Peace and Blessings Family,

You all may have noticed, there are advertisements on destee. This is brand new, as we've never had ads here before. It may appear to be a hasty decision, but years of thought, discussion, and lamenting has gone into this. Here's one of those discussions for your review ... Advertisements on Destee? (http://destee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37676).

The ads are located in two places right now, the top of the page, and at the end of every page, of a thread. Some of the current ads may not be particularly appropriate for our community, and i'm trying to keep that minimized. We'll also be making advertising available to web site owners, entrepreneurs, authors, artists, etc., providing more information soon. This is a new area for us, and i welcome all suggestions and insight.

This major change was necessary because we are at the point of either dying, locking Members out, or making the community self-sufficient. We are ten years old, and should be able to support ourselves, so i'm gonna try to make that happen ... in a manner that i've never tried before.

I know some of you don't want to have to deal with advertisements here, and you don't have to. You can Become a Premium Member (http://destee.com/membership), and you won't see any ads. You will have access to our same peaceful, quiet, untainted, and relaxing community that we've come to know and love, with no advertisements flashing in your face. That's right, Premium Members (http://destee.com/forums/memberlist.php) don't see any of the ads, when logged in. If you are a Premium Member, and you do see an ad, please let us know (http://destee.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=299). This is new, and there's likely to be some technical difficulties as we proceed.

I plan on having this as my topic for Sunday's Class @ 8 pm ET (http://destee.com/chat). So if you have questions and/or concerns, you can post them here, and join us there as well. I'll be more than willing to share all that i can.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

i applaud you on this

if you can make money

and keep us together

it's a win win

and i bow to you

and thank you for just being who you are

bringing this virtual world to the people

and i THANK YOU

I think its good, Destee and I back your hand.

Brothers DSS and OldSoul ... thank you both so much for your continued and unwavering support! :grouphug:

:heart:

Destee

while not all that thrilled about advertising in general (anybody ever notice that the french translations of "caution/warning" stickers says "advertisement"?), i applaud your making this (as has been expressed) difficult, almost "heart-rending" decision to go with ads. i hope you do manage to derive some small bit of "extra" revenue from them! (i do wish i could make your class, but have not quite figured out a schedule that would allow me access at that time ... without doing that dreaded money thing <shudder>.)

Here is Loving You!
me

Sister Destee, Do what you need to do to keep it going. I haven't been able to contribute in a good long minute and I feel really bad about it, but as soon as I can... Slowly

as long as u keep it black...
i'm wit dat...

one love
khasm

I agree with your decision.

This is how it's done on at least one internet radio network -- pay a small monthly subscription fee and you can listen to music and other programs ad-free.

Will there be info on advertising rates posted anytime soon?

Thank you all so much for your love and support. This has been a very heart-wrenching topic for me over the years, but i feel good about the decision now. It's amazing. It's as though there is a time for every thing, and this is its time.

Brother anAfrican ... it's good to read you, and thanks for your love. I hope all is going well, and you'll be able to join in the classes again soon. We'll be recording, so if you want a copy of it later, just let me know!

Brother Slowly ... i understand things not being in a position to help right now, but you are surely one of those who will and have helped, so i aint worried. Thanks for your thumbs up regarding this change.

Brother Khasm ... don't worry, you know that is important to me, that we remain Black. Unfortunately, we don't have total and complete control over the ad inventory (at this point), but i'll be doing all i can to maintain our integrity.

Brother Sami_RaMaati ... this is all so new to me, advertising, monetizing a web site, and i'm learning so much! This fact alone, is making the experience exciting. Since we've never sold advertising, i'm trying to learn what goes into determining rates, and how best to implement it. I'm open to all suggestions and advice, as this can be a learning process for all of us. As a matter of fact, as i've begun this journey, the thought to create articles highlighting the things i've already learned, is heavy on my mind. There is so much to know, and our walking through it, can be a help to other site owners considering the same! All of that to say ... :) ... at this point, i don't know what our rates will be, other than affordable. I'm working on it now though, and it shouldn't be too long before i get them posted.

Again, i invite any and all to share your tips with me, and i'll be doing the same!

Thanks everyone for your love, support, and patience.

:heart:

Destee

Are the advertisements associated with Google.

I saw one with GOOGLE on IT.

If so anything and everything will be whether a premium or not will be SEARCHED with a fine comb on this SITE and CACHED.

