The most obvious question that comes to my mind is, why?
Graham’s first paragraph admits that the previous attempt at advertising did not go down well with Forum users. What has changed?
If the club needs a greater income, surely we can simply increase the subscription slightly? If an even greater amount is required, perhaps to fund the new premises, then donations can be requested from members, or the club-owned shares in the Spares Company could be sold to members. Why do we need more income?
How much income will the advertising bring to the club?
As Ed remarks in post #6, “I find them annoying on sites that do show ads”, as does Graham himself in post #4. Me too. Do we want to annoy Forum visitors and show the club in a poor light?
The Google “AdSense” own website admits that their system is for “targeted” ads, which means that personal information will be harvested from site visitors, cookies will be left on their computers, personal data will be saved by Google, and probably sold to, and used by, third parties. (Cambridge Analytica is a recent example of this immoral practice).
I do not claim to be computer-literate, far from it, but I am deeply suspicious of any involvement with Google when not necessary, and Graham has not shown any valid reason to do so. Purely because we can, is not a reason.
I repeat my original question, why?
(Nothing personal, Graham!)
Graham’s first paragraph admits that the previous attempt at advertising did not go down well with Forum users. What has changed?
If the club needs a greater income, surely we can simply increase the subscription slightly? If an even greater amount is required, perhaps to fund the new premises, then donations can be requested from members, or the club-owned shares in the Spares Company could be sold to members. Why do we need more income?
How much income will the advertising bring to the club?
As Ed remarks in post #6, “I find them annoying on sites that do show ads”, as does Graham himself in post #4. Me too. Do we want to annoy Forum visitors and show the club in a poor light?
The Google “AdSense” own website admits that their system is for “targeted” ads, which means that personal information will be harvested from site visitors, cookies will be left on their computers, personal data will be saved by Google, and probably sold to, and used by, third parties. (Cambridge Analytica is a recent example of this immoral practice).
I do not claim to be computer-literate, far from it, but I am deeply suspicious of any involvement with Google when not necessary, and Graham has not shown any valid reason to do so. Purely because we can, is not a reason.
I repeat my original question, why?
(Nothing personal, Graham!)
