Alterative monetization idea

[osm70]

So, I have been working on this idea for a while...

I personally consider trying to sell software as a stupid idea, so I tried figuring out other ways of making money from it. My idea is making it ad powered. And yes, I know that has been used before, but I think I thought of something new.


The software itself is free. The user has a limited amount of time to use the software. When that expires, they have to watch an ad. Let's say (I am making all numbers up) 30 seconds of ads every 15 minutes. You can binge watch ads to store up to 500 minutes.

If you don't have internet connection, or you somehow block ads, you get your "usage time" for watching a black screen. Yes, I know that gives me no money, but ads are server-dependend and I can't risk a terrible DRM. To encourage you to actually view them, you need to stare at the black screen for 90 seconds (tripple) to get your 15 minutes of usage time.

And finally, to really encourage you, I would be willing to pay you. Let's say you get 5% of the money I get from your ad views.

Conclusion: Free to use, you get paid for using it and I get income from ads.

Thoughts?

 

[DinohScene]

I can already tell that people will write patches to patch out the ads faster then you can blink.

If there's something highly annoying in todays world, it's ads.

 

[osm70]

I can already tell that people will write patches to patch out the ads faster then you can blink.

If there's something highly annoying in todays world, it's ads.

Of course that can be hacked. You can semi-easily edit your locally saved usage time.

But piracy also exists, so this wouldn't be much different. Plus, why block ads when you can make money by keeping them in?

 

[DinohScene]

Cause the consumer is already getting bombarded with advertisements and isn't willing to watch another ad they seen 20 times in the past hour.
Unless I'm one of the very few who hate ads...

The best way of making money from software is subscriptions.
That way the customer is ensured they get updates/latest iterations of said software and you'll be getting the money.
One time purchase of 99 quid or monthly subscription of 5 quid a month.

I'm just pulling numbers out of me arse but you get the point ;p

 

[Mikemk]

Actually, there's an old game distributor that did this, I don't remember the name though. Started with an i

 

[osm70]

Cause the consumer is already getting bombarded with advertisements and isn't willing to watch another ad they seen 20 times in the past hour.
Unless I'm one of the very few who hate ads...

The best way of making money from software is subscriptions.
That way the customer is ensured they get updates/latest iterations of said software and you'll be getting the money.
One time purchase of 99 quid or monthly subscription of 5 quid a month.

I'm just pulling numbers out of me arse but you get the point ;p

Well, I am sure I would watch those ads to make some money. Hell, I even am happy for in-game benefits in ad-powered games. I'm playing the Tuber Simulator game on my phone and I watch an ad every 4 hours to triple my in-game money production. If an ad for my region isn't currently available, I get very annoyed and start up my VPN client to get the ad.

Subscriptions... well, there are people (for example me) who outright refuse to pay for any software ever.

Actually, there's an old game distributor that did this, I don't remember the name though. Started with an i

This proves a theory I had once. "No matter what you think of, someone already did it."

 

[DinohScene]

Subscriptions... well, there are people (for example me) who outright refuse to pay for any software ever.

Well, you can't justify piracy.
Switching to completely open sourced software would be the logical step then.

I personally rather pay for software then be bombarded with advertisements.
I've stopped watching telly cause of it.
I aggressively block ads on the web to the point that it actually messes up the page which holds the ads.
There's literally only a few sites where have no adblock on.

 

[gamesquest1]

And finally, to really encourage you, I would be willing to pay you. Let's say you get 5% of the money I get from your ad views.

Conclusion: Free to use, you get paid for using it and I get income from ads.

Thoughts?

and then your advertiser bans your account for abusing their system

not only that, but normal video view ads pay practically nothing, so if your going to pay people 5% idk how you could give them their 1/100th of a cent

but yeah this model is already kind of in use on mobile games, i.e watch some ads and we give you virtual currency, or install this shite and you get a new piece of corn in your crappy farm

 

[osm70]

Well, you can't justify piracy.
Switching to completely open sourced software would be the logical step then.

I personally rather pay for software then be bombarded with advertisements.
I've stopped watching telly cause of it.
I aggressively block ads on the web to the point that it actually messes up the page which holds the ads.
There's literally only a few sites where have no adblock on.

I am not trying to justify anything. All I'm saying is that there's no way I am paying 15% of my monthly income for one piece of software. (Yes, seriously.) In the Czech Republic, you either pirate, or you don't use that software. In 2015, about 65% of all non-free software used here was pirated. I know it's wrong, but I don't really care.

and then your advertiser bans your account for abusing their system

not only that, but normal video view ads pay practically nothing, so if your going to pay people 5% idk how you could give them their 1/100th of a cent

I said I am making all numbers up. That 5% wasn't supposed to be a definite final number.

And why would they ban me? I fail to see any kind of abuse here.

 

[gamesquest1]

I am not trying to justify anything. All I'm saying is that there's no way I am paying 15% of my monthly income for one piece of software. (Yes, seriously.) In the Czech Republic, you either pirate, or you don't use that software. In 2015, about 65% of all non-free software used here was pirated. I know it's wrong, but I don't really care.



I said I am making all numbers up. That 5% wasn't supposed to be a definite final number.

