Pros of an advertising revenue model:
In terms of monetization, for MingleMeals/HarvestMingle (our product), we would be able to gain income on our website and mobile application. In general for the internet, this would be an overall pro to startups and small businesses struggling to generate revenue, but could be a con for user experience.
Also in general for the internet, users would be able to also access a greater amount of content and services without paying subscription fees, making the internet more accessible to a broader audience. This inclusivity can in turn help small businesses like HarvestMingle reach more consumers. This ties in with another pro for our product, which is scalability. As traffic to our site grows, advertising revenue has the potential to scale up, providing us with increased earnings over time as we have projected.
Cons of an advertising revenue model:
Privacy concerns may make users uncomfortable with the amount of personal information being gathered, potentially leading to public backlash, both for the internet as a whole and for HarvestMingle. Another con mainly for the internet and internet-only based services is a dependence on platforms, where relying solely on advertising revenue can make a business dependent on the policies and algorithms of advertising platforms, leaving them vulnerable to sudden changes or suspensions.
