Pop Ups Asking For Donations

[Zacs-Master]

Well, Ladles And Jellyspoons, I think we’ve reached a nadir in AB history. What say you?

[-SharonA-]

Yeah, I saw. Thinking seriously as this site has lost it's way.

[Zacs-Master]

Desperation.

[Buenchico]

Zacs seems not to have noticed that the ads (which so many people have moaned about recently) have all disappeared. It's simply a trial to see if AB can be funded in an alternative way.

[calmck]

Not had one

[AB Editor]

Buenchico - Finally, somebody noticed... 5 hours!

[Zacs-Master]

Maybe there should have been a pop up about that, Chris?

[Ellipsis]

Well noticed, Chris.

[Zacs-Master]

Good luck with the experiment, Ed. Seriously, I mean that.

[AB Editor]

Just to confirm, we hear you all loud and clear. We understand that ads have become a problem recently. However, we need to fund The Answerbank to keep it running.

Despite the disappointing results so far of our latest poll, we still hope that the community can support us. We introduced donations six months ago, which have raised a total of £342.55 to date. Our transparent Donations page shows users how much has been contributed each month (this month about £10). Unfortunately, this is only a tiny fraction of the costs needed to run The AnswerBank for a single month.

Considering the traffic that this site receives, if even a few members donate a few pounds per month, we can not only maintain but improve The AnswerBank. We're sorry for the inconvenience of a pop-up, which you will only see every 200 page views.

The responsibility falls on the community at this point. We do not require anyone to pay anything. We understand that our users come from all backgrounds and walks of life. Our ambitions are huge, but currently, The Answerbank is a service to the community. We are listening to members, despite what some may say, but we can only do so much without their help.

To confirm, this is a trial. After the trial we will decide what to do next.

[AB Editor]

I would just like to add that we are immensely grateful to the 29 individuals (of the tens of thousands in that time frame) that have donated in the last 6 months. £2, £5, £10, £40, £50. You've all helped. Thank you.

M.

[Zacs-Master]

Thank you for your honesty and clarity, Ed. Very refreshing. Do peoples’ livelihoods depend on AB continuing or do the ‘staff’ have independent means?

[AB Editor]

Zac's, an important question. No, we will look after our people regardless.

For me, this is about the community - if those who use The AnswerBank want to see it thrive, then it's genuinely within their power to help us do that. No one here want's to see anything else happen.

M.

[THECORBYLOON]

Are you able to say how much the required monthly amount without ads would be?

Does it need to be either ads or donations? Could the money be made up from ads and donations on a 50/50 basis, for example or another ratio?

[Zacs-Master]

Again, thanks for your honesty.

[237SJ]

I think you need to go back to being an answerbank. People won't come to AB to listen to chatter - they will come because they have a question about their computer problems, gas boiler, car etc. You say "Responsibilty falls on the community at this point" I don't think it does. It falls on AB to attract users but I don't know how you can do that. There are so many other social media platforms out there and you need to keep up or you will fail.

[AB Editor]

THECORBYLOON - It's a difficult question to answer. As I said, we have big ambitions for The AnswerBank - but to use an analogy, there's no point thinking about the extension you want to build if you're struggling to keep the lights on..... If you get my drift.

At this stage, nothing is off the table. We want to fund The AnswerBank in a way that benefits the community. At the moment, I think a combination of 'light' Ads, and donations is fair for all. The AnswerBank is used not just for its original purpose, but also as a community of people that have built relationships and connections over the years. If it weren't for that, we'd perhaps think differently about it... We don't want to alienate people or put up paywall barriers. But we genuinely do care - despite what some may think - about this important role The AnswerBank plays.

[AB Editor]

237SJ - Appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. I neither entirely agree, nor disagree :)

[THECORBYLOON]

The problem is, we are not being telt how much money is required to keep the lights on, let alone the cost of an extension.

If we knew how much money is required each month and how much the ads generate, folk might appreciate more the issues you face.

[AB Editor]

TheCorbyLoon - The costs vary from month to month. But we are in the £ks rather than the hundreds. Ad revenues are in the hundreds these days. Overall the position we have been in for quite some time is that it is philanthropic to keep it running. It needn't be.. and The AnswerBank won't go anywhere any time soon regardless, but if people want it to improve... then at minimum we need to at least start covering our costs. The AB hasn't covered its costs in years.

M.

[jno]

some people have even been suggesting that moderators should be paid. I wonder how long one of them could live on £342.