Revamping Read.cash with Ad Revenue: A Proposal
I have been longing to write this blog post for some time now, but lack the courage to do so. However, due to the current wave of activities I have noticed on the site, I decided to pull the trigger and have the blog post up here. I hope the site admin and other people who are concerned find this blog post relevant.
The Current Situation at Read.cash
Read.cash used to be a busy blogging platform where writers could earn money by writing quality articles and engaging posts. However, during the 2022 bear market, the site's main sponsor stopped funding, and gradually the existing funds got drained thereby causing payment to writers to cease. While some loyal users continue engaging without rewards, the site now lacks that vibes and consistent funds.
With funding not adequate anymore, and no notable source of funding, Read.cash could no longer have the means to pay writers as it once did. This has led to dwindling user engagement and content creation for nearly 2 years now. For a long term sustainability, the platform needs a sustainable revenue source.
The Proposal: Generate Revenue via Ads
To address the funding problem, I propose generating ad revenue to support the site. Ads could be displayed on site pages and around content. Revenue earned each month from ads could be used to:
1. Buy Bitcoin Cash to fund rewards via the @RandomRewarder bot
2. Cover basic site operating costs
This would create a self-sustaining system where user engagement fuels ad views, generating income to incentivize more engagement.
Implementing Ads on Read.cash
To implement ads, the site could integrate with popular ad networks like Google AdSense. Ads would need to be carefully placed so as to not overly obstruct the reading experience.
Some options include:
Sidebar/footer banner ads
In-content text link ads
Pre-roll video ads (for content with embedded videos)
Ad placement should balance generating revenue while maintaining user experience. A/B testing different ad configurations could help optimize this balance.
Estimating Potential Revenue
To estimate potential monthly revenue, we can assume Read.cash's current traffic and average ad earnings from similar sites:
Let's assume Read.cash averages around 50,000 monthly sessions currently
Sites with this traffic level typically earn $1-3 CPM (cost per 1000 views) with Google AdSense
At the low end of $1 CPM, 50,000 sessions would yield $50 in monthly ad revenue
At the high end of $3 CPM, revenue would be $150
The above is only an estimate, actual earnings may be higher or lower depending on several factors. But even a conservative $50-150 monthly would help supplement the platform.
How Revenue Could Be Distributed
If $50-150 in monthly ad revenue was achieved, here is one way those funds could be distributed:
50% ($25-75) - Goes towards the Random Rewarder bot each month for writer/user rewards in BCH
25% ($12.50-37.50) - Site operating expenses like hosting/maintenance
25% ($12.50-37.50) - Savings buffer for unexpected costs or to grow rewards over time
This distribution model would allow for regular rewards through the Random Rewarder while still covering site needs. As revenue grows over time, so too could the reward amounts.
Conclusion
Implementing unobtrusive ads on Read.cash has the potential to generate sustainable monthly revenue to fund the platform into the future. By earning even a modest $50-150 through AdSense, the site could restart rewarding engaged users and writers in BCH regularly. This would incentivize increased high-quality content creation and user participation. With ad revenue supplementing the platform, Read.cash can continue its mission of being a community-driven home for Bitcoin Cash writers and readers.
This is a way to maintain the platform, and I find it interesting, because it makes it sustainable. I hope they apply all this. Have you sent this information to the Read Cash contact email? I think it would be useful.