@matigo Livejournal did it without adverts initially before changing tack and displaying big, ugly banners for free users. The feel of the place went suddenly downhill. The earlier scheme on LJ was nice. Not only could you buy a year of being premium but you could pay for various cherries on the top, like having extra icons to upload and switch between at will. There were a few things you could buy but the details escape me now (so long ago). You could buy gifts of such rights to other users too.
// @sumudu