The original post was an assembly of thoughts from the fantastic team helping to keep CTH level and steady. It was accidentally published prior to my review.. /SD.
The Treehouse previously operated on the WordPress/Automattic platform without a lot of fanfare; a genuine labor of love. At first it was just a blogging platform, but as technology became more sophisticated, things got better for you, the loyal reader and the admin team. Specifically, CTH was able to monetize the site with advertising, which allowed me to spend more time doing research, writing articles and managing the direct concerns of the readers. Running ads was a checkbox, we turned it on and it just worked.
It’s safe to say that we were unaware of the amount of technical value, managing day to day technical issues, that blogging platforms like WordPress.com delivered. That all changed when CTH was deplatformed by Matt Mullenweg’s WordPress.com.
Fortunately, the software that operated the site was “open-source,” which means we had the option of moving the whole site to new servers without a lot of TECHNICAL issues. It was was really the scale of content and the goal to preserve the decades-long library (w/internal citations) that provided the greatest challenge. However, keeping the machines running is a different game when every page view now comes at a cost.
Within the migration process we also discovered the dynamic of cost driven by the commenting system; the conversation on the porch about the stories, research and analysis. As we have often repeated: it is the conversation that matters; that conversation is your comments and fellowship.
These lessons about self-hosting a website have been very expensive. It turns out the popularity of the site requires a six-digit annual budget just to maintain the technical status quo. Independent server costs, the cache system, the CDN and bandwidth allotments, the auto-leveling needs for stability, the software licenses, the email notification system and the support developers all come with an expense. Those costs do not include all of the unpaid effort by loyal moderators, tech support and volunteers that are managing these things right now.
The initial saving of CTH and the relaunch (a great accomplishment by some fantastic tech support) was also expensive. CTH was blessed and thankful to have people that care about truth reach out to offer assistance; and CTH readers were generous in offsetting those emergency costs. Many people stepped in to help save our little corner of the internet and with a core tech team (scruffy but smart) we stand on solid ground again.
My task now is to find a revenue model that works best for the important people, you; the Treehouse readers.
Advertising seems like the obvious move, but like many nowadays, we have long been suspect of things like covert tracking (3rd party cookies); and we accept the entire content delivery ecosystem is in flux at the moment. Privacy has been our CTH priority for years, and recent events -which include our own targeting- affirmed the wisdom of putting privacy at the forefront of our discussion.
As we are seeing corporations are now openly operating their businesses with the intent to influence politics, their advertising money is now a weapon they can use to generate leverage over website content. Not only is Big Tech making ideological determinations over monetization, but advertising companies are now using their budgets to align with Big Tech’s ideological goals. This is not a good outcome. Corporate fascism is on the advance.
As Scott Adams points out in the tweet below, ad revenue is now determining the type of information we can find on the internet. Many “conservative” information websites and platforms are increasingly making content determinations in the same way that MSM cowers to the almighty corporate dollar. You might be stunned to know just how prevalent this is; I know I was.
It won't be long before consumers of ad-based news media are seen as mental slaves to ridiculous narratives while the consumers of subscription-based news are the only free thinkers remaining to preserve our system. @RubinReport @ggreenwald
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) April 19, 2021
My priority with content has always been to stay steadfast to the motto: “The Truth Has No Agenda“, and CTH has declined financial offers because we never wanted to be in a position where outside elements have any influence on our content or conversation. Additionally, our crowdsourcing efforts not only produce great results, but our community credibility is our strength.
With all of the operational costs in mind, here is what we need to figure out: What is the best revenue model for the readers of the Treehouse?
I need to figure this out soon, or there is a slight risk there won’t be a Treehouse. Fortunately, software is soft, meaning we can experiment with models until we get it right.
We like the idea that we are in charge of our own destiny in that we are running our own servers and out of the reach of Big Tech, so while other “Free Speech” platforms like Substack, Locals and Minds look very attractive, it’s always going to be somebody else’s platform, making the enterprise dependent on their viability (remember MySpace?).
Additionally, from the outset I have always wanted to provide information free to everyone; that remains my priority. I do not like the idea that information comes with a cost; as a result a subscription based website was always a non starter for me. That said, I foresee coming up against pressure to find a revenue model (which pays for the expenses) before it’s too late.
That leaves CTH with a few paths forward to consider:
- Turn on 3rd party Advertising (we’re likely going to do that for now)
- Some kind of crowd-sourced sponsorship (PBS annual drives, Reoccurring PayPal or Subscribe Star)
- Subscription with tiered content (not all content is free) [I don’t like]
- Pay-to-not-get-what-you-don’t-want (Pay to turn off ads)
- Something else (because we are considering everything)
There also might be something else I just don’t know what it is.
