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Featured Replies

  • Popular Post

It was not lost on me that the last year and trailing 3 months in particular has essentially made the site unusable when not being treefiddy or legacy member. Ads have been completely turned off for now but want the community's feedback on how to reintroduce something non invasive that will capture the massive amount of traffic to apply it to the good of Texas Sports. 

If you want to vent about the experience you've had this is the thread.

I'm not sitting here asking for money to run the site or burnt ends, those things are taken care of from the wonderful Treefiddy subscribers and Burnt Ends members.

Ads were to fund community events and our NIL slush fund for deals outside of Burnt Ends. That strategy has failed and we are pivoting away from display ads and want to move towards some other form to support those efforts without ruining the experience of the community. I'm open to ideas, we have the ability to donate to NIL specifically here: https://www.surlyhorns.com/board/clients/donations/

You can also donate to the tailgate and other community events in that link or without an account using this link: https://www.surlyhorns.com/board/tailgate

We now have food and beverage sponsors with the combined NIL Mega tailgate which reduces the burden on the community some, but we still need to fund away watch parties, and really ramp up support for sports outside of football, especially our volleyball team who has a dedicated following on the board. 

My advice would be to fix the recurring server issues before we get too worried about fancy advertising. 

  • Author
Just now, Kennythetiger said:

My advice would be to fix the recurring server issues before we get too worried about fancy advertising. 

The search cluster is fixed now. I migrated it yesterday and this rebuild should have us in a good spot for a while. Search borking has been very annoying, but its obviously a critical part of the site experience. 

Just now, SquishMitten said:

I’m not entirely sure what question you’re asking. 

Because you haven't had ads in years. Lol 

I'm Treefiddy cause ads are bad, m'kay? Maybe sell forum sponsorships that rotate so nobody gets stuck with a particular forum. 

Is partnering specifically with UT affiliated products or services an option? I don't know but some sort of affiliate marketing with UT gear sellers or just primarily Austin based companies? Though I don't know the demographics/locations of my fellow degenerates.

But if it's just events related - local sponsors who maybe get to distribute shitty swag or have a booth in the bar restroom pitching their wares.

And in general, I don't know shit about fuck because I'm the asshole who only used the Brave browser here because it blocked all the ads since they were giant AIDS covered donkey dicks slapping me in my face.

  • Popular Post

Charge $10 to make a new username with posting privileges, at least until Chrispy / Animal x Nicotine Source goes the fuck away.  

Dealing with ads wouldn't be any worse than having to navigate through the mass of off topic banter to get to meaningful discussion of sports.

  • Author
2 minutes ago, gofuckyourself said:

Is partnering specifically with UT affiliated products or services an option? I don't know but some sort of affiliate marketing with UT gear sellers or just primarily Austin based companies? Though I don't know the demographics/locations of my fellow degenerates.

But if it's just events related - local sponsors who maybe get to distribute shitty swag or have a booth in the bar restroom pitching their wares.

And in general, I don't know shit about fuck because I'm the asshole who only used the Brave browser here because it blocked all the ads since they were giant AIDS covered donkey dicks slapping me in my face.

You can use a normal browser now lol

I would take the term "slush fund" out of your post.its innocent WE know but some of the IR8, or aggy will report it as proof the Longhorns are doing something shady or illegal.

See: Blacklab vs. Daiquiri maggot, and the phrase "tree-fiddy".

4 minutes ago, Homercles said:

Charge $10 to make a new username with posting privileges, at least until Chrispy / Animal x Nicotine Source goes the fuck away.  

Seconded.

  • Author
Just now, SHOOTER12 said:

I would take the term "slush fund" out of your post.its innocent WE know but some of the IR8, or aggy will report it as proof the Longhorns are doing something shady or illegal.

See: Blacklab vs. Daiquiri maggot, and the phrase "tree-fiddy".

This is compliant, because it goes into a fund allocated to real deals that surly does with a player. It's not a payment to a player facilitated by surly. Already talked through it with UT. 

The ads were cpmplete aids for any lurkers/visitors browsing the site on a mobile device.  I suspect the simple act of removing them is going to increase traffic on the site.  Non-invasive (banner or sticky thread) advertising for sponsorships would be my suggestion as it doesn't curb interest in the site from visitors.

