SpartanTailgate Users: I am asking for your help with the future success of the site

[Trevor Barnes]

SpartanTailgate.com has now been around for 12 years. That's about a century in Internet years. We were the first Big Ten board on the web and have continued to thrive a dozen years later. We've appreciated all the help and support you've given us over all these years.

Now SpartanTailgate.com is trying to upgrade how we do business. Instead of trying to sell an occasional ad to an occasional sponsor, or by using Google Adsense for random income, we've joined an advertising network of similar independently run college sports sites. Unlike Rivals or Scout we're not changing the look, feel, server location, domain, or anything. Nothing changes for you. RCMB Donors will still have ads below the top banner hidden from them, etc. The power of the network is that it can pull in major national advertisers. We've never been able to do this before.

To accomplish this new long-term sponsorship model we have recently banded together with other independent-minded Web sites like SpartanTailgate.com. (None of us want to merge our sites into a national network like Rivals or Scout). We are attempting to build a long-term sponsorship model where advertisers make a real commitment (at least one year) to you and this community. We want to avoid what we call drive-by advertising, where you see ads from hundreds of different and irrelevant advertisers via banners, pop-ups, and other intrusive ad formats. We do not believe that uncommitted, intrusive advertising serves anyone well. Moreover, we think it seriously detracts from the community.

But we need your help.

We must prove that advertising with SpartanTailgate is worth their while. The only way to do that is with your help. In the coming weeks you will see pilot sponsorship programs appearing one by one. Along with those we'll give you clear instructions on what you need to do. Essentially, we're hoping to unleash SpartanTailgate.com on the sponsors. You know how NASCAR fans only buy products that support their favorite driver? If you love Ricky Bobby, you'll buy Wonder Bread; not Kroger bread. That's what we want.

Why would you do this? Because the more money invested in this site will produce a better product. One of our goals has always been to take the site to the "next level" with features like the video clips from WILX Sports. We want to maintain our independence while still providing you with a very fun MSU fan experience.

Obviously the servers never get cheaper, and we're constantly upgrading as you know. We've upgraded once in 2007 already, and the next upgrade will be adding a 2nd server to the site. We have a handle on it now, but our server load shot up with the Dantonio hiring and national signing day. To our surprise, it hasn't gone back down. Other ideas we've kicked around also cost money. You've been to the tailgates, and you've seen an improvement in this software over the years. All of that takes money - more now than it used to. And, frankly, the more money means the more stuff you'll benefit from. We may even have a budget for contests or freelance writers. Who knows? We've talked about a lot of these ideas, but have always had some limitations. We'd like to continue to add new features like the WILX Sports videos.

So please keep your eyes peeled for our new sponsorship programs, and please pitch in. Again, these are pilot programs for now. Their success will determine if we actually land them as honest-to-goodness sponsors. For instance, if Circuit City became an official electronics sponsor of SpartanTailgate.com it would only benefit us if you shopped for your electronics from their store. If you see a coupon, print it out and use it. That'll show them where you're coming from, and that they should continue supporting the site.

Thanks again for your continued and loyal support of the site over the past 12 years and thank you for taking this new long-term sponsorship model to heart. We’re confident that you’ll step up to the plate with your support.

If you have any feedback or comments, please let us know.

Trevor and Bill

P.S. - If you’re a decision-maker for a company that would want to benefit from getting in front of two million unique visitors per month, we’d love to hear from you. For long-term sponsorship opportunities, please contact advertising@sportswar.com.