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]
Advertising. We trust you so if you chose the advertisers…
The subscription solution will help keep Treehouse more for treepers and limit, by way of capitalism, those not quite so aligned.
If Treehouse has its own platform, would it be possible to host other site(s) for a price, with or without ads, to help finance Treehouse, or at least augment operating costs? Obviously, this would be a greatly enlarged business model.
This idea deserves a hard look.
Indeed, whatever needed
Are you able to choose your advertisers ? I would be comfortable with decent ads.
… To have some content free and other content restricted is a constant irritant. I find myself avoiding Epoch Times because of that, but do not avoid sites just because of advertising.
… Paying to turn ads off would be ok.
… Remember that support will be stronger during election years, while your expenses will be presumably more steady.
Give us a regular, periodic fund drive, with a big red thermometer indicating the level of funding needed, and the current balance. I’ve seen this done on many small sites over the past 20 years. Make it quarterly to match your financials. The visual feedback is a good motivator for people with sufficient cash flow in each quarter to drive that needle to the needed amount. I have personally, joyfully, and gratefully committed to the equivalent of $50/month these past two years, because the Truth is essential to life itself. Stay ad free, and unoblidged to untrustworthy third parties.
Open your budget quarterly, give us feedback on where we are in each drive, and don’t chain yourself to any financial platform. I would be just fine with posting a USPS Money Order every quarter, or even every month, to eliminate the probability of your cash flow being intercepted.
CTH is essential to life, and can easy be cheaper per reader than our monthly food or coffee expenses. I will support you until I am disenfranchised totally and pauperized permanently.
I actually like this idea the best — quarterly fund drives.
With advertising, a piece of CTH would be given to a third-party corporation, and they are quickly becoming the boogey man.
The subscription idea would leave out an awful lot of people — at a time when sharing the TRUTH to the broadest audience possible is very important.
And, a tiered-type subscription model is the least attractive idea. Not only does this idea categorize people, it also shrinks an audience even further.
I believe Free Republic & Weasel Zippers have been utilizing periodic ‘fund raisers’ for years — and both are operating.
So, my vote is for periodic (quarterly?) fund raisers. Treepers will step up to the plate.
Jeff, I agree. If Treepers can’t fund this website, no one can. It would also help to have a PO Box to send checks to for those of us who feel more comfortable doing that. Put up the thermometer and let us see how we’re doing.
CTH is the best site out there…and Sundance…be sure to take plenty for yourself. You’ve earned it!
Working my way through, but best I’ve read so far.
“Free” is huuuuge. I’ve introduced many new readers to the Treehouse over the years. That would be hard with a paywall.
Ads are annoying, distracting, and all the above reasons you mentioned not a favorite.
I will improve my support by putting more of my money where my mouth is even tonight!
Ads imply tracking. Don’t go there.
Agree about the paywall. In order to continue to “hook” new readers with well-written, one-of-a-kind content, the site should remain accessible to all, either via ads or option to pay to turn off ads. I would be glad to pay for ad-free once a year.
I’d give whatever was needed to make this easier on Sundance and Company. This IS my daily, hourly, and minute refuge. How bout we all buy pieces of “wood” to maintain the treehouse? We could buy in increments, All houses are in need of small repairs and with each donation we are reinforcing our refuge.
That is a great idea. Instead of a thermometer for the quarterly fund drive, a Treehouse.
Ha! and add leaves to the tree as the balance increases! You think pretty good for a dog, wodiej!
Add something for those who are able to do monthly installments. They could buy water to keep the tree alive and thriving. A rain gauge with a mark on the amount of necessary water for each month. This could be in addition to or separate from those who contribute quarterly.
Some treepers have a change purse and work to stretch their income from whatever the source. Some have deeper pockets and may be willing to sign up for a bit more than others.
Either way, the majority of readers value this site and will likely go along with whatever route is taken to keep the Treehouse open and running.
How about giving CTH contributors a special symbol by their name in the comments if they have donated a certain amount?
