One-time blog * Although advertisers pay XNUMX percent of what they would have paid for the same exposure to YNET or Walla, the knowledge site will continue to update the really important news
As the editor of the website, I was interviewed this evening (Tuesday) by Naftali Menashe in the Giga B program, the high-tech and Internet program of Network B. This is also the moment to bless the new program which includes, among other things, weekly reports on science in general and space in particular from network B reporters and site representatives (Shay Zucker from the Israel Astronomical Society).
I briefly told the circumstances of the birth of the site, which was one of the first on the web, the separation from IOL following the merger with Walla, and the contents of the site. This is really the place to thank the thousands of surfers who enter the site every day and look for hot news as well as news and research in the deep archive of the site, which (on both versions) has about 7,000 articles. I'm not sure that other sites have so far reviewed the higher education crisis, the human genome (beyond the hype of that moment), Ilan Ramon's mission before and after the disaster. It is clear that there was spot coverage for all of these events in all the media, but not in the depth that they received on the Ydan website.
I was then asked a seemingly trivial question, do I make a living from the site? Which seems reasonable for a unique site, if it were active for example in the English or French language. In Israel, science is worth one percent of astrology, at least in terms of publishers' money.
I didn't extend it, of course, but on this page I would be happy to share with you one of the biggest absurdities of the Internet in Israel, and you are welcome to respond in talkbacks. Don't worry, I will approve any message written by a person and not by a robot, the request for approval at least partially stems from the need to filter spam messages.
On days of events such as shuttle missions, solar eclipses, important announcements in the field of genomes, etc. The number of surfers is climbing. And all this practically voluntarily because even if you take today's advertising rates - $4 per thousand exposures, that's what you get at YNET or Vala. For some reason, the small sites are left with the delfond advertisers and the amount that eventually reaches a medium-sized site, does not allow for more than payment for storage and BLT payments. Where are the thousands of shekels that would have gone to the site if it belonged to one of the three media families? Why should small sites get XNUMX percent.?
Where is the Internet Association that will take care of the small sites instead of taking care of the wealthy? The only thing they could do was to double the annual renewal fees of the domains. What help can you provide the site owners for this doubling?
The biggest audacity are the interactive offices, and also the advertising networks that route advertisements of casinos and Spanish courses to such sites that pay one cent per thousand exposures and pay ridiculous amounts of NIS 50 per month and claim that if I allow pop-ups I can double the income (and lose half of the surfers)... And unfortunately, except for Google and Merlin, most of the advertising for the small sites goes through the same networks that cut more coupons along the way.
It is so upsetting to see that there are campaigns suitable for the site's target audience, but the coupons are only drawn by the representatives of the three media families in YNET, Walla and NRG. The excuse is simple - it's not worth talking to a hundred sites if you can talk to 4-5. Going after the masses and thus missing niches, that is, taking the methods that work on television and continuing on the Internet, like those who built the first cars built them in the form of a carriage, only without the horses.
I know that if the advertiser asks the interactive office for a certain website, they will advertise on it, it can't be a bunch of people who speak a funny language that they studied in an advertising school, if they translate it into correct Hebrew, it's a balloon gun full of hot air, and that all of their income comes from brokering between 4-5 clients to 4-5 media and not from real work, will determine the fate of the Israeli internet and replicate the success of the media families to it as well instead of increasing pluralism.
Another problem is that many people think of the Israeli public as shallow, and should only be provided with garbage, gossip or astrology. Unfortunately, those same people are also the ones sitting on the advertising faucets, and for some reason even the smart ones think that they are exceptional and therefore it is not worth investing in this sector.
So it's true that there is Google and Merlin (and today there was a press conference on the announcement of Google AdSense in Hebrew - even though the system has been operating for two years), but they are probably not a substitute for direct advertising to the target audience, and for partnering in campaigns based on the number of views rather than clicks, or worse, based on purchases and little else Will someone be found to make sure that the owners of the websites receive the fifth derivative from the advertising, is it fair for them to compromise on half of the rate paid to the big websites, but one percent, if they talk to us at all?
19 תגובות
Thanks, I calmed down.
I wrote that I wish the site would always remain and that it is one of the most interesting, challenging and important sites! that I know and that I will do as much as I can to recommend him at every opportunity. And if there is anything else I can do.. please tell me.
Sharon
If I didn't confirm, it means that it fell among a hundred of those that out of desperation I delete them all at once, and therefore may accidentally miss good responses.
I would be happy if you resend it.
Hello Sharon, I didn't mean to offend. I am attacked with responses that are supposed to be spam at best, and maybe also from sites that contain all kinds of trouble - of course I did not try to click on the links.
Just for the sake of an example, exactly together with your response, a response arrived that I am bringing without its links just for illustration. I receive 100 of these a day and they are stopped thanks to the approval request
Name: Joel Stacy | Email: joel_stacy@nycmail.com | Address: Deleted | IP: 201.28.145.44 | Date: 22-02-2007
Airplane porn. Auditorium porn scratch chifforobe airtight. Pic zonked aishwarya human porn. Rai porn aishwarya lined. Jasmine porn prospect aladdin and. Overlook adult porn. Aleksic delinquent seke self-proclaimed pornic. Pruning blue alektra star porn second. Year porn reno dane mammoth minority pic star complementary assessment alex. Porn unwell silver separate star storytelling alexis disliked.
Just out of curiosity (and maybe also a little insult) you wrote that you would approve any message as long as it's not from a robot (and as far as I know I'm not, at least not mechanical) and you didn't approve mine.. why?
Sharon Alexander is a very old reader.
Hello my dear father
I have been a regular reader of the site for a long time and enjoy its content on a daily basis. I don't usually respond, but sometimes you have to say a good word!! Your work is holy work. The field of science in all its aspects unfortunately occupies a tiny part of the daily routine of the average reader and it's a shame.. Reading your articles the stimulation and interest they create move the wheels of science and inject new forces into the system. Unfortunately, we live in a world of money and are motivated by it, but don't forget the great contribution of you and your website.
Thank you so much!!
I'm not looking for millions, I just think that a medium-scale site doesn't need favors to hire employees and improve, and also for example to allow me to spend time and go to important events at universities that today I can't go to because of the other jobs I have to do.
The responses speak for themselves... there is no second to the science site.
As with everything, reality is hard to find and that is why sites of this type are called "reality".
I'm sure that in time some strategic investor will come (maybe even one of those you mentioned in the article) and give you 5 million dollars to enter into a partnership, and turn the site into a commercial one.
Until that happens, surfers will continue to enjoy the non-commercial science site, after it becomes commercial, we'll manage somehow...
Well,
A. Thanks for a great quality site. It's a pleasure to renew every morning with science news in Hebrew. I have been a subscriber for almost a year.
B. In my opinion the site does not look good. If you would like help/consultation in the design of the website, I would be happy to help (I assume you have my email). Good design will keep more readers.
third. You come with complaints to the advertisers/intermediaries, and this seems to me a mistake. If they miss a market - grab it yourself and make a profit! But it is more likely that they know what they are doing.
d. Maybe there is a place to think about different sources of income from advertising. Maybe a reader contribution? Maybe institutional support (universities, government offices)?
Successfully!
To firm
It doesn't seem like the things you suggested will help, no one is willing to pay for content in the field of science. It's gotten to the point of absurdity that NRG and MSN are hiring people to write a mystic site. I can't even hire myself let alone another translator which is essential if you want to not miss any important news on a given day, which unfortunately happens a lot.
Regarding the sipa of your first response, it is better to click only on relevant ads that interest you and not to mess with Google. It's good to have them anyway. For years the situation was much worse - even these few percentages did not reach me.
To Oron - everyone knows the site and sends material to it, starting with the speakers of the universities, the Ministry of Science, the science museums, the aviation industry, but when it comes to advertising - it's not them, it's Poptitz. Even in the case that a certain university advertised with me for a month, it took a year to convince the Advertising Ministry (LAPM) that there was no mistake, even though the person who spoke was also responsible for the budget. The same exposure, that is, from here it is clear why by the time it reaches the site, there are a few tens of shekels left.
Apart from scratching out the hairs that I no longer have, it's hard for me to think of a solution. It's not a conspiracy, it's just a misconception that can't be changed, what's more, advertising agencies usually get employees who can't do anything else, more useful to the company. Sites of this kind are not interesting to them.
My father is strong and courageous.
Not a day goes by that I don't visit this site. If the site was paid I'm sure I would pay for it.
Strong.
Father, be strong and courageous.
