An Ad Free Internet with Google Contributor

Thinking Internet without ads will be like imagining a train running somehow without fuel. This might feel weird at first but Google is already running an experiment called ‘Contributor’to create an ad free internet. Users who want an ad-free experience must get a monthly subscription currently kept at a bracket of 1-3 USD by Google. Once registered, users can access ad-free sites which have enrolled under the Contributor program. Users will have to log-in from their google account to access the ad-free version of the sites. In fact, users would see personalized messages from websites on areas that are meant to display ads for normal users.

Till now, a handful of websites has joined Contributor including Imgur, Onion, Mashable, Urban Dictionary and Science Daily.

While some industry experts such as Howard Kingston, co-founder of adludio, categorise Contributor as a new type of online advertising, it is merely another ambitious step from Google that speaks of the company’s laser-like focus on its prime objective– Provide great content to users while making money in the whole process. In fact, the business model of ‘Contributor’ is directly based on revenue sharing between the contributor sites and Google. Hence, it is most likely that likability of content posted by enrolled sites can be taken into consideration by Google. Better the content, better the money earned by the site owner.

‘Contributor’ can also lead to an intra-cluster type competition between sites which can ultimately lead to a lot of valuable content be given for lesser rates or even free to subscribers. For example, market research entities that provide half-baked analytics report for free download might fight it out for revenues and users in future. The bulky $500 reports from Forrester might have to reshape and distributed at smaller levels and added with a lot of free stuff too. Enrolled News websites might provide special editorials or refreshed subscription plans to attract more registered users.

Everything depends on how big ‘Contributor’ can leap in the coming times. As of now, luring users towards an ad free web can get Google a substantial user base to start with.