Note: wrote this before the TMC/Fountain War kickstarter was launched. Personal opinions are complicated, but I have no connection to that project. Still interested in feedback from fans about Prosper vs Monetization
Monetization is always a touchy subject, but I try to make efforts open and transparent. Up to now, EVE Prosper has had all ads turned off wherever possible (blog, YouTube, Twitch), and hosting a Patreon for those who wish to contribute directly. There is no pay-wall and no subscriber-only content. The goal is to provide the content as freely as possible, and give those who want to contribute more an avenue to do so.
But the truth is: producing the show is not free. To get the show to YouTube quickly I use Premiere, and there are costs for hosting and hardware. In addition to that, I try to compensate direct contributors for contributing to the backbone that makes the show possible: code and hosting.
I am not writing this to shake the tip jar or start an NPR-style guilt drive. Quality content takes time and energy and some IRL cash, and Prosper is by no means taking food off the table. I only mean to echo that compensation is a motivator and the more the show supports itself, the more time and energy I can commit to it.
What I do want to talk about is YouTube Red.
I am tempted to enable ads on the YouTube videos because of this service. On the one hand it feels like leaving free money on the table from Red users. And on the other it seems like a negligible impact on non-Red viewers because of ad blockers or "regular YouTube experience". I honestly expect the revenue to be paltry with the current consumption rates on YouTube... but I would like to actually get some hard numbers.
But before I go down that path, I'd like to hear from the community about it. Do you appreciate/notice the lack of ads? Do you expect some amount of ads in modern web browsing? Do you think that this should be a fully altruistic labor of love and it's tasteless to ask for IRL monies?
SURVEY HERE
Also, feel free to put opinions in the comments below. It will probably be a couple of weeks before any decision one way or the other will be made.
4 comments:
From a content creator point, I myself run a Patreon for what I do outside of Eve-Radio and I as well have no ads on anything I do. I think the value for value model that a lot of people use for daily/weekly content works well. Yes production of any content is never free and the reason I do what I do is because of the passion for it. Afaik the YouTube Red amounts are not much more than old and income amounts.
Well place ads are fine in the current mobile world but takeovers etc are the bane of the web.
From a content creator point, I myself run a Patreon for what I do outside of Eve-Radio and I as well have no ads on anything I do. I think the value for value model that a lot of people use for daily/weekly content works well. Yes production of any content is never free and the reason I do what I do is because of the passion for it. Afaik the YouTube Red amounts are not much more than old and income amounts.
Well place ads are fine in the current mobile world but takeovers etc are the bane of the web.
((gg blogger for removing comment threads))
+Jody Farenden I share the same idea. I'd very much like to stick to a direct-contribution model. I think it's fairest and least obnoxious. The goal of any other monetization above and beyond that would be in the project wonderful vein of relevant and not obnoxious. I only point at Red as an option because it seems to cover this requirement.
I use ad blockers, but turn them off on zkillboard and dotlan because I use those tools daily and want them to continue. I don't know how to turn off adblocker for just your youtube content and leave it on for the rest, but I will do that if it keeps you on the air.
Post a Comment