We're not about to stop offering the free magazine with ads, we're just trying to see if there's enough demand that we should be offering some ad-free options as well.

We're guessing the answer is no, but you don't know if you don't ask!

I think it bears repeating.  I think that if you offer a version of the magazine without the advertising content for a subscription price, you will probably appear to offer less value to your advertisers who are paying the bills.  I don't think you would pick up enough paid subscriptions to offset the loss of advertising revenue.  As things stand right now, you can go to a potential advertiser and show him how many subscribers you have, as well as show him how you put the little target in all of their ads allowing anyone reading the magazine to go from the magazine directly to their web site.  There is just a lot of added value that I think you can offer an advetiser over any other format, unless of course, the advertiser doesn't have any sort of internet pressence.  I would be very cautious about messing with the formula.

Russ:

I basically agree with you, but one thing you will find about me is I don't sit on my laurels. I keep poking at things and keep checking to see if there's a better way to go.

Not messing with the formula is good if the formula is optimum. I think our formula is near-optimum but I also never want to be closed to other options.

The problem with never considering other options is that you can end up getting trounced by competition. Any print magazine that says "don't mess with the formula" because it would canabalize their current business is going to lose out in the long run.

I'm not like that, so I'm checking the viability of other options. I suspect you're right, but it never hurts to ask - and as King Solomon says in the Bible, "there's wisdom in many counselors".

That is exactly the response I expected from you.  I am not privy to Winding Road e-zines finances or advertizing revenue stream, but I have noticed that since they started offering a paid ad free subscription, that the site has emphasized the pay options a lot more than the free version.  It makes me think that they may have offended some advertisers.

on this subject, but no additional votes here.  That may not be an issue since I'm sure you read through all responses in all of the threads on this forum, but it might be worthwhile to combine both threads into one.

Joe, I can see little value in folks paying to download an article that they can get for free simply by downloading additional material (the whole magazine).

Unless you took the time to group certain articles, like Les's fantastic. Roundhouse series, and offer that as a completed set for $1.99. You may get some takers for that.

....that all this additional "options" to view MRH, will distract from the focus on providing the monthly issues.  If I understood other threads concerning MRH's publishing schedule, the strain going from bimonthly to monthly was going to place on the staff.  If now additional time needs to be spent to prepare and make available these articles as seperate downloads, what would happen to the overall quality of MRH??? The MRH owner(s) and staff seems to have enough on it's plate, so why add to it? 

Ken L.

As a person who views unwanted sales pitches on everything from hemorrhoid relief to ED an unwanted invasion of my privacy, not to mention my sensibilities, I mute ALL commercials (except the funny ones like Gieko), "debone" all magazines without looking at the ads and suppress all pop ups on my computer to the extent possible and I won't buy from anyone whose pop up I can't suppress. If I want whatever they are trying to peddle, I'll search them out and I'll contact them.

Having said that, I consider the click-able ads in MRH to be just one more benefit in an already content laden magazine. I regularly click on MRH sponsor ads to see what's new and buy from them whenever possible to show my appreciation for their financial involvement in this cutting edge venue. A tip of the hat to all MRH sponsors.

I read MR and RMC from cover to cover multiple times as well and occasionally go to a manufacturer's website as a result of an ad.

The fact that the ad revenue keeps MRH free is just one more bonus. My 2 cents worth: Don't change a thing.