I'm a bit curious, is this site for-profit or non-profit? It looks like a site that would be best if it was non-profit, but the ads are everywhere and makes me think someone is in control and making money here. Which is it?

Love the site,
Tonya Birding
I.T. Specialist

I dont know whether this is a profit or a non-profit website. But I am sure, that the purpose of these ads is to gain revenue for keeping the website up and running.

I have read somewhere, these click based ads yeild from 10 cents to 5$ per click based on conditions.
And this site has provided the best support possible with a group of excellent experts and members answering questions.

i can assure you that ads are not everywhere... we, or rather, Jeremy, needs to support the daily runnign of the site, but i can assure you it is not for profit in any way. and... so what if it is? i see no popups, no intrusive flash ads, not intermediate ad redirection pages... do you appreciate just how much bandwidth it takes to run THE largest independent Linux help forum in the known universe?

Maybe if you could provide a reason as to 1) why you assume this site is run for profit and 2) why you think this is having a negative effect on the site, we can go from there.

To elaborate on what Chris said, we're certainly not a 501(c)(3) if that's what your asking. We don't currently generate much of a profit and no where near enough to cover the cost of the hardware that we are in need of. For many years the costs came directly out of my pocket in fact. I also agree that ads are certainly not "all over the place" and we do everything we can to strike a balance. We could make much more than we do but 1) that's not the focus and 2) I always put members before revenue and am extremely selective with what we'll run. All that being said, to reiterate what was said above - why would it matter?

--jeremy

yeah- at least they are unobtrusive. Infact, when I turn 18, I'll be able to put google ads on my site. and, I will be following the principles that this site uses.

Not for profit doesn't mean that it means "we live of the air, no evil money touches our clean white fingers.." Bandwidth costs money. Domainname maintenence costs money. harddrive space costs money.

So, to stop jeremy from going broke and closing this great site down, there are a few ads. This doesn't mean that he lives in a mansion with one ferari for each day of the week. He still has to work another job. (right?)

None of the mods get paid- we are all here voluntarily. (not that I'm a mod- it's just that everyone who helps out here donates their time.)


titanium_geek

in fact, except going to work, rob banks, most things are not done for the money

Certainly jeremy's answer is authoritative, and although I have no insight into any of the administrative or maintenance aspects of LQ, there still are two useful points I think are worth making. First, LQ is and always has been 100% volunteer-based, and pretty much operates purely on the basis of donations, whether they happen to be monetary or otherwise. In other words, every single member of LQ is here simply because of his or her interest in Linux, and is volunteering to participate in their spare time, so any notions that LQ is somehow raking in buckets of cash as a result is just wishful thinking. The reality is that LQ started out as a small project that has steadily gained in popularity over the past few years, with jeremy more or less absorbing all the costs along the way himself.

Secondly, as the site has grown to its present state, with a global presence and literally hundreds of thousands of members, those costs (for equipment, bandwidth, data storage, etc) have also grown substantially, and while there may be some modest amount of income derived from the ads (which BTW I also consider to be not at all intrusive) I'm sure it would represent only a small fraction of the overall total, and doesn't really defray the costs. With that in mind, I would encourage all LQ'ers to consider becoming a Contributing Member which not only would help LQ directly but also comes with a few fringe benefits. If you have found LQ to be helpful, please consider helping LQ by showing your support with a yearly or monthly subscription, or perhaps just by tossing a couple of bucks into the tip jar. It will make a difference.

I have been involved in the running of a major website before with a forum that is of comparable size to LinuxQuestions and I know what the bandwidth costs were.

/me shudders to think

At any rate, if you don't like the ads and feel like helping jeremy out with costs a little, cough up and be a Contributing Member. We get notified about new features to the site first, no ads and then there's that warm fuzzy feeling inside

Why would it matter if it WAS for profit? It's an excellent site!

Hi,

I really appreciate what LQ is doing for all those linux buffs out there....this is the website that showers a lot of warmth and affection to every member, whether a newbie or an experienced linux guru..so even if these guys earn some profit in due course, it is justified..and in a way it is necessary also...responses that i have gotten so far r quick and quite helping, so one dosent need to look out anywhere else most of the times..

I appreciate the efforts of all moderators and the entire LQ staff...guys, just keep on the fantastic work....my best wishes to everyone in LQ community

Regards,

Amit

Wait a minute. We don't get paid? That takes the shine off Jeremy's offer to double my salary

As an admin of a site myself, I can tell you: if you want to make real money off ads, you'd have to wait till you're a hundred years old...

It's to cover a fraction of the costs of running any site. You'll never get anywhere near a profit because ads don't generate that kind of revenue. Period!

Supposedly there's a guy who claims to be a professional blogger who claims he makes a 6 figure income from the ads on his blogs.

His name isn't Jeremy Wright is it?

No matter what - this site just flat out rocks ! I hope the people that run this site get some kind of kick-back cause they have helped me and so many others.

I realy dont think anyone is going to get rich with a few ads and it seems to be done just right here at LQ.

You guys just keep up the great work 'cause us newb's need you. Thank you.