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Author Topic: Subscription service/ premium members  (Read 5268 times)

Offline snapey

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Subscription service/ premium members
« 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
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Offline SteveP

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2009, 07:04:56 pm »
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.
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Offline Top Cat

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2009, 10:06:55 pm »
And some springs, fuel pump, revo stage 6 oh and a holiday to Germany.   :innocent:  :wink:
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Offline SteveP

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2009, 10:11:42 pm »
 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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Offline Poppa Dom

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2009, 10:19:33 pm »
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
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Offline JPC

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2009, 10:43:48 pm »
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! ;)
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Offline TomB

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2009, 07:17:24 pm »
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.
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Offline SteveP

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2009, 08:06:49 pm »
Quote from: TomB on July 06, 2009, 07:17:24 pm
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:
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Offline VC

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2009, 08:46:38 pm »
Perfect ethos  :drinking:
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Offline WhiteGTI

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2009, 09:33:05 pm »
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Offline chungster

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #10 on: July 06, 2009, 09:51:26 pm »
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:
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Offline Greeners

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #11 on: July 08, 2009, 08:48:26 pm »
Quote from: DomT on July 05, 2009, 10:19:33 pm
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:

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Offline Greeners

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2009, 08:48:46 pm »
Quote from: Top Cat on July 05, 2009, 10:06:55 pm
And some springs, fuel pump, revo stage 6 oh and a holiday to Germany.   :innocent:  :wink:

 :grin: :grin:
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Offline SteveP

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #13 on: July 08, 2009, 08:56:40 pm »
^^^ The forum is about to get it's own not for profit/club bank account so full accounts will be made available  :P
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Offline Greeners

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Re: Subscription service/ premium members
« Reply #14 on: July 08, 2009, 09:00:14 pm »
Quote from: SteveP on July 08, 2009, 08:56:40 pm
^^^ 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:
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