A special star for those who have the most money? Soros would like that.
Of course, we could all see which animal is more equal than others.
if ya got it, flaunt it
How do you feel about lobbyists and special interest groups?
Did you appreciate that most of Donald Trump’s contributions came from small donors?
I’m in.
That’s a gamble tho.. What happens if funds aren’t raised?
Still got to pay the bills..
Just playing devils advocate
??♂️
Every day is a gamble, talk.
We could start off with a fundraiser to gauge if enough money could be raised to fund the yearly expenses. If not, then we could move to semi-annual or quarterly fundraisers.
I would suggest, though, that we fund some kind of reserve account, annually, for emergencies/contingencies above and beyond normal operating expenses that would hopefully grow each year. If you go with a subscription model and many people drop out for whatever reason then that could be problematic. Same with ad revenue if site traffic drops.
My 2 preferences would be the PBS fundraising model, then the option to pay to turn off ads. I personally would be glad to pay a subscription but fear we would lose newcomers and people unable to pay. I think the comments are equally as important as the articles. I don’t like the idea of tiered access.
I like the idea of creating your own direct ad ecosystem. Do you feel comfortable expanding more upon that at some point?
I’m for this!! The thermometer is motivating!!! 🙂
I like your idea a lot!
I also like this idea the best. I have been on sites that have done this very successfully. It seems like the best way to keep the site open to everyone equally. It offers the ability to educate and inform a broad range of readers, as well as the opportunity to grow the movement, while still maintaining a safe and comfortable refuge for those of us who are regulars. Whatever you end up doing, I will gladly donate or pay a subscription. This site means a lot to me.
I’m up for a yearly subscription!
Monthly or annual subscription – happy to do so.
I found the Treehouse in 2015 – back when the splitter strategy was still thought viable by the GOPe. I’ve been forever grateful to the eye opening and prescient insight on here. Everyone else was months if not years behind. I’ll pay or do whatever is needed to continue access.
Subscription for sure. Glad to pay it!
Pay subscription to comment and be able to read comments. It could be a low price but with many subscribers would cover the costs.
definately want to support you…
That leaves us with a few paths forward to consider:
Any of the above…but i would prefer to subscribe and tiered content since there are different levels of ability to pay. Also sponsership sounds interesting…whatever it takes we will be behind you!
We could start flying in drugs from South America (Conservative Treehouse Airways).
If you don’t like that, then I’m for subscription. Subscription would buy you No Ads and Comment Rights. The free parts of the site would include articles and ads. Non targeted Ads would be sold to advertisers by CTH. Flash the ad before you see the content.
No cookies, no google ads.
I don’t know the best Avenue forward for CTH. I do know that we need you. So, I’m am up for any Avenue that will allow CTH to endure. I’d be lost without your research and input. Just say the word! I’m there. Thanks.
I just retired last month after working for half a century. Widowed years ago so have very little saved. Essentially I’ll end up on a fixed income. Every dollar matters now.
And the privilege of reading CTH matters even more. This site is my ONLY source of news I can trust.
So…subscriptions? Sign me up. Monthly, annually, I don’t care. The Treehouse is a lifeline I cannot afford to lose. Do what works best for you. I’ll make it work for me, too.
Maybe we could even have a “donation” component on the site that Sundance, Ad Rem, et al could apply to those “loyalist” who’d be given Lifetime status at a reduced/scholarship rate (i.e. Free). I’d chip in for sure!
I agree. Financially in a similar situation as Fionnagh. Whatever you want to do SD is fine with me. I’ll make it work because you and the links others here provide are priceless.
You are not alone in your situation, Fionnagh. God bless you, perhaps we’ll meet at the Home Depot time clock.
In the short term everyone who can contribute, step up. Sundance needs to have this burden lifted, so the CTH team can focus on providing the excellent content.
