Nostr Web Client

I need to build a business on Coracle if I want to keep working on it. One thing that makes this hard is that I refuse to make my users the product. I will not sell your data.

However, what does everyone think of a referral/ad model? Sponsored results in search, sponsored relay suggestions, etc, with an option to pay to turn them off. Is this unethical?

Of course, my ideal business model would be a freemium service — get the basics for free, pay for some bells and whistles. But that would require much more development effort to get started.

Now I'm just brain dumping, but I guess I could start a freemium model on a purely volunteer basis, and issue a badge or something for supporters, ala patreon/kickstarter?

What do you guys think?

Derek Ross 2y ago

I'm not a Coracle user, but here's my 2 sats. I always assumed at some point we'd see clients implement ads or sponsored content somewhere. Everyone likes to eat. The key is with how it's implemented. If the ads or sponsored content are not intrusive and blend into the site, then I wouldn't mind it. The most important aspect here would be to have said ads / sponsored content go away if you are a paying or premium user. If it's not done properly then users will find another client. As you work on this and roll it out, be sure to keep your users informed like you're doing now.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

Gonzalo 2y ago

I like your reply in many ways:

- Clients (and any Nostr project for that matter) need to eat, without forgetting opportunity cost for the developer(s)

- I assumed, as you did, that sooner or later clients will implement ads (tbh I hadn't thought about sponsored content, but that's gonna be a reality too, sooner or later). I never saw it as a bad thing, but what i can't stand is bad advertising/bad implementation (in your face/interrruption, etc)

- Turn off ads has got to be one of the many features that motivate an user to go premium

I believe we have to embrace monetization in one way or another, if we want the Nostr ecosystem to thrive, and not only wait for getting a scrap of Jack's money.