Poll for Donating Members Only

[DnvrFox]

Joe would like to have ads for more revenue, but is waiting until he can develop a way so that donating members can have an "ad-free" alternative.

I don't mind seeing ads - in fact, I might like to see what is offered, and I would not mind seeing ads until he can get an alternative format prepared, if he so desires.

Do you agree?

Please take the poll and let everyone know.

[Greg]

Joe should be able to do what ever he feels is best.

I do miss the Russian dating ads though.;)

[A.troll]

My boyfriend, Joe, will always do what is best for Bikeforums and the people who post here!

:love:


Oh, and Gregg? Don't say I never gave you anything!

http://www.people-finder.org/russian.html
http://www.anastasiaweb.com/?source=overture
http://www.russianbrides.com/

There ya go, boyfriend!

SMOOCH!

[Spire]

Before I answer. How many ads would be needed? Every Page, 1 in 2? 1 in 4?

[MikeOK]

Dnvr- that looks like a CNN poll, written for a certain agenda (sorry dude, I hate disagreeing with a Coloradian)

I don't mind seeing ads, but I just think it is a good idea to offer the choice. And Joe is a techno-dude. Techno-dudes enjoy tinkering with code. Besides, it was his idea first. How do you know that there won't be more revenue overall from more people donating, just so they won't have to see ads?

[roadbuzz]

Of the options provided, I selected "don't mind." But really, I dislike some ads. I mostly log in via dial-up, so I dislike ads that increase page refresh time significantly. I dislike ads that flash obnoxious colors and make it difficult to even look at the page you're trying to read. And no x10 hidden camera pop-ups, just on principle. So, I guess what I'm saying is, if the ads are tasteful and have class, in keeping with the the general attitude that's maintained here in BF, I don't mind.

FWIW, a forum topic will often send me off either searching for some piece of info, or to a bike retailer page for prices, part options, etc. My point is, sometimes clickable ads can be useful.

[DnvrFox]

Originally posted by MikeOK
Dnvr- that looks like a CNN poll, written for a certain agenda (sorry dude, I hate disagreeing with a Coloradian)

Hey, why write a poll if you don't have a bias?

I mean, I wouldn't want to waste the space and not get my point across!! :D

Incidentally, it is officially Coloradan (I think!!).

[MikeOK]

:)

Your heart is in the right place. And as long as the ads are bike related, I actually enjoy seeing them. But I am a member of another forum that is setup similarly to what Joe suggested in the other thread, and it works very well there. Choice is a good thing.

[1oldRoadie]

I have faith in Joes values. And if he decides to place ads in the forum, then I know the ads would be bike related and would not detract from the forum.

[cyclezealot]

I would be pleased with the fourm with ads as long as the ads compliment the forums functions and the forum does not turn into a billboard.. And w/0 ads, we steady members should do a better job of helping out Joe... At least once a year.. There are enough of we hard-core members, seems we could make a sizeable dent into Joe's obligations..

[threadend]

What? A poll for Donating members only?? Why, this smacks of Profiling, McCartheism, Litigatism, Delineatism and Improvisationalism all rolled into one. I refuse to be singled out for exclusion.

Was it Samuel Clemens or Groucho Marx who "Refused to belong to any organization that would have him as a member"?

How to remedy such a travesty?

PAYPAL DONATIONS

To make a donation via PayPal, you first need to sign up with their service (details will be given when you click below). PayPal is perhaps the easiest way of sending money over the net, so please consider it - it will probably come in useful some other time!


CREDIT CARD DONATIONS

Your credit card will be billed by '2CheckOut', not BikeForums.net (2CheckOut.com handles all our card payments).

All amounts are in US$. (Click here for a currency converter)

$5 (Five Dollars)

$10 (Ten Dollars)

$20 (Twenty Dollars)

$50 (Fifty Dollars)


SNAIL MAIL DONATIONS

We also welcome snail mail contributions. You can send either a Money Order or Personal Check to:

Joe Gardner
Po Box 10
Provo UT, 84603
USA

Money orders and checks should be made out to 'Joe Gardner'.

:thumbup: The checks in the mail Joe :D

[Viper]

What would a "No Add" (pay site) cost? Surely there will be a minimum?

I didn't vote, sorry, there isn't enough options, one like "other" included might work. Not sure. :confused:

[MikeOK]

At the other site I mentioned above (dirtrider.net) the annual cost is $20 and there is a lifetime option for something like a one time $100. Plus the paying members get some other things extra, like free email and a few "top secret" regional and club type sections that others can't see.

They use Jelsoft there too. Joe- the owner there is Okiewan or something like that, he may be of some help, he seems to be a pretty cordial guy...

[Joe Gardner]

All current donating members will be grandfathered into the paying member group for one year. After that, a 1 year subscription will require a min $20 donation.

Current donation amount is whatever you feel the forums are worth to you. If you think you have received $5 worth of information, feel free to donate $5. If you think they are worth far more then that, feel free to donate that much.

The subscribers will receive a lot more then just a no-ad's version of the forums; they will have access to a lot of additional features and benefits as well.

I hope to have more details soon, but don’t expect the subscription model to go into effect for another few months.

