Alternatives to Ads to help support Serious Eats- Any Ideas?
I don't have major issues with ads. As long as they aren't flashy or offensive, I can just ignore them. Some people do. So... does anyone have good ideas for ways that Serious Eats can help support itself? Everyone here benefits from the site without having to invest financially in it. And we all want it to do well.
This may be lame to some people, but how about t-shirts?
If well-designed, SE can sell some shirts that people would like and wear to show support. Then it becomes self-advertising, too.
Anyone else have some good ideas?
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19 Comments:
I don't think anyone here has a problem with the ads on this site. What is being discussed in other threads and what my personal beef is about is sponsored content. Especially in the Talk section.
SqueezeBottle at 10:02AM on 05/08/09
I like the t-shirt idea. Or similar items with the Serious Eats logo on it. This is good. I'd buy something. Great idea!
arm1970 at 10:11AM on 05/08/09
I'd surely wear a SE t-shirt. My local burrito joint posts pics of customers wearing their t shirts in locations all over the world. You could display pics of your own world traveler (Robyn) being the SE ambassador with t shirt in locations from Reijkyavik to Seoul!
Kerosena at 10:31AM on 05/08/09
Check out a site called Neatorama, they have a mystery sale going on to raise money for their site. $9.95 and you get something from a t-shirt to possible a Ipod or watch. All items supposed to be valued over purchase price. I thought this was such a good idea I ordered something, I'm not one to usually try this but for $9.95 what could it hurt. I think it could certainly work here if SE had a variety of items to sell. Also, I have no connection to Neatorama and believe the sale has already ended, so I am not schilling it for them, I just thought it was a new and unique idea for a free website to raise money.
smokey07 at 10:52AM on 05/08/09
is there a specific reason people are assuming that they are having financial trouble? i'm sure they have a business plan in place and they seem to be doing a good job with readership so i'll leave the revenue side to them and enjoy the content.
sloppy at 11:20AM on 05/08/09
@sloppy - You must have missed the whole thread yesterday discussing advertising in the Talk section.
http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2009/05/i-do-not-like-sponsored-talk-topics-sam-i-am.html
The original thread:
http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2009/05/from-our-sponsor-a-small-step-to-help-the-planet.html
arm1970 at 11:34AM on 05/08/09
I agree the issue is with the sponsors/adverts going into the talk section. I don't see any issues with ads placed on the site. Not crazy about the pop ups but who is really - I don't think there are any on SE, can't remember right now...
mrstkach at 11:49AM on 05/08/09
I think there's a difference between wanting to attract new advertisers in new ways and the need for a bake sale fundraiser. Let's not jump the gun here, shall we?
As far as selling SE logo items, I doubt that sort of effort is as lucrative as ad sales and probably not what the SE team wants to spend time on. On the other hand, if there were logo items, people would probably buy them. Maybe an interesting sideline, but I doubt they'd make enough money from the venture to make a difference to Ed's paycheck.
dbcurrie at 12:07PM on 05/08/09
Id rock an SE tshirt...as long as the logo was on the back. Im okay with a teensy over the heart logo on the fronts of things but I prefer back of shirt logos and white, bleachable tshirts.
SE Crew? Whats the probability?
ChelleyD01 at 12:21PM on 05/08/09
SE, if you are starting a t-shirt business, I'm sending you my resume. Just sayin'
meem21 at 12:29PM on 05/08/09
A Serious Eats tshirt or even an SE refrigerator magnet would be cool. It seems there are some hardcore anti-ad people out there, but I'm not one of them. There's no way I would waste money just to access an ad-free forum, but it would be an interesting option for the diehards to be able to pay to view the site ad-free.
runnereater at 1:16PM on 05/08/09
I'd love a Serious Eats t-shirt. It would go great with my YAY Broccoli T-shirt and my You have died from dysentery shirt from the Oregon trail game.
chardonnay at 1:54PM on 05/08/09
Why do I keeping thinking that about 1 year ago or so they did have some SE merchandise or am I thinking of some other site?
pjracz10 at 2:00PM on 05/08/09
Advertising is part of the free market economy. When someone pays for ads, it employs people who can then buy food and stuff. You are reading a free website which has to be paid for and believe me, running a website is not cheap. You are not forced to read or buy anything you see here. Pick and choose the things you want, and remember that the owners of the site have expenses and taxes to pay.
ocarol at 2:50PM on 05/08/09
unless you automate the t-shirt making and selling process, you then turn SE into a t-shirt seller... with problems of taking time away from blogging, not to mention inventory, manufacturing, delivery... sure, you can outsource all of that but i rather have bloggers blog and then live with some ads
foodinmouth at 4:54PM on 05/08/09
Every blog I visit has ads. Do I feel obliged to click on them? NO! If something looks interesting to me I will click. Just because something is on my screen doesn't mean I have to look at it. Give SE a break. They gotta pay the bills like the rest of us.
finsbigfan at 5:11PM on 05/08/09
I don't have a problem with ads (non-popup); I love to hear about new products this way.
How about sponsored tastings at select locales? (ie. wine&(insert food), local foods, how-to's, etc)
Or sponsored contests (best burger joint, sponsored by Heinz, imaginative things to do with Roquefort, sponsored Murray's Cheeses, etc)
Bottom line: you'll get more $$$ from companies than you'll EVER get from visitors.
finewinendine at 10:01PM on 05/08/09
How about publishing reviews, creating recipe books? I for one would definately buy a cookbook on how to clone Americas greatest burgers, pizza, and any other thing worth eating. You could also have members sign up for newsletters. There are alot of alternatives to straight advertising, just need to brainstorm it.
nhfoodie at 10:12AM on 05/13/09
How about sponsored content from non-profits in Talk? American Heart Assn, American Cancer Society, etc.
I must be slow. I've referred to places where I buy or products I use in replying to posts. Help me recognize the sponsored content. And what is Serious Eats perspective on this - do they have sponsored content or not?
Ruffles1 at 11:42AM on 07/22/09