This isn't the promised post I've been working on, but wanted to let everyone know about an important website update.We try our best to add useful content to our website at
pastorswives.org for the pastor's wife who may be searching the web for help. But hands down, the most popular feature of our website has always been the
message board. Sue (our webmaster) and I have chatted before about how we pay for web hosting and then use a free, ad-supported website for the pastors' wives message board, when the
message board seems to be the main focus of our ministry. Over the years we've tossed ideas around, and here's where we are now:
We've always encouraged our members to remember that we do not necessarily endorse the ads that run across the top of our
message boards. I've had concerns in the past, myself. However, last Saturday I saw an ad that truly horrified me. I'm sure it was a mistake, but it was the proverbial straw in my book. So... I immediately paid for ad-free and contacted Sue. She was thankful I was able to handle it and we've decided to split the cost of ad-free this month.
There was a time when I wanted to leave the service we use and set up our own forums; but with new features constantly being added, the knowledge that we couldn't take our database of valuable posts with us, and the idea of letting someone else handle the security worries; it's seeming more likely we might stay put and just pay to stay ad-free, at least for now. The problem is that ad-free has become quite expensive lately because our forums have grown in membership and activity. With an average of 200,000 page clicks per month, we could end up paying $28-$35/month just for the message board. To off-set this cost, we're exploring affiliate opportunities that will not harm our non-profit ministry status.
As much as we'd love to be completely ad-free, it just doesn't seem possible at this point. However, at least this way, the ads that will be on our site will be ones that are non-offensive and actually useful to our members. So, that's where we are right now. I already have a short list of possibilities, but if anyone has any ideas or advice, please feel free to comment or send us a message.
Posted by:
Moose 
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