wolf_meister: You can change your username now. Just email an admin.
I have to say I’m sorry but I’m already paying $30 a month for internet and it’s bringing me enough trouble. Perhaps this will help me be rid of my internet messageboard addiction. Maybe I’ll take up reading.
I’ve got one foot on the platform.
the other on the train,
I’m goin’ back to the SDMB
to wear that ball and chain…
Now if it included french kisses from Gaudere, I’m sure you could charge some primo rates!
We have had donation drives for specific things, like when we needed a new server. For the most part, we rely on pay-per-click ads, which do pretty well.
Oh, and even more in addition to my earlier posts about anonymity and such: I assume that when the SDMB becomes the keeper of bank and credit card numbers that we’ll see a new privacy policy?
One more Doper agreeing with the idea that 30 days is not enough for a lot of newbies and it wasn’t for me. I would prefer the rule that guests can make 100 posts. Usually, by that time, you have a good understanding of the boards. If you like, you can add the complicated whichever comes last rule as well.
But, please give the 100 post rule serious thought. It’s a great idea.
Sure, I will join–$5 is a bargain. But I think the Reader is leaving a lot of money on the table and is missing some opportunities to benefit its new customers. I’m an MBA and a marketing expert, but I’m willing to consult for free in this instance. Take a look at the following ideas/complaints and tell me what you think.
- Lifetime Members/Angel subscriptions. This is an excellent way to generate quick cash flow from your biggest fans. Make a lifetime/angel membership for $150 or so. That’s 10 years of subscriptions right off the bat, and the NPV for that is going to be better than anything else you’ll get. Give people some extras (choose own title, etc.). In contrast, the “Charter Member” idea gives people extra status without you getting extra bling.
Establishing different statuses based on different levels of payment, although to a degree elitist and unpleasant to some, is an excellent way to increase cash flow and build board custom.
- You have to promise an excellent product if you’re going to charge. I’m not talking about SMDB content–it’s excellent for sure. I’m talking about how fritzy the servers are–it’s a constant pain.
To say, “Well, we hope less people will post and the board will run faster,” shows both a lack of desire to gain custom/increase cash flow and a lack of desire to provide customers the best. Totally unacceptable!
- Guest membership for 30 days is both a recipe for trouble and missed opportunity. It’s trouble in that, contrary to what others have been saying about reduced trolling, trolls can sign on as a guest and cause trouble without really any consequences. They will think, “Ah well, I’m not paying, so who cares if I get banned.” One may counter by saying that this is how things currently stand on the board. However, once you create two classes of poster–paying and not paying–those who are in the not paying category will perceive themselves differently (namely, as lower in status) and behave accordingly. Consider yourself warned!
It’s also a missed opportunity. Posters should be given a free 3-month membership with a “real” screen name. They will then begin to post and build up attachment/psychological and social equity with that name. At the end of 3 months, if they wish to keep their name and keep posting, they have to pay! (They’ll know this from the start, of course). And those who are hooked, those who are the customers you really want to keep, will gladly do so.
Let me put another way: When people post merely as “guest,” they are not building friendships, etc., under that name. They therefore have nothing to lose when 30 days are up.
It’s not too late to implement this system. I highly recommend it.
As things stand, this board will literally be decimated (that is, posters decrease to 1/10 current levels). You will be lucky to get 1000 paying members. I’m not sure if that will be “critical mass” or not. I think the board can survive at first with 700 -1000 paying members, but have others have pointed out, it will be very hard to get new people to join. Once the board goes below a certain level, it will definitely die. At the same time, if “guest” content is poor or trolly, the board’s demise could be even quicker.
I also agree that banning rules have to be made firmer and fairer. People should first get an on-board official warning (this does not count minor infractions that would just get the standard wrist-slap). If they screw up again, they should get an e-mail warning with a demand to apologize. If they do apologize, that count as one strike. If they don’t, they are banned. And a paying customer should be allowed two strikes, with a banning on the third.
This board is an excellent product and should be making serious money for the Reader. Let me reiterate what to do if you truly want to succeed:
**1. Guarantee server integrity and speed–in other words, product excellence.
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Charge NOW a high rate for a lifetime membership. Create two or three status levels to maximize cash flow (i.e., to get more from those willing to pay more).
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Let a person post for 3 months with a fixed screen name, allowing her/m to build social equity and thus a greater likelihood to pay at the end of the period.**
[/free marketing consulting]
I for one will be paying $5–and I wish the board good luck.
[
As noted, the overall quality is pretty good now. In that regard I’m glad one can still be banned, because otherwise many folks might see having to pay as a justification for jerkish behavior.