I prefer the crowd sourced sponsorship as it allows everyone to contribute at the level they are able and the site content remains available to those who most need to see it. Keeping the site open to the public is key, many need these different points of view and to witness civilized discussion/debate, etc. It also brings in the future supporters of the site.
The idea about getting an endowment person on board is excellent. Many on this board are at the point in life they are considering investments in the future.
If these methods are not sufficient then the advertising and subscriptions could be tried.
Ultimately the subscription models everyone is so keen on, are not completely sustainable as the overhead of paying and maintaining all the separate creators quickly becomes too expensive/too much trouble to maintain.
I would pay for a platform that lets me pick and choose x number of creators for x number of dollars / mo or yr.
Maybe the tree house becomes a grove.
Crowd sourcing for sure!
C’mon, Crowd, let’s prove we’re committed to sourcing TONIGHT!
Some of the value at CTH is your comments base… can it be incentivized and monitored constructively?
I for one would go gunning for corporate sponsorship and foundational underwriting.
Sure your not going to get the Nikes and Cokes of the corporate World but a serious researched and presented appeal to like minded deep pockets of corporate and nonprofits/foundations who just as likely see and understand the monopoly of the MSM as clearly as the Treehouse might cut some big checks to underwrite the Treehouse.
Basically, look seriously the PBS model.
Next, try finding several content generators of similar conservative views that don’t have the visibility (traffic) as the Treehouse.
They might also be in the same boat with the same ‘keeping the lights’ concerns to join forces and sell the idea of efficiency of scale on the technology costs and the huge bump in traffic.
Also, try selling a full page like AD/Story. Example, every now again even the NYTimes does this for someone or some entity wanting to get either their two cent in and/or message out to a wider audience.
I’m in for whatever works best for you. Subscription with auto-renewal works for me.
Instead of a subscription, 1. create a monthly/quarterly/yearly automatic donation and have CTH available to everyone, whether they can afford it or not. 2. Get ads, pay to turn off ads 3. as Joe Dan Gorman said TreeHouse-athons – make it into a semi or annual event, bring all the treepers together for some fun.
Get items donated and have a Treeper Auction. Invite Speakers to auction off or have time increments for online chats – 5 min = $50.00
Local and regional fundraising events for CTH.
I trust ONLY CTH NEWS,
$5 a month like Substack. I subscribe to content I like at that price point, and I would subscribe here.
Subscriptions
I visit & post on at lease a half-dozen or so conservative cites on any given day and read at least as many articles from conservative journalists.
The encroaching pop-ups are annoying as hell, but they don’t dissuade me from reading what I want to read.
Substack seems to be working well for those on it. I subscribe to two. I was a subscriber to Ricochet but they punished me for being a Trump voter too many times and I quit.
Free to read. Paid membership to comment.
Clear rules for comments. Give the Mod’s a break, so they can monitor all comments and apply moderation equitably to all.
I would favor a subscription route. With the readership, the cost to individuals would be low, and would stop the drive-by’s to some extent.
Yearly fundraisers can really help, seen it done. How about selling merchandise? Hats, mugs, t-shirts, bumperstickers?
I really like the idea of CTH merch! Good way to identify other local Treepers by sight, too!
Open to whatever is decided upon. However, am VERY leary of electronic payment systems given the doxxing that has transpired lately. I would prefer to send monies to a P.O. box for privacy reasons.
Me, too. I’ve used PayPal, but am very uncomfortable with it for political purposes.
I’m even more distrusting of the email notification service offered here. (Long discussion on that, months ago.) I don’t want to contribute to a site that promotes a radical leftist CEO.
If it’s still the “Conservative” Treehouse, let’s go conservative. Conservatism is the new black. Always in style.
I would be happy with a subscription. As long as I’ve been here I know what I’m getting.
That being said I pay for very little in terms of subscriptions and understand wanting to keep it free.
BIG yuge however, in these time privacy is a must and I would happily pay for that.
Much love for this treehouse.
I’m for subscription – monthly or yearly.
