Attention All Members - Please Read

[Unimatic1140]

For the first time ever I'm going to be experimenting with web advertising on automaticwasher.org. At NO TIME will upgraded members see any ads, only non-upgraded members and non-logged in visitors. When I get some time I will add a check box to the profiles for upgraded users to let you opt-in to view the advertising if you wish, but I will default this to ads turned off for upgraded users. For upgraded users if you log out now you can see the ads, once you log back in they will be gone.

These ads are targeting the 500,000 hits per month that aw.org gets from the search engines for visitors who land here who are not members. Google Adsense will read the page and show ads related to the content, so you should see appliance and home related ads. The ones I've see so far (its been live about an hour) have been for Maytag, KitchenAid and Whirlpool appliances as well as for Sears stores.

 

More to come, I just wanted to get the word out ASAP.  

 

ps. Don't be surprised if you seen an ad for Apex DVD players in the Imperial Forum LOL!

 

[launderess]

Good For You

High time you began reaping some rewards from the valuable content this site offers.

Know this began and is run as a group for like minded enthusiasts, which I amoung others are glad of, but there is not a small amount of value here and as webmaster/founder it does seem good and proper to at least explore such worth.

Have remarked before how quickly posts on this site are picked up by "Google" for a variety of reasons, pictures and all. What is more sites like "Fixya" and so forth charge a decent amount for the technical advice many members join to extract free here, and then aren't heard from again.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Thank you Laundress for your kinds words and support of the site, it certainly is appreciated.

 

[jetcone]

I agree with

Launderess - thank you for posting!

 

 

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Robert;

I am in full agreeance with Launderess. I think it's an excellent idea. You might as well capitalize on all you hard work. At least offset the cost of running the whole thing.
WK78

 

[DirectDriveDave]

This should work out well for ya Robert, this place gets plenty of traffic I'm sure!

 

[akronman]

Hey Robert

It sounds very fair and logical, a fine idea whose time has come

 

[gus]

IMO and always there's the possibility to be wrong, I dislike ads in a site that is suppose to be work for amateurs in this case of washing machine and the like. Second not always is possible to afford a fee, specially from outside the USA as salaries are so different from yours. I DO agree this is a valuable site which is enriched with wise opinions and knowledge. I don't know if this is alright. I'm reasoning while I'm writing and I might be arriving to fast conclusions. No offence to anyone specially to you Rob. I admire your cleverness and knowledge and other ways of thinking you've got, so I hope you can understand me and see I'm not against you under any point of view. I'm just expressing my feelings on the subject. Thanks Gus

 

[chestermikeuk]

I take it...

The parameters are set to "Regional" settings ? cos we are seeing UK adds...Not even going to mention the one thats showing...Lol

 

[Unimatic1140]

The parameters are set to "Regional" settings ? cos we are seeing UK adds

I believe that is out of my control Mike, Google controls what ad locations they display. I should receive some stats after a while so I can analyze the ads.

 

[foraloysius]

I have Dutch ads. Since I am a paying member I will not see them very often. What I find a bit annoying is that they don't open in a new window.

 

[Unimatic1140]

What I find a bit annoying is that they don't open in a new window.

Good point Louis, so I just found out that answer to that...

http://support.google.com/adsense/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1354740

 

[foraloysius]

Ah, I see. Well, I will right click on a link then to open it in a new window.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

A Miracle! LOL

First time I agree with Launderess! LOL
Well said! I couldn't have find better words!

 

[rp2813]

Indeed

Check mark and ditto marks for Launderess!

 

[luxflairguy]

Robert! My question is will upgraded members stay logged-in longer now? I believe I have to re-log-in every 2 weeks. Thanks!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Robert! My question is will upgraded members stay logged-in longer now? I believe I have to re-log-in every 2 weeks. Thanks!

No but that is something I could look into I suppose. I did that early on because so many people would forget their password. Now that I have a password retrieve system in place that is less necessary.

 

[mrb627]

Cookie Countdown

It would be nice to know when your login cookie was gonna expire and be able to renew it with the touch of a button rather than being kicked out to login again.  But not a huge issue either way.

 

Robert, what are the rules about turning a profit with regards to the advertising?  Do you simply have to show that the 'profits' are going back into the site?

 

 

Malcolm

 

[goatfarmer]

It's a good idea, Robert, maybe it will cause more people to sign up for membership.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Here, here!

You said it all, Launderess.

Wonder if Fred's gonna slip in a few vacuum ads?

RCD

 

[launderess]

If I Can't Sell It, I'm Going To Sit Down On It!

Well Robert don't know how far you are willing to go in sources of revenue streams, but here goes:

Why not set up a section where non-members can post vintage appliance questions including repair information and have it answered by vetted members? Going along the lines of "Fixya" or whatever that site is called a sliding fee could be charged in terms of compensation. It would really cut to the chase of all these persons who simply pay a small "donation" to join the group only to access repair/part information then go. I mean if that is all they are after and not interested in being ongoing contributing members otherwise why not leave em have what they want then move on; after the "House" is paid of course! *LOL*

Just a thought. We have so many members that are literally giving away for free what they normally charge for otherwise.

 

[mixfinder]

Only the Falcon Knows

We can offer opinions and discuss the purity of no ads and lots of freebees, but no one has expressed it as eloquently as Kimberly. What's never really said in a clear voice is that having the site costs Robert money. Keeping the site healthy and upgraded requires time. The stress and aggravation of playing referee to a sometimes disrespectful membership cannot be amortized in money or antacids. I support the move and I am pleasantly surprised at how unobtrusive the ads are

 

[toploader55]

Agreed. with everyone.

Good for you Robert.

Great Idea.

 

[strongenough78]

Good idea Robert. Although I did get a coupon ad

 

[strongenough78]

Good idea Robert. Although I did get a coupon ad

 

[volsboy1]

Go for Robert,you deserve something from all the B.S that you have endured over the years and your Time.Computers are madding

I have been building my machines and machines for Gamers/Servers for years and trying to make all this stuff work is a NIGHTMARE at times.x86/Java/Linux and I just bought a 50 buck Rasberry Pi system for the storm of A.R.M. that I know is coming and

might even dethrone x86..

 

[beekeyknee]

Oh, now I see how it is.

A few weeks ago I suggested that more people "contribute" and several of you proceeded to have fits. Actually I've suggested it more than once and the fussbudgets either didn't notice or didn't say anything. And some suggested I was stating "policies", which was not true.

Now it seems that raising money is OK with some of you, even though not all that commented and excoriated me have said anything, not that I care. If you haven't anything pleasant to say to me, save it. I won't listen or respond.

Robert, I support you in whatever you need to do. You site is wonderful and I look forward to reading it everyday.

Brian

 

[peteski50]

Advertising!

Robert this is a Great idea!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Thank you all for the ideas and feedback. Laundress I will check out Fixya, I've never been there before, when I have some time next week. Malcolm I'm not sure what you mean by rules or those set by whom, so if you want to elaborate I might understand better and be able to answer your question.

 

[mattl]

God I HATE fixya.  I went into google settings and blocked that crappy site.  Every time I searched for some repair info I'd get pages and pages of worthless crap from fixya.