[Joe Gardner]

Originally posted by threadend
What? A poll for Donating members only?? Why, this smacks of Profiling, McCartheism, Litigatism, Delineatism and Improvisationalism all rolled into one. I refuse to be singled out for exclusion...

...Money orders and checks should be made out to 'Joe Gardner'.

:thumbup: The checks in the mail Joe :D

Thanks threadend :)

[Dirtgrinder]

I don't mind ads, just no pop-ups!!!!:mad:

[Joe Gardner]

Originally posted by Dirtgrinder
I don't mind ads, just no pop-ups!!!!:mad:

i can guarantee there will never be pop-up advertisements on the forums :)

[easyrider]

I see how this issue is being addressed from the perspective of a user/member of the site and that is fine, but there must be some consideration given to the perspective of an advertiser.

I, for example, would like to advertise here but it would be harder to sell me on the idea if I can't reach the members. That group is my target market. Folks who are: Knowledgable, interested year round, follow Euro racing, have opinions and aren't afraid to take a stand, etc.

If you tell me, "You can advertise on our site but our members won't see it," I'm not sure if it is so interesting.

Please don't misunderstand this. I'm not telling anyone how to run their site. I really like this site. Just consider how "the deal" will shake out from all angles. And perhaps other advertisers would be thrilled to get their ad in front of the non-members. I wouldn't presume to speak for anyone but myself...

[Joe Gardner]

Originally posted by easyrider
I see how this issue is being addressed from the perspective of a user/member of the site and that is fine, but there must be some consideration given to the perspective of an advertiser...

Good points. I have had quite a few industry people ask about advertising here, i have told everyone to save there money & put a link in there sig and profile. The more active they become, the more the members here will trust them, and in the long run, they will make a lot more money, and get a lot more clicks. I also know that most industry people will help the forums, if they see the site in there referral logs daily. As a industry donating member, the members here can trust the company, and know they support the sport on the net.

I have enough things going to keep all advertising internal. Guests will see ad's for the benefits of registering on the forums, and affiliate program ad's targeted to cyclists (probike, magazines, performance, rei etc...). Registered members will see ad's for the benefits of becoming a donating member, as well as the same affiliate ad's.

Donating members will have a choice in there CP to view ad's, if they don't want to see them, they can turn them off. Nobody else will have that option. In addition to the lack of ad's, donating members will have access to alot more features, benefits and styles.

Just wait and see, it will be a fun year!

[trmcgeehan]

I think bike-related ads would be fine, and hopefully, informative. Would Krispy-Kreme be considered "bike-related?" :D

[RonH]

I don't mind seeing ads - in fact, I might like to see what is offered
Me too.



Trollie, was that a picture of your cousin on the russianbrides.com website? ;)


Would Krispy-Kreme be considered "bike-related?"
What do think about that question Matt? :D

[Viper]

Originally posted by trmcgeehan
...Would Krispy-Kreme be considered "bike-related?" :D After a quick century...YES!!!! :D

[a2psyklnut]

Don't mind the ads!

Over a Ridemonkey, they have ads, and I click them when the new products hit the street to see what they have or have to say!

L8R

[fubar5]

Uuum, where is the thread??? I think that ads would be a better deal than subscription.

[fubar5]

If KK isn't bike related, then I don't know what is!!!!

[A.troll]

Originally posted by RonH

Trollie, was that a picture of your cousin on the russianbrides.com website? ;)


It could have been, Ron. I have troll cousins all over the world. Here's a picture of my Russian cousin. Here name is Ivana Vedding. Notice the family resemblence?

[fubar5]

Well, I better get a donation in soon..... ;) I got a job at my school, so I'll be able to send something soon Joe.

[Joe Gardner]

Fubar, I just updated your profile, i think helping mod these forums is worth more then a cash donation any day :) Thanks for your help.

[trmcgeehan]

We could give Joe our credit card numbers. Then he could deduct .05 cents each time we make a post and .05 cents each time we look at a post. :D

[fubar5]

Originally posted by trmcgeehan
We could give Joe our credit card numbers. Then he could deduct .05 cents each time we make a post and .05 cents each time we look at a post. :D

Probably he could make some money that way...With all the users with 4000+ posts we've got...;)

[lotek]

Well I'm a little late here but
FWIW Ads (as long as they are not pop ups, thank
you very much) are fine by me.
Joe, I really Like the wrench science ads on Velonews
and cyclingnews.com!

whatever you need to keep forums going, I'm all for it.

Marty

[cycletourist]

I've been thinking about this lately...

I subscribe to an email newsletter called the LangaList. The ads in the regular version are so annoying that I pay the $12 a year to get the ad-free version. I imagine lots of other people pay as well.

But looking at this from an advertisers perspective... if my advertisements were only going to be seen by those too cheap and/or broke to pay for the ad-free version... well, why bother?

[swekarl]

I've only donated once, to help get the forums up and running again after the catastrophy if you remember. I've wondered for how long that little star will continue to twinkle...

Anyway, I think all sites of this type should have the alternative of a non-free, non-ad version. That will be a good reason for many users to start donating.