And why would they ban me? I fail to see any kind of abuse here.

well generally paying people to do something brings people with bot nets to spam the service, once that happens advertisers start pulling out of the service unless the platform ban the people encouraging this kind of abuse

basically most legitimate advertising platforms have strict rules to prevent people clicking/watching ads from profiting from their clicks/views, there may be some back all advertiser's who would turn a blind eye to this stuff, but those platforms are generally exclusively used by scam sites/viruses peddlers

 

[osm70]

well generally paying people to do something brings people with bot nets to spam the service, once that happens advertisers start pulling out of the service unless the platform ban the people encouraging this kind of abuse

basically most legitimate advertising platforms have strict rules to prevent people clicking/watching ads from profiting from their clicks/views, there may be some back all advertiser's who would turn a blind eye to this stuff, but those platforms are generally exclusively used by scam sites/viruses peddlers

Well, there are pay-to-click websites, so I know for sure there is a way of doing that. As for bots... yeah, I would have to make sure the ad is actually seen to be counted.

 

[DinohScene]

I am not trying to justify anything. All I'm saying is that there's no way I am paying 15% of my monthly income for one piece of software. (Yes, seriously.) In the Czech Republic, you either pirate, or you don't use that software. In 2015, about 65% of all non-free software used here was pirated. I know it's wrong, but I don't really care.

Aye, nobody seems to care until they get a similar story like kongsknutz.
Anyway, people will even pirate open source software (idk how it's possible but they will manage) so it doesn't make much sense to tell everyone to go open source ;')

Anyway, Personally, software ridden with ads is a big no no for me.

 

[gamesquest1]

Well, there are pay-to-click websites, so I know for sure there is a way of doing that. As for bots... yeah, I would have to make sure the ad is actually seen to be counted.

yeah most of those "pay to click" sites are usually abusing the shadier advertising sites ability to turn a blind eye to abuse, but even those guys get to a breaking point, the simple truth is, they will defiantly never support a system designed only to milk money, advertises want to see returns on their investment or they wont return, so you cannot expect a system where people just leave their laptop running all day to churn out money for you, this is like one of the oldest cons i.e the Ponzi scheme

 

[osm70]

Aye, nobody seems to care until they get a similar story like kongsknutz.
Anyway, people will even pirate open source software (idk how it's possible but they will manage) so it doesn't make much sense to tell everyone to go open source ;')

Anyway, Personally, software ridden with ads is a big no no for me.

Clarification: By "here", I meant in the country. I wasn't talking about myself.

So, how about this idea? Watch the ads, or pay to get rid of them.

yeah most of those "pay to click" sites are usually abusing the shadier advertising sites ability to turn a blind eye to abuse, but even those guys get to a breaking point, the simple truth is, they will defiantly never support a system designed only to milk money, advertises want to see returns on their investment or they wont return, so you cannot expect a system where people just leave their laptop running all day to churn out money for you, this is like one of the oldest cons i.e the Ponzi scheme

Actually, I have seen PTC sites that directly sell ad space. You pay them to get clicks to your site. And yes, that means people buying those ads know the users were paid for clicking.

 

[DinohScene]

Clarification: By "here", I meant in the country. I wasn't talking about myself.

So, how about this idea? Watch the ads, or pay to get rid of them.

I was talking globally really.

I'd personally pay for software that's adfree.

 

[Enigma Hall]

How about make ads part of the game? The player need to remember tree last ads to unlock some benefits or play a fast card game to increase money in the game? I think is more worth than make him watch 30 seconds of something he dont want. Logos can be used. Food can be draw as a item of the game like ads under tv shows.

 

[nIxx]

I think it would be just better to create some really usefull software (easier said than done ^^) and then create a Pro version with more features and let them pay for that with a subscription model.
Thought that is something many companies/developers already do.
Ads are just so annyoing most users imo will be just turned off ^^

 

[gamesquest1]

Clarification: By "here", I meant in the country. I wasn't talking about myself.

So, how about this idea? Watch the ads, or pay to get rid of them.


Actually, I have seen PTC sites that directly sell ad space. You pay them to get clicks to your site. And yes, that means people buying those ads know the users were paid for clicking.

as I mentioned, some places don't care why you visit their site as long as they get people coming their way, but these kinds of people tend to be the likes of virus/spam sites hoping to trick a gullible end user into installing a bunch of spam ridden software, so while they only pay something like $5 per 2000 clicks, if they get 10 people to install their crap then they can make back their $5 fairly quickly, so if your willing to go with those kinds of advertisers it wouldn't be too long before antivirus makers start flagging your software as adware (a lot of "ok" software gets blocked because they have bundled stuff like opencandy in their installer) again, feel free to try this, but don't be expecting reputable companies wanting to advertise on your platform,.....you would probably just end up with those "VIRUS ALERT, call out micrusuft cosammer sepphurt ! ! ! ! ! !" sites trying to scam people, and all it takes is one person to fall for it for their efforts to be worth it, and idk about you, but I wouldn't want to support those kinds of shitty practices

 

[Pleng]

You put adverts in software and I'm gonna uninstall it so fast that there won't even be a chance for me to see the "pay to remove" option.

 

[osm70]

How about make ads part of the game? The player need to remember tree last ads to unlock some benefits or play a fast card game to increase money in the game? I think is more worth than make him watch 30 seconds of something he dont want. Logos can be used. Food can be draw as a item of the game like ads under tv shows.

That actually might be a good idea.