[dyier]

I wonder if these guys who run popular forums can make a decent living off the advertising?

[slickshift]

There are some larger ones that make money
They do have a lot of ads though...and many more rules and regulations...and all that comes with that sort of thing

This site has been rated in the Top ten Most Popular DIY sites before...pretty good for a little one w/o any big money behind it

Yay us!

[AtlanticWBConst.]

I really don't think there is alot of money being made "off of" sites like this. Most sites have alot of operating expenses (servers, etc).
Any advertising revenue usually "just" covers these. The sites that don't make enough to cover the expenses, usually have to charge a "membership fee" on top of things. There are many well known sites that have been forced to do this, including the JLC Forum.

[AtlanticWBConst.]

Funny, this post reminds me of our workers who think the company owners are making all kinds of money. They have NO IDEA of the overhead costs to running a construction business. We basically have to "self-finance" every existing job, until we are paid in full. That means that we don't make much more than the really experienced workers do in a good week.

People's assumptions are wrong 9 times out of 10....

[dyier]

Originally Posted by AtlanticWBConst.

I really don't think there is alot of money being made "off of" sites like this. Most sites have alot of operating expenses (servers, etc).
Any advertising revenue usually "just" covers these. The sites that don't make enough to cover the expenses, usually have to charge a "membership fee" on top of things. There are many well known sites that have been forced to do this, including the JLC Forum.

Then why do it? You have to stay on top of these forums 24/7 to monitor troll and spam attacks.

[AtlanticWBConst.]

Originally Posted by dyier

Then why do it? You have to stay on top of these forums 24/7 to monitor troll and spam attacks.

I can't speak for Nathan, But I will say that most of the people who have started up and continue to operate sites and forums, do it because they have an interest and passion for it. It's part of their lives, so they do it.
Do we, as moderators make any money by contributing and monitoring the forums that we are affiliated with. In most cases no.

We do it because we have the ability and background to help people out. In addition, there are many very knowledgable people on this forum that post great information that we each learn from. I have learned alot from others here.

Sorry if you can't understand that there are people in this world that do things, not just for money, but to help others out, and because they may simply enjoy operating such a site ...

[Bill_Vincent]

Bottom line-- if you're here to make money, you don't belong here. Either as a webmaster, a moderator, or even as a contributor. have I made money from spending time in the forums? Yes. But for the time I've spent in them, I could've found much more profitable ways to spend my time. That's not what this is all about.

one of the biggest tile sites I know-- johnbridge.com-- They have major league advertising from major industry players, and still, John's got several other irons in the fire, including authoring several books on tile as well as still being a working contractor.

[Bud Cline]

Don't think for one second that JB's TYW Forums don't return a nice stipend to the major participants. The Moderators there are paid for what they do and the principals don't sit around there for nothing. Why do you think these places get so protective of their environment, they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them. Volume is everything. The last two books authored by JB were financed by Schluter Systems and the content of the books pretty well says so. Don't be naive.

[Bill_Vincent]

Bud, I know John makes money. He and his partners would be numb to spend the kind of time they put in over there if they weren't. All I'm saying is it's not enough to be a sole source of income. One thing I DIDN'T know though, was that the moderators were paid.