It's a bold move.

Class with Destee ... Join Us! (http://destee.com/chat)

:heart:

Destee

why does it always have to be about "Destee" gettin something from the people? why doesn't "Destee" give something back to the people? it was boasted before about how these advertisements would not appear and this was one of the distinquisging marks of this site. (and one of the reasons many could connect with this site). but now, in order for us to not see some white man or white woman from selling something to us(becuz their faces are in some of the advertisements), we have to pay "Destee" to eliminate it.

yu need to reconsider that move.

sistah, i would bet, and at least hope, yu have Afrikan intentions. assuming yu care, may i warn yu that yu are making moves that are going further and further away from the people...and it always starts out with constantly asking our people for money for virtually everything.

why does it always have to be about "Destee" gettin something from the people? why doesn't "Destee" give something back to the people? it was boasted before about how these advertisements would not appear and this was one of the distinquisging marks of this site. (and one of the reasons many could connect with this site). but now, in order for us to not see some white man or white woman from selling something to us(becuz their faces are in some of the advertisements), we have to pay "Destee" to eliminate it.

yu need to reconsider that move.

sistah, i would bet, and at least hope, yu have Afrikan intentions. assuming yu care, may i warn yu that yu are making moves that are going further and further away from the people...and it always starts out with constantly asking our people for money for virtually everything.

Brother Silent Ra ... you don't have to do anything, just like you've never done anything, to help keep this community here.

You're certainly welcome to continue coming, as you have, taking full advantage of what others provide, or you can never return.

The choice is yours, as it has always been.

:heart:

Destee

Brother Silent Ra ... you don't have to do anything, just like you've never done anything, to help keep this community here.

You're certainly welcome to continue coming, as you have, taking full advantage of what others provide, or you can never return.

The choice is yours, as it has always been.

:heart:

Destee

and the reason yu say i've "never done anything" is becuz i'm not a premium member, or, put anotha way, becuz i've offered words of wisdom instead of wads of money. it takes insight to know the difference.

yu know i mus admit it is good business sense to get regular posters to pay yu for what they have to say. they not knowing that there would be no "Destee" if they did not attend and post.

so once again , i ask, when are yu going to provide to the people something instead of always asking the people to give yu something? and also i see yu will totally ignore the fact that "Destee" will now be subsidized by european contributors? and hopefully the insightful people will realize what the impact of that will be.

and the reason yu say i've "never done anything" is becuz i'm not a premium member, or, put anotha way, becuz i've offered words of wisdom instead of wads of money. it takes insight to know the difference.

yu know i mus admit it is good business sense to get regular posters to pay yu for what they have to say. they not knowing that there would be no "Destee" if they did not attend and post.

so once again , i ask, when are yu going to provide to the people something instead of always asking the people to give yu something? and also i see yu will totally ignore the fact that "Destee" will now be subsidized by european contributors? and hopefully the insightful people will realize what the impact of that will be.

I wish i could use your "words of wisdom" as payment for the costs needed to keep this site alive, but i can't.

They only want money, and have been receiving that every month, for many years ... with no help from you.

I virtually begged Africans, you, Sisters and Brothers in this community to help in a manner that would make it so we never had to have ads here ... but you never helped. Now you want to find fault in whatever efforts are made to keep the community here?

Your position is quite brazen, but you're entitled to it.

:heart:

Destee

why does it always have to be about "Destee" gettin something from the people? why doesn't "Destee" give something back to the people? it was boasted before about how these advertisements would not appear and this was one of the distinquisging marks of this site. (and one of the reasons many could connect with this site). but now, in order for us to not see some white man or white woman from selling something to us(becuz their faces are in some of the advertisements), we have to pay "Destee" to eliminate it.

yu need to reconsider that move.

sistah, i would bet, and at least hope, yu have Afrikan intentions. assuming yu care, may i warn yu that yu are making moves that are going further and further away from the people...and it always starts out with constantly asking our people for money for virtually everything.


silent-ra,

Your words of wisdom have probably been appreciated. However Destee is not able to take those words of wisdom to the isp to pay the bill . . .serverhost will not accept them as payment on the monthly. Utility and mortage holders will find bewilderment upon receipt when they are requiring cash. If you have a new method that substitutes for the exchange of cash do share. Despite your words at the end of the day the only exchange sufficient to meet the demands is currency.

