Web Animation & Monetization

[TomFulp]

Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 15:58:02 Reply

There is a lot of talk going around this week about the new YouTube terms of service, in particular some crackdowns on content that isn't "Advertiser Friendly." From what I've seen so far I'm not aware of YouTube REMOVING content, they have just disabled monetization on some content based on the new criteria. I know it's a bummer but it's hard to fault YouTube for this; advertisers want to advertise on "safe" content and Google is simply trying to comply.

Here at NG we are very familiar with this reality. Newgrounds has never been an attractive site to brand advertisers, which is why most of the ads you see around here are performance-based ads promoting on-line games. I think we have done an honorable job at properly rating content and ad placements but to this day we are still blacklisted by Google's ad exchange and Google has been very firm that this will not change.

Being blacklisted by Google disallows us from running Adsense ads on both Newgrounds and our YouTube channel but it goes much broader. Google also acquired DoubleClick, the web's largest ad exchange. A majority of internet advertising companies tie into some sort of Google / DC service and when that happens, it becomes a dead end for Newgrounds. An ad company will approve us but their ads will show up blank; they'll dig around and say "Oh, it's Google."

This is also why we've had a number of starts and stops with video pre-roll ads. We're locked out of the main ad exchanges and when we work with what is left, users end up sitting through ten seconds of blank space while multiple ad companies are queried for ads that too often turn up nothing.

Even with the ads we DO have, more than half our visitors are running some form of adblock. So there's that too.

This is why we created the Supporter upgrade and why I keep bugging people to check it out.

The short-term goal of the supporter upgrade is to cover our expenses but the larger vision is to tie it into our rev-share system. With enough supporter revenue, we can properly reward artists and developers based on the merits of their content and not whether advertisers approve. Our Google problems would be irrelevant. Our Ad block problems would be irrelevant.

It takes a lot of people to move this needle. Right now we have 1,431 active supporters and that number continues to rise. We will keep trying different things to make it rise faster. I'd love to gain ten monthly subscribers per day, for starters.

What we would like from web animators.

It is always my goal for NG to be ready if the day ever comes that a mass-exodus of animators leave YouTube for Newgrounds, the way they once left NG for YouTube.

HOWEVER, if you come here expecting big bucks with web animation, you'll have to manage your expectations. We have our rev share system and we are TRYING but it continues to be a challenge. All I can say is we obsess over web animation more than any other website and success in this space is a goal that torments us around here.

What you should do is continue to share your animation anywhere you like and hopefully include NG. If you can monetize on YouTube and are getting a better CPM than NG, clearly you have good reason to promote your YouTube releases. If you can't monetize on YouTube, why not try promoting your releases on NG for a change? We could use the word of mouth and a rising tide lifts all boats around here. Some animators already release their latest works on NG ahead of YouTube and that is SO DARN APPRECIATED. Also tweet about your stuff on NG and you might get a re-tweet! I search for NG-related tweets daily.

What we would like from everyone who appreciates web entertainment.

If you enjoy coming to NG for original animation, games, art and music, please consider committing $3 per month to become a Supporter. We need every person possible. If 1% of our monthly visitors were monthly supporters, we'd have a warchest of over $250,000 per month, mostly going towards sponsorships and revenue share. That would bring SERIOUS CHANGE to web entertainment. Much less than that would still move mountains around here.

NG has been in it for the past 21 years and we hope you will join us for the long haul so we can all get where we're trying to go. NG is uniquely qualified to pull this off and what a great story it would be if we did, right?

[Bit]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:02:43 Reply

Viva la Newgrounds!

[KailenDude]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:14:45 Reply

so your saying... im your father in law?

[OmarShehata]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:14:47 Reply

It's kind of crazy to think that Newgrounds has been alive for just as long as I have. I love that you're fighting for a sustainable future for creators. Don't give up!

[NightBlade401]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:30:20 Reply

You know what I think I will become a supporter and I already upload to NG before DA or Tumblr so I'll be happy to help.

[TomFulp]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:32:51 Reply

At 9/1/16 04:30 PM, NightBlade401 wrote: You know what I think I will become a supporter and I already upload to NG before DA or Tumblr so I'll be happy to help.

Thanks for considering!

[AtomicAstro]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:41:26 Reply

Very well said, Tom. I hope Newgrounds thrives for web content as well, because I feel like no other site on the web really cares as much as Newgrounds does. Newgrounds already offers a ton to creators, and if it gets tons of support, I am really fucking excited to see what kind of cool things could happen. I know for a fact that my next cartoon will be on Newgrounds before I put it anywhere else, NG exclusive is another possibility.

[LuckyLightTitan]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:43:48 Reply

NG 4 LYFE YO

[Psychopath]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:51:39 Reply

The big reason users enable ad block is because of malvertising, that is, using ads as a vector to tunnel in viruses and in some cases, the advertisers themselves are the ones doing it. I used to not use adblock until my browser started getting attacked by ads because the site in question was desperate to drum up revenue or because Adsense, of all companies, was so negligent that they refused to filter who advertised with them. Youtube's latest solution are sponsorships where the creator is expected to make the ad for them, so it's not that surprising to me that Google is seeking to control a major artery of the system.

Maybe NG could ape the sponsorship program from Youtube?

[SarcasmRabbit]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:53:54 Reply

I will always prefer Newgrounds over Youtube for the sheer community, talent and criticism on this site. I have whitelisted Newgrounds on my adblocker so hopefully that helps in some way.

[PopLadd]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:57:28 Reply

At 9/1/16 04:53 PM, SarcasmRabbit wrote: I will always prefer Newgrounds over Youtube for the sheer community, talent and criticism on this site. I have whitelisted Newgrounds on my adblocker so hopefully that helps in some way.

