Re: Banner Ads Debate

I agree that they would want something on the first page, hence the
suggestion for the sponsors link appearing on the first page. Most sponsors
would not have a problem having their name and logo listed on a sponsors
page. Opinions are one thing, but the proof is in the pudding at:

HOMEPAGE: http://www.uncc.edu/~mixedmsg/
SPONSORS' PAGE: http://www.uncc.edu/~mixedmsg/sponsors.html

(In case you don't go to the site, the sponsors were: BellSouth, Bell
Atlantic NYNEX Mobile, The Charlotte Observer, Duke Energy Corporation,
Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy, NationsBank, North Carolina Arts Council,
TimeWarner Cable)

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, we raised a lot of cash from these
very high profile sponsors, all of whom agreed to donate their money in
exchange for only a credit on the sponsors page of our website and the
sponsors' page in any printed material (we had a  program).

The key was making our position crystal clear in our negotiations with the
sponsors. First, they supported our cause and our audience*, so they were
willing to support us financially. Second, we made it CLEAR in verbal
discussions and in writing that we wanted their money but did not want this
conference (in this case) to be about the sponsors. We wanted to downplay
that and would only display it on a sponsors' page (on the web and in our
program).

They supported our position on this and they supported us with their
donations. It is possible.

Tanya Spain

* The University's profile had a lot to do with this, too. As I have gone
on & on about, it is name recognition. The more we build the name
recognition of the Guild, the easier it will be to get financial support
from corporate sponsors, grants and paid memberships. It will also be
easier to attract volunteers and even hire employees. People will want to
put their experience on resumes, it will be recognized by employers and, if
hiring, recruits will be interested in working for the Guild and see it as
a stable organization. Right now, can we promise all of that? I think our
case is tough because there is so little name recognition. Excuse me for
being a cheerleader, but we are a GREAT organization and our cause is
noble. We need to make more people aware of that!!



All of this in reference to:

>From Susan Duncan:
>If you can get sponsors to cough up lots of cash for that, then fine, but I
>suspect that most sponsors will want something visible on the first page, or on
>an agreed upon page further in the site.  To be lumped with other sponsors on a
>page which no one will visit is unlikely to be enough.  IMHO
>
>TANYA SPAIN wrote:
>
>> I think we should allow sponsors to have their name and, if applicable, a
>> logo of "x" pixels by "x" pixels displayed on a web page dedicated entirely
>> to sponsors. All sponsors should be listed on this page only. Any non-Guild
>> logos will be found on this page only. A link to the sponsors page can be
>> on the first page of our site.
>>
>> I think this solution can satisfy most company's need for a graphic
>> representation while providing the Guild a way of openly thanking companies
>> for their donations, without jeopardizing the Guilds position on
>> advertising.
>>
>> Tanya Spain
>>
>> >Susan Duncan (MALICO) wrote:
>> >        "I think that at least initially, we should look at banner-type ads,
>> >which the advertiser/sponsor could link back to whatever info page or
>> >interactive form they like on their site."
>> ><RANT TYPE=PERSONAL>
>> >        This is just my oppinion, which I'm sure few people aggree with, so
>> >don't take this personally.  I do not like banner ads.  I think they are a
>> >waste of bandwidth and I have never clicked through one, nor do I think I
>> >ever will.  Why should we put something on our site that directly leads
>> >people away?  Do we really need money that badly?  Conversely, how are we to
>> >convince prospective advertisers that our members will suddenly drop their
>> >train of thought and respond to said banner.  Example:
>> >        I go to our web resources page to find some info or a good link.
>> >Upon downloading the page I see "Banner A".  Let's say "Banner A" is even
>> >something I'm interested in.  Am I going to abandon my search for info and
>> >click on this ad?  No Way!  And I'm betting I'm not the only one.
>> >        So, unless I'm ignorant of some good points of banner advertising, I
>> >feel they are a big waste of time.  Just my personal two cents.
>> ></RANT>
>> >P.S.    Show me the code!  FYI, not all email programs render HTML tags.
>> >--
>> >Thanx for your time
>> >
>> >   O     Steven Cook
>> > \/X\/   monsta(at)dubuque.net
>> >  \X/    Guru in Training...
>
>
>
>--
>          Making the Web Work for You (tm)
>
>Susan Duncan (sduncan(at)malico.com) Voice: (613) 744-3283
>Director, Internet Development      Fax: (613) 744-1825
>http://www.malico.com         Toll Free: (888) 839-1859
>MALICO - Graphic Design and Internet Development
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