I think destee should change the site motto to "Put Up Or shut Up!"

Its evident that she has "provided to the people" otherwise you would not be able to post here.

I wish i could use your "words of wisdom" as payment for the costs needed to keep this site alive, but i can't.

They only want money, and have been receiving that every month, for many years ... with no help from you.

I virtually begged Africans, you, Sisters and Brothers in this community to help in a manner that would make it so we never had to have ads here ... but you never helped. Now you want to find fault in whatever efforts are made to keep the community here?

Your position is quite brazen, but you're entitled to it.

:heart:

Destee

maybe my words of wisdom is to keep something in yor mind "alive" so that then yu can be blessed with a number of ways to keep the site alive without resorting to various tactics and controls including forcing this community to look at white people tryna sell us stuff.

when europeans begin to subsidize yor site, this means somewhere a wrong turn has been made(by yu) and the quality and direction of yor site will now be subjected to considerations of the european dollar.

and i reject yor suggestion that the people are to blame for yu not reaching yor personal financial objectives. i say this knowing (like yu do)that it does not require a wall street portfolio to run this site.

again, when are yu gonna reward people who make this site what it is?

silent-ra,

Your words of wisdom have probably been appreciated. However Destee is not able to take those words of wisdom to the isp to pay the bill . . .serverhost will not accept them as payment on the monthly. Utility and mortage holders will find bewilderment upon receipt when they are requiring cash. If you have a new method that substitutes for the exchange of cash do share. Despite your words at the end of the day the only exchange sufficient to meet the demands is currency.

I think destee should change the site motto to "Put Up Or shut Up!"

Its evident that she has "provided to the people" otherwise you would not be able to post here.

its interesting that yu would step up to me, as a premium member no less, with a name like "grandhustle.

maybe my words of wisdom is to keep something in yor mind "alive" so that then yu can be blessed with a number of ways to keep the site alive without resorting to various tactics and controls including forcing this community to look at white people tryna sell us stuff.

when europeans begin to subsidize yor site, this means somewhere a wrong turn has been made(by yu) and the quality and direction of yor site will now be subjected to considerations of the european dollar.

and i reject yor suggestion that the people are to blame for yu not reaching yor personal financial objectives. i say this knowing (like yu do)that it does not require a wall street portfolio to run this site.

again, when are yu gonna reward people who make this site what it is?

Brother Silent Ra ... i'm amazed that you're publicly voicing this position. It's so hollow. No matter, you are entitled to it.

As i said, you don't have to do anything, no more than you want.

:heart:

Destee

its interesting that yu would step up to me, as a premium member no less, with a name like "grandhustle.

Grand: splender, large, magnificent :Hustle- To gain by entergetic efforts.

(or any grimy definition you can think of I probably fit that bill too)


What's interesting is you are here a member since 2004 and you are still not a premium member. Whats interesting is you are here in this thread having something negative to say about advertisements when you have not taken any personal responsibility to support the community financially.

silent

Brother Silent Ra ... i'm amazed that you're publicly voicing this position. It's so hollow. No matter, you are entitled to it.

As i said, you don't have to do anything, no more than you want.

:heart:

Destee

but yu've still yet to demonstrate how what i write is "hollow" or even false. what yu are skillfully tryna do is to ignore the questions and concerns.

but it says alot cuz yu did not deny what i've said.

but yu've still yet to demonstrate how what i write is "hollow" or even false. what yu are skillfully tryna do is to ignore the questions and concerns.

but it says alot cuz yu did not deny what i've said.

I've played these question games with you before, and i'm not interested in doing it again.

The bottom line is that it takes money to keep this community alive. You've been asked to help, and you declined. Now i am seeking other ways to keep the community alive. If you don't like it, all i can suggest, is that you leave.

:heart:

Destee

I've played these question games with you before, and i'm not interested in doing it again.

The bottom line is that it takes money to keep this community alive. You've been asked to help, and you declined. Now i am seeking other ways to keep the community alive. If you don't like it, all i can suggest, is that you leave.

