We often get asked whether we accept advertising. Yesterday we opened up a banner space on our most active page. Today we sent mail only to members who have accessed JguyUSguy more than 300 times pointing out the opportunity. And quickly received this response:

quote:

As an individual member, I strongly protest being sent email asking me to buy advertising space. This has never happened to me with any other of the groups of which I am an individual member. If it is your policy to do this, then I think that it's a bad policy.

To which I responded:

quote:

Some of our members ask us about advertising possibilities now and
then. They own travel businesses or swimsuit shops or blogs, whatever.
We opened up this banner space and want people to know it's available.

We're certainly not asking everyone to buy advertising. You'd only buy
it if it would benefit you. Every member is an "individual member"
with different needs. If it doesn't interest you, all you have to do
is delete the mail. Is it such a big deal that it requires a strong
"protest"?

Sorry, I don't get it. It's not as if we've actually sold much
advertising...ever. This is the first time we open up a banner space
atop the Bookmarks page. For that we deserve your reactive rage? Wow.

And this member quickly wrote back:

quote:

Yes, I'm afraid so. Especially if you think that it's "reactive rage."
I'd appreciate it if you'd remove me from your mailing list.

WTF? I honestly don't get it.

Even as an individual member, I would be glad to receive an offer to advertise from JguyUSguy.

Getting an offer means you can negotiate the rates to your advantage.

When you think of it, advertising on a Web site whose target membership is highly focused and defined offers obvious advantages. First of all, it saves huge amounts of dollars on research and development activities.

When you consider that the reach of this mode of advertising is on a massive expanse, you don't have to be a CFO to see that the relationship between the reach and the cost is immensely in favor of the advertiser as the cost of this medium is pretty low in comparison to the vast coverage it generates.

In addition, the interactive nature of the Web also helps the advertiser in forming an intimate relationship with its consumers by encouraging them to give feedback.

If I had a product that was geared to a single, male and gay segment of consumers, I would actively seek to advertise on JguyUSguy, and be thankful for being invited to do so.

I can't see why anyone would want to cancel his membership on JguyUSguy for receiving a win-win offer, even if he is in no position, like myself, to take advantage of it.

KF

Sigh.

It must be an amazing feeling to have a magnetic pole running straight through your head; allowing the whole world to revolve around you.

I can't think of any other explanation (other than that member being the center of the universe) for why someone would "strongly protest" your providing a marketing opportunity to valued contributors.

Anyone who has benefited from the largess of this site (the chatrooms, the wonderful advice and commentary on the forums, the pics of handsome guys, the genuine community among gays in Japan that you and your partner have toiled to create) can see that the integrity of this site is above reproach . There must have been dozens, if not hundreds, of opportunities for you guys to have turned this site in to a revenue stream over the years. Personally, I wouldn't begrudge you if you woke up tomorrow and did take initiatives to make this site turn a profit. Who would? It is a remarkably unique user experience and one that many members, myself included, have become passionate devotees to. Unlike any other commercial gay site, this is a genuine online community. (One nurtured and developed without the crass profit motive of other social networking technologies!) As KF said, if I had a gay related business that I wanted to promote, I would be thankful to be offered the chance!

It amazes me that your correspondent could be so pompous. I do indeed hope that you yielded to his request and took him off your mailing list.