Major Theme Changes

NorioDS · 2013-10-02T19:14:26+00:00

Just a heads-up on some major theme changes... Dropped the GFSA theme song in the header. Made it a little bit more mobile-friendly (moreso on tablets than phones!) Dropped the crowd Made the header-height "shorter" Moved the RSS icon down, next to the top menu Removed header-ad on smaller displays Removed majority of navigation-links like Articles, Reviews, etc. (they will be back later) Got rid of the popup (it might be back in another form) Added 2 large ads on the right Added 1 large ad after every first post Made the site not show anything to anyone using AdBlocker. Just turn it off for GFSA and you're fine Made the header stay put when you scroll Replaced the old, tiny, ugly social sharing buttons with new, pretty ones These changes were made to: Improve forum display for most people on very wider AND narrower displays Simplify the header a bit Improve forum usability Help us pay bills Notes: Most of the ads don't show on tablets or devices smaller than 1280 pixels in width The ads aren't going anywhere. Don't ask me to take them off Edit: Floating header has been reverted due to problems on tablets. Paid subscriptions are now available to those who don't want to see any ads (see link @ top of every page) Re-fixed some problems with mobile. Works nicely on my phone now, if it's turned sideways. Not bad in vertical either. Shold work well for most people running at least iPhones, iPads, Samsung Galaxies, Samsung tablets, etc.

NorioDS

DaFiz wrote The ads on the right hand side don't bother me as I simply ignore them

The new layout is cool and opens just fine on my Mac OS...
No complaints from my side ?

Thanks! ?

NorioDS

singemonkey wrote Seriously regretting excepting this site from adblock. You guys have good reason to get ad revenue. But there's a point at which you're just losing it.

That would be impossible as the site is at negative revenue.

NorioDS

psyx wrote The stationary bar at the top makes navigation awkward on my android....

I'd love a screenie as it works well on mine. This is not something that I feel needs to stay. I'll ditch it if there's demand for that. It's probably the cheesy 90s webdeveloper in me that likes it so much.

NorioDS

Attila Barath wrote a bug bear on this site has been uploading of photos /files why can it not be direct to the site rather than a link to a Photobucket or other

This was a cost issue. Server space costs mucho dinero. If the new ads work out profitably, one thing I'd dearly love to do is move the forum to its own server, where it will hopefully never ever go down again. Of course, the ads really do need to work and work well for that to be an option.

NorioDS

Wizard wrote The "in-text" ads are the killer blow.

The large ad below the 1st post? Or are there ads showing in the text?

Wizard wrote If you keep increasing the tax rate there is a point where revenue starts going down again as consumption drops.
In the old days Zimbabwe increased its sales tax too high and tax revenue went down.

By that analogy, we are currently under-taxing you by a massive margin as the site has operated at a loss for over 5 years.

Wizard wrote Can we buy our way out of seeing adverts?

I'm seriously looking into this TODAY. Those of you serious about supporting us in this way will be able to do so via PayPal before I go to bed tonight.

NorioDS

Big G wrote Between the ad on the right, and the banner staying put, my viewable area of screen is drastically reduced

I'm seriously considering keeping the header static if there's enough demand for it. Please post a screenshot.

IceCreamMan

thing is how much does it cost per annum?

Maybe we can pass a hat around on an annual basis to support

Additionally, if we are to bear these adverts why not let the music industry ppl rather advertise and charge them , no holds barred kind of thing ...I would rather see those ads than standard bank etc etc etc etc

I don't like this format at all...its far to busy

NorioDS

Lethe wrote It's perhaps a bit unpleasant... nothing I can't get over in a few minutes and continue reading posts...

Thanks!

Lethe wrote I'm also curious with Wizards post above... how much would we need to pay.

I'm working that out now. Will launch it this evening for those interested.

