Ask HN: If not ads, then how are websites supposed to monetize?
We all hate ads, especially the ones that keep jumping at us while we are trying to read an article about Iron Man. The worst part: they are not even related to the article or the entire theme of the website. To counter this, we install ad blockers. Peace.
But the idea that I am probably not allowing the little money that the blog/website owner can make from those ads after putting in effort to write a good, well-researched and quality article feels bad. I disabled ads not because of that intention, I want them to make the money they can. I am not able to prevent any other tech giants from misusing my data anyway.
What is a resolution to this? I know many blogs have a donate option, but not everyone can donate. Not every website/blog can get a sponsorship. And ads are annoying, to the extent that a user might not visit again. Thus, the question: If not ads, then how are websites supposed to monetize?
But the idea that I am probably not allowing the little money that the blog/website owner can make from those ads after putting in effort to write a good, well-researched and quality article feels bad. I disabled ads not because of that intention, I want them to make the money they can. I am not able to prevent any other tech giants from misusing my data anyway.
What is a resolution to this? I know many blogs have a donate option, but not everyone can donate. Not every website/blog can get a sponsorship. And ads are annoying, to the extent that a user might not visit again. Thus, the question: If not ads, then how are websites supposed to monetize?