  • Popular Post
10 minutes ago, RPM said:

I'm Treefiddy cause ads are bad, m'kay? Maybe sell forum sponsorships that rotate so nobody gets stuck with a particular forum. 

IPIHB, brought to you by Sharpie

  • Author
  • Popular Post
2 minutes ago, bernorange said:

The ads were cpmplete aids for any lurkers/visitors browsing the site on a mobile device.  I suspect the simple act of removing them is going to increase traffic on the site.  Non-invasive (banner or sticky thread) advertising for sponsorships would be my suggestion as it doesn't curb interest in the site from visitors.

This is the current plan. 

1 minute ago, tx ind said:

IPIHB, brought to you by Sharpie

Exceptions can be made.

1 minute ago, immamac said:

This is compliant, because it goes into a fund allocated to real deals that surly does with a player. It's not a payment to a player facilitated by surly. Already talked through it with UT. 

I believe you 1000%, but was thinking how the word slush has negative connotations.  aggy would love going to the NCAA saying looky, looky we told you. All apparently easily disproved but could still be a major pain in the ass. But sounds like you've got your bases covered. Maybe I'm just a little paranoid this early in the morning,  lol.

Also... Not sure how the surly email is configured, but I for one would not mind receiving a monthly (off season) or weekly (football season) surlyhorns (plain text, not html) email "newsletter" with sponsorships (text ads) in it. 

2 minutes ago, SHOOTER12 said:

aggy would love going to the NCAA saying looky, looky we told you.

shit, they would just show a picture from a Surly tailgate 

\

5 minutes ago, Firemans4Horn said:

The ads in cloak room are the worst of any site I’ve ever visited on mobile. 

This would be my feedback - it's essentially non-functional on mobile. 

BUT - Im not complaining because it's basically indefensible that I'm not a Treefiddy member. 

OK, so it's a question about generating revenue without tons of ads. Here's my idea:

1) Create a hefty advertising budget from existing funds in the Burnt Ends account.

2) Use those funds solely to advertise on Surly.

3) Surly takes that money and puts it into the Burnt Ends fund.

4)  Profit.

  • Author
7 minutes ago, Firemans4Horn said:

The ads in cloak room are the worst of any site I’ve ever visited on mobile. 

This was the experience for everyone on every forum that wasn't legacy or treefiddy. It basically was alienating the community. 

I will make a new account and go treefiddy if you would permaban futureman.

7 minutes ago, immamac said:

This was the experience for everyone on every forum that wasn't legacy or treefiddy. It basically was alienating the community. 


I Dont Know Idris Elba GIF by Ovation TV

  • Popular Post

Can you reduce the number of penis reduction ads, or am I the only one getting those?

There's this one guy that took over a social media platform then struggled with revenue. I think he just started charging people 8 bucks a month and that made everyone happy 🤷‍♂️

  • Author
Just now, JMFP said:

There's this one guy that took over a social media platform then struggled with revenue. I think he just started charging people 8 bucks a month and that made everyone happy 🤷‍♂️

We don't have a revenue problem, we want to drive more actual engagement from fans to teams and players on those teams. 

3 minutes ago, immamac said:

We don't have a revenue problem, we want to drive more actual engagement from fans to teams and players on those teams. 

What about opening the archive (or a few episodes) of Burnt Ends game recaps/podcasts to all users on a delayed basis.

That would provide immediate value for joining and being a part of burnt ends (Members get access when most relevant) and allow the non users to see some additional value to them of joining the program.

We just need to start an OnlyFans page that features Surly members.

5 minutes ago, txhorns said:

We just need to start an OnlyFans page that features Surly members.

I think that you are on to something -- plus more @Nicole44 and @immamac AMA events.

Edited by DalTxHornFan

I'm OK with a site containing ads.  What grilled me a bit about the ads on surly were the constant pop out video ads and particularly the ones that took up the entirety of the screen warning me about a computer virus, requiring me to back out of the page to get back to the content.  I've never seen ads like that on any other site I've ever been on.

Surly would be an ideal place for Longhorn-connected companies or those selling Longhorn gear could advertise without abusing the eyes too much.  It may be less money than the previous ad mix brought in.  But it would be something going to a good cause and more relevant to our interests.

