Ad free Zaadz

just a thought… but… I'm thinking of Google and how popular it is… Methinks it's so popular because there's no advertising/banners… I just noticed the “featured friend” thing up in the corner… not to be too picky… but… well.. ok… I guess that might be too picky… but mehopes it doesn't grow into anything larger than that… =)…

blessings,
Nic

Re: Ad free Zaadz

They gotta pay the bills somehow :)

I think as long as it is tasteful, I have no problem with the ads, but please, no big banners :)  I noticed some Google ads in the zQuotes and I thought those were done very well.  BTW, Google does advertise on its search results (at least when I've last searched… shows up on the right-hand side).  I want Zaadz to make money so that it stays in existence, and so that I can keep using its lovely services :)

Re: Ad free Zaadz

love it.

to be clear about Google: they're enormously successful b/c their ads are so well placed and perfectly contextual that many don't even think they have any. :)

We will only have contextual ads very well aesthetically placed in the right context. We're actually going to make the ones in zQuotes look a lot better, too!

I talk more about how we're going to make money and our commitment to creating value for our members and sponsors throughout the process here.

thanks for your feedback and support!!

-bri

Re: Ad free Zaadz

hey… i just googled zaadz under images and i found this cool foto… 

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yeahhh brian i was wondering how r u covering the RoR Dev's time to satisfy all our ambasador's wishes (read demands) from this thinkthank pod
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ok so my 2c (in dollars like in $$ in pure gold)

i think these 3 r cute….

  


but i DITTO arjuna:  me hopes it doesn't grow into anything larger than that… =)…


as this Veg thig is soooooooooo ugly……    

but insde i reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally love this about zaadz…

Conscious Community
Zaadz.com

Zaadz founder and CEO Brian Johnson successfully networks thousands of activists representing every cause imaginable, creating an online political powerhouse where fun and action collide. His team has built a corporation in which profits are measured by positive change on a global scale rather than the bottom line. Would-be Zaadsters whose applications are accepted plug into an enlightened and dynamic social networking site where stimulated minds buzz with positive tension

totally ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so a quote for me: thy shall not judge things by its cover!

so i DITTO Phil:  I want Zaadz to make money so that it stays in existence, and so that I can keep using its lovely services :)


  

Re: Ad free Zaadz

Princess you are so totally onboard!!!!!

Re: Ad free Zaadz

Yeh, by why does the veg webby have Zaadz waaaaaay down on the page, huh? Why does MySpace get top billilng (above the fold, as it were)???  Huh? huh?? Does MySpace have a bigger ad or something? ;  )

Don't mind me. Just being difficult…
Di

Re: Ad free Zaadz

such lovely  images on this thread and so much zaadz support.

i was wondering if its only a test, those new ads on the right hand corner…i don't think i like em there…

one thing that drew me to zaadz was the clarity of the visuals and the ads, while small, are not subtle (to me)…hmmmm…

Re: Ad free Zaadz

hey Mary: we're going to be playing around with a some different options to see what works best!

Good point, Di. :)

sorry, but I greatly dislike upper right-hand corner...

I just have to say that the ads for Flow, WIE, etc., in the upper right hand corner are just that: ads. I don’t like them one bit. For one thing, it has shifted where I have to look for mail, and I was used to that, and felt that it was my personal space and information framing the whole page.

Now, it’s a series of small banner ads, but nonetheless banner ads, that are constantly popping up there. Can we at least be given the option to turn this off? It makes me not want to come to Zaadz, or, at least, makes me a lot less happy when I look at the page.

– Jordan Gruber

Re: sorry, but I greatly dislike upper right-hand corner...

hey jordan

sorry to hear that.

As I mentioned, this is our first step in figuring out how to aesthetically deliver promotional stuff from our partners and sponsors. We're going to be playing with different layouts in design in the process.

As you know, we're going to need to make money or coming to zaadz at all won't be an option–let alone the developments we're all excited about.

although we intend to make the ads as positive a part of our members experience as possible, we've been playing around with the idea of an ad-free option for a fee. What do you think of that?

Thanks for your candor!

-bri

Re: sorry, but I greatly dislike upper right-hand corner...

First, Brian, I have no problem paying for Zaadz if it continues to deliver. I have three or four sites that I support monthly, and I think Zaadz deserves that.

Second, I’m not saying I’m opposed to the advertising everywhere and anywhere, just that my first, gut, reaction – which I didn’t cognize intellectually for about 3 days after seeing it – was that I just don’t like it. I felt like someone had hijacked the Zaadz interface and Zaadz itself. It might be that if it was to the left of the words “my account” it wouldn’t be so aesthetnically unhappymaking for me … but where it is now it is the very first thing that I see, and it is something I have no control of, that is bright, and that, in my view, doesn’t really fit in to the rest of the site design.

