Forum costs, maintenance and advertising

[The Fireman]

continue growing the audience and the community here

This is the starting point with any business case for finding a revenue source.


How do you envisage growing the audience enough for it to produce and income?


The donation system can be via EFT as it has been in the past.

keep it simple.

Maybe you could assist in this area

[sunsaint]

I generally find the advertising on bigfooty intrusive and makes the site slow to navigate
avoid that - and advertising could work + donations

[sunsaint]

love to know the traffic volumes of saintsational

[D.B.Cooper]

Happy to donate to keep the forum alive.

Would prefer no advertising.

[n1ck]

So this place has cost $100 a mth for the last 20 yrs ?

I cant speak to what it has cost in the past, only what it costs now.

If i had to guess I'd say that it would have been considerably cheaper but as the software became more outdated and fixes patched it required more resources and therefore became more expensive to run.

Add to that more recent increases in economic factors, increased service prices, inflation et al that gets passed onto consumers I would hazard a guess that 10 years ago it probably cost less than half of that.

[n1ck]

the advertising model is not viable and will steer the site into a very undesirable direction.

Please explain?

I work with a number of digital platforms and publishers many of which are self sustaining via advertising revenue. It is ultimately a reality of the digital landscape and one with which a majority of digital consumers and engagers are used to and content with - assuming it isnt intrusive or offensive (and even then most put up with it anyway fwiw if you look at mainstream publications).

[Teflon]

I’d introduce a charge system
$100 per Shiite post - there’s a ton of money from a select few on here you’d rake it in …
Or
Allow Viagra advertising…again suspect theres a lucrative, captured audience here who would offer little by way of stiff resistance….
Great work Nick btw - happy to contribute

[asiu]

lo (insert swear word here) l

hehehe

what about nappies
whilst your on a roll

there's more adult nappies flogged per annum than babes

i'll get mum to knit up some outers
(like a tea cosy)
in rw+b

flog plenty around here
i'll make a buck out of the joint as well then


though seriously

a nominal amount per contributor donated

a) hits the target accurately , quickly , cleanly
b) keeps the site advert free
c) sustains what we have
which is already good
without us becoming what everyone else already is


in my considered opinion
fwtw

[Vortex]

the advertising model is not viable and will steer the site into a very undesirable direction.

Please explain?

I work with a number of digital platforms and publishers many of which are self sustaining via advertising revenue. It is ultimately a reality of the digital landscape and one with which a majority of digital consumers and engagers are used to and content with - assuming it isnt intrusive or offensive (and even then most put up with it anyway fwiw if you look at mainstream publications).

This site is a town square and it is nothing without the content provided by the people that gather here and as such we must ensure the control of the site never falls into the hands of a single vested interest which is possible the moment we sign over to a commercial advertising model. We’ve been down that path before and stiff resistance was given.

N1ck can you please suggest a software solution that doesn’t require advertising as an alternative to phpBB but solves the technical issues you believe exist.

We need to put some meat on the bone in a transparent way.

Also I would be interested to know any ideas you have on how to increase the membership because that is also an issue that has never had a viable solution put forward.

[whiskers3614]

So what is the annual amount required?
Surely there are fifty regulars who can afford $50 p.a
Just like the player sponsorship shares done on here.
Or we could possibly combine the two?

[Sainter_Dad]

So what is the annual amount required?
Surely there are fifty regulars who can afford $50 p.a
Just like the player sponsorship shares done on here.
Or we could possibly combine the two?

I was just about to type the same

Free to view
$5 per member of the site (for say 10 posts per month)
$15 per for unlimited posts - lol!
$25 per share for sponsorship of the player

Lots of small contributions make the load easier to share.

It would depend on costs - however be warned - if a poster is paying for the privilege to post - it is their right to say whatever they want about the umpires

Can we see stats as to how many people have posted in the past 6 months?

[The Fireman]

the advertising model is not viable and will steer the site into a very undesirable direction.

Please explain?

I work with a number of digital platforms and publishers many of which are self sustaining via advertising revenue. It is ultimately a reality of the digital landscape and one with which a majority of digital consumers and engagers are used to and content with - assuming it isnt intrusive or offensive (and even then most put up with it anyway fwiw if you look at mainstream publications).

