How Does POA Make Money?

rachelk.tailwinds

rachelk.tailwinds

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Rachel
There has to be someone moderating around here full time, right? And they're not doing it for free, right? We're not being charged membership fees and there aren't any advertisements. How do they do it? Does anyone know?
 
All Volunteer. Including the rubber bands and over caffeinated squirrells that power the server.
 
no full time moderation and no money being made

welcome to cheap pilots are us.
 
rachelk.tailwinds said:
There has to be someone moderating around here full time, right? And they're not doing it for free, right? We're not being charged membership fees and there aren't any advertisements. How do they do it? Does anyone know?
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Contrary to popular belief, they are doing it for free. Not sure who's paying the bills though. Hosting has to cost a few bucks, but I'm sure it's not excessive. At least it's not on the Purple Board.
 
AggieMike88 said:
All Volunteer. Including the rubber bands and over caffeinated squirrells that power the server.
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I heard they gave the squirrells a Starbucks card and a sack of peanuts but don't know if it is true.
 
Clark1961 said:
no full time moderation and no money being made

welcome to cheap pilots are us.
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Which is why, in addition to just common decency, we should be nice to the moderators.
 
Oh how interesting. I heard that some of these forums can end up being real cash cows. I also heard that they can become inundated with advertisements and over-involved moderators, so let us all be thankful for POA and the people who run it!
 
I think jesse's part time male escort service provides the needed funds.
 
There are actually subliminal advertisements hidden in the avatars. POA is one of the secret unicorns.
 
eman1200 said:
I think jesse's part time male escort service provides the needed funds.
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No longer available.... he moved to Alaska and is now flying part 135 bush planes. (and some that are clean shaven).
 
gov98 said:
Which is why, in addition to just common decency, we should be nice to the moderators.
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We should be nicer to them, but that would take all the fun out of it.
 
rachelk.tailwinds said:
Oh how interesting. I heard that some of these forums can end up being real cash cows. I also heard that they can become inundated with advertisements and over-involved moderators, so let us all be thankful for POA and the people who run it!
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I tend to shy away from forums that do that. If I do anything at all, it's simply to get information, and not socializing.
 
I once suggested running a neat, simple header of small ads at the top to help defray expenses.

You would think I had suggested aborting the immaculate conception! It was as if taking money would somehow defile the sanctity of the Church of POA. I was just about laughed out of the conversation.

To me, this attitude is silly, but I'm a businessman. I see nothing at all wrong with POA making a few bucks to fund (for example) an annual fly-in, but the owners disagree.
 
Do you really think it is just a Monkey that is being transported?

...stop asking questions.
 
rachelk.tailwinds said:
Oh how interesting. I heard that some of these forums can end up being real cash cows. I also heard that they can become inundated with advertisements and over-involved moderators, so let us all be thankful for POA and the people who run it!
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The forums that airline pilots (and other pilots too) use are inundated w/ ads! FlightInfo.com and Airline Pilot Central are two I view. And yes, you can get banned for awhile or completely but usually it's deserved.
 
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Jay Honeck said:
I once suggested running a neat, simple header of small ads at the top to help defray expenses.

You would think I had suggested aborting the immaculate conception! It was as if taking money would somehow defile the sanctity of the Church of POA. I was just about laughed out of the conversation.

To me, this attitude is silly, but I'm a businessman. I see nothing at all wrong with POA making a few bucks to fund (for example) an annual fly-in, but the owners disagree.
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They have that big, blank grey space to the right of the logo at the top of the page, would be a fine place to put one little banner. I'd be fine with it as long as they were aviation-related.
 
rachelk.tailwinds said:
They have that big, blank grey space to the right of the logo at the top of the page, would be a fine place to put one little banner. I'd be fine with it as long as they were aviation-related.
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bah - the lack of ads is part of the appeal.
 
As far as I know, the hosting is done on Jesse'S equipment, the MC are volunteers, and there have been an occasional fundraiser for special, singular circumstances. Those that have been around from the beginning and some of those who no longer visit have contributed where they can.
I would like to see a whole new line of swag. My POA shirts bought a century ago are wearing a bit thin and have lost much of their original luster.
And in case it hasn't been recently said, thanks to the MC for their attention and volunteerism, and thanks to Jesse for his support to our family, as disfunction and normal as it is.
 
eman1200 said:
who's "fine" with ads? ads suck!
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Pop up ads suck.

Banner ads, especially in a niche like aviation, can be very useful. For example, over on VAF I have found many suppliers that I did not know existed, thanks to their ads -- including the shop that laser cut my panel and designed the wiring schematics.

The key is to keep them unobtrusive.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Pop up ads suck.

Banner ads, especially in a niche like aviation, can be very useful. For example, over on VAF I have found many suppliers that I did not know existed, thanks to their ads -- including the shop that laser cut my panel and designed the wiring schematics.

