intended meaning, greater probability of miss-interpretation, and the onset of the useless flame and blame downward spiral.
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What say all of you?
FReerepublic: Bring a FRiend!