Yup ... a small percentage of anything bought on the site, but you have to go through the link on Cyburbia. I don't remember the percentage, though ... I think it's 5% to 10%, depending on the item.

Hosting is $40 a month (I pay for two hosting packages, because of the site's traffic and storage requirements), and software ... well, $45 for pMachine (the blogging program) last week. I've also got to drop some bucks to get the Gallery database repaired so the thumbnail function works again. I perform most site maintenance from home, so there's also the cost of residential broadband. Cyburbia has never been a profit-making venture; it was always a personal endeavor, so

There's a cookie placed on the HD when you visit the Amazon site, so it knows you came from Cyburbia, and I can get my cut of any sales.

Cyburbia already places a cookie on your HD when you visit the Forums, but it just contains login details.

IMHO, the Amazon ads are fairly non-obtrisve, but I'd like to find a way to place them so the page header doesn't become so long. The ads aren't animated, and they're for planning-related books. CONSUME! CONSUME!

Tranplanner · Jan 29, 2003

I don't have a problem with the ads Dan. I'm just glad they're for planning-related books, and not for internet casinos, dating sites, or "penile-enhancement" services.

Chet · Jan 29, 2003

Dan said:
IMHO, the Amazon ads are fairly non-obtrisve, but I'd like to find a way to place them so the page header doesn't become so long. The ads aren't animated, and they're for planning-related books. CONSUME! CONSUME!

I agree. Income is good, my capitalist friend. Down side - with my crappy work monitor, all I get is the header and ad, and have to scroll down to see "anything"

PlannerGirl · Jan 29, 2003

AI dont mind the ads and might find something intresting to read. Damn i read too much already it seems!

thanks Dan!

el Guapo · Jan 29, 2003

I like them. I'd be glad to do my Christmas shopping next year through Cyburbia. If you added a Crutchfield, eBay and Volvo Parts banner you could possibly support Cyburbia on my net purchases alone.

FYI I do get a big persistent runtime error on the main page for Cyburbia.

Chet · Jan 29, 2003

El Guapo said:
I like them. I'd be glad to do my Christmas shopping next year through Cyburbia. If you added a Crutchfield, eBay and Volvo Parts banner you could possible support Cyburbia on my net purchases alone.

FYI I do get a big persistent runtime error on the main page for Cyburbia.

EG - Did you see the news story about the 1,000,000 mile Volvo?

I still remember about 15 years ago it was news when that car hit 750,000 ...

Very cool

Dan · Jan 29, 2003

bturk said:
Down side - with my crappy work monitor, all I get is the header and ad, and have to scroll down to see "anything"

Amazon has an ad that's smaller and more square-shaped, which I'm considering. It would be placed at the right end of the announcement header, and it should reduce the length of the total header. I can also shrink the size of the announcement header text.

Dan · Jan 29, 2003

El Guapo said:
FYI I do get a big persistent runtime error on the main page for Cyburbia.

http://www.cyburbia.org/undea.html ? Did that just start? If that's the case, I'll be able to fix it tonight.

Planderella · Jan 29, 2003

I noticed that sometimes when I log on to Cyburbia, an additional ad screen pops up. It's happened quite a few times, but I never thought much of it until now.

el Guapo · Jan 29, 2003

bturk said:
EG - Did you see the news story about the 1,000,000 mile Volvo?

I still remember about 15 years ago it was news when that car hit 750,000 ...

Very cool

http://www.vcoa.org/irv_o_meter.shtml - 2 Million now!

Dan · Jan 29, 2003

Planderella said:
I noticed that sometimes when I log on to Cyburbia, an additional ad screen pops up. It's happened quite a few times, but I never thought much of it until now.

Cyburbia doesn't have pop-up ads! POP-UP ADS ARE A TOOL OF SATAN! I use a pop-up blocker at home, and I encourage others to do the same.

You've got spyware on your computer, and/or you're accessing a page that included some Javascript that will pop up an ad shortly after you leave the site.

I just realized something ... I can get commission when someone buys a Segway through Cyburbia! Stock up now!

el Guapo · Jan 29, 2003

Dan said:
http://www.cyburbia.org/undea.html ? Did that just start? If that's the case, I'll be able to fix it tonight.

Yeah - Started this morning - it is several instances - let me check. Lines 392, 395, 398, 401, 404, 407,410,413. That is it.

PlannerGirl · Jan 29, 2003

no pop ups or errors here

Tranplanner · Jan 29, 2003

None here either.

Planderella · Jan 29, 2003

Dan said:
Cyburbia doesn't have pop-up ads! POP-UP ADS ARE A TOOL OF SATAN! I use a pop-up blocker at home, and I encourage others to do the same.