As I look at the landscape I see in front of us, my goal would be to establish a proprietary system for revenue via ads that allows CTH to work directly with sponsors and not with 3rd parties. In that process we would have full control and retain 100% privacy. But to achieve that goal CTH would need to have seed capital to launch a business model and at least one person to coordinate it.
The Conservative Treehouse has always been about you, not me. For me the sharing of information is a labor of love; I truly enjoy the fellowship, the research and the writing assembly. Together with tips, crowdsourcing and research we put the information together and write articles about the ‘Occam’s Razor’ conclusions. Through the years CTH assembled a network of allies in the fight who form a deep rebel alliance of information. However, staying outside the reach of Big Tech and keeping the site anti-fragile to their attacks is a little costly.
So I turn to the experts… the people who really matter… YOU !
Before any decisions are reached I want to hear what scenario makes the most sense to you. Let me know, below.
Love to all,
Sundance
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” [Isaiah 54-17]
I would Pay to turn off ads.
Accept only Right advertising . . .
. . . that is, use CTH to connect “Made in the U.S.A.” manufacturers and America First supporters such as political candidates to the massive American Patriot marketplace.
Help patriot companies grow by letting them post ads, videos, and editorials vetted by a CTH advertising council.
Where else is there such a loyal, devoted commercial audience starving for America First, ethics-based commerce such as CTH?
I say have a reasonably priced subscription. Like $50 per year. That is what you can get a major publication for as an introductory offer or, thereafter, if you cancel a full-price subscription. They will offer it to you for less. I learned this last year when I cancelled NYT, WP, and WSJ.
No one should expect to get something for free.
Another approach I like is free access for the first half page, and then purchase the whole article and comments for $1-2 each. I see this more and more.
If you decide on adds, make sure they are visible, but unobtrusive. For god’s sake, don’t let them wiggle around or jump in front of the article being read.
Or, like Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking site, get one sponsor per month. Current sponsor of Rasmussen is Wayne Allen Root – advertising a new Trump book he authored. Last month it was Sheryl Attkisson.
Whatever you do, be transparent. Publish your site income and expenses. If you are truly just defraying your costs, it enhances your message. I see no problem with including a reserve amount for unforeseen emergencies as you/we experienced last year.
I am on a fixed income, but CTH would continue to be one of my “must-have” subscriptions.
I hope you never sell merchandise, but it would not be a deal-breaker for me.
Love all of the comments and ideas here! Any and/or all the above…whatever it takes.
I happen to agree with Main Coon. Maybe having a conversation with Mike Lindell would be helpful. His mystore.com is up and running with some really great mom and pop inventors and new products.
Maybe there could be a joint venture. Mike advertises my store.com items on CTH, and Sundance works with Mike to create sales product.
I mean who wouldn’t want a cowl neck tunic or waffle wrap sweater with custom treehouse buttons on it?
Here is a broken link to see the detail. I didn’t want to post an obnoxious photo. Not sure how to size the image properly.
Remove the space after the colon.
https: //i.imgur.com/TvCpYyc.jpg
Allo Soeur! J’ai te me manquer!
I like the button bit, or pins, things that help put CTH forward in the “real” world.
(Nice dress, too!)
Bonjour, Maquis!!!! Merci beaucoup!
ça va? I have also missed you!!! You are a gem!!!
After CTH changed platforms, I can no longer post from my iPad. It seems to be too old for the format, and no updating is available. I can read from it but not write. I refuse, at the moment, to purchase anything from Apple or anyone else.
I am not normally at my office machine much right now (no projects..I work on restaurant, hotel and senior living design…go figure) so I read but cannot post all the time.
I so much appreciated your comment tonight, so I went to my office to respond.
I believe Sundance is having good growing pains and just needs to focus on a few elements not needed in the past.
You just hit on something. You ‘liked’ the tunic shown in my very quick example of potential product. KEY!!! A potential sale!!!!
Until now, CTH has been all about free speech and free information. Brilliant and so necessary for our survival, but not profitable. The main focus should be on maintaining free speech and conversation/crowd sourcing at all levels. For if CTH does not allow all levels of free posting, why are we typing here?
So, if you ‘liked’ the tunic and wanted to buy it, excellent! Why not?! Advertising does not have to be bad…it can be GREAT!!!!! I would purchase a lot if any of the items are something I want to BUY!!!!!