I think it is really quite straightforward. Advertising with an annual subscription offering that eliminates all advertising (but keeps content the same). Five or ten percent of regular visitors will pay for the subscription to avoid advertising as well as to support a site they love. Set subscription price accordingly. Do not do monthly subscriptions, only annual – my suggestion being $50/year. Having been in the tech industry for many years I’m quite confident this will work out well for everyone. Sign me up!
But $5/month is $60/year!! Some people, honestly, barely have an extra $5 a month, so I wouldn’t recommend forcing an annual subscription – an option is fine. Being able to eek out an extra $5 a month could be possible for some. Trust me, I can make 4 large casseroles out of a single chicken.
$50 is too much. Free to read – pay to comment. Have 4 levels of paid membership $30 bronze, $60 silver, $100 gold and $200 platinum. Going up the $$$ ladder gets a bigger avatar and fancy status bar/vanity badge.
Works for NRA and Smith & Wesson Forum.
“CTH to work directly with sponsors and not with 3rd parties. In that process we would have full control and retain 100% privacy.”
Judeo-Christian and/or America First vendors who have our values. I’m opposed to any advertiser who has boycotted President Trump, Mike Lindell/MyPillow, and the like.
At the moment, MyPillow is the only advertiser I would trust, or any FrankSpeech is allowing to post as Mike Lindell said today that they are really vetting who is allowing to post.
Subscription is fine with me.
Get some ad guys you trust to form a plan that allows ads at CTH guaranteed not to have a single particle of tracking code. Get back to the basics of buying and selling things that people want and need–without the newfang jive of “digital marketing.” Selling is selling. I believe there are thousands of patriot sellers out there who would gladly pay a fee to CTH for access to a market of fellow-patriots.
Then again, JoeBama Biden has signed an EO that may (in the short term at least) make all of this moot. Axelrod, Emanuel, Ayers & Jarrett (the Chicago cartel) are planning to use the bureaucracy to shut down any resistance to their junta:
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/04/executive_order_canceling_the_constitution.html
An Idea like the ‘Treehouse club’. Membership for those that can afford to support the Treehouse and an open source for those that cant. I think you have enough Treepers that could step up for a yearly membership this way to support the information flow of those that might not be ale to afford a yearly subscription
Tell me where to send the $$$ and I’ll be more than happy to donate or subscribe.
My wife has a subscription to Epoch times and they are good; just not Sundance/Treehouse good.
The Donate button is on the right near the top of the home page. Always has been. I just used it.
Subscription as long as reasonably affordable. You can do ads for those who do not wish to subscribe.
Full support for a paid subscription model…ad free if feasible.
Ever grateful for your consistently high quality product and prescient perspectives.
Revolver is doing the subscription in exchange for no ads. I wonder how it’s going for them.
Their ads are very intrusive to reading their content, so maybe a lot of people are paying to go without ads.
Maybe that’s a starting point.
As several others have said, I will go with whatever you choose, because I just can’t do without my supply of Treehouse.
That said, I like the option of ads plus a subscription that lets me have no ads.
I don’t particularly like the option of paying to read or write comments. I think the commenting is one of the best things about CTH, and showcases exactly what a great group busily, daily, crowdsourcing information and solutions to our current national disaster should be.
There are plenty of sites that have great writing, but few that have this particular mix of that plus an outstanding community of commenters.
I like idea of quarterly fund raising. Keep CTH open to all for education and comments to all to encourage fresh ideas.
Keep the articles free, but movie the community discussion to a pay to play site like Vox Day’s SocialGalactic, where you can say your piece 140 chars at a time for just $5/mo, but $10 gets you more words and small photos, and $25 gives you a wall of text and the ability to post big photos and small videos.
sounds like too many keystrokes to me
This may not be very helpful but whatever solution you arrive at I will support…CTH is still my number 1 site….