:heart:

Destee

so now yor demanding that i leave becuz yor ways are being questioned? rememba yu invited input. or is the imput jus for those who pay yu?

are yu threatning me becuz, unlike many, i show yu the error of yor ways and yu dont wanna know it?

are yu demanding that i leave becuz yor telling us yu are above criticism and yu can do no wrong?

are yu demanding that i leave becuz yu are shaking hands now(receiving money) with the very people (europeans) that yu will be condeming in yor post?

yu cannot serve two masters; and not everbody is unaware of yor vuluminous contradictions.

so now yor demanding that i leave becuz yor ways are being questioned? rememba yu invited input. or is the imput jus for those who pay yu?

are yu threatning me becuz, unlike many, i show yu the error of yor ways and yu dont wanna know it?

are yu demanding that i leave becuz yor telling us yu are above criticism and yu can do no wrong?

are yu demanding that i leave becuz yu are shaking hands now(receiving money) with the very people (europeans) that yu will be condeming in yor post?

yu cannot serve two masters; and not everbody is unaware of yor vuluminous contradictions.

I've not demanded anything of you, ever, nor have i threatened you.

This thread is about the fact that advertisements are now here, after being discussed in length (http://destee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37676), over the years.

You have options. You can never come here, come and view the ads, or Become a Premium Member (http://destee.com/membership) and never see any ads.

The choice is yours.

:heart:

Destee

Peace and Blessings Family,

You all may have noticed, there are advertisements on destee. This is brand new, as we've never had ads here before. It may appear to be a hasty decision, but years of thought, discussion, and lamenting has gone into this. Here's one of those discussions for your review ... Advertisements on Destee? (http://destee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37676).

The ads are located in two places right now, the top of the page, and at the end of every page, of a thread. Some of the current ads may not be particularly appropriate for our community, and i'm trying to keep that minimized. We'll also be making advertising available to web site owners, entrepreneurs, authors, artists, etc., providing more information soon. This is a new area for us, and i welcome all suggestions and insight.

This major change was necessary because we are at the point of either dying, locking Members out, or making the community self-sufficient. We are ten years old, and should be able to support ourselves, so i'm gonna try to make that happen ... in a manner that i've never tried before.

I know some of you don't want to have to deal with advertisements here, and you don't have to. You can Become a Premium Member (http://destee.com/membership), and you won't see any ads. You will have access to our same peaceful, quiet, untainted, and relaxing community that we've come to know and love, with no advertisements flashing in your face. That's right, Premium Members (http://destee.com/forums/memberlist.php) don't see any of the ads, when logged in. If you are a Premium Member, and you do see an ad, please let us know (http://destee.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=299). This is new, and there's likely to be some technical difficulties as we proceed.

I plan on having this as my topic for Sunday's Class @ 8 pm ET (http://destee.com/chat). So if you have questions and/or concerns, you can post them here, and join us there as well. I'll be more than willing to share all that i can.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

Yanno Sister Destee, I remember the very first time you came to the community for support. At the time, I hadn't consider the financial cost which goes into keeping this community up and functioning.

However, upon realizing you have been paying soley out of your pocket to provide a place where we can vent, share, and feel as one with Black people, I've realized your personal sacrifice, determination, and loyalty and knew it wasn't fair to expect you to hurdle this burden alone. Especially considering how much I enjoy this community and how this community has contributed to my personal growth.

I applaud you Sister Destee! Many would have given up a long time ago, but not you. You have fought to keep this community alive with all you have. You had to put ego aside, face off with personal pride, take money out of your home to put here, and deal with forces which constantly try to dishonor and discourage your efforts...

If this community won't/can't support itself, and your determination and vision of a United Black People drives you to fight with everything you got and can think of, I'll support you Sister the best that I can.

If allowing advertisements to use this platform helps to keep the doors open, and keep Black People growing closer together, I'm all for it.

Kudos to you Dear Sister! You are surely a remarkable Black Being!

:heart:

