and what i suggest is a flavor of turning a buck, but NOT at the expense of users. a positive symbiotic relationship can be had, and should be the focus by my reckoning/philosophy. it IS a community, no matter how it's sliced, and the community should always be the basis.
what i offer users, free of and investment, is opportunity to make a few dollars on the side. they're helping me by helping themselves, and the 'product' is fun- actually hilarious- and the ability to change the presentation of the 'product' can happen real-time, which adds agility others can't. it's a good gig... but this thread isn't about me, the community using my SMF, or even ideas beyond using items outside of adverts to monetise enough to cover costs.....
to make adverts work, there HAS to be traffic, unless you're beating the street, literally, to find someone who pays you directly for advertising.... and even then they'll be demanding exposure that a forum will have to provide/prove.
all that said^, it is a curious thing to me that often times websites in general, unless outright ecommerce sites, aren't taken serious unless there is an advert on them...... it's almost a measure of 'value' at face value.... too many and you are gaudy and in it for coin alone- but one or two placed tastefully? it almost lends credibility..... to this point, in addition to running one or two adsense, for instance, it may be worth while to offer free adverts to local business in something related to your subject in attempt to kick-start a relationship... if they in fact turn a few sales because of it, they may be willing to pay a few dollars after six months or so..... which may be enough to cover hosting fees?
don't get any of this wrong, i'm ALL about 'community' and recognize that as the basis of what i do- and that is the motivation... however, if you're not eating you're getting eaten, plain and simple- and much of this comes down to YOU being motivated.... remaining motivated and developing 'community' means always being 'on the hunt'..... it dang sure isn't 'field of dreams' where 'if you build it, they will come'- it takes effort. the better way to keep yourself engaged is to be willing to 'kill your children' (harsh, but a phrase i learned from several well established songwriters- meaning YOU think it's perfect, but it doesn't fit- so you have to 'cut' it out)... if something isn't working, it's time to move to something that does as a community of 'one' doesn't exist.
All the dissertation above this dissertation is suggesting is that connecting with people on an almost primal (monetary) level is another way to establish and grow a community as all have a vested interest.
