MK5 Golf GTI
General => Testing and Forum Suggestion Box => Topic started by: snapey on July 05, 2009, 05:11:02 pm
-
Just a thought, but could you not do some sort of subscription service? Say £10 for the year? This would then allow you to become a ‘premium’ member or something along those lines without alienating others.
This gives you small things like a calendar, sticker, and member card to get discounts at places etc?
Gives a chance to generate income for the forum without opening it up to advertisers etc? I know it might be a logistical nightmare sorting out a subscription kit and all that but it may work well on this forum because I'm sure everyone would sign up.
Just a thought, Luke
-
Thanks for the suggestion :happy2:
It is something we have considered but at this stage don't want to go down this route as it can create a "them and us" type environment which leads to more arguments etc.
Plus like you said the logistics of subscriptions would be a nightmare.
The current funding model is working quiet well as we have been able to pay up front the site running costs for the next 12 months and purchase the forum banner.
-
And some springs, fuel pump, revo stage 6 oh and a holiday to Germany. :innocent: :wink:
-
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
-
Hehehehe - should we all be asking to see the accounts lol... All I want to say is a really big thanks to the mod's that give so freely of their time to run the forum, I think they are sometimes forgotten.
Dom
-
is there an expenses scandal in the brewing on the forum already?! hehe
just kidding, i think we need a big red donate button at the bottom of every page on the forum by the way! ;)
-
I see where you're coming from and other forums do it successfully, but it isn't necessary. There is plenty of money out there in other forms.
The last car forum I used has over 38,000 registered users but it has never asked the forum members for donations. The servers are pretty big too, so the forum is very fast. All of this is paid for with rolling ads and sponsorship from tuning companies, and Google ads at the bottom of every page. Being clever with analytics helps you get up to the top of Google, so even forum browsers can earn you cash. The extra cash means you can buy bigger banners and flags for the shows, raising the forums profile even more.
-
All of this is paid for with rolling ads and sponsorship from tuning companies, and Google ads at the bottom of every page. Being clever with analytics helps you get up to the top of Google, so even forum browsers can earn you cash. The extra cash means you can buy bigger banners and flags for the shows, raising the forums profile even more.
This is another route we have always wanted to steer clear of, especially the tuner sponsorship as this can open up all sorts of issues where the forum can lose it's integrity and impartial balance.
We also prefer not to use google ads etc as this can spoil the user experience on the site.
More and more in the future we will be raising funds via the sales of some merchandise and if members wish to contribute to the site as and when they feel like it then thats great too.
While we continue to grow at a good rate we still believe this is the right way for the site but will always listen to user feedback :happy2:
-
Perfect ethos :drinking:
-
Perfect ethos :drinking:
+1
-
yeah stay away from google ads please
one well known "scooby" forum is now full of it as it was sold to a commercial enterprise.
hate it.
which reminds me, i need to donate some money to this site! :happy2:
-
Hehehehe - should we all be asking to see the accounts lol... All I want to say is a really big thanks to the mod's that give so freely of their time to run the forum, I think they are sometimes forgotten.
Dom
Here here! :wink: :signLOL:
-
And some springs, fuel pump, revo stage 6 oh and a holiday to Germany. :innocent: :wink:
:grin: :grin:
-
^^^ The forum is about to get it's own not for profit/club bank account so full accounts will be made available :P
-
^^^ The forum is about to get it's own not for profit/club bank account so full accounts will be made available :P
Thos does protest to much! :P
Mate if I could trust anyone with my money it would be Mr Cash Register himself! :grin:
-
Mr Cash Register :grin: :grin: :grin:
-
Perfect ethos :drinking:
+1
+2!
-
I've seen a few forums do this "Subscription" thing and it can sometimes be a real killer. I think it depends on making sure the subscription seems "reasnoble value".
-
Love the site the way it is, just evolving naturally! Easily the best forum I have been on. :congrats:
Keep up the good work guys! :pomppomp:
-
This forum has by far and away the best ethos to it. Sponsorship on other forums has just been a breeding ground for inter-company slating and back biting. Just look at the golfmkv forum in-fighting that goes on!!
Advertising can be a good method of generating money for a forum, but again I believe it would ruin the overall enjoyment and feeling of the site as being a close knit community of like-minded enthusiasts that it is at the moment.
Keep up the good work fella's :grouphug:
-
^^^^
Wot he said (Hurdy) :happy2: