Sponsored videos on front page

steezyjibberThis may have been discussed before at some point, but if not...

What would people's thoughts be on a "sponsored video" spot for the homepage? Similar to a "sponsored post" on Facebook. Maybe the slot could be the top right spot.

Basically the idea is that a member pays a certain amount of money to have their video bumped to the top of the front page as soon as it's uploaded. Before it even gets any votes. It could stay there for 24 hours.

The price point would have to be high enough to keep everyone on the site from using the feature, but low enough that's it's somewhat affordable.

(This could end a lot of the complaints that people's good videos aren't getting noticed, and it could be very valuable for brands.)

Isn't that the same thing as just buying an ad on the home page?

Not sure what you mean. Are you talking about something like the O'Neil jacket one right now?

steezyjibberNot sure what you mean. Are you talking about something like the O'Neil jacket one right now?

yea.... that being said I don't think that's really fair at all...

I don't see how you could keep the price low enough for your average member when they would be competing with brands for the promotional spot.

Alright put the sponsored video in the middle then. As far as the O'neil ad, that looks like some type of full-on ad package that required a real conversation with Mr. Bishop. I mean they have the skin, top diagonal banner ad on the home page, and various ads on the front page. My idea is different. You just put in your payment similar to a facebook ad and it's done.

~~~~~~~~I don't see how you could keep the price low enough for your average member when they would be competing with brands for the promotional spot.

The promo spot is there for days and days. My idea is a 24 hour deal.

steezyjibberThe promo spot is there for days and days. My idea is a 24 hour deal.

I know I get that, I'm saying crews with backing from brands would be jockeying for the spot with a much larger budget to spend. That is unless you had some sort of gentlemens agreement that they would stay away. It just doesn't make sense to me on an econ 101 level.

~~~~~~~~I know I get that, I'm saying crews with backing from brands would be jockeying for the spot with a much larger budget to spend. That is unless you had some sort of gentlemens agreement that they would stay away. It just doesn't make sense to me on an econ 101 level.

Valid point indeed...valid point.

steezyjibberValid point indeed...valid point.

plus, who wants the whole front page to be sponsored content? isn't the whole idea that the community votes on it? you'd make it into some sort of scheme where it's not a big deal to be on the front page anymore and in turn, further screw over the crews that kill it but have no money for that sort of thing. I think going that route, you'd actually hurt the majority of people who aren't getting noticed by giving them less of a shot to be on the front page because of less real estate due to sponsored videos.

nutz.plus, who wants the whole front page to be sponsored content? isn't the whole idea that the community votes on it? you'd make it into some sort of scheme where it's not a big deal to be on the front page anymore and in turn, further screw over the crews that kill it but have no money for that sort of thing. I think going that route, you'd actually hurt the majority of people who aren't getting noticed by giving them less of a shot to be on the front page because of less real estate due to sponsored videos.

Yeah that's actually all true for sure, makes sense haha. Plus at the end of the day, more ads = fewer happy people.

Alrighty then.

There's something in here that is a good idea. I don't know if we'd be able to simply have the ability to pay and automatically stick something to the top - and frankly I don't know if I'd want to charge regular members for this ability - but the concept is legit.

We've been testing a way to offer some people the ability to promote content in a dedicated column at the right of the homepage. As well, we've been toying with some concepts around returning to having a slider at the top of the homepage that would promote the best stuff and leave it up there a bit longer.

Again, I don't think I want to charge regular members to feature their content, but it would be good to get some ability back to internally highlight it. I think that the new homepage concept is fantastic for some things, but does lack some ability to make sure you know what is the really good stuff.

Mr.BishopThere's something in here that is a good idea. I don't know if we'd be able to simply have the ability to pay and automatically stick something to the top - and frankly I don't know if I'd want to charge regular members for this ability - but the concept is legit.

We've been testing a way to offer some people the ability to promote content in a dedicated column at the right of the homepage. As well, we've been toying with some concepts around returning to having a slider at the top of the homepage that would promote the best stuff and leave it up there a bit longer.

Again, I don't think I want to charge regular members to feature their content, but it would be good to get some ability back to internally highlight it. I think that the new homepage concept is fantastic for some things, but does lack some ability to make sure you know what is the really good stuff.

Right on, definitely see what you're saying. Good stuff.