Third, you can always count on me for my candor. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I figure that without truth flowing freely here, there’s no point of being here.

Thakns for listening.

– Jordan

Re: sorry, but I greatly dislike upper right-hand corner...

hey Jordan:

first: I REALLY appreciate your candor. the only way we're going to be able to create a site/company that truly achieves its highest potential is with the support and feedback from you. So, thank you thank you thank you for caring enough to share and doing so authentically.

second: i hear ya on the placement of the ads–first, it's jolting b/c we haven't done anything to the layout other than add a couple of main nav links. so, that alone, is jarring. And, it does enter our “personal space” quite a bit–in the place our eyes/attention goes to right when we get to the site. another jolt.

We're rolling out a new design this week with which i think it will fit better. In any case, this brings up our biggest challenge: how do we preserve the integrity of our personal space while introducing sponsor elements in positive ways?!? we'll be launching the first pass at this this week and look forward to getitng our asses kicked by you and others as we churn it to what works best. :)

third: appreciate your willingness to support us if we continue to deliver. I think you're going to dig what we roll our for premium membership–custom pages with tools to communicate, no-ad option, and all kinds of other goodies we'll develop with you.

again, huge thanks, bro.

-bri

Re: sorry, but I greatly dislike upper right-hand corner...

I will happily pay for an ad-free option Brian.  And I would pay for upgraded features as well.  It would be an opportunity to contribute to zaadz.

Best wishes on the growth,

:)

Di

Re: sorry, but I greatly dislike upper right-hand corner...

I gotta say this, when I saw the ad the first time I was so excited! i thought WOW the Wizards have been at it again!

& I am still excited  b/c I do not want to live in a vacuum. I spend a LOT of time on Zaadz & I enjoy the little oddities/newbies that pop up - it entertains me in addition to my Zaadz-filled life.:):) The ads also trigger ideas in me to talk to others about….  Particularly since the mixing of spiritual & material can & is influencing new & higher directions of thinking. My 2 cents!

And & also think, every time something new shows up, that this is not set in cement, it is experiment looking for feedback. So we give & we get…….. We play……… Its all a game anyway:)

PJ = play & joy!

Re: sorry, but I greatly dislike upper right-hand corner...

:)

Zaadz: Premium Membership~Custom Pages?????

  Brian said:  premium membership-custom pages with tools to communicate


________________________________________________________________

QUESTIONS:

1. would this premium membership with custom pages include pages like those below

Robin Sharma,  Integral Institute,  WIE and FLOW 

and would it have like an option of having few pages like that…  so when ever u click on an article or someting it will go to a similar page… if yes how many of those pages we would have or possibly different prices per set of 5 or 10 or no maximum…

2. would it have an option of doing some programing for more custom pages or it will be a tamplate only

3. how much $$$$$$$$ (organic plsss with lots of agave and seaweed and of course salt scrub!














                     
 
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~

Zaadz: Premium Membership~Custom Pages?????

~

ok ~Brian now u need GLASSES… do u see that date:

princess~ said Aug 22, 8:50 PM  

its October 23rd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i know guys u have

100% compassion

with 100% kindness

and with  77% patience

but i DON'T




2 months is reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally WELL OVERDUE

I WANT THE ANSWER NOW

plus u keep talking about Conscious Capitalism…. 

TALKING TALKING TALKING

what about

TALKING WALKING TALKING WALKING TALKING WALKING

cant u tell i m BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORED

i m serious…  no one wants to play  

so i really need to play with my imaginary friends so here r questions:

one sunny morning when u decide to offer that Premium Membership

and if/when u offer Custom Pages with that package in addition to my questions from August 22nd i wonna know this:
_______________________________________________________________________

so lets say i have one profile with premium membership but this profile is like a MAIN Profile like a MAIN company but there r a few departments under this one company that has seperate profiles so would something like that be available to have like i guess subdevisions or something…
_______________________________________________________________________

and also for some of us its a birth right to get things with a discount so lets say u offer this membership for a monthly fee would u also include like 10~30% discount if its paid in full for 12 months or something

WAITING WAITING WAITING WAITING WAITING WAITING WAITING WAITING WAITING



~

Re: Zaadz: Premium Membership~Custom Pages?????

What is the problem??

The whole Idea is to interact with these people to build something of your own creativity in relation.