Over ten years ago, a Sister named Destee took lease of some space on the information superhighway, with the intention of building a little house where Black/African people could find a little peace and friendliness and some love and some space to be one’s self.
She started out with an open forum in the living room, a poetry forum in the dining room, and various other activities in other areas, from the little attic down to the basement. Soon people from all over the globe began to stop by. They stopped by to post their words, thoughts and pictures. They posted them on the walls, the ceiling and, pretty soon, on every bit of space available. Now, during this time, ten years, people would come and go, sometimes for days, sometimes for months, some even go away for years. But they all expected that whenever they returned, their words, thoughts and pictures would still be posted in Destee’s house, just as they’d left them. Over the years, the people who frequented Destee’s house grew very comfortable with the place and began to think of themselves as family. When they would come by, they’d make themselves at home, as Destee invited them to do, eating the food in the house, helping themselves to the beer and Kool-Aid, writing whatever was on their minds, burning the lights, running up the water bill, never offering to wash a dish or mop a floor. But that’s alright, Destee would take care of it. And she did, paying the bills for an ever expanding space with an ever-growing membership, safeguarding everyone’s posts all over the house, that we all expected to be right where we left them, whenever we chose to return.
The responsibility for all this eventually got to the point where Destee literally had to choose between personal needs and paying the rent for the space on the Internet. She went to the family members and said, I’m short this month on the bills and I could use some help with the groceries. Some of the family members were shocked! How dare she ask us for money, while we’re here keeping her company, drinking her beer, eatin her chips and zoo-zoos and wam-wams, sleeping on the sofa when we don’t feel like driving home, venting our anger and frustrations when we cant do it anywhere else and getting praised, nurtured and encouraged whenever we’re feeling low. Some of us expressed outrage that Destee would even think of “charging” us for posting our stuff on the walls and ceilings of her house, because we tried to play like we didn’t know that nothing is free in today’s world and space cost money wherever you live, even in cyber-space. A few of us stomped out the house, never to return. Some of us b1tched and moaned and grumbled and refused to give up a quarter. The majority ignored it all, pretending they didn’t hear or see anything, while continuing to enjoy the warmth of the house, while less than two percent of the registered members made a commitment to contribute a little over a hundred bucks a year toward the upkeep and maintenance of the house. In essence, these members commited to sharing the cost of supporting ALL the members and visitors, who ALL create a cost when they visit, post and download from the house 24/7/365. There is nothing free on the Internet, especially where Black people can go and pretty much be amongst ourselves. Not totally private, but there have been special moments of collective leaps, paradigm shifts, spiritual revelations and others where you had to be there to comprehend.
The family kept growing, to almost 15,000 registered and the space we used kept expanding, now nearly 50,000 threads and more than 450,000 posts, which we expect to be right where we left them, when we come back next week, next month or next year. If we continue on the same pace for another ten years, there will be a million posts and we’ll still be expecting our poem or thoughts or pictures to be here right where we left them. And some of us will still be expecting someone else to pay for their use of the space. Destee, as a last resort to generate a reliable way to pay for the space we all use, put ads on the public areas of the house and invited those who don’t want to be distracted by them to become financially contributing members of the family, something it would seem every abled person would do, as they do on terra firma. Because we all know that we cannot go anywhere on earth, let ourselves in someone’s house, hang out day or nite, eat the food, drink the wine, nap, shower and shave, use the phone, wash our clothes and pick up our mail, and not have to contribute to the upkeep of the house. As mature adults, we take on the responsibilities of adults. And when its for our own and ourselves, we should do it willingly and with joy.

^^^while its clear what yor intentions are as a premium member, yor analogies are completely way off base. there would be no "Destee" if it were not for the posters. so the the matter of the "beer," "chips" and "zoo-zoos and wam-wams," are not being contributed by "Destee," they are being contributed by the regular posters who provide those things. yu have it reversed. it is she who is 'eating' those things and benefiting (financially) from the contributions of the posters. if yu don't believe me, consider if the posters stop posting tonight..."Destee" would be shut down.

the regular posters are the lifeline of this site, and to get them to pay to keep europeans off thier screens(in the form of advertisements) can be construed as unconscionable.

again i wonder why hasn't "Destee" and the otha high levels of the echelon decided to offer free services to those who have contributed virtual books on this site?

"Destee" talks about love and gum drops and chocolate kisses and what not but when is there gonna be demonstrations of it? why should not the regular posters be rewarded with appreciations?

the time has come to ask when is "Destee" gonna give back to those who have given her so much?

^^^while its clear what yor intentions are as a premium member, yor analogies are completely way off base. there would be no "Destee" if it were not for the posters. so the the matter of the "beer," "chips" and "zoo-zoos and wam-wams," are not being contributed by "Destee," they are being contributed by the regular posters who provide those things. yu have it reversed. it is she who is 'eating' those things and benefiting (financially) from the contributions of the posters. if yu don't believe me, consider if the posters stop posting tonight..."Destee" would be shut down.

the regular posters are the lifeline of this site, and to get them to pay to keep europeans off thier screens(in the form of advertisements) can be construed as unconscionable.

again i wonder why hasn't "Destee" and the otha high levels of the echelon decided to offer free services to those who have contributed virtual books on this site?