NorioDS

IceCreamMan wrote Additionally, if we are to bear these adverts why not let the music industry ppl rather advertise and charge them , no holds barred kind of thing ...I would rather see those ads than standard bank etc etc etc etc

That's the next step. I'm in talks with one music store so far. I hope to replace ALL these ads with music store ads over the next year but this is INCREDIBLY difficult as each store has to be sold to whereas, right now, I can just put some code up and I'm done. So hang in there for a while.

babbalute

Non-related advertising on a forum/website etc. will be most annoying to in this case the forum members and readers. I bet you that if guitar and/or music related adverts would possibly be more welcome and worth glancing at. i.o.w. selective or specific adverts targeted to the people on this forum would most certainly be appreciated rather than rejected. I, for one don't even look at them, you might persuade me with a naked woman (or possibly a man for the female members/readers of this forum) but then I could look at specific site for that. So look for support from the local music shops or look at the international brands for adverts that relate to the members/readers. Advertising new products from them, guitars, recording equipment, drum sets, basses, etc. I'm sure their is more than enough material to be found there.
But then again there will always be members that will complain about that as well as they easily distracted and forget to read the actual forum content. Just my 2 cents worth.

kapepper

yip, a bit to much stuff going on with all the ads....

not really liking it...

but, does it bring in cash?

warrenpridgeon

I really don't find the ads too annoying... the internet is full of ads... So I just scroll past... by the time I get past the first post and first ad in a thread the side ad has already scrolled off my screen.

DonovanB

The first step in my head is to decide whether you want this to be a business or a community initiative. One makes profit and the other doesn't. I don't have an issue with this being a business. Everyone has to make money and if you can do that by facilitating an awesome site then a salute you. (btw Norio, have you read the book "What would Google do?")

On the topic of donations;
You could operate on a freemium business model. Basically 90% of the site is free as we know it now. Normally registered members can post ad nauseum as usual. Then you can create a space for us to do one of the following sponsorships, which can be differentiated by having a special icon or title in the posts.
Personal sponsorship. In our personal capacity any one of us can donate to the usual running of the site.
Service sponsorship. Teachers or repairers can donate a little extra and have a small ad in a services page.
Bands can have a certain sponsorship and have a "band page" of sorts.
Stores and distributors can pay extra and have banner ad running, get reviews done and have extra privileges or threads where they can make announcements or the like.

Maybe none of these amounts can be dictated but can be a "Pay what you think it's worth" This is just a though but I haven't given it much thought, you okes can thrash that out.

Other than Wikipedia, www.b3ta.com runs well from donations. Set yourself a target then work it backwards to see how much you need to run the site include your time spent maintaining and managing the site as well otherwise it won't be worth it for you or us.

DonovanB

Strange how we will bitch about bands not being paid, but when a site is provided to us for free with ads to cover the cost we have an issue with that too.

Down with commercialism, except when it suits me.

Wizard

I like Donovan's ideas.
There may be community based methods where people who can pay do for the greater good.
This is one of the few regular internet things I do.
(Just look at my number of posts and number of hours ... ha ha)

warrenpridgeon

Donovan Banks wrote Strange how we will bitch about bands not being paid, but when a site is provided to us for free with ads to cover the cost we have an issue with that too.

Down with commercialism, except when it suits me.

+1

Are ads SUCH a pain? I mean we see em everywhere anyways...

IceCreamMan

warrenpridgeon wrote
Donovan Banks wrote Strange how we will bitch about bands not being paid, but when a site is provided to us for free with ads to cover the cost we have an issue with that too.

Down with commercialism, except when it suits me.
+1

Are ads SUCH a pain? I mean we see em everywhere anyways...

I don't mind the ads on the sides ,no problem and they are a way of life , its the ads that are in the posts "view" that are annoying.

also I have a big advertise here section which is annoying.....

ads themselves ,naaaa we so used to em these days hey

shaundtsl

Why not have an annual GFSA music festival, sell tickets, get sponsors?

Surely we can get a band or ten from the forum members?

V8

Hmm, my 2c

Í like the static header bar - not tested it out on android yet.
Don't mind the ad's down the right
Do not miss the pop up 'jokes' at all
Hate the ads inline with the posts

On the donations/subscriptions side - thought that something related to the classified section could make sense - a kinda honour system (e.g. not regulated or required)...1% donation each from each transaction from buyer & seller. I like these classifieds as it's administered & self regulating, if there is a scammer/a$$ it'll be quickly noted and dealt with.

I've bought & sold a few items over the years (Probably totaling around R8000, meaning I'd have made +/- R80's worth of donations), not a lot - but it would help...?

selbydoodl

For Gods sake stop whining like a bunch of spoilt brats!
We are getting super FREE site that is enjoyable and informative.
A few ads doesn't spoil my pleasure of being on this forum.
if you don't like what you get - close the door on your way out.

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