[quote name='Wombat']I have not seen any evidence of an ad team, so i'd like to know where you got that info. Also article comments are not helpful to a salesperson. Most major ad contracts stipulate that ads be in areas where comments are not allowed. My main concern was maintaining the revenue stream. Once you get the t-shirt and satisfaction of donating the 1st time, what reason do you have to renew that subscription?
I love Giant Bomb and I want them to succeed, but I just don't think the sub model should be their main source of revenue. Of course this is an outside observation, so really what do I know. But it is apparent you know as little as I do.[/QUOTE]
They have mentioned a few times in their videos they have a partnership with a group that handles ads, and I believe they mentioned a few times in their video where they showed their new office. Of course only in passing because they rather speak about videogames/shenanigans. You can see a overview of what I said if you go to the marketing and advertising site.
http://whiskeymedia.com/advertise.shtml
The Ad Sales partnership is with Six Apart.
http://www.sixapart.com/about/press/2010/06/whiskey-media-and-six-apart-an.html
Six Apart brings them possible Ads, or markets for them but the Editors of each of Whiskey's site approves which ads that appears on the site. I know of Six Apart because a personal friend used them for a now defunct site (not Six Apart's fault).
If I remember right Wombat your job relates to Ads. Specifically a online ad groups. So it is understandable that this model makes little sense to you. To be honest I see the possibility, but it is a huge risk. Not the model I would embrace.
I honestly wish them the best. I did sign up for the yearly membership mainly as a supporter. They did state they have many more benefits coming to members very soon. I am sure they had ideas planned for quite some time. Just wanted to get this put forth to the community to see the reaction, and adjust accordingly. Now the hard work comes in keeping those subscribers.
So they do have Ad Partners, Ads, click-through revenue (similar to what Cheapy uses in terms of Amazon/Gamespot), and of course growing demographics on individual sites (especially now with multipass). So the comments statement I used was a basic example of something to show growth on each individual site. I am sure demo-graphical traffic data shows five rapidly growing user bases via their five sites. I just used the comments item as a representation that those sites traffic has risen. Which it has.
On a personal note, "But it is apparent you know as little as I do." was not needed, or appreciated Wombat. While I may not know the exact business model of Whiskey as do you; I was simply trying to do a analytical look at their business model based on what I seen, heard, and read while following the site. Very similarly to what you did, and do with many business plans from in other videogame subjects over the years. That was a back-handed insult that reeked of denigration considering I was not disrespectful to you, nor your analysis of their situation on the CAGcast.
Not every post on a message board is a invitation for argument, but at times a way for great conversation. If you had information, or a great point that may change may way of viewing a situation that would be great. I do not post as if my statement is the end-all-be-all, nor as nothing more than conjecture in hopes of learning more through discussion. If you did not mean it that way that is fine, since nuance of speech does not translate well via text on a message board. I just wanted to mention it.