"Destee" talks about love and gum drops and chocolate kisses and what not but when is there gonna be demonstrations of it? why should not the regular posters be rewarded with appreciations?

the time has come to ask when is "Destee" gonna give back to those who have given her so much?

Brother Silent Ra ... you will not be allowed to continue this rant, for if you do, you will be banned.

You can consider this a demand and threat, if you'd like.

Matter of fact, i'm not even waiting ... let me put you out of your misery ... so you never have to see an ad here.

:heart:

Destee

How you gonna complain about the menu when all you're bringing to the table is a big appetite and an empty stomach?

Brother anAfrican ... it's good to read you, and thanks for your love. I hope all is going well, and you'll be able to join in the classes again soon. We'll be recording, so if you want a copy of it later, just let me know!

Thanks everyone for your love, support, and patience.

:heart:

DesteeGot nothing but love for ya, Dear Sister; what with all you've done to get, keep and grow this space, how could it be otherwise??

I would appreciate getting copies of some of the classes; where might I find them? (I would prefer mp3 to wma, please.) It would be better if I could download a couple/few different classes and listen to them elsewhere as I only get an hour a day at the library. (what a switch from having two or three windows open all day, eh?)

Well, clock says time to run ..
Love You, Family!
me


(for some reason, over these last few days, I keep thinking that "empty gourds rattle the loudest", and then get the "silent treatment" ... <sigh> `scuse!)

Brotha oldsoul, you never lied. That story is so true to what is going on here. How much longer it can go on we don't know. One thing for sure the cost of operating this site would be dramatically reduced if non premium membership were not allowed. The fact that Desee is willing to try every route before going there is a testimony to her love and patience--a love and patience she has had ever since I came here.

Silent ra has left me flaberghasted, astonished and totally discomboberated. I bet he doesn't even know how we had to scramble a few weeks ago to keep this site from dying. I was fortunate to be able to do what I did but I can't do it every month. I have known people like silent ra who say oh let me go on and buy this ipod. She will pay my rent. Such people are out on the street today because the day came when I coulo not do it and eat too.

I know silent ra is seething right now. But I don't blame Destee for not wasting aby more time trying to figure out if he is an enemy, a warrior with auto-immune tendencies just miseducated :D

Let's give our sista Destee some love. And take it from an English Master, love is a verb, not an intejection.

Brother Grand, Sister Purple, Brother OldSoul, Brother Sami, and Sister River ... :love: ... Thank You So Much!

Wow. You all are the best! I've often said, that our people are not easy, and i'm still believing that! We can sometimes be our own worst enemy, but no matter that, i love us to no end!

Thank you all for saying the things i sometimes can't, or am just plain tired of doing.

Much Much Much Love and Appreciation!

:heart:

Destee

Will there be info on advertising rates posted anytime soon?

Brother Sami_RaMaati and Family ... we've got some great introductory advertising rates and they can be viewed here ... www.destee.com/advertise.

Check it out, let me know what you think.

:heart:

Destee

I use adgroups.com a Black owned ad company- cpm based running many quality targeted ads that I am pleased with Destee.

You maybe should look into them too.

Stay blessed and PROSPER.

I use adgroups.com a Black owned ad company- cpm based running many quality targeted ads that I am pleased with Destee.

You maybe should look into them too.

Stay blessed and PROSPER.

Adrienne ... Hello and Welcome ... :wave:

Thanks for posting! I see you've been a Member since 2004, and this is your first time! Wonderful Sister! I'm glad we finally had a thread that drew you in enough to share your wisdom and insight! :)

Thanks for recommending www.adgroups.com to us! I've been looking around at ad agencies, and want to try and see what we can do ourselves, since we're just starting. I may ultimately have to go to an ad agency, as they are the professionals, focused in this area (knowing much more than i do about the process). It's good to know there is a Black owned one available to us, very very good!

What is your web site Sister, do you mind sharing it with us? Even if you don't want advertising here, feel free to promote it in the Web Site Promotion Forum, as all Members are welcome to do that. We get our share of traffic, and i've never had a problem sharing it!

