The long road to an ad-free blog

Last Monday was about reading the blog with no ads. The response has been great and I have received a lot of emails on the subject. We learned how great it would be to be able to read without advertising and tracking in the future. The new freedom in a time when every modern car records movement data. One reader wrote of a declaration of independence, playing on the "State of Independence”Campaign from Saab on.

Saab 9-4x in Kiel

I had completely forgotten about it, a nice comparison. In general, I was very excited about the reactions. Because since this project has been online, there have been people who are bothered by the financing through advertising. The criticism has haunted me for 10 years. She is persistent and she keeps coming up. Actually, this group in particular should have just waited for a fair deal that would make the blog ad-free. The time to strike is now! Or not?

The Post It was read very well, but that was it. Fortunately, less than a dozen subscribers, exactly 11, were missing on Monday. And it seemed like everyone was waiting for someone to do something and the blog ads would go away.

Is it all psychology?

Maybe it was my fault, too. Numbers are psychology. 50 missing subscribers could be a mobilizing challenge. 11 are just an annoying little thing that will somehow have taken care of itself. A very tough little thing, as you have to find out. It was trickling this week, and only 6 newcomers actually came to the end.

So there are still 5 missing Subscribers, and in the new week, too, pop-ups and advertisements will accompany reading. So let's see what happens. If the magic line is crossed in the next few days, there will be an update and the farewell to all advertising.

Farewell, that is the motto of the coming week. Not only Google advertising is up for grabs, a farewell to other things is approaching as well. Life is movement, the blog is part of it. He changes, new things take their course, others leave. It always remains interesting!

21 Comments
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Frank
2 years earlier

I've been a Saab fan for many years. But since I had the privilege of having a company car for the past two decades, the house had to be paid for and the children wanted to go to university, I have repeatedly postponed the purchase of a Saab.
A year ago I was offered a 9 3-2004 II convertible by telephone and I spontaneously accepted. A decision I haven't regretted. Driving a Saab is something very special.
Since this spontaneous purchase I have scoured the internet for "Saab" again and again and came across this blog. It's nice to keep reading articles from the world of the Saab brand, which has unfortunately passed away. It's nice that there are still people who keep such a blog alive. It's a shame that there are only 300 Saabists left who appreciate this. But I hope that Tom will continue with this blog and that more and more subscribers will find who appreciate all the work.
The advertisements don't bother me at all, on the contrary. The advertisers' websites are interesting and informative. However, it should stay with advertisements on the subject of Saab. So please no advertising for shampoo and hardware store products.
And as far as the cost of an annual subscription is concerned, everything is OK for me. If I have the choice between going to an Italian restaurant for 60 or 100 € with the family or spending a whole year on this blog, then I choose the blog.
Please continue !

Gosh
Gosh
2 years earlier

I agree with @Francis times. I don't think that's really good either and it shows a gloomy picture. I don't mean the blog, I still think it's great and the campaigns that are started here are extra class, thanks for that.
But that ultimately not even 300 subscribers find their way here makes me think. And all subscriptions (from entry-level to full subscriptions) will be counted under the 297! The question I am asking myself will that be enough for the future to keep the blog happy?

Black Swede
Black Swede
2 years earlier
Reply to  Tom

Would be sad 🙁 if it happened like that.

Ebasli
Ebasli
2 years earlier
Reply to  Tom

The advertising doesn't bother me either - I've gotten a thick coat and got used to ignoring it very well. I am VERY HAPPY to accept the advertising if only the blog lasted longer than 2022 !! I hope there is still hope? !! I am happy to accept the advertising in addition to the readers' payments - be it as a subscription or as a donation (sic!).

Gosh
Gosh
2 years earlier
Reply to  Tom

if all else fails, let's turn the blog into a club. Well, of course we can't do that, the blog is yours ;-), but maybe a way not to lose sight of yourself in 2022 ?! With live meetings, trips, information exchange ec. With changing meeting points all over the republic.

Francis
Francis
2 years earlier

That brings you to the status of the previous fundraising campaigns. Is that good or not enough? The blog would certainly be worth a little more commitment from the fans.

After all, he is the last daily Saab News supplier ... Or is it now looking so gloomy around Saab?

Ebasli
Ebasli
2 years earlier
Reply to  Francis

The advertising doesn't bother me either - I've gotten a thick coat and got used to ignoring it very well. I am VERY HAPPY to accept the advertising if only the blog lasted longer than 2022 !! I hope there is still hope? !! I am happy to accept the advertising in addition to the readers' payments - be it as a subscription or as a donation (sic!).

timweber
timweber
2 years earlier

So the advertising doesn't bother me at all. It's just on the edge and does its thing like on other websites, only more discreetly. If it interrupted the reading flow now and would disturb it or make noises or some nonsense it would be something else ... but like that? Nope.

Werner Naumann
Werner Naumann
2 years earlier

Then the 296 should stick together extremely well and infect the last 4 for the wonderful hobby.
Here we go

cap
cap
2 years earlier
Reply to  Tom

The last 4 should still be able to be found. On, on church for a common goal. ‍♂️ ... and a big thank you to Tom and the SaabBlog team for their commitment

EF-moose
EF-moose
2 years earlier
Reply to  Tom

Modest question Tom - are we actually talking about all subscriptions or just the AERO subscription!?!?
So if there are only 2000 subscriptions left from the 300 daily blog visitors - I would be disappointed ...

Saab_Admin
Saab_Admin
2 years earlier
Reply to  Tom

Final spurt, but really now. That would be laughable if not!

Freising86
Freising86
2 years earlier

Only 5 more ... The countdown is on. I'm glad! 🙂

Aero-93
Aero-93
2 years earlier

... and the sky in the photo could inspire longings ... Sun, great weather on the NO Canal. I assume.
5 subscriptions are missing, what should be said about it ..., with formerly more than 1000 registered readers, a supposed minor thing. In another perspective, this may be an obstacle because the reader z. At the moment financially tight or because the reader doesn't care about the advertising, or because the reader says to himself, 300x approx. 100 € = 30.000 € for the blog…, EVERYTHING can't be that expensive. That little bit of internet, those few clicks for a good website ...
So, I would be happy if there are still these “couple” SAABioans: inside and promote this blog perfectly as a friendly, nice island on the WWW ...
Sunny time!

Volvoab Driver
Volvoab Driver
2 years earlier
Reply to  Aero-93

Dangerous calculation

Not that someone who has not yet thought that way now comes up with the idea of ​​doing it now ...

The annual subscription (Aero) does not cost 100, but only 60 €. I understand what you mean, but would like to add that readers of this way of thinking make the subscription 66,7% more expensive than it is.

The same goes for the blog budget. The Aero X Club members pay more than € 60 (actually almost 100), but not everyone does that and secondly, the club members receive extensive special treatment / are rewarded. The give and take should be very close to a zero-sum game, it is more friendship than financing.

So I have a budget of only € 1.500 / month. for an ad-free blog. And around a sixth of that is VAT. That leaves only € 1.250 for everything this blog requires. Nobody can and must not be offended by this. And if you don't understand that, you might not be able to help either? But it's worth a try …

You understand that. Perhaps this calculation is so natural for you that you believe that the counter calculation can only be viewed as a satirical one? I am not so sure about that.

Not every Saab driver is self-employed or on a business basis. Not every skepticism, not every misunderstanding is per se an expression of a questionable thinking or character. Sometimes it's just a matter of communication. Hence my addition.
Maybe it will help?

mac9-5
mac9-5
2 years earlier

🙂 ... by the way, a VERY BEAUTIFUL CAR in the photo. 😉 😉 😉