I don’t know but this thread made me realize i needed to re-subscribe to treefiddy. 

I got logged out for some reason and the ads aids were so bad they would cover the login button after I entered username and password. I dont know how anyone that isn't treefidy or legacy even looked at the site. 

I don't know if anyone pays for banner ads anymore,  but they are the only ones I can stand. All the middle of page and auto scroll and auto play garbage out there made me switch to duck duck go.  There are some sites that it doesn't play well with and several newspapers that auto boot me. Fuck em. 

Just sell all our personal data to Russian bots like everyone else. 

1 hour ago, Firemans4Horn said:

The ads in cloak room are the worst of any site I’ve ever visited on mobile. 

Yep, and I'm Tree Fiddy, so I'm still not sure why I see them at all?

Not a huge deal -- I just generally stay off of that part of the board unless I'm on my laptop.

Overall, this site kicks all kinds of ass, and I appreciate that it rarely crashes, even during games.

Edited by TexArcher

I don't do much complaining,  but the only reason I'm not a tree fiddy member is because it won't work with my debit card,  and going to set up a PayPal account,  or some other account,  is not gonna happen (fucking fuck PayPal's motherfucking whole existence)

Maybe you could fix that to drive more memberships/revenue 

  • Author
2 minutes ago, SKJ said:

I don't do much complaining,  but the only reason I'm not a tree fiddy member is because it won't work with my debit card,  and going to set up a PayPal account,  or some other account,  is not gonna happen (fucking fuck PayPal's motherfucking whole existence)

Maybe you could fix that to drive more memberships/revenue 

I added google pay/apple pay as options. You can always hit me up out of band and do ACH payments through stripe as well I just have to send you a custom invoice. 

1 hour ago, SHOOTER12 said:

I would take the term "slush fund" out of your post.its innocent WE know but some of the IR8, or aggy will report it as proof the Longhorns are doing something shady or illegal.

See: Blacklab vs. Daiquiri maggot, and the phrase "tree-fiddy".

@South Austin, are you paying attention?  This is how you correctly cite precedence. 

1 hour ago, immamac said:

This is the current plan. 

Good. Thank you. I might actually become Tree Fiddy now. I’d like to provide some semblance of appreciation to you, but the ads had killed any goodwill. 

I am glad you’re doing this. It will definitely improve the experience, and drastically so. There were many times I just stopped trying to post and thought it was an intentional effort to get people to not participate. 

There will be significantly more traffic now. 

1 hour ago, Guest Lurker said:

I will make a new account and go treefiddy if you would permaban futureman.

If you do this, I’m out. If you don’t, I’ll triple whatever this assclown would do. @futureman

Lurker here.  Just wanted to join the chorus to say that ads on mobile make the site very hard to use at times.  Either the page crashes while the ads load, or sometimes an ad will cover the whole page with no ability to close it. 

Whoever has the most rep points in the next calendar year gets a case of OG 4Loko and a HJ.

39 minutes ago, txhorns said:

We just need to start an OnlyFans page that features Surly members.

leaf blower spinning GIF  spacer.pngFun Whatever GIF by GoonsofBalatroon

34 minutes ago, immamac said:

I added google pay/apple pay as options. You can always hit me up out of band and do ACH payments through stripe as well I just have to send you a custom invoice. 

I was not aware of this.  I will tree fitty today

Thanks

42 minutes ago, TexArcher said:

Yep, and I'm Tree Fiddy, so I'm still not sure why I see them at all?

 

Are you sure?  It doesn't show Tree Fiddy under your name.  

I have no ideas.  Good Luck.  We are all counting on you.

1 hour ago, hornbri said:

I don’t know but this thread made me realize i needed to re-subscribe to treefiddy. 

I had to re-up with Burnt Ends. I thought I was still paying, but new season or something. 

Removing the ads will significantly improve traffic.  I would also work to stop the political creep out of the cloak room.  I used to enjoy reading the Daily Texan board but never look at it any more because the same folks (captainant, ygifs, etc..) find a way to turn every discussion of a current event into something political.  Shit is tiresome and politics seems to reign supreme in every corner of life these days.  Provide a place for people to get away from it and don't let it creep on to other boards.

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