Thanks again for posting and telling us about adgroups. Hoping we get to read more from you! :grouphug:

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

Destee I want to ask, how is the Google AD business is coming along...

If you dont mind me asking...

Brother DustyElbow ... you asked this question here (http://destee.com/forums/showpost.php?p=493085&postcount=21), but i've copied it to this thread, to respond.

No, i don't mind you asking. It's not been the best of experiences, though i didn't really know what to expect going in.

The first thing i noticed, after adding google ads to the site, were the white folk in the banners! :eeek: I was so outdone! Coming to destee and seeing white folk at the top of our pages, that was just too much. The very first ad they displayed here, had a little white baby in it. I immediately went over to google, to find out how to block an individual ad. Okay, that one is gone. Now there is another, and another, and another! They never stopped coming! Even though the content of our site surrounds Black People, the banner ads rarely had Black People in them. So i spent lots of time going back and forth, to block new ads. We had LOTS of sites blocked from displaying ads here, for this reason. Google told me that we are greatly limiting our income potential by blocking so many ads, and suggested we remove the blocks.

At one point in this process, i grew a bit frustrated that we even had to have ads, because the Family wouldn't collectively help, so i was like ... fine, i'm gonna just let the white people ads stay. Shoot, if the Family doesn't care, then i'm not gonna care either. But Brother GrandHustle and my Daughter told me that i can't do that. I can't not care. I have to remove the white people ads from destee. They said it's one thing to have ads, yet it's another to let the white people ads stay. So, as grumpily as i could ... lol ... i continued removing the white people ads, but it really became a chore.

In addition to this, google has their own rules, tos, etc., which say that i can't encourage the Members to click on ads. Well, i really didn't like this at all, as we make advertising available (http://destee.com/advertise) to others, and i want to be able to encourage the Family to click on the ads of those who have spent money to advertise! So, they effectively had me behaving in a way that i would not, if they were not on this site. I really wasn't feeling this, but i continued complying with their rules, hoping we'd make some money for the site.

We didn't make any significant amount of money for the site from them. While we get lots of activity, i had blocked the vast majority of their ads (because of the white people in them). I had blocked so many of their ads, that they were displaying "public service ads" the stuff they display when there's nothing left to show! Given the fact that i didn't like being told what to do, on our own site, and we're not making any real money, i quit displaying their ads here.

As you can see, there are no google ads being displayed, and haven't been for some time, because of the above.

After crossing this advertising bridge, i've learned so much, with lots more to learn i'm sure. It seems that advertising isn't really targeted to Black People. What we see on television, long stringy white hair, is the same on the Internet. It's as though the advertisers, advertise to white people, and just figure Black Folk will come along with them. That there is no need to market directly to us, as it's not really being done, at least not in any significant way. It's as though we, Black People, are an afterthought, though we spend billions yearly.

I guess they know we're nothing but consumers for the most part, and are going to buy whatever the white people buy ... so marketing to the white people ... will automatically get the Black People too.

Because i am still learning, this is not my area of expertise, it's been challenging to get the small Black Business Owners to advertise with us. Our advertising rates (http://destee.com/advertise) are the absolute lowest i've seen on the Internet, to a targeted market, yet we have few buyers. In spite of this, i've not worried too much about it, because it is so new, and we can't really miss what we've never had.

I just saw this article by Black Enterprise, Reaching the Black Market (http://www.blackenterprise.com/cms/exclusivesopen.aspx?id=3758), that basically mirrors the experience i've had thus far:

Reaching the Black Market

New study to offer advertisers insight on connecting with the black community

November 7, 2007--With the buying power of African Americans projected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2011, Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) and Dr. Nat Irvin II, University of Louisville professor and founder of Future Focus 2020, have conducted a study aimed at providing advertisers with a strategic approach to reaching black consumers.

Currently, less than 1% of U.S. advertising dollars are spent utilizing targeted black media to connect with the African American population. Instead, advertisers rely on the inclusion of black images in the general market, a move which Miriam Muley, founder and CEO of marketing firm The 85% Niche, claims is negatively impacting African American spending.

Click Here To Read Entire Article (http://www.blackenterprise.com/cms/exclusivesopen.aspx?id=3758)

I suppose it will all work out in the end ... and please ... click on any and all ads you see!

Thanks for asking.

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee