Ads for Dave's Garden?

Aimee; activists don't get no respect!!

Just to clarify (I think I can speak for Dave and myself on this) - we have NO plans to introduce banner or pop-up advertising to DG (their intrusive nature annoys us just like everybody else.) Any concepts/ideas about ways to derive revenue streams from gardening-related companies are:

1) a good ways off from coming to fruition (i.e., "barely a twinkle in our eye");

2) approached from the perspective of what is best for our users (and pop-ups don't fall in that category, IMO);

3) done to create a valuable atmosphere for both the user and the advertiser; and

4) true to our purpose of being for and by gardeners

That last one is a personal pet peeve of mine. I detest encountering ads on some well-known gardening sites, hawking all sorts of weird products that have absolutely nothing to do with gardening. When I find them, it tells me that the webmaster is more interested in ad revenue than in cultivating a gardening community. I think it's fair to say we've set a higher standard for ourselves here, and I trust we'll carry the torch for all our members who come to Dave's Garden to, well...to garden ;>)

Terry,

This is exactly what I expected was going on in this regard, which is why I have no fear of advertising on DG. I know it is being contemplated by mature, intelligent, non-greedy people as a way to improve the place. Not as a way to exploit the place.

Advertising can be a very bad thing. It doesn't have to be. I have full confidence in the "powers that be" here at DG to demonstrate the correct way to do advertising in a community based website.

Cheri'

Terry; (Terry here too!) It's great to hear that! I knew this place was well worth my money before I joined, and them some!
You should take those four excellant points you wrote and put them in large, blue (my favorite color of course), and bold fonts right on the home page of DG!

sundry; couldn't have said it any better myself, even tho I'm a Kentucky hillbilly!!

o I don't know, tc. You prolly could have said it more colorfully ...
=)

Cheri'

oh, but sundry, yer awful colorful yerself, yer further down from the south than me! Pronounced "Lou-weez-ee-ana" ain't it? ;~)

You got it, tc - Lou wee zee ana. Some folks shorten it to Lou-zee-ana, but that ain't right.

I may be further south, but you've got "southern" down to a language. Heck, I think you even spell it right. LOL.

Cheri'

I think that this site is great just the way it is.
Change is sometime's good but, not alway's.
My garden is full, because of you, it's members and your generosity.

Like they say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it !"

Sandy

The concept is not a bad one: not so much the financial aspect of charging advertisers, but to give members access to sources. Thus the emphasis is not on making a profit but in providing subscribers a service. If this were to be the case I'm sure Dave would set up very rigorous criteria, such as value pricing, quality, service and customer satisfaction guarantees.
76summerwind: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it' has now been replaced with the current buzz phrase "continuous improvement". There is merit to BOTH phrases, and I'll keep an open mind on the issue of advertising and trust in Dave's good judgment. Whatever Dave decides to do, it will undoubtedly be whatever he deems to be in best interest of the membership.