Don't be discouraged despite the difficulties, "Hidan" is one of a kind in Israel and provides a lot of information on a variety of topics.
Regarding advertising - if the advertisers don't come to you, go to them,
Prepare an information leaflet about the site and on that occasion prepare a survey regarding the population visiting it (put it on the main page) and provide the site profile to the relevant bodies: high-tech and science placement companies, universities and colleges (regarding open days and registration), high-tech companies that recruit employees.
Such exposure could in the long run result in a demand from these entities for publication on the "Hidan" website as well.
post Scriptum.
In the case of a media appearance, the audio/video recordings can be uploaded to the website.
Avi Shalom,
First of all, congratulations on the interesting and in-depth website and congratulations on the first decade!
(I reach the site through the RSS reader if you remember I suggested at the time that you join the use of technology).
From the interesting market analysis you did, one idea that occurred to me is that the niche sites should be organized in a sort of "container union" that competes with the supermarkets.
Also, as a content provider, you should create more collaborations, in exchange for sharing advertising profits and/or royalties for the content, with portals, network newspapers (I noticed you have one with YNET), bank websites and cell phone companies - on the internet site and on the cell internet.
It is also possible to consider the employment of marketing and advertising experts (results derivation) who will advise and help implement.
Maybe it's time for a little more publicity. Besides the science program on network B, there is also Tal Berman's program on cable and so on, have you appeared at Odette's yet? Idea: A decade project that will review the progress in the areas covered in this document.
As a unique supplier of science news from Israel, you can try to cooperate with entities such as the Jerusalem Post and the Ministry of Information, to translate content and distribute it around the world.
It may be possible to request crumbs from the sectoral culture and education support budgets.
More for the purpose of exposure, but also as a small income, you can dedicate a small corner to commercialization where they will sell the site's t-shirts or cups that will contain themes from it (perhaps for a collaboration with original T-shirt designers who work in Tel Aviv - space photos, nano illustrations).
For my part, I will try to go through the site more and click on the links to advertisements.
my father.
There is no doubt that your holy work is appreciated by many people who are the right people.
The problem is this: today it is difficult for advertisers to work with niche sites. They prefer to work with the big sites. It is more convenient and safer. It's hard for them to justify to their customers investing in niche sites that many don't actually know...
I assume that this will change in the coming years and the advertisers will get used to working in the internet medium and will also come to the science site.
I think that now with Google AdSense it will be easier for you. You should install it.
In any case - we are behind you!
Avi - one of the best sites on the Israeli web and in general. Well done! (I've been visiting here for at least 5 years)
Ori
Thank you for maintaining the site at this level over time.
Let's hope that the advertising model in Israel will change - and although I am not knowledgeable in the field - different marketing from the usual (perhaps direct marketing to smaller advertisers or word of mouth marketing) will be able to finance such an initiative so that it will not only be useful but also profitable.
Probably, with my assessment of you and the site, you won't be able to go to the supermarket, but my hope is that the mission you carry out is satisfying to some extent.
1. Really a shame. It's also a shame that the overwhelming majority of the public (and correct me if I'm wrong) is not interested in science and moreover - tends to walk away in a panic as soon as they come across an in-depth or technical publication or just simply of a scientific nature. In short, it's a shame that so few people value their and everyone else's most valuable asset - the brain.
2. Nothing will help. The strong (the fit one should say) survives, just like in nature, and so does the economy work - just like evolution (in my opinion, so does all society and culture, and when you look at it with a sufficiently comprehensive and broad view across all cultures and over sufficiently long periods of time, they can be seen as an evolutionary process) so that every What remains, my father, is to adapt the site (in the most appropriate way) to the environmental conditions. and hence 3.
3. In my opinion, it is possible to publish in a way that is pleasing to the eye without descending to the level of other sites, things relevant to the site's content, for example: binoculars and telescopes for enthusiasts... and the like... Well, I don't have any additional ideas at the moment, but the principle is understandable, isn't it? You can find similar ways, the main thing is to maintain it. This is an important asset in itself for the Israeli network in my opinion. The site itself needs more extensive publicity in my opinion.
By the way, I have a feeling that since the format change, a lot less people respond and it's a shame. The reason surely lies in this part - writing the response. It's not that suddenly less people are interested in commenting, but that something in the new format of writing the comment is discouraging in some way, even if it seems ridiculous (anyone can put out a name and email, and still...).