This site is a town square and it is nothing without the content provided by the people that gather here and as such we must ensure the control of the site never falls into the hands of a single vested interest which is possible the moment we sign over to a commercial advertising model. We’ve been down that path before and stiff resistance was given.
gee, you have used the term "Town Square" 3 times ,
N1ck can you please suggest a software solution that doesn’t require advertising as an alternative to phpBB but solves the technical issues you believe exist.
Nick has already stated he has looked at other platforms and is open for suggestions
We need to put some meat on the bone in a transparent way.
What does that even mean ? Chatbot?
Also I would be interested to know any ideas you have on how to increase the membership because that is also an issue that has never had a viable solution put forward.
maybe a troll filter ?

[Vortex]

the advertising model is not viable and will steer the site into a very undesirable direction.

Please explain?

I work with a number of digital platforms and publishers many of which are self sustaining via advertising revenue. It is ultimately a reality of the digital landscape and one with which a majority of digital consumers and engagers are used to and content with - assuming it isnt intrusive or offensive (and even then most put up with it anyway fwiw if you look at mainstream publications).

This site is a town square and it is nothing without the content provided by the people that gather here and as such we must ensure the control of the site never falls into the hands of a single vested interest which is possible the moment we sign over to a commercial advertising model. We’ve been down that path before and stiff resistance was given.
gee, you have used the term "Town Square" 3 times ,
N1ck can you please suggest a software solution that doesn’t require advertising as an alternative to phpBB but solves the technical issues you believe exist.
Nick has already stated he has looked at other platforms and is open for suggestions
We need to put some meat on the bone in a transparent way.
What does that even mean ? Chatbot?
Also I would be interested to know any ideas you have on how to increase the membership because that is also an issue that has never had a viable solution put forward.
maybe a troll filter ?

Shhh, the adults are talking

[The Fireman]

well if it is a "Town Square" then Its plain to see who the village idiot is

[shanegrambeau]

Does Big Footy have advertising?

A number of pesters here, and including some who don’t want ads here, might post over there regardless.

I think advertising might be the lesser of two evils.

Yes, this is a village square type of vibe, (although the village is rather isolated in the mountains) and there are sanctimonious twats, trouble makers , stirrers, trolls, county ‘sheriff/bully types who all have their soap box.

What would a payment, subscription model do?

Allow the nasties to get nastier, on their new supposed ‘privilege and responsibility’?

Or would it scare the posers and trolls away? Leaving a calm?

We know forums , including the Big Footy style, have probably passed their hey day ten years ago, and that Social Media is where people go now,
so that the maintenance of a site like this might get toughe.

Moderation of this site is also tough. When people start paying or donating they may get more vociferous than they already are. Can you image, ‘ FFS I paid my donation , so get the f out,’….’Moderators, please listen, we donated money so please get rid of so and so…etc. ‘
Dunno just thinking about it now.
I would reluctantly err on the side of advertising but could be happily convinced that the donation system might work.

[The Fireman]

I have no problem with advertising

[saynta]

Does Big Footy have advertising?

A number of pesters here, and including some who don’t want ads here, might post over there regardless.

I think advertising might be the lesser of two evils.

Yes, this is a village square type of vibe, (although the village is rather isolated in the mountains) and there are sanctimonious twats, trouble makers , stirrers, trolls, county ‘sheriff/bully types who all have their soap box.

What would a payment, subscription model do?

Allow the nasties to get nastier, on their new supposed ‘privilege and responsibility’?

Or would it scare the posers and trolls away? Leaving a calm?

We know forums , including the Big Footy style, have probably passed their hey day ten years ago, and that Social Media is where people go now,
so that the maintenance of a site like this might get toughe.

Moderation of this site is also tough. When people start paying or donating they may get more vociferous than they already are. Can you image, ‘ FFS I paid my donation , so get the f out,’….’Moderators, please listen, we donated money so please get rid of so and so…etc. ‘
Dunno just thinking about it now.
I would reluctantly err on the side of advertising but could be happily convinced that the donation system might work.

