Purchase Patron Ads for 2023 Football Preview (State of Yappi.com)

[Yappi]

State of Yappi.com (2023)

I've done a few of these over the last 20+ years. Usually, it is at a time when things are difficult. So here we are again.

I'm sure many of you have seen the number of advertisements on this site grow over the years. IMO, it is way too many. I do not like to have to show this many ads but on the flip side, the revenue is going down significantly. We've had three dramatic drops in these advertisements, January 2017, August 2022, and now January 2023. The dramatic drop in 2017 eventually returned to almost normal a couple of years later. The drop in August was rough but I expected it to turn around. That is why the 2023 drop is concerning.

Personally, I would like to get rid of all advertisements on the site. No, not thinking of going to a subscription model. The advertisements that we run means losing some control over the site. I can't go into details but it is frustrating for me and the users it affects.

The solution...creating an Online 2023 Football Preview with patron and sponsorship ads to cover the loss of revenue that is having a major detrimental effect on this site. We've done football previews for the last two years with some success. Now I want to take that to the next level and even further. With everyone's help, this project could make this site financially stable and create a wealth of new information for all the great Ohio HS football fans.

Here is the plan (with everyone's help):

1. $10 Patron Ads - Your name (or username) with a small message to the team at the bottom of the preview. This is cheaper than the approximate cost to buy a preview magazine in the past.

2. $20 Business Patron Ads - Business name with a small message to the team with a link to their website at the bottom of the preview.

3. Donation - some have asked for a simple donation option. Click on the link for this option.

4. $50 Business Sponsorship - Small business banner at the top of the football preview for a team. (coming soon)

The goal is to do an in-depth preview of all 700+ football teams. You can see the basic previews that have been done in the past here:
https://yappi.com/forum/index.php?forums/2022-football-previews.138/




Now, to take this a step further, I'm seeing dwindling coverage of HS sports. I would like to see this springboard into full coverage of all sports with articles written daily. We've started out with a Southwest Ohio Game of the Week for boys basketball. The first four articles are here:
https://yappi.com/forum/index.php?forums/boys-basketball.8/&prefix_id=5

I would like to expand that to all parts of the state and for more sports. It is something that can be done with the help of everyone.

I'm looking for feedback. Maybe I'm crazy to think this will work but I'm hopeful and would like to see High School sports regain some of the magic that has been lost due to the shrinking or closing of so many newspapers in the last decade.

 

[Sykotyk]

I know you floated the idea of reporters for games. I think that can definitely draw eyeballs. And as much as you don't want, social medial (twitter, IG, Facebook, etc) are the way to help advertise those articles to get clicks to the site and hopefully to the website and message board.

Unfortunately, Twitter is the go to for updates and scores of games (even with the nasty bot infestation spamming fake streaming links).

Hope the articles work out.

 

[simkon]

Question:
Do Ad-Blockers affect your revenue from advertisements?
When I view the website on my Samsung phone I don't see any advertisements whatsoever.

 

[Sykotyk]

Question:
Do Ad-Blockers affect your revenue from advertisements?
When I view the website on my Samsung phone I don't see any advertisements whatsoever.

For most advertisers, they track the downloads of each image file in the ad. So, they won't count it. There are some more sophisticated ad-blockers that download the ads, but hides them from view. So, the website still gets the hits for the counter. Depends on your ad blocker (on your phone it's probably just the built in one to the browser).

Thing is, the rates are usually so ridiculously low, that it doesn't matter individually. It's more of a systemic issue for sites.

One thing Yappi needs to try is to get 'title sponsors' that are just static images for a set period of time for the forums that he handles himself in the coding. It won't be caught by an ad blocker. And that can pay a lot better. But you need to go out and promote the site to a sponsor to get them to sign up for such a setup.

