Now and then I do a little post to request that you don't block our adverts, or if you do then we offer you the option to support us without seeing any adverts and gain extra perks in the process!
To get this out the way: I don't hate you if you do.
Adverts pay for our hosting, pay for me to pick up games to video (or to buy Samsai to cast for you) and review for you when a developer won't give out a copy, and for me to generally get-by in day to day life. Time is money after-all and having a family time is short.
We also have GOL Premium, for $25 USD (£14.84 GBP/18.24EUR) a year or $15 (£8.90/10.93EUR) every 6 months.
In future I will also be implementing an ability for GOL Premium users to get a handy email when a game they want goes on Sale, it's half-done right now and I expect to finish it by the end of the month, GOL Premium users can already add it to their wishlist and track them that way, emails are to come soon!
Without adverts & GOL premium I wouldn't have been able to do this for as long as I have. I would never want to hide our content behind a forced "pay-wall" (as in you have to pay to see 2/3rds of every article or something like that) and never plan to. I don't see that as a way of getting rid of adverts and donations alone don't cut it sadly.
We are still to the best of my knowledge the most active Linux-focused gaming site around. It's not just that though, any developer has the ability to write about their own game and have it published here or to publish their thoughts on something related to Linux gaming, or even for regular gamers to write about games they are interested in to have it published here. We are an open platform and always will be which is why I think we work so well.
We never have and never will use popup adverts of any kind, we don't use noisy video adverts, we don't put an advert in the way of any content either. I spoke to another major Linux-focused website about the pop-over ads they use and that person told me the revenue from those is many multiples that of our adsense, but I still won't use it as they annoy even me. I've been approached many times for pop-under tab adverts and I show them where the door is as well to not annoy our readers.
If too many people block our adverts in future and the amount of people subscribing to GOL Premium stops/slows (currently we are doing o-k) then in future I may have to re-consider how much time I spend researching games for the site and maybe one day stop the site altogether, but currently that won't happen anytime soon don't worry!
I feel the same way as this guy: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/8854-The-Adblock-Episode, if you do block our adverts, don't be a dick about it.
In our tests over May 2014 58% of people blocked our adverts, that's a bit upsettingly high, but I will have to find a way to ignore it or else I will get annoyed and not post as much news and I don't want that to happen.
I still have a lot to learn about "internet life" and I make mistakes here and there, but I am always working for you to make Linux gaming better for everyone. I do it because I do enjoy it, not because I feel I have to and don't want to ever give it up.
Now give me all of your monies.
Finally: Thank you to everyone who has supported me, GOL and a big thank you to the many contributors we have. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
To get this out the way: I don't hate you if you do.
Adverts pay for our hosting, pay for me to pick up games to video (or to buy Samsai to cast for you) and review for you when a developer won't give out a copy, and for me to generally get-by in day to day life. Time is money after-all and having a family time is short.
We also have GOL Premium, for $25 USD (£14.84 GBP/18.24EUR) a year or $15 (£8.90/10.93EUR) every 6 months.
In future I will also be implementing an ability for GOL Premium users to get a handy email when a game they want goes on Sale, it's half-done right now and I expect to finish it by the end of the month, GOL Premium users can already add it to their wishlist and track them that way, emails are to come soon!
Without adverts & GOL premium I wouldn't have been able to do this for as long as I have. I would never want to hide our content behind a forced "pay-wall" (as in you have to pay to see 2/3rds of every article or something like that) and never plan to. I don't see that as a way of getting rid of adverts and donations alone don't cut it sadly.
We are still to the best of my knowledge the most active Linux-focused gaming site around. It's not just that though, any developer has the ability to write about their own game and have it published here or to publish their thoughts on something related to Linux gaming, or even for regular gamers to write about games they are interested in to have it published here. We are an open platform and always will be which is why I think we work so well.
We never have and never will use popup adverts of any kind, we don't use noisy video adverts, we don't put an advert in the way of any content either. I spoke to another major Linux-focused website about the pop-over ads they use and that person told me the revenue from those is many multiples that of our adsense, but I still won't use it as they annoy even me. I've been approached many times for pop-under tab adverts and I show them where the door is as well to not annoy our readers.
If too many people block our adverts in future and the amount of people subscribing to GOL Premium stops/slows (currently we are doing o-k) then in future I may have to re-consider how much time I spend researching games for the site and maybe one day stop the site altogether, but currently that won't happen anytime soon don't worry!
I feel the same way as this guy: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/8854-The-Adblock-Episode, if you do block our adverts, don't be a dick about it.
In our tests over May 2014 58% of people blocked our adverts, that's a bit upsettingly high, but I will have to find a way to ignore it or else I will get annoyed and not post as much news and I don't want that to happen.
I still have a lot to learn about "internet life" and I make mistakes here and there, but I am always working for you to make Linux gaming better for everyone. I do it because I do enjoy it, not because I feel I have to and don't want to ever give it up.
Now give me all of your monies.
Finally: Thank you to everyone who has supported me, GOL and a big thank you to the many contributors we have. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
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ok, won't block it :)
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I left adblock on by accident for ages D:.
Good thing the supporter badge redeems me.
Good thing the supporter badge redeems me.
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I use addblock only because youtube and even I don't achieve desired result. I still have pop ups in player.
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This website is on my Whitelist on my AdBlock Edge since i registered on GOL.
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You should try to get financial funding in a different way - Flattr or something.
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You should try to get financial funding in a different way - Flattr or something.
We have a flattr button on every article and the donate page, flattr seems nice, but it's not used a lot.
For example flattr gave me this for the entire of May: €1.52.
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yeah it's just that after a while you just forget you have AB on... ok for the first time in my life i whitelisted a site. ads don't seem to be annoying at all.