The answer in inside you, so look in yourself.  I really don't understand why youre complaining.

Re: Zaadz: Premium Membership~Custom Pages?????

If there is a Premium Membership in the offing so be it as the existence of zaadz may depend on it. As for me, even if I had a million dollars (which I do not) I will remain with the “common man”. Honestly, if it such membership can be avoided it will be ideal because to foster elitism, whether financial or spiritual, on a site like this would be a great pity.
() 

Re: Zaadz: Premium Membership~Custom Pages?????

~

yes Ian i don't care either about any labels called Premium or Elitism or what ever… 

my only interest in this is to have an option to have custom pages similar to  Integral Institute so i can possibly use for Light Source University or something else, in stead of creating yet another open source forum on internet

and for zaadz paid membership…   well i can just guess that to cover the cost of this site is at least 6 figures a month which makes it at least 1 MILLION $ a year… and since i m using this service i may be interested if i find the value and benefits if/when Zaadz, Inc. offers these custom pages, simply to contribute something but also get a value for my contribution… and yes then to avoid elitism would be for zaadz to ask all the members to pay for this service and i doubt many would be happy about it…  so only other option i see is to offer an option of FREE & PAID service to cover the above mantioned 1 MILLION $ a year budget expense…  at least thats how i see it….

Re: Zaadz: Premium Membership~Custom Pages?????

Hi Princess and all!
I fully appreciate that Zaadz may need funds to support it. That was not what my comment was about. When the word Premium is used it smacks of elitism so why not use a terms like Contributing Member and, say, Ordinary Member?
Irrespective of the above, I live very happily on a pension of about A$ 250/week but this does not allow for any spare cash and if I have to subscribe anywhere I will not participate - but without rancour. As it is my brother contributes to the cost of my being on the Internet.
No doubt there are many others in a similar situation, but without the brother!!
Bye the way, when I print !! I usually mean :) :)

Adios amigos!

() 

Re: Zaadz: Premium Membership~Custom Pages?????

~

ok i have now another question to see if something like this would be possible

lets say if i wonna invite a “conscious” school or university to use zaadz technology…

would it be possible for zaadz to offer something where there is a seperate log in so that the school is the one who approves the applications and decides if/when they would deactivate someones account…  so i guess for legal purposes zaadz would be released but can have a logo like:

Powered by Zaadz Technology   

or something like that…  but it would be on the same server and any changes Dev's r doing would be reflected on the “Educational” sub~site

and again if/when something like this zaadz offers how much $$$

^.^

Re: Ad free Zaadz

Is it possible to find out how much does it cost to run Zaadz? Is there a budget plan and is it possibly available to see and comment on?

Re: Ad free Zaadz

Zaadz will bring banners and ads that appeal to the community, and they'll do it in tasteful way.  I welcome it.

Who could have a problem with zaadz promoting or supporting conscious causes that make a difference in our world?  It's this kind of networking that helps us all make a bigger difference faster.

Rock on Zaadz!

Re: Ad free Zaadz

Um, I really don't mind the ads in the upper right hand corner… They're small and pretty, and they aren't “whose boobs are these?? Win $500!” type of things.


I must say that if zaadz starts charging, I will no longer be able to use it.  I'm a poor college student who does not have the funds to pay for something like a social networking website.

Just my two cents….

Re: Ad free Zaadz

I agree with Kelly……I don't mind the ads in top corner.  Zaadz needs revenue to continue providing these services to us.  However  I am also on the same page as………I could not afford to pay for membership.  I can barely afford my aol bill……just to get on the internet.

Re: Ad free Zaadz

Well, here goes my 10 cents…:) On social security, most months I cannot afford even new shoes! and heaven only knows where a new computer will come from when this one dies…

However, zaadz has given me new life, new friends, new opportunities to write my heart out, opportunity to confront the scary, to me, techy stuff, on & on. What I have been given here i cannot put a price on. And I am willing to pay a reasonable and small Typepad-like monthly fee….  It seems only fair after all I have been gifted…..

So wholeheartedly I would stay put right here in spite of pinched $$$$.

Blessings & hope for all.
PJ

Re: Ad free Zaadz

I feel advertising, when done well (as it is on this site) is a wonderful way to make a lot of cool stuff free for its users.  I was impressed by the featured friend ad, and feel the google ads are well placed, and look forward to seeing the ads become more and more relevant.

At the same time, if some people do not want to see them and want to do a little energy exchange for em (paying monthly, or yearly), then why not..

Re: Ad free Zaadz

Bravo Ninja and PJ.