You've got spyware on your computer, and/or you're accessing a page that included some Javascript that will pop up an ad shortly after you leave the site.

Probably....I'm somewhat careless with my work 'puter.

Chet · Jan 29, 2003

Dan said:
I just realized something ... I can get commission when someone buys a Segway through Cyburbia! Stock up now!

Budgie will make you rich.

Dan · Jan 29, 2003

bturk said:
Budgie will make you rich.

Leawood, Kansas address. Budgie could probably get a Segway for every room of the house.

Habanero · Jan 29, 2003

do you get a cut of only the planning related books, or can I also go to links off of the amazon website and buy books too? If that's the case I was going to stop off at Borders on the way home, but if Cyburbia gets a cut I'll try to find the books through them.

Wannaplan? · Jan 29, 2003

Dan said:
Yup ... a small percentage of anything bought on the site, but you have to go through the link on Cyburbia. I don't remember the percentage, though ... I think it's 5% to 10%, depending on the item.

Hosting is $40 a month (I pay for two hosting packages, because of the site's traffic and storage requirements), and software ... well, $45 for pMachine (the blogging program) last week. I've also got to drop some bucks to get the Gallery database repaired so the thumbnail function works again. I perform most site maintenance from home, so there's also the cost of residential broadband. Cyburbia has never been a profit-making venture; it was always a personal endeavor, so

There's a cookie placed on the HD when you visit the Amazon site, so it knows you came from Cyburbia, and I can get my cut of any sales.

Cyburbia already places a cookie on your HD when you visit the Forums, but it just contains login details.

IMHO, the Amazon ads are fairly non-obtrisve, but I'd like to find a way to place them so the page header doesn't become so long. The ads aren't animated, and they're for planning-related books. CONSUME! CONSUME!

Thanks Dan. Nice selection of books, by the way. Who chooses which ones will be featured on the ads: you or a predetermined list generated by the folks at Amazon?

You know, you invited us to do some blogging when you get the blogger software up and running. In thinking about it, I notice that I have read many of the books featured on those ads. Perhaps I could do my own planning book review blog. Of course, that could be redundant since Amazon already is a great resource for book reviews - I always go to Amazon to get reviews on a book before I go to the local B&N to make my purchase. Anybody else out there also use Amazon as a book review site before going to the local bookstore?

Dan · Jan 29, 2003

TexasPlanner said:
do you get a cut of only the planning related books, or can I also go to links off of the amazon website and buy books too? If that's the case I was going to stop off at Borders on the way home, but if Cyburbia gets a cut I'll try to find the books through them.

We get a cut of everything!

Beaner said:
Thanks Dan. Nice selection of books, by the way. Who chooses which ones will be featured on the ads: you or a predetermined list generated by the folks at Amazon?

The book selection changes when you reload the page, or visit another page with the same banner. It generates the titles from the best selling books that include the term "urban planning" as keywords in their database.

I did have the "Bookstore," which was hand-coded. Amazon's associate tools have vastly improved over the past few years, and I'm updating the site to take advantage of them.

Chet · Jan 29, 2003

WE?

Dan · Jan 29, 2003

bturk said:
WE?

Well, "we" being "Cyburbia." If I get enough revenue, I'll buy a round in Denver.

Cardinal · Jan 29, 2003

Beaner said:
You know, you invited us to do some blogging when you get the blogger software up and running. In thinking about it, I notice that I have read many of the books featured on those ads. Perhaps I could do my own planning book review blog. Of course, that could be redundant since Amazon already is a great resource for book reviews - I always go to Amazon to get reviews on a book before I go to the local B&N to make my purchase. Anybody else out there also use Amazon as a book review site before going to the local bookstore?

Hey, what about a blog to critique planning research that may not necessarily be available from Amazon? I am thinking of reports by organizations from Brookings to the Sierra Club. Many of these are available free, online.

Another idea may be a blog to critique plans. Go out and download somebody's new "Smart Growth" plan and offer us an insight on it.

Dan · Jan 29, 2003

Michael Stumpf said:
Another idea may be a blog to critique plans. Go out and download somebody's new "Smart Growth" plan and offer us an insight on it.

You can always crit plans in one of the appropriate sub-forums here, ya' know!

Wannaplan? · Feb 10, 2003

What's going on with Amazon?

Dan said:
IThe ads aren't animated, and they're for planning-related books. CONSUME! CONSUME!

Dan, this ad wasn't for planning related books. What's going on?

Wannaplan? · Feb 10, 2003

Better resolution:

Dan · Feb 10, 2003

About one out of every ten or twenty ads will be for the apparel thing. It sucks ... I know. I can't do anything about it.

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