Yeti Ads and Why the Exponent II Needs You
Parties. Dancing. Jazz. Wealth. These are a few of the words that come to mind when I ask people what they remember about reading The Great Gatsby. In the decades since I read this book, I still vividly remember billboards. Yes, billboards. This was the first time I became aware of the ubiquitousness of advertising.
What does advertising have to do with the Exponent II? Well, we have grown to the point where we need money from our readers to pay hosting fees and website support contracts. Regular readers will notice that from mid-March to mid-May of this year we tried advertising as a way of raising revenue. While parameters were carefully set as to the categories of ads allowed, some readers ended up with ads for rollerblades and retirement planning while other readers ended with an ad for — I joke not — a farting yeti. Worse still, some readers often had distinctly pornographic looking ads. The majority of ads were at odds with Exponent II values. Ads also ended up providing merely tens of dollars in revenue over two months which was only a quarter of the amount estimated before the ad trial. The types of ads, lower than estimated revenue, and, most important, concerns regarding the disruption to readers’ experience, mean that ads are not a feasible revenue source.
This is why you are needed. Yes, you! Wondering why good storytelling deserves good infrastructure? Read Katie Lulow’s piece “From Mormon Pioneer Trail Diaries to Feminist Blog Posts: Finding My Voice.” Wondering why bother reading about complicated Mormon experiences? Read Candice Wendt’s piece “Why Bother Reading and Writing about Complicated Mormon Experiences?”
One thing I value most about Exponent II is community. Community is the glue that binds us together. It is why I read Exponent II, both the blog, comments, and magazine. Heather Sundhal and Katie Ludlow Rich discuss the importance of community over conformity in these podcasts about their fabulous book 50 Years of Exponent II. *Everyone* is welcome in the Exponent II community. Respect, kindness, and a willingness to listen to others is all that is required. No need to believe a certain way, act a certain way, dress a certain way, etc. This community is a place where I can sigh with relief. In May 2022, I attended my first bloggers retreat. I was nervous about meeting women in person. Would I be accepted? I was so, so tired after nearly a decade of living in a ward where conformity ruled. My daughters and I were shunned because they didn’t go to the same school as most ward members and I have graduate degrees and work professionally. (My husband was accepted just fine by the men.) So it was with trepidation that I arrived at Katie Ludlow Rich’s house and climbed into a minivan of women. My heart soon melted. We were, and are, at different places of belief, practice, and relationship to the church. That doesn’t matter at all. What matters is dialogue and community. I fiercely love this community of writers and readers. The posts, essays, and comments feed my soul.
In the lonely time when the church is emphasizing individual covenants, the community of Exponent II matters now more than ever. Candice Wendt writes more about that in “The Insidious Exchange of Community for Covenants.” No matter the amount you donate, you are a contributing community member. Plus, you can sleep easy knowing that with proper tech support, you helped an Exponent II blogger to not have nightmares about the website.
Click to make a tax deductible donation towards our $10,000 goal.