The next chapter is how to make this CTH website profitable in order to survive. I have always known the creed that if one wants to make certain an animal does not become extinct…eat it. Debate me on that one.
So, CTH is at the point of wanting to keep every idea and free speech exposed but needs money.
The only way to do this in my opinion is to do what Mike Lindell is doing. Advertising product that at least 150 million of us will buy.
However, CTH also needs…branding.
I hate to say this but the truth hurts sometimes. Sundance and CTH have a great brand. We all know what it is.
However, this concept and brand are not demonstrated on the website.
I simply cannot see other people viewing the website’s font, bricks on the banner, Andrew’s profile, and the treehouse. The Conservative Treehouse or The Last Refuge names are not clear. All of these pieces are not adding to a strong identity.
So, my 2 cents are that these are great growing pains and a consolidation of brand and advertising will do wonders.
This can all be reconciled but needs help. CTH needs to expand with a way to monetize its future and clearly brand itself.
Fortunately, that exists right under all of our noses. ALL of us would participate in a clear CTH brand and would purchase many items advertised here knowing their pedigree was from the USA. This is the reason I posted my photo of potential clothing from a CTH line. Think Orvis. Items could be $5 to $500. The price points could cover many demographics.
So, in my mind…that is the next step. Branding and focused advertising. Heck, it would only take a few posts to query a focus group on the first items…and off to the races!!!
No need to stifle anyone from participating for free on the blog. Many other ideas, and I would be happy to speak to CTH management for specifics.
Hey guys, the merchandise thing is high maintenance (cost) to implement. Anyway, I live in a hotbed of progressivism and could only wear a t-shirt to impress my cats at home. Wouldn’t even dare to go to Kroger’s.
Managing volunteers is a nest of worms- no matter how well-meant. Unfortunately, cash is all that counts to hire independent (tho supervised) staff. Let’s keep this to reality. I have never been able to buy that Starbucks coffee/day that we are supposed to give up to support our preferred sources.Trying to find substitutes for Amazon, so can’t “give up” Prime to free up cash. I’ve found a $15/mo T-Mobile phone plan (ask them), no magazines, no newspaper. What other ideas does anyone have to free up cash to contribute to a subscription? Social Security my only income and we will get the smallest increment in our allotments this year ever. I’m not the only one.
If you can reinstate a notification system that facilitates conversation, then I’m “All In” for a subscription-based model.
Unfortunately, the “Conversation” died when the switch was made from WordPress. Now we can only barf up a comment, and WONDER what anyone thinks about it.
Who has time to scroll endlessly, searching to see if anyone replied to agree or disagree?
100% agreed. That part has been a big disappointment.
Use the “find” function on your computer and enter your moniker. You can check a page at a time at least rather than scroll down. There are usually only 1-3 or 4 pages.
I agree with LetJusticePrevail. I liked being able to reply to a comment and have access to a dialog format with notification. I miss that with the current format.
I would not be opposed to a fee for access or ads if needed. (Personally hate the ads but…)
I have been with CTH for awhile and whatever it takes to keep you guys up & running – we will make it happen!
xoxo
I would gladly pay. I rarely post but read almost every day.
Just a note: Ultimately, CTH has to decided the directions needed to continue on. I still read, follow CTH, & post articles on all sites I am still on Fb, Twit (when not in jail) & also Gab, Telegram & my own WP site. However, I never “got the knack of doing threads, so I very seldom engage that way. Sooo many different attitudes & ideas; I decided to simply share the sites I use & whoever wants/likes them can connect directly themselves.
I do dislike ads, “immensely”, and I pay for ad-free sites (monthly donation check) or apps, (like YouTube Red).
God Bless,
Bonnie Soteropolis
If companies advertised here we would at least know who to buy from, who was MAGA.
Roger that…
I stumbled onto this website in 2016 and now consider it probably the most important reading of my day. It’s one of the very few sites I would pay to read. A modest subscription wouldn’t be objectionable.
Sundance, I so appreciate your site with all its dedication, research, love and truth. Thank you. I would be happy to pay for a subscription. I also really appreciate listening in on the conversations and prayers – you are all so nourishing to the soul. Thank you and God bless you. (p.s. The F word and middle finger cartoon is so awful and incongruent, but everything else almost makes up for it.)
Another group I belong to has a pay-what-you-can option.
There are also several levels available for people who want to pay different amounts.
I have a limited income and paying for lots of websites for information is not an option.
Please keep people in me in mind when considering your options?
Thanks!