Everybody counts, you definitely help in some way! I have this site whitelisted as well.

[TomFulp]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 16:58:48 Reply

At 9/1/16 04:53 PM, SarcasmRabbit wrote: I will always prefer Newgrounds over Youtube for the sheer community, talent and criticism on this site. I have whitelisted Newgrounds on my adblocker so hopefully that helps in some way.

Thank you, much appreciated! We try to keep the ads from being TOO obnoxious, although I sure would love to not cover the sides with skin ads in places.

[PopFizzy]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:02:50 Reply

It's your lucky day, Tom! And sure, we'll support this website to make this community a better place.

I'm amazed how this website is still going!

[kayland]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:26:51 Reply

"It is always my goal for NG to be ready if the day ever comes that a mass-exodus of animators leave YouTube for Newgrounds, the way they once left NG for YouTube."
DAMN TOM LAY DOWN THOSE FACTS

[squidly]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:41:02 Reply

I support Newgrounds and so should you!

[IceBreak23]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:41:31 Reply

Newgrounds is amazing, Tom you rock!

[JackMike16]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:42:08 Reply

I am a long time [Not really] Newgrounds user and newgrounds is one of the only websites i disabled adblock on. The amount of entertainment it gave me when i was a kid / teenager until now is beyond measure and that's one of the ways i can contribute to it.

[ForgottenDawn]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:44:32 Reply

I whitelisted Newgrounds starting from this year, and I usually adblock nearly every other website. Honestly it never occurred to me to get "attacked" by ads or any kind of malware here, not even by mistake, so whatever.

PS: Youtube's new terms of service are BS.

[TomFulp]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:47:18 Reply

At 9/1/16 05:41 PM, IceBreak23 wrote: Newgrounds is amazing, Tom you rock!

Thanks! Nice Cuphead art :)

[TomFulp]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:48:20 Reply

At 9/1/16 05:42 PM, JackMike16 wrote: I am a long time [Not really] Newgrounds user and newgrounds is one of the only websites i disabled adblock on. The amount of entertainment it gave me when i was a kid / teenager until now is beyond measure and that's one of the ways i can contribute to it.

Thank you! I love seeing older accounts make their first post, always a treat to know they are out there.

[Rucklo]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:50:02 Reply

<3
^___^

[IceBreak23]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:50:36 Reply

At 9/1/16 05:47 PM, TomFulp wrote:

At 9/1/16 05:41 PM, IceBreak23 wrote: Newgrounds is amazing, Tom you rock!

Thanks! Nice Cuphead art :)

Wow Thanks! <3

[TheRealMuerte]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:53:47 Reply

If i had a damn job or some sort of income i would honestly pay not just for a Supporter upgrade but i would consider giving a donation to newgrounds to keep it up.. I Love the whole idea of what newgrounds is.. I Love how it helps new developers pretty much helping sculpt the next generation of Game developers and artists .. But theres no good in an 'IF' person am i right? Hopefully i find a way for a source of income lol

[TomFulp]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 17:56:42 Reply

At 9/1/16 05:53 PM, TheRealMuerte wrote: If i had a damn job or some sort of income i would honestly pay not just for a Supporter upgrade but i would consider giving a donation to newgrounds to keep it up.. I Love the whole idea of what newgrounds is.. I Love how it helps new developers pretty much helping sculpt the next generation of Game developers and artists .. But theres no good in an 'IF' person am i right? Hopefully i find a way for a source of income lol

It's totally understandable, don't sweat it!

[DavidJMoore]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 18:10:34 Reply

Well said Tom. Ive had monetization disabled from my YouTube account as well, not like it was paying much anyways haha. I think it's awesome your still trying so hard to keep new grounds up to date, I will always keep submitting my stuff here!
Dreams can't come true if you don't let them!

[Jason-H]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 18:13:11 Reply

My account doesn't reflect it, but I've been poking around NG since Pico's School and I'm happy to see this place still rocking despite animation being pretty much dead on the youtubes outside of Gamegrumps animations.

Thanks for keeping it OG.

[Greenskullkid]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 18:16:06 (edited 2016-09-01 18:16:52) Reply

At 9/1/16 03:58 PM, TomFulp wrote:

Do you think Google sees NG as a competitor to Youtube and made the decision to deny you ad service in a act of retaliation or perhaps thinking maybe it would make NG get shutdown altogether?

[TomFulp]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 18:17:04 Reply

At 9/1/16 06:16 PM, Greenskullkid wrote:

At 9/1/16 03:58 PM, TomFulp wrote:

Do you think Google sees NG as a competitor to Youtube and made the decision to deny you ad service in a act of retaliation or maybe just to perhaps thinking it would make NG get shutdown altogether?

I'll never know if we're even a blip on their radar. It has always felt odd to me but maybe they just have some really harsh note in their system from years ago, like, "NEVER APPROVE THIS SITE."

[TomFulp]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 18:17:57 Reply

At 9/1/16 06:13 PM, Jason-H wrote: My account doesn't reflect it, but I've been poking around NG since Pico's School and I'm happy to see this place still rocking despite animation being pretty much dead on the youtubes outside of Gamegrumps animations.

Thanks for keeping it OG.

Thanks!

[TomFulp]

Response to Web Animation & Monetization 2016-09-01 18:18:32 Reply

At 9/1/16 06:10 PM, DavidJMoore wrote: Well said Tom. Ive had monetization disabled from my YouTube account as well, not like it was paying much anyways haha. I think it's awesome your still trying so hard to keep new grounds up to date, I will always keep submitting my stuff here!
Dreams can't come true if you don't let them!

I want to be a satisfied old man some day and not a grumpy old man.