This is a very provisional proposal to increase funding for Wikipedia using Google Page Ads, or a similar non-intrusive form of text only advertising.
It should be noted that as yet this page has neither been written, nor approved by anyone in charge at Wikipedia.
Page Ads are unobtrusive, having no animated graphics, annoying sounds or bright colours. They can be tied to topics of articles increasing numbers of click-throughs and hence revenue.
According to the AdSense website, there is potential with even a standard contract to filter content of advertiments - for instance allowing a website to prevent links to its competitors. This feature could be exploited in links from Wikipedia to alleviate concerns about content.
There are four possible places where adverts could be used. However due to Google Policy we are only permitted to use 3 (however 3 more for refferals).
This would be limited to a single button or referal button.
This one would appear much like the one at uncyclopedia, however we would not be allowed to put 'lunch money', ads or sponsership above it as this is a violation of google tou's.
This would be either a leader box or banner could be made to change size depending on your screen resolution, so not to create a horizontal scroll bar.
This one would be simmilar to Wikicities.
There are many ways in which advertisements on pages could be implemented. It is important to choose an implementation that will be acceptable to the Wikipedia community. This means considering the affect upon casual and repeat visitors, as well as regular editors.
Under this idea advertisements are shown to all anonymous users when they log onto the site. By choosing to register with Wikipedia they can opt-out of seeing advertisements.
Registered users have the option to turn on page ads in order to choose to help provide funding. This would most likely be through an option in my preferences.
Under this idea page ads would only be shown during the quarterly Wikipedia fund raising drives.
A seperate web address (nupedia and wikipedia.com have been suggested), leads one to a version of the encyclopaedia with advertisments. The association between the site and Wikipedia could be as close as the use of an alternate stylesheet with an advertising box, to as distant as a wholely independent not-for-profit website (potentialy even on its own servers) which contributes its advertising revenue to Wikipedia.
It is very difficult to estimate the amount of revenue Google AdSense would bring to Wikipedia, or any website for that matter. Google itself states "...advertisers pay either when users click on ads, or when the advertiser's ad is shown on your site. You'll receive a portion of the amount paid for either activity on your website. Although we don't disclose the exact revenue share, our goal is to enable publishers to make as much or more than they could with other advertising networks." [1]
The revenue generated per click or per impression changes frequently based on advertising demand, page content, keyword prices, ... Given Wikipedia's large user base and rapidly increasing daily traffic, any advertising on wikipedia would provide substantial money for the organization.
It is of paramount importance that a fundraising proposal that depends on the placement of paid advertisements must never undermine our editorial independence. It is also crucially important to show that the proposal could in no way undermine our independence before such a proposal is seriously made, because even the prospect of any such limitation could lead some editors to abandon the Wikipedia project in favour of splinter projects.
There is the potential that when the community sees that the organization is utilizing advertising for revenue, they might be more hesitant to donate. Hopefully this would be offset by including the ad revenue along with the donations on the Fundraising page allowing users to see just how much money is still needed.
Note; this section is to discuss where, when and how any vote will be conducted; this can only take place when those issues identified above have been identified and discussed. Please do not place any votes here as yet.