Home Page Change
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- Start date
Salmon Slayer
New member
Not a positive change and there seems to be no reason for it.
Thanks Guys!! Sorry...the only photo I had of you two together... Not sure who that red jacketed red neck is on the left...
Need we all forget that a couple of volunteers have been using thier monies, their server space, THEIR TIME..... to provide us C-Brats a FREE...FREE service and one of the best, if not the best owners group/Just be nice/web site in America?????
Sorry, but I must have missed where one complains about a true gift. Not the way I was raised...
But then, some of us just my need a bit of time out on the waters...and if you are still on ice....come on down and I will get you out there for a water fix.
All the information is still here, our sign up rosters for gatherings are still here, our photos are still here.... all or information folders/links/gizmos are still here..... and for us users... FREE. :thup
Ya know...the more I think about it...I do not look like I did a few years ago either..
Bill, Mike, and any and all who have for years provided us this site and great boating resource....THANK YOU!
A Thankful Byrdman
Need we all forget that a couple of volunteers have been using thier monies, their server space, THEIR TIME..... to provide us C-Brats a FREE...FREE service and one of the best, if not the best owners group/Just be nice/web site in America?????
Sorry, but I must have missed where one complains about a true gift. Not the way I was raised...
But then, some of us just my need a bit of time out on the waters...and if you are still on ice....come on down and I will get you out there for a water fix.
All the information is still here, our sign up rosters for gatherings are still here, our photos are still here.... all or information folders/links/gizmos are still here..... and for us users... FREE. :thup
Ya know...the more I think about it...I do not look like I did a few years ago either..
Bill, Mike, and any and all who have for years provided us this site and great boating resource....THANK YOU!
A Thankful Byrdman
I second Byrdman's sentiments. First, I also appreciate the gift of Mike and Bill's efforts. Their contributions give them great latitude in making decisions about the site. Second, I try to remember that often it is simply change itself making me uncomfortable, not the real effects of the change. If I find myself thinking "Damn. The index is on the right. That doesn't feel right," I try to remember I would feel the same way if it had been right and moved left. We'll all get used to the site as it now is and be a little uneasy when it eventually changes. 
Regards to all,
Greg
Regards to all,
Greg
Captains Cat
New member
As long as I have access to stuff, I'm very grateful. For those of us who can't handle change, please read the little book "Who Moved My Cheese?"
It's about dealing with change!! :wink:
It's about dealing with change!! :wink:
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
Patrick, well said.
I have a copy of Who Moved My Cheese that I would be glad to bring to a CBGT. Now that I am retired, I don't find that I am reading it quite as often...
Steve
I have a copy of Who Moved My Cheese that I would be glad to bring to a CBGT. Now that I am retired, I don't find that I am reading it quite as often...
Steve
Captains Cat
New member
Wandering Sagebrush":2gc1din0 said:
Not only did someone move my cheese, they ate most of it! :shock:
Charlie
Hey thanks, BVP Bill, My C-Brat "home page" is "View posts since last visit" so I often go for a week without checking the actual C-Brat home page. Ooooh, I see now.
Uhh what's so objectionable? Now that C-Dory has cut back tremendously on every front, including marketing, the big factory checks they were long rumored to get aren't sponsoring Mikes glamorous evenings out with Ivanca or Bill's penchant for taking Dana to Nordstroms on a weekly shopping trip.
I can live with that. In fact, I might even click on an ad once and a while, just to feel like I'm contributing to the general fund.
Addendum: Hell, Byrdman, you don't even look like you did last week! Pulling out those ancient photographs won't make you any younger, dude.
Don
Uhh what's so objectionable? Now that C-Dory has cut back tremendously on every front, including marketing, the big factory checks they were long rumored to get aren't sponsoring Mikes glamorous evenings out with Ivanca or Bill's penchant for taking Dana to Nordstroms on a weekly shopping trip.
I can live with that. In fact, I might even click on an ad once and a while, just to feel like I'm contributing to the general fund.
Addendum: Hell, Byrdman, you don't even look like you did last week! Pulling out those ancient photographs won't make you any younger, dude.
Don
journey on
New member
Well, one additional thought. If this page gets you Tomcats,be prepared to expand the ads for the gasoline costs, both for the tow vehicle and those two outboards.
Good luck, Boris
Good luck, Boris
Heh...I was about to hit "send" on a response to some of the earlier posts last night, but thought better of it. Not because I was having one of those "think about what you are saying" moments. No...I figured this topic would get a little activity, and I'd have something more to read and respond to with this morning's coffee.
As always, it feels great to see support from many of you when things like this pop up. But at the same time, we didn't get to be such a unique place, by ignoring the people who contribute here. If after reading my comments below, anyone has suggestions for changes to the front page layout, we'll certainly listen.
First, let me address the "why". We've never been anything less than open and honest with folks here, and this is no different. The front page change was made, to generate revenue.
Simply put - other than the header zone where ads are currently displaying, the next best spot from an advertising perspective, is the location where the Google ads currently reside. The Google ads were moved two days ago, from their old location - down and to the right below the login box, mostly out of view. Since the move, the daily fees we've received from them has increased by a factor of nearly 4. Ad placement makes a huge difference in revenue.
As we said earlier, the Google ads are going away - later today. But as we also said, they'll be replaced with banners, that we are selling privately. By cutting out the middle man (Google), we make more money, and have control over who advertises here. That's a win-win in my book.