I’m in.
And I request the administration keep tabs on the conversion rate of guests to new members, and consider extending the length of guest privileges if needed to keep the community healthy. I agree it takes a while to get acclimated.
No avatars, no (second) sigs, no editing, please.
I just want to jump in and say it is about time.
I haven’t really read or posted much in the past couple of years. I think this will really make me want to come back here more often for intelligent and fun chatter.
Good show, yo!
I’m in. My attitude it “try it and see how it works.” I’m sure that the staff will be able to make changes to the pay scheme later if it looks like it’s going to kill the board.
**Aeschines **, newbies will have “Guest” under the screen name, where it currently says “Member.” “Guest” isn’t going to be the screen name.
I bet you aint gonna ever pay for TV either, right?
On the ability to edit: Yes, it might be possible to allow a time-limited editing function. However, we think it would still be inadvisable. Take a look at this thread, and at how many posts are made in (say) a five-minute period. If you could go back and edit a post within five minutes of posting, there’s still room for lots of damage being done by revisionism.
Whenever we discuss this, we arrive at the same conclusion: those who want the power to edit their posts are mainly concerned about trivial typos, and it’s just not worth it. Trivial typos are trivial typos. Any significant typo (like typing “now” when you meant “not”) can be corrected by sending an email to a Moderator.
I once read on here that the average SDMB user only posts for 90 days. I suspect the 30 day number is targeting those people. What you don’t realize is that every single person who would have left after 90 days will out and out refuse to pay after 30 days.
A more intelligent plan would be to have no distinction between paying members and guests…guests enjoy post counts, search functions, etcetera. After 90 days, the guests are given notice that they need to pay (whatever $) within the next 30 days or they will lose posting priviledges until they pay.
The reasoning is that you aren’t going to get money out of casual posters or lurkers anyway, so why drive them away? Since only longterm members are going to pay, accept that without driving away the shorttimers.
Money makes bannings a different animal. You may want to consider fines as an alternative to bannings.
I will not give my personal info willingly to anybody. Not the CR, not paypal, not anyone. I’m sure a hacker could figure it out, but I’m not about to facilitate it. I’d be happy to send a money order next week, but otherwise I will have to bid farewell. Not that anybody (other than me) will be sad to see me go. (Certainly not yosemitebabe, to whom I am sorry about that meltdown.) 
Will you accept money orders? Where should I send it?
Can we have the Quick Reply box again, though? I still miss that.
Though I fully agree with the sentiment expressed here, I’m a prime example of a guy who got hooked from the first time I found this message board, and simply read it from then on out. This is the first and last message board I’ve ever viewed. I came on as a college freshman, with fast internet for the first time. To me, posting isn’t the most enjoyable thing here. The conversations are plenty for me. 100 posts could be strectched out for a long time in the hands of a reader.
My point is…that I’ve lost my point. I’m in for the $5, even if I do only post once every 6 or 7 blue moons.
I’m in, but the only plastic around here is my keyboard!
I do have a chequeing account, but I’m already going to be paying exchange and I’m kinda financially embarressed just now. Any Canadian Doper’s want to sign me up? I’ll send you $6.75 in cash. That oughta cover the exchange, right? I don’t want to send cash over the border- I’m not sure it’s legal in Canada, but I figure if it’s okay in birthday cards… 
Email’s in my profile. Thanks, guys!
I like it.
The only thing I would change is: start the 30 day clock ticking from the first time someone posts, not from the first time they join as a guest.
Lurkers will lurk but you don’t have ‘em truly hooked ‘til they start posting, and since you’re going to let folks read the board as non-posting guests for free even after their 30 days expires (I did understand that correctly, didnt’ I?), why not extend the same to guests indefinitely before giving them 30 days’ worth of free posting-privileges? (did that make sense to anyone?)
Apology accepted—but you know, when I saw your screen name I had absolutely no memory of that previous thread and did not associate you with anything other than being just another longtime Doper. Really, memories can (and should be) short here. We can bicker and fight in one thread and agree and be all hunky-dory in another.
That’s not to say that it’s always possible to forget a particular debate or continued issue with some other Dopers—but really, it’s not that huge of an issue. I don’t live in the same house with you people and I can turn away from any of you (as you can with me) when things get too annoying. That’s an advantage this place has over real life! 
I also want to say that I think that Aeschines brings up some good points that should be considered. Much of what he (she?) said sounded like it had merit.
Makes sense to me - sounds like a great idea as it encourages people to lurk and gain an appreciation for the finer points of the SDMB before posting.
I will gladly pay, but can we please have the colorful smilelies back?