I would love a daily email of headlines with links. It would remind me about CTH. I would spend $20 a year for a subscription like a magazine without printing. I can afford about 10-20 pubs like that a year. Make the sub accessible to two people (me and wife). How many subs do you need? 12000 subs would be 20k revenue per month. Avoid PayPal and Patreon and other Commie bankers.
Crowd-sourced sponsorship: Make sure it will accept a pre-paid card.
This site is vital & it would be the first site I’ve been willing to pay to support. Thanks Sundance & team for all your courageous, hard work & prayers! May the good Lord protect, bless & preserve our Republic.
Mo
You now have a secure platform.
You are looking for a way to finance your secure platform.
There are bloggers out there SEARCHING for a secure platform (see below).
[in my best Uncle Buck voice] Do I see a new business venture here? I think I DO.
Sometimes you just have to follow your path where it leads.
Second City Cop discontinued his blog to protect his commenters from being doxed by his platform.
Hmmmmmmm…………
https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/second-city-cop-addresses-chicago
I haven’t read any of the comments. But I lean toward the Rush model. A combination of using certain acceptable advertisers which we could support and a flat fee subscription rate but only for those that want to post comments. The rest of CTH would be open to the public for viewing. We can’t afford to lose our main source of truth. Godspeed Sundance!
Kind blessings to you.
Annual subscription please.
Sundance-I have attempted to locate a mailing address for years for making contributions to CTH, my daily go to site. I do not have credit cards, only a debit my banker asks me not to use on internet. So my only option to use to send my contribution must be mailing you a check! But where? Disgusted,
$20 per year to me is a reasonable fee but will you make enough money on that? sounds like you’d need 5000 paying subscribers just to break even
the problem with the advertising model is the same tiny group that owns/controls facebook, google, youtube etc and is censoring us on those platforms also controls the online advertising networks so you wont be able to talk much about why that same group is over-represented in Biden’s cabinet by 2000%, in the House and Senate by 400-500%, in the Supreme Court by 1000%, over-represented on the Forbes Billionaire’s list by 2000%, etc etc. If you cant talk about the facts regarding the incredible power and wealth and influence of this tiny group you will never get a clear understanding of who is controlling this country and why the govt does what it does.
Jan Jekielek and American Thought Leaders have gone to subscription – $4.99/mo. Their youtube channel is for “teasers” only.
Epoch Times and related publications went to Patreon for donations a while ago, although one is encouraged to avoid Patreon and use another service.
Whichever, makes me no nevermind. Whatever you decide, I’m in.
I don’t know how I missed this article when it was first posted. Fortunately, a few Treepers posted comments about it today.
Anyway, I will continue to make an occasional Pay Pal or more direct donation.
I was wondering when or if CTH would feel the need to post ads. Ads don’t bother me unless they end up like Gateway Pundit or Breitbart where ads dominate the screen and are hard to get rid of. Having a full page ad drop down across an article or navigating through a thick forest of ads to find a video like Gateway Pundit is not a wise policy. The ads to the right of the page are no problem and could be extended down further if needed. (Note–If we click on or access an ad does CTH get an added compensation? or not)
I’m open to other options that CTH might find necessary.
Willing to do whatever I can to keep keep the resistance online. Ads OK and will try to chip in via paypal
Thinking about ads a bit more since my previous post. Why couldn’t ads be made to be informative, interesting, fun, and actually enjoyable to look through? I mentioned that ads should never pop up or get in your face and I understand that paying more for ads gets you more space or extras. If the ads page came up first and the ads were in line with the whole CTH philosophy, people would linger. Most people don’t like ads because they are annoying. How about ads that are a bit rebellious or very informative, or visually stunning, or just plain fun and humorous?
I proposed a rating system of only positives that would help CTH and the companies placing the ads both benefit by making more money. The internet ad system is really bad and we need a new way. What better way than to use public input to steer the design and implementation. I’m not talking about a simple “like” method. There could be a button for “bought product, very happy”, or “customer service excellent”, or “best value of competitors”, and other bits that people can search for before buying a product. Think of it as similar to the Angies list thing but nobody is trying to get your contact information. A small subscription fee would give everyone access to rate and see results. If you don’t subscribe, you still benefit by having access to companies and products that are relative to Treepers. The ads would constantly evolve and improve based on the input.
And don’t forget to make all the leftist censoring social media companies pay CTH for the benefit of a link in alphabetical order only.
I would favor some kind of crowd source sponsorhip to raise funds. Also a pay to turn off adds would be good. And what about doing good old classic fundraising-seeking support from folks with deep pockets who love the truth. Lastly I would pay for a subscription t o keep treehouse alive.