Two areas we intentionally did not touch, were the "meat" of this site - forums and photo galleries. If we were really crazy for bucks around here, we could have messed with this area like most sites do. Take a peek elsewhere - forums rarely take up the whole page any more. Banners are typically stuck along one or both sides of the forum content. And the most annoying tactic I've seen in the last year...sticking a banner ad directly below the first forum post, on every forum page.
Truth is, our forums and photos are actually slightly better off since the change. Previously, the small Google ads were across the top of every page, as was a small weekly calendar link that nobody ever used. With both of these now gone, forums and photo content don't get pushed as far down the page as they used to.
Now - regarding the money. If anyone thinks my "Tomcat" comment was anything other than me being a smart-a$$, check yourself into the nearest humor-impaired clinic. Yes, we're now making a few bucks, unlike previous years. But no, neither of us are quitting our day jobs...we'd make more money flipping burgers part-time, than what we each take away from here each month.
So - other than moving the new ad location, if anyone has suggestions on how the front page layout might be improved, let's hear it.
As always, it feels great to see support from many of you when things like this pop up. But at the same time, we didn't get to be such a unique place, by ignoring the people who contribute here. If after reading my comments below, anyone has suggestions for changes to the front page layout, we'll certainly listen.
First, let me address the "why". We've never been anything less than open and honest with folks here, and this is no different. The front page change was made, to generate revenue.
Simply put - other than the header zone where ads are currently displaying, the next best spot from an advertising perspective, is the location where the Google ads currently reside. The Google ads were moved two days ago, from their old location - down and to the right below the login box, mostly out of view. Since the move, the daily fees we've received from them has increased by a factor of nearly 4. Ad placement makes a huge difference in revenue.
As we said earlier, the Google ads are going away - later today. But as we also said, they'll be replaced with banners, that we are selling privately. By cutting out the middle man (Google), we make more money, and have control over who advertises here. That's a win-win in my book.
Two areas we intentionally did not touch, were the "meat" of this site - forums and photo galleries. If we were really crazy for bucks around here, we could have messed with this area like most sites do. Take a peek elsewhere - forums rarely take up the whole page any more. Banners are typically stuck along one or both sides of the forum content. And the most annoying tactic I've seen in the last year...sticking a banner ad directly below the first forum post, on every forum page.
Truth is, our forums and photos are actually slightly better off since the change. Previously, the small Google ads were across the top of every page, as was a small weekly calendar link that nobody ever used. With both of these now gone, forums and photo content don't get pushed as far down the page as they used to.
Now - regarding the money. If anyone thinks my "Tomcat" comment was anything other than me being a smart-a$$, check yourself into the nearest humor-impaired clinic. Yes, we're now making a few bucks, unlike previous years. But no, neither of us are quitting our day jobs...we'd make more money flipping burgers part-time, than what we each take away from here each month.
So - other than moving the new ad location, if anyone has suggestions on how the front page layout might be improved, let's hear it.
Da Nag":1rw19mu2 said:
Taking a look at the home page from the perspective of a newcomer, I wonder if the "Announcements" section would benefit from a heading of some sort that would explain that what follows is a listing of invitations to current and possible CBGTs.
From the perspective of a frequent visitor -- and I am in awe of how this site has managed to retain its character, for which kudos to both of you -- my biggest complaints at the moment are (a) the search needs to be improved with more head/body options and perhaps more boolean constructs, and (b) how to go directly to a given photo album given either the photo album name or the login name (as it is now the easiest way is to find a message by the person in question and then clicking on the photo album link.)
Thanks,
Warren
The "meat" is the message. The rest looks fine with me. I was wondering when you were going to generate some revenue to cover it. All the forums eventually reach that point, for quite a few valid reasons. You could even splash some Paris or Pamela ads and it wouldn't even phase me.
Captains Cat
New member
Just out of curiosity, do you increase your revenue from the advertisers when someone clicks on the ad and goes to the site?
Charlie
Charlie
Hey Charlie,
Google's terms of service do not allow us to say anything which could be interpreted as encouraging people to click on their ads. Doing so, not only gets you banned from Google ads, but prevents you from receiving all payments currently owed. So...I can't answer that question, at least not until we receive our final payment from them after discontinuing their service. If you really want to know, it's easy enough to find out searching elsewhere.
What I can comment on, are our private ad sales. With these, ad clicks are irrelevant with respect to our revenues. Clicks are certainly important to our advertisers though, so proper ad placement, attention to ad design, and follow up once a user visits their site are very important for them to achieve success.
Captains Cat":oj0uksz8 said:
Google's terms of service do not allow us to say anything which could be interpreted as encouraging people to click on their ads. Doing so, not only gets you banned from Google ads, but prevents you from receiving all payments currently owed. So...I can't answer that question, at least not until we receive our final payment from them after discontinuing their service. If you really want to know, it's easy enough to find out searching elsewhere.
What I can comment on, are our private ad sales. With these, ad clicks are irrelevant with respect to our revenues. Clicks are certainly important to our advertisers though, so proper ad placement, attention to ad design, and follow up once a user visits their site are very important for them to achieve success.
marvin4239
New member
Hey I never even noticed the change. I for one like the banner across the top. Thanks for providing a wonderful site. Do it your way!