Hypothetical: Would you donate to the WEG Fan Forums?

[The Game Guy]

Running this site of course costs money. The domain itself costs money, the forum software costs money (VBulletin is a pay option which we went for because it has options the free software doesnt provide) as well as the cost of hosting every month.

I have been told by certain people that they do not want to have banner ads up and I am looking for ways to off set the cost of running the site.

So I want to run a little poll to find out, if an option was provided would you donate to keep this site running.

Vote and Discuss

[Lee Torres]

Yes. It's one of the best WEG/D6 sites going - I'd be willing to support it.

[Kalzazz]

Maybe but unlikely if I dont secure more money somehow

[skeloric]

I had to say no despite wanting to say yes, mainly as I have no money to donate and probably never will.

[imported_Magman]

I am willing to front some cash up, as long as the site maintains its outstanding status. If it becomes a desolate waste of nothing, obviously I will not dump money into something that is useless.

I will do as much as I can to help the site out. So keep up the good work guys !!!!!

[Stormchild]

If I were you, I would do some equations first. How much money is needed, how much could be gained with banners and how much can be expected by donations. When you begin taking the road to donations only you can't change later. It would not go well with those who have donated when you say later on, that you will have to put banners on your site finally.

[Aran]

Take a look at how Yog-Sothoth.com goes about raising money. They've been doing a variety of things for a few years now. Including a regular donation request.

[The Game Guy]

If I were you, I would do some equations first. How much money is needed, how much could be gained with banners and how much can be expected by donations. When you begin taking the road to donations only you can't change later. It would not go well with those who have donated when you say later on, that you will have to put banners on your site finally.

Well truthfully I know how much money is needed to keep the site running. It's not a ton and I use a hosting package that is used by other sites as well. So I wouldn't ask for the total hosting cost.

Mostly I am looking at covering the domain name, the forum software (the front end software is free, the forum software is not) and maybe a portion of the hosting cost. Belive it or not, it's not a whole lot of money.

[imported_Magman]

I have bought on my own everything you have purchased then some, so I know exactly how much everything cost. But disregarding the cost from your pocket, I feel a job well done and time dedicated keeping something worthy to enjoy should be rewarded. So any money out of my pocket to yours should be looked at as a Thank You for doing a good job here !

Just my philosophy there. :)

[The Game Guy]

I have bought on my own everything you have purchased then some, so I know exactly how much everything cost. But disregarding the cost from your pocket, I feel a job well done and time dedicated keeping something worthy to enjoy should be rewarded. So any money out of my pocket to yours should be looked at as a Thank You for doing a good job here !

Just my philosophy there. :)

Well I appreciate the kind sentiments. As for the cost. It's $160 for the software, $7 for the domain so yes, it's around $167, not thousands of dollars so it's an easy goal to reach. If you throw in the hosting that is another $120 so the total is $287. If the software and the domain are covered I am fine. If the hosting is also covered that would be a nice addition.

[hellsreach]

I'll dollar for dollar match donations up to $300 (others donate up to $300 or more, I donate up to $300), that should mean you'll end up with a tiny surplus for future expansion, or advertising banner ads.

[Whill]

I'll dollar for dollar match donations up to $300 (others donate up to $300 or more, I donate up to $300), that should mean you'll end up with a tiny surplus for future expansion, or advertising banner ads.

Kowabunga dude! How awesome is that?! Eric, I hope this means your extreme generosity is backed by a large income before and after the WEG sale. I only say that because I believe in Karma, and people who are so giving such as you deserve to be well-off. You gotta give to get, but you must already know that. I now feel guilty about my greedy feelings of not wanting to donate anything.

I had wondered but had been afraid to ask GG how this site was being paid for. Yes, I would like to support this site, for what it is now and even more so if this becomes the official WEG board. But ongoing monthly donations aren't probably gonna happen from me. I think small annual donations are most realistic from me, perhaps in the spirit of December holidays. I just got married this year, and my wife and I plan on starting a family soon. We need a new(er) car, a house, baby stuff, etc. My days of extra money and reckless spending are coming to a grinding halt. Yes, these are some of my greedy excuses.

Honestly, I don't have a problem with banner ads, and I'm not sure why anyone would. I admit I wouldn't want annoying pop-ups (or even the sound and momentary freeze caused by the pop-up blocking). And I wouldn't like those ads that expand over your screen, or move around as your cursor does. But people telling GG they don't want simple banner ads is almost like saying, "Mike, I don't care how much this