"Nothing in life is free".... besides TKP

Joe & Staff,

I would like to start this by saying I am in no way trying to tell you guys how to run the site. I would like to offer a suggestion and see how the TKP community feels about it:

As I was surfing the web yesterday, I couldn't help but notice the tons of ads on every site I go to. It got me thinking about the lack of ads on my favorite site, TKP. I know you guys, Joe and staff, pride yourself in offering a free site for Hokie Nation to enjoy and all of us truly appreciate that. With your stance on a free experience and an experience that every Hokie will love, it may be an uneasy situation for you guys to bring up ads because you don't want the consumers' views of the site to change. Understandably so.

We all know that money makes the world go around. I'm sure the site gets more expensive to operate and maintain as the site's popularity increases. Therefore, I would like the staff of TKP to know that I would not care one bit if you guys decided to add a few ads to help pay for some of the costs and to even give you guys some spending money. I can only speak for myself on this, but I wouldn't mind seeing an ad or two or five on the side bars, if it means you guys can run the site to it's full potential (not to indicate that it's lacking at all). I put up with so many ads on other sites, I wouldn't have a problem with putting up with a few more for the sake of my Hokies.  

Like I said, I can only speak for myself on this, which is why I'm bringing it up here for debate. This is not to say that you need our approval to do things with the site. However, you have asked for our input on other non-business related things and I appreciate you caring about the consumers. I think that's what separates this site from not only other Hokies football sites but pretty much every site out there - you guys genuinely care about our experience and you do it out of the love that we share for the Hokies. That's why I'm bringing it up so that you guys don't have to.

I'm sorry if I'm overstepping boundaries or trying to help too much. It's just that from a business standpoint, you don't want to ruin the name you've made for yourself by introducing something that will piss off the masses. Therefore, as one of the site's biggest fans, I wanted to introduce it for you. I'm sure you guys have thought about ways to make some money for the site (as indicated by your mention of #beatbama shirts you guys will be selling) so I'm just offering my help on another source of revenue. I'm not a code writer/technical guy so I don't know how plausible it would be to add ads, but from what I can tell, there seems to be room in the gray sections to the left and right of the page. 

The only real reasons I can see key players saying no is because (1) This is the only site we can go to to escape the constant ads of other sites and (2) If it aint broke, don't fix it. (1) The way I see it, it wouldn't be that much of a bother. I'm sure they can be sized to fit in the unused gray areas. They will be out of the way and bring in some dollars for Joe & Staff. Why not? (2) The site's only going to get more popular and you're kidding yourself to think that Joe & Staff can continue to do this without bringing in some kind of revenue. Unless there are big money investors that we are unaware of.

Again, sorry if I'm overstepping my limits as a site user. I just love this site so much and you guys do a lot to keep it running and keep it top notch, I don't see why you guys can't get some appreciation in return. So TKP community, how would the rest of you feel about ads on our favorite site? 

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Comments

FYI

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

VT '10--US Citizen; (804) Virginian By Birth; (210) Texan By the Grace of God.

Rick Monday... You Made a Great Play...

I also root for: The Keydets, Army, TexAggies, NY Giants, NY Rangers, ATL Braves, and SA Brahmas