Please don’t use ad blocker software in any form as ads are a lifeline for millions of websites. Particularly ‘independent’ websites by which I mean sites owned by individuals like me. There are millions of these sites providing some really great and educational information. Like me they provide it free of charge. The owners only ask that you accept the ads as a minor inconvenience and better still enjoy and use them and click on one or two.
Please note that income from ads is very modest. You don’t get rich from Google Adsense ads or any other ad provider. The income simply provides enough to cover overheads such as website hosting fees and numerous other ancillary services such as software providers on which website owners are dependent in order to write interesting and informative articles.
It is only very big commercial websites with many millions of hits daily or weekly that make good money from adverts. Most small websites (less than 20,000 pages) make relatively small sums of money well below the minimum wage if you equate ad income with employment.
Website owners like me don’t ask for donations and we don’t receive any money from any source except advertisements. Is that asking much in return for tens of thousands of hours of work? No, I think not.
It is very reasonable to expect visitors to websites with ads to accept them with good grace. Ads can be useful to visitors. Sometimes they provide links to websites and services which can improve the visitor’s life.
Some advertisers are charities. They are hoping that some visitors will click through to their website and donate.
I hope you agree with my request. If you click on an advert, I’ll probably make around 6 to 10 pence in UK sterling (10p is 13 cents in US currency)! Maybe twice that if I am exceedingly lucky. Imagine how hard it is to make meaningful amounts of money with that kind of return.
Don’t think independent website owners get rich. The sites are built out of a passion to try and do some good. In my case it is to try and improve animal welfare. Also, I have donated many thousands of pounds in the past to animal welfare charities. True.
If you think my argument is sound and fair, please spread the word. And thanks.
Sorry Michael, I didn’t mean to complain. As i said I love your site. I have two lovely cats myself and I appreciate your constant information for their care. I understand your point.
Well thanks for that but it is important to me actually. I do my best to please visitors, whoever they are. I don’t want to have ads on the site but the overheads are high. We are looking at many thousands of dollars over the years. I give my time free. It is fair that free content if it is good is ‘paid for’ by tolerating those irritating ads!
Well, as much as I like your site it is the most ridiculous example of a “chaotic” site full of advertising I don’t want to see. Sometimes I think twice before entering POC. All been said I love the information.
Julio the site is not chaotic. It is well organised. There are ads which are an inconvenience but it is, as I’ve said, a small price to pay for the free information. So I am surprised and disappointed that you are complaining.