1 Likes, Who?
The problem with ads are that it ruins the computer experience for many. Ads are an unfortunate part of the world we live in today. The windows PCs (The "affordable ones") and our android phones (stock) are filled with ad and bloatware to the point where the typical users just frustrated and fed up and think that's what having a PC is all about. SO what do they do? Go buy a Mac/iPhone and tell the world how much better it is.
How does this relate to websites? It is a fact that people wont go to an ad filled website if the ads get in the way of the content, which of course doesn't happen on this site, but it does on many.
Enter Adblock Plus. The savior. Now I instantly have the CHOICE of blocking any and all adds (even the "non-obtrusive" and warnings for using adblock) to enhance my internet experience. And I believe that it is the choice we have as PC users to customize/tweak our experience in anyway we see fit, it's what makes the PC environment so open.
I can understand however that this site "needs" money to stay afloat, and I try my best to donate every month to it, because I believe in this site. But this seems to be another attempt at getting money although other options are available. I will always use adblock. Always. I shouldn't have to change/jeopardize my privacy/business practices by allowing ads that just makes some other guy money.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket, seek alternate sources of funding. Monthy "support" goals (I.E Wikipedia), Sponsored things ( I don't know), just anything other than begging people not to use adblock, because they shouldn't have to.
P.S. I think it would be good if you published your monthly financial reports so that we KNOW where all the money is going rather than assuming it's just buying you another 6-pack for example.
P.S.S You could seek sponsorship for videos that articles that in no way impact the bias of the article. (Think Linus Tech Tips and Dollar Shave Club). Also, uTorrent recently removed the option to remove the ads, and you know what happen? There's a revolt going on right now.
How does this relate to websites? It is a fact that people wont go to an ad filled website if the ads get in the way of the content, which of course doesn't happen on this site, but it does on many.
Enter Adblock Plus. The savior. Now I instantly have the CHOICE of blocking any and all adds (even the "non-obtrusive" and warnings for using adblock) to enhance my internet experience. And I believe that it is the choice we have as PC users to customize/tweak our experience in anyway we see fit, it's what makes the PC environment so open.
I can understand however that this site "needs" money to stay afloat, and I try my best to donate every month to it, because I believe in this site. But this seems to be another attempt at getting money although other options are available. I will always use adblock. Always. I shouldn't have to change/jeopardize my privacy/business practices by allowing ads that just makes some other guy money.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket, seek alternate sources of funding. Monthy "support" goals (I.E Wikipedia), Sponsored things ( I don't know), just anything other than begging people not to use adblock, because they shouldn't have to.
P.S. I think it would be good if you published your monthly financial reports so that we KNOW where all the money is going rather than assuming it's just buying you another 6-pack for example.
P.S.S You could seek sponsorship for videos that articles that in no way impact the bias of the article. (Think Linus Tech Tips and Dollar Shave Club). Also, uTorrent recently removed the option to remove the ads, and you know what happen? There's a revolt going on right now.
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P.S. I think it would be good if you published your monthly financial reports so that we KNOW where all the money is going rather than assuming it's just buying you another 6-pack for example.
I don't agree with that at all, people donate/pay for gol premium on the basis that it's to keep GOL going, it's my choice to use it on whatever I need to make that happen. It's income for me plain and simple.
2 Likes, Who?
You are doing an amazing job with this site. It's deactivated now. I wish all ads would be like this, then we wouldn't need AdBlock at all :D
BTW: You are thinking about other payment options?
BTW: You are thinking about other payment options?
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BTW: You are thinking about other payment options?
I'm open to suggestions as always.
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Liam have you tried with sponsored reviews?
I mean, "fair" sponsored reviews, where you alert your readers it's sponsored and "might" be a biased (nothing wrong with it IMO)
I mean, "fair" sponsored reviews, where you alert your readers it's sponsored and "might" be a biased (nothing wrong with it IMO)
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Liam have you tried with sponsored reviews?We actually did a test once, this was the outcome: http://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/a-quick-message-on-sponsored-articles-my-apologies.3448
I mean, "fair" sponsored reviews, where you alert your readers it's sponsored and "might" be a biased (nothing wrong with it IMO)
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This site is your only form of income?Not my only no, but one of my main ones.
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I've spoken about this before, but you could use amazon referral links and then post "the best PC configurations for Linux June Edition" etc. Then have a range of hardware configs from low to high end all promised to work with Linux, etc that could be updated every so often. Surely you wouldn't recieve a ton of business that way, but money is money.
You could also feature a "Peripherals known to work well in Linux," and then link roccat items, etc.
You could also feature a "Peripherals known to work well in Linux," and then link roccat items, etc.
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Is there any money in Steam referrals either? When you do an advert of a game and you have the "buy from Steam" button at the bottom, there not a way to get a cut of those sales?
Tuxgames used to have something similar for buying from them. I'll go unblock the ads as well.
Tuxgames used to have something similar for buying from them. I'll go unblock the ads as well.
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What about a "Game of the week" banner on top of the page, where a developer pays a small fee to GOL for appearing there for 1 week and giving away a code to your readers for buying the game with a small discount or something.
Just some random thoughts
Just some random thoughts
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BTW: You are thinking about other payment options?I'm open to suggestions as always.
Can you make the square-ish ad just before the comments start a leaderboard-style (wide, but short)? It is kind of ugly as it is. Cheers.
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Unblocked as I like the site and the amount of new content everyday.
I agree the square ad above the comments looks out of place, either a wide one or two square ones side by side.
Just one question do you get money for just displaying the ads or only if people click on them?
I agree the square ad above the comments looks out of place, either a wide one or two square ones side by side.
Just one question do you get money for just displaying the ads or only if people click on them?
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