Sundance, I would bet a great deal (even though I’m not a betting man) that the big majority of the CTH community pretty much agrees with everything you say in this post. Tge point about advertising destroying privacy is an important one. And I suspect a lot if your readers would be willing to become either donors or subscribers, even if your content remains free, because we believe in what you are doing. My two cents would be these three suggestions:
(1). Try donations first (the PBS model—though I mean no insult!—but without the corporate support). Add subscriptions if need be, but leave content free unless that proves financially impossible.
(2). If that’s not enough, consider subscriptions that are necessary for access to commenting, but not to read. To borrow from the Parable of the Seed, some of the seed you scatter freely on the internet falls on good ground and takes root where you would not expect it and don’t know it.
(3). A point regarding those first two that I think is very important: we need a way to donate or subscribe that keeps our payments invisible to the FAANG companies, to the banks, and to woke corporations generally. Chinese-style social scoring is actually already here in the private sector and also visible to the government. This is an actual safety issue.
I will pray for you and for the right solution to be found.
A reader in the Heart of Darkness (DC/Versailles)
All of the above. I’ll flesh out how
.
Figure out your core operating expenses – fundraise for this. Set the target to cover the costs independent of other revenue streams.
Set up advertising as well. Don’t pay the core costs with advertising. Use it as a flex fund for things like your investigative inquires in D.C. last year.
Subscriptions offered with perks. No ads. While free accounts can comment – they can’t upvote. Preserve up votes for premium users. However, be generous with “free premium” accounts for free users who you recognize and contribute to discussions, but may not have the funds/willingness to subscribe. One type of “premium only” post – a weekly or bi-weekly summary of the most important information. I love CTH, but sometimes I’m just busy and kind of skim over the posts over the last 3-4 days. I’d love a summary, and this would both preserve giving everyone the information for free – but also give a perk to subscribers.
Please offer annual subscriptions! I don’t like monthly subs and each bill you’re losing 7-10% in processing fees, versus 2-3% on a one time larger amount.
Also, though I know we all like to pretend we’re too mature to care about badges, give premium subs a visible icon by their avatar. In a forum I moderated, ours subs went up a lot when we added badges and this was during a time of overall traffic decline.
Hope to see CTH going strong for years to come!
good plan stitch
Up votes are no good unless you know who is doing the upvoting. I really enjoyed the access to upvotes and responses to comments when we could still see them and the name of the author. JMHO.
Even the commenting is less enticing since we can’t see who might respond or enlarge on our comments.
However, I will always still read at CTH unless I’m unable to access it, which would be as disconcerting as covid has been.
I made a small donation in January and planned to make 2 more this year. I would subscribe and make it all at once.
In the past I have refused to pay for information, but I would pay for the information on this site.
A monthly or annual subscription. Would be worth every penny for the peace of mind knowing CTH & it’s participants are protected from the jaws of big tech & the spineless corp weasels.
Sundance, get in touch with Andrew Torba from GAB as he might have some solid advice. He’s certainly not knew to the “Big Tech” oligarchs.
I think you should do a poll..
Annual subscription…I’m in…
The Advertising seems to be a choice that most people can live with and maybe that will take care of the money issue. I trust you to make the best choice! This site has gotten me through hard times in the past and I will need it in the future.
Legal Beagles in the Treehouse….just an old nurse here wondering:
….Advertising runs the risk of the content being advertised and then the money involved…am thinking the risks of litigation if the advertiser is in disagreement or if there are alleged contract or content violations. And hidden agendas within advertiser’s motives, which could also lead to costly litigation. Let’s face it, there are many fake conservatives that would also love to infiltrate the Treehouse, and already have (aka ‘trolls’). Yet I know they will be vetted.
Annual subscription is okay, if affordable but then there is the money trail for those who want to be anonymous to the banking industry.
Another thought…subscription with option to ‘sponsor’ either fully or partially, another subscriber less fortunate, who cannot afford a subscription. Offer a discount for that?
Two thoughts come to mind….”Freedom is not Free” and “Business is in Business to make money”.