" And there are sanctimonious twats, trouble makers , stirrers, trolls, county ‘sheriff/bully types who all have their soap box.

What would a payment, subscription model do?

Allow the nasties to get nastier, on their new supposed ‘privilege and responsibility’? "

Name them, go on I dare you."

You are big on insults but short on facts, or integrity.

Me, I would stop posters posting unless they lived in this country.

[Banger9798]

So what is the annual amount required?
Surely there are fifty regulars who can afford $50 p.a
Just like the player sponsorship shares done on here.
Or we could possibly combine the two?

That would seem about right

[Mr Magic]

If it's decided that we proceed along the 'sponsorship' model I would propose that being a 'sponsor' gives that poster no more/less rights than anybody else.
Sponsorship would be viewed as merely a contribution to the costs of running the site.

[The_Dud]

the advertising model is not viable and will steer the site into a very undesirable direction.

Please explain?

I work with a number of digital platforms and publishers many of which are self sustaining via advertising revenue. It is ultimately a reality of the digital landscape and one with which a majority of digital consumers and engagers are used to and content with - assuming it isnt intrusive or offensive (and even then most put up with it anyway fwiw if you look at mainstream publications).

This site is a town square and it is nothing without the content provided by the people that gather here and as such we must ensure the control of the site never falls into the hands of a single vested interest which is possible the moment we sign over to a commercial advertising model. We’ve been down that path before and stiff resistance was given.
gee, you have used the term "Town Square" 3 times ,
N1ck can you please suggest a software solution that doesn’t require advertising as an alternative to phpBB but solves the technical issues you believe exist.
Nick has already stated he has looked at other platforms and is open for suggestions
We need to put some meat on the bone in a transparent way.
What does that even mean ? Chatbot?
Also I would be interested to know any ideas you have on how to increase the membership because that is also an issue that has never had a viable solution put forward.
maybe a troll filter ?

I love seeing people who are trying to sound intelligent/knowledgeable but are instead just spewing out words that actually have no substance behind them when you look at it.

How many pages before Secret_Vortex blames the site issues on COVID or Cooper Sharman??

[asiu]

'n still none of those reasons would be correct


obviously ,



it's the Liberal Party.

[The Fireman]

'n still none of those reasons would be correct


obviously ,



it's the Liberal Party.

A right wing plot to stifle intelligent interaction?

Hmmm …nah

[Sainter_Dad]

LOL - and as a happy co-incidence - paying for the privilege may cut down on the multiple nicks - like Curley and The_Dud

[Vortex]

If it's decided that we proceed along the 'sponsorship' model I would propose that being a 'sponsor' gives that poster no more/less rights than anybody else.
Sponsorship would be viewed as merely a contribution to the costs of running the site.

Absolutely this should be a consideration, however a voting model may need to be put up for consideration with relation to administration of the site if a donation funding model is put in place, especially if it is viewed important to maintain the sites unique position on the footy forum landscape which has to continue including independence from the club and AFL. This feature could be jeopardised if the site is monetised due to commercial and legal obligations for such an arrangement.

Keep it for the people with a donation funding model to preserve the uniqueness and independence.

[Mr Magic]

If it's decided that we proceed along the 'sponsorship' model I would propose that being a 'sponsor' gives that poster no more/less rights than anybody else.
Sponsorship would be viewed as merely a contribution to the costs of running the site.

Absolutely this should be a consideration, however a voting model may need to be put up for consideration with relation to administration of the site if a donation funding model is put in place, especially if it is viewed important to maintain the sites unique position on the footy forum landscape which has to continue including independence from the club and AFL. This feature could be jeopardised if the site is monetised due to commercial and legal obligations for such an arrangement.

Keep it for the people with a donation funding model to preserve the uniqueness and independence.

I disagree completely
The site is owned by the admin, to be run as he/she/they see fit.
In a sponsorship model all we (the posters who contribute) would be doing is assisting in the running costs of the admin’s site
We (the sponsors) would get no vote/say on anything, and neither should we IMHO