The key is to keep them unobtrusive.
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Exactly. Thank you Jay.
 
Small ones placed at the top wouldn't bother me. AND as long as they're not 'pop-up' ones. Despise those! They don't bother me on the other forums I visit.
 
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Jay Honeck said:
Pop up ads suck.

Banner ads, especially in a niche like aviation, can be very useful. For example, over on VAF I have found many suppliers that I did not know existed, thanks to their ads -- including the shop that laser cut my panel and designed the wiring schematics.

The key is to keep them unobtrusive.
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agree to disagree. if I need something I'll go looking for it. if I can't find it, shame on me.

if everyone gave $0.50 it would be enough to run PoA for a year or more. hosting the site is very inexpensive.....dealing with some of the whiny-ass b!tches is where the headache is.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Pop up ads suck.

Banner ads, especially in a niche like aviation, can be very useful. For example, over on VAF I have found many suppliers that I did not know existed, thanks to their ads -- including the shop that laser cut my panel and designed the wiring schematics.

The key is to keep them unobtrusive.
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The problem with that is the old camel's nose under the tent deal. Once you start down that road, it's too easy to continue down it.

I once frequented a forum that had a few banner ads and some along the side. Eventually the ad space grew and the forum space shrunk. It kept getting worse. I finally left for good when they started inserting ads that posed as legitimate posts at random inside of threads.
 
Anymouse said:
The problem with that is the old camel's nose under the tent deal. Once you start down that road, it's too easy to continue down it.

I once frequented a forum that had a few banner ads and some along the side. Eventually the ad space grew and the forum space shrunk. It kept getting worse. I finally left for good when they started inserting ads that posed as legitimate posts at random inside of threads.
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Good point.
 
eman1200 said:
agree to disagree. if I need something I'll go looking for it. if I can't find it, shame on me.

if everyone gave $0.50 it would be enough to run PoA for a year or more. hosting the site is very inexpensive.....dealing with some of the whiny-ass b!tches is where the headache is.
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Why would making a profit be "bad"? Is Jesse going to suddenly flip to the Dark Side, and start harvesting our organs?

As an example, when I visit VAF I often click the ads, especially new ones, to see what's new in the RV world. It's a quick and easy way to see the latest stuff.

The aviation world is so tiny, and so scattered, that it's nearly impossible to keep up any other way.

Heck, if he felt badly about earning money on us, just think of the awesome POA fly-in Jesse could throw with the proceeds!
:)
 
Jay Honeck said:
Why would making a profit be "bad"?..
:)
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since I never said anything like that, the only way I can answer is that it wouldn't be bad. I'm just suggesting it be done thru user donations than by ads. or, create an 'ad' page that if you want to see ads, u go to that page and have a field day, but I'm not here for ads. I'm more than happy to donate for all the hard work they do, even jesse!
 
Two observations:

1. I totally did a Freudian read on the title, "How does POA make Monkey?"

2. I'm an admin level mod on a couple sportbike boards that had been purchased by a company that specializes in making money from message boards. You get lots and lots of ads and it's very annoying. You can purchase a "Premium Membership" that gets you less ads, making browsing the forum tolerable but still somewhat annoying. Mods don't make money on those boards either, their "compensation" is free premium membership.
 
How much would it cost to buy the banner space and keep it blank for a year?
 
Once you start taking money all sorts of things come into play. Do you incorporate? Do you go for non-profit? What about accounting and taxes? Will you need a B.O.D? Bank account?


I say keep it like it is.
 
Mason said:
Once you start taking money all sorts of things come into play. Do you incorporate? Do you go for non-profit? What about accounting and taxes? Will you need a B.O.D? Bank account?


I say keep it like it is.
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I agree. then you'll also get the same whiny beyotches thinking they should get preferential treatment because they donated.

I like to offer donations to show my appreciation for the work they do, but I like PoA just the way it is. PoA of the people, by the people, for the people.......
 
eman1200 said:
I agree. then you'll also get the same whiny beyotches thinking they should get preferential treatment because they donated.

I like to offer donations to show my appreciation for the work they do, but I like PoA just the way it is. PoA of the people, by the people, for the people.......
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Anarchist. ;)
 
With every post in the SZ they take a piece of your soul and when they have enough, they cash in !!
 
If you want to see how bad it can get, visit the lawnsite.com forums. I still venture there occasionally, but holy crap, it's 99% ads. You see a half dozen posts per page, ads and popups everywhere. But it is kid-friendly and will occasionally have some useful information (obviously, whenever I post).

Don't get me wrong, like Jay, I find that a small amount of advertising is alright. And occasionally something cool will catch your eye and a quick click will take you there.
 
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