[update] I added some helpful Shortcut Links on the Main Page, article pages, and edit pages. This post has more details.[/update]
If you could replace the AdSense ads on RichmondWiki.org, what would you replace them with? The goal of the site is not to generate revenue (I plan to spin it off into a nonprofit sometime this year) and ads certainly don’t add value to or enhance the user experience.
Some ideas I’ve had so far:
- House Ads (content creation) – could be used to encourage visitors to edit the existing article and/org add a new article (either via an inline form or a link to the article’s edit page).
- House Ads (content promotion) – could be used to promote fun, timely, or interesting content, such as the new article about birthday deals.
- Public Service Announcements (PSA) - could be a rotation of standard banner ads for Richmond-based nonprofits or upcoming events/fundraisers for these groups.
- Recent changes/RichmondWiki blog/site news – a simple RSS feed of RichmondWiki recent changes or site news.
- Larger content well - Extend the article’s content well to the full width of the browser window.
- Facebook Connect or Google Friend Connect - Allow/encourage visitors to sign in with their Facebook or Google accounts so their article updates can be shared with their networks.
Here’s a typical article screenshot for you to get an idea of the screen real estate we have to work with (click for larger version):
RichmondWiki screenshot
The possibilities are endless, and since we don’t have a profit motive I am open to any and all ideas. Why not try a bunch of ideas and see what works?
Have a different idea or support one of the above? Want to help implement something (mySQL/PHP)? Please leave a comment and I’ll work on getting something built.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I feel that keeping some of the ads would be a good idea to help offset the cost of hosting, etc. But other than that, I really like the idea of Facebook/Google connect, or PSA’s from other Richmond non-profits.
Another idea would be to use this space for a mix of everything. For example, sometimes show Google Ads, sometimes show PSA’s, and maybe sometimes show promotions. For example, the entry for Tacky Lights would be great to be promoted through a house ad around that time of year. Or maybe a house ad promoting the July 4th festivities around Richmond. Then, on these ‘higher traffic pages’, have a new area for maybe Google Ads on specific pages.
I think the house ads / content creation route is pretty interesting. Also: nobody (that I know of) is doing it. It seems that the unsolved problem here how to distinguish between wiki pages/content that people are paying to create versus paying to promote.
A simple approach: maybe the advertiser’s page(s) remain a wiki style free-for-all, but you use a forms+template model to let people write house ads pointing to their pages, which are locked/access controlled.
AboutUs — admittedly: a much bigger wiki, with a much bigger staff
— seems to have good luck with a Recent Changes Patrol type of behavior.
It could be as simple as requiring visitors to login before they can edit a page that an active ad points to, just as a way to add a bit of accountability to pages folks have taken ads out for.
The ads certainly do help offset the hosting/domain name registration costs. But it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
I have to believe that either house ads, PSAs, or some sort of interactive/sharing feature would add more value to the wiki’s visitors and the wiki itself.
Also, there’s no reason not to test all of the ideas to see which “converts” the best in terms of new article creation, edits, account creation, etc. The only problem is implementation. My mySQL/PHP skills are moderate at best and I have client work up the wazoo.
I’ve seen other wikis monetize traffic by hosting banner ads for local companies or offering “paid” articles that are written by an experienced wiki editor. Neither of those appeal to me because I don’t want to clutter up the interface with random, untargeted ads and call the credibility and objectivity of the site and its content into question.
Yes, I agree with the ‘bringing content into question’ part. I also agree with the other items you mentioned as well. With even the hosting costs not being that big of a deal, then the best option may be to mix in something of the 3. The sharing helps you grow your visibility, and the PSA’s could help this as well. You could then highlight ‘big’ topics on the front page, or randomly when there is something going on.
In my mind a “house ad” would simply be a pointer to “edit this article” or a “create new article” form. Not really a paid advertisement or service.
If you’re open to running an in-house open source ad server, check out OpenX: http://www.openx.org/. I use it for the VA WiFi Company collaborative and the Richmond Free Wifi sites. It may be overkill but is very flexible and has great statistics reporting methods for your clients.
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