 

[simkon]

I used to be a moderator for a forum that was for motorsports/NASCAR etc, point being is that the forum had no advertisements but it did have a few gentlemen that sponsored the site with their businesses. So that model definitely could work. The question is what would be the ideal businesses to advertise on this site... sporting goods stores perhaps might be of interest

 

[Sykotyk]

I used to be a moderator for a forum that was for motorsports/NASCAR etc, point being is that the forum had no advertisements but it did have a few gentlemen that sponsored the site with their businesses. So that model definitely could work. The question is what would be the ideal businesses to advertise on this site... sporting goods stores perhaps might be of interest

If not for the pandemic crushing the industry, local independent restaurants would've been a major target. Today their advertising is so meager and the ones that are out there don't have the budget or desire for statewide or even regional advertising.

Insurance agencies, big box retailers that will drop a few thousand here or there for advertising campaigns for local interests. The same chains that sponsor little league teams and ads in the football game programs.

 

[Yappi]

Question:
Do Ad-Blockers affect your revenue from advertisements?
When I view the website on my Samsung phone I don't see any advertisements whatsoever.

Ad-blockers are one of the issues but that is baked in now. So many people have them that just one person turning it off wouldn't do much. I understand the need for the ad-blockers because things have gotten out of control on most websites. It's getting to the point that there will be 10,000 ads for that one single elderly person still on dial-up and no ad-blocker.

Ultimately, I'm hoping to average two patrons for every school. More for the schools with a bigger presence on here to even out the schools that have very little participation. Also hoping for close to five business patrons per school.

 

[CCHS93]

Ever since the Fed raised interest rates for the 7th time in less than a year, the economy has seen a downturn. All businesses are spending less. So the marketing expenditures may come back, but not right away. The patron model is a good measure for the time being until advertising can come back and then you may have both. Another idea would be to expand into Michigan. They have a site up there but it is terrible in comparison to Yappi. It is a site that is filled with ads and popups.

 

[Yappi]

For the Football Preview:

Those that are interested, can purchase the Patron Ads for Individuals/Families and the Patron Ads for Businesses here:

Yappi Football Preview Patron Sponsors:

Yappi Football Preview Patron Sponsors

This is extremely important to get this project moving quickly. I'm really looking forward to August when the preview will be released.

 

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

I agree with getting some reporters
Get a yappi.com press pass and see how it goes.
Just make sure you get those who are going to report on games weekly

 

[garydaddy1]

You are going to get continuing competition from sites like OH Report, WOSN, Community Cable Channel 9, Wadsworth Community TV and all the other Internet sites supporting individual or multiple schools. They are loaded with games, recaps, highlight and coaches shows. And the viewers don't have to put up with all the uneducated/unedified individuals who post on Yappi but shouldn't. "OH MY GOD, MAS$ILLON SUCKS, THEY CAN'T WIN THE BIG ONE". I have to admit, Yappi is becoming insignificant. From my point of view anyway. I use the sites is just mentioned and more. And am a lot more informed and happy I don't have to deal with Yappi posters who shouldn't be allowed to post.

 

[Yappi]

Love all those other sites/stations. I want to help create more of that for the whole state. Seems there are alot more former HS reporters than current HS reporters.

Working on another feature in the next few months that may solve some of the negative talk. Summer time should be busy on here for new features.

 

[Yappi]

I've had a few people reach out about just donating. I have replied to the private messages and emails. For anyone else, here is the link to the donation page:

Donate to Yappi Sports

Help support Yappi Sports by donating or sharing with your friends.

www.paypal.com

 

[The Dock]

Love all those other sites/stations. I want to help create more of that for the whole state. Seems there are alot more former HS reporters than current HS reporters.

Working on another feature in the next few months that may solve some of the negative talk. Summer time should be busy on here for new features.

This is JMO, as someone from the generally least-represented population as measured by posting (Central Ohio) and of the least-common age demographic (<40’s)…

I think at one point in time the general theme as to who posted, who had interest in talking HS sports and reading about it leaned heavy toward laypeople whose free time kept coming around toward HS sports (e.g. people who have grandkids playing, people whose friends still coach.) It generally made for an open forum, with free flow of conversation and little reason to think what is said can carry a repercussion offline.

Where this is, como se dìce, different today is there is a significant load of traffic that comes through the coaches network and interestingly enough the admin circles as well. It poses an interesting dilemma toward the growth prospects and long-term sustainment efforts of the site: I know that administrators become easily wary of discussion spaces that broach topics where the details aren’t public knowledge (e.g. coach hiring processes, league realignments, disciplinary matters.)

This is to say that you might not find actual allies with schools (at least not as a means to procure business sponsorships, a la messages/banners appended to the team previews.) Its seemingly paradoxical: what helps drive eyeballs to this site is the foundry of information that is typically gate-kept by formalities, best practices and closed doors; the small-scale web of institutions (schools, leagues) aren’t inclined (rightly or wrongly) to be candid in many details discussed on this site; said institutions know this site is where beans get spilled, and frown on it; the most direct way to attain sponsorships and increase site value is to inevitably get the schools to be warm with the site and promote it as a salve to a declining HS sports mediasphere. And the schools want more exposure, yes, they want it for the kids and their communities but they believe in the absolute of “only what the public can see and interpret for themselves.” They won’t play ball with anything that opens the hood.

TL;DR it’s a complicated path toward making a site known for its forums to become more integrated into the HS sports media sphere.

— — —

One idea I would proffer is to expand the site into having a section of individual content creation that is more conducive toward the ‘reliable narrator’ that papers and outlets found successful. Game reports, league standings, previews, (vague) predictions, newsletters, and anything that can run more concurrent with what TV and radio stations, papers and outlets do. Something that has distance from the forums. I think there’s an avenue for HS sports coverage that is more grassroots and independent, if it can strike a balance between plain-speak and observational commentary versus being too blunt and opinionated.

 

[Yappi]

This is JMO, as someone from the generally least-represented population as measured by posting (Central Ohio) and of the least-common age demographic (<40’s)…

I think at one point in time the general theme as to who posted, who had interest in talking HS sports and reading about it leaned heavy toward laypeople whose free time kept coming around toward HS sports (e.g. people who have grandkids playing, people whose friends still coach.) It generally made for an open forum, with free flow of conversation and little reason to think what is said can carry a repercussion offline.

Where this is, como se dìce, different today is there is a significant load of traffic that comes through the coaches network and interestingly enough the admin circles as well. It poses an interesting dilemma toward the growth prospects and long-term sustainment efforts of the site: I know that administrators become easily wary of discussion spaces that broach topics where the details aren’t public knowledge (e.g. coach hiring processes, league realignments, disciplinary matters.)

This is to say that you might not find actual allies with schools (at least not as a means to procure business sponsorships, a la messages/banners appended to the team previews.) Its seemingly paradoxical: what helps drive eyeballs to this site is the foundry of information that is typically gate-kept by formalities, best practices and closed doors; the small-scale web of institutions (schools, leagues) aren’t inclined (rightly or wrongly) to be candid in many details discussed on this site; said institutions know this site is where beans get spilled, and frown on it; the most direct way to attain sponsorships and increase site value is to inevitably get the schools to be warm with the site and promote it as a salve to a declining HS sports mediasphere. And the schools want more exposure, yes, they want it for the kids and their communities but they believe in the absolute of “only what the public can see and interpret for themselves.” They won’t play ball with anything that opens the hood.

TL;DR it’s a complicated path toward making a site known for its forums to become more integrated into the HS sports media sphere.

— — —

One idea I would proffer is to expand the site into having a section of individual content creation that is more conducive toward the ‘reliable narrator’ that papers and outlets found successful. Game reports, league standings, previews, (vague) predictions, newsletters, and anything that can run more concurrent with what TV and radio stations, papers and outlets do. Something that has distance from the forums. I think there’s an avenue for HS sports coverage that is more grassroots and independent, if it can strike a balance between plain-speak and observational commentary versus being too blunt and opinionated.

I'm not sure I've seen a long post on here that is more spot-on than this post. Nodding my head in agreement throughout the entire post.

My ultimate goal is to get the prolific posters on other social media to share the same info on here (scores/updates). Mostly, these are people attached to the schools. For the reasons you posted above, they choose not to. Very frustrating for me to an see Ohio based HS sports site overlooked.

 

[Yappi]

Just got another issue today that popped up that is exceedingly frustrating. There are things that affect this site that I'm unable to talk about because of dependencies. This is why it is so important to become truly independent from outside sources. The football preview and the patron ads will go a long way toward that goal.

 

[gcfqn]

You are going to get continuing competition from sites like OH Report, WOSN, Community Cable Channel 9, Wadsworth Community TV and all the other Internet sites supporting individual or multiple schools. They are loaded with games, recaps, highlight and coaches shows. And the viewers don't have to put up with all the uneducated/unedified individuals who post on Yappi but shouldn't. "OH MY GOD, MAS$ILLON SUCKS, THEY CAN'T WIN THE BIG ONE". I have to admit, Yappi is becoming insignificant. From my point of view anyway. I use the sites is just mentioned and more. And am a lot more informed and happy I don't have to deal with Yappi posters who shouldn't be allowed to post.

Nothing like that exists in Central Ohio. 270sports struggles to get basketball scores. The weekly community newspapers have been eliminated and some schools do not use their own athletic websites that allows for posting of scores and information. Most schools here have multiple twitter accounts for the various sports or not, some used some not used. Only football still commands a visit from TV crews.

 

[gcfqn]

One idea I would proffer is to expand the site into having a section of individual content creation that is more conducive toward the ‘reliable narrator’ that papers and outlets found successful. Game reports, league standings, previews, (vague) predictions, newsletters, and anything that can run more concurrent with what TV and radio stations, papers and outlets do. Something that has distance from the forums. I think there’s an avenue for HS sports coverage that is more grassroots and independent, if it can strike a balance between plain-speak and observational commentary versus being too blunt and opinionated.

Excellent idea. My friends were talking today about the old days when reliable information was published or a retraction issued. Now we are forced to rely on social media information that may be accurate.

 

[Yappi]

Six weekly newspapers in Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, Nordonia Hills and Aurora will cease print publication in late March.

The free distribution weeklies, published by Akron Beacon Journal owner Gannett Co., have faced significant business challenges in recent years due to a decline in print advertising and readers adopting digital news sources.

Weekly newspapers closing in 6 communities

Six weekly newspapers in Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, Nordonia Hills and Aurora will cease print publication in late March.

www.beaconjournal.com

 

[Yappi]

Sadly, the hits keep coming. I remember a decade ago these local papers covering the Little League All Star games and the youth football playoffs. The last couple of years, they couldn't cover the 5 home football games a year. Lucky to have a preview for any of the sports. They went downhill fast and there is nothing stepping in to replace them.

That is what I am trying to build here. Something that can cover the whole state while still being local. Ultimately, I would love to have 800 reporters who cover every sporting event for a local school.

The problem is that traditional advertising online doesn't pay the bills. Getting an article written can cost between $35 to $100. Getting 500 views on that article probably nets around 50 cents. The math doesn't add up and it is the reason things are going away.

I think the deal up above is reasonable and can help build the local coverage but only if people get involved.

 

[TDium]

Just saw this post. Appreciate the transparency about revenue challenges vis a vis display ads (I use Vivaldi, which natively blocks ads, so I am part of the problem). Not looking for a pat on the head for sponsoring my team - everyone comes to the idea of community support differently, and I drift between the 'say nothing and pay up' and 'pay up as much as you can and make noise to compel/shame/inspire others'. But at the very least I firmly believe you pay for the content that matters, and even if my participation here is quite low, the years I've relied on the site and it's members to bring me the regular updates to part of my past is appreciated.

 

[sehs]

Thanks for this and for the past 20 years. I also believe in paying for content that matters and I find this interesting. I think high school sports has a lot of potential still, its discovering what mechanism best works for it and how to have it matter for many.

 

[93 red ls]

Sent you a message!

 

[clarkgriswold]

I think I'll put in to be a Patron for Bishop Sycamore.

 

[The Butler]

I think I'll put in to be a Patron for Bishop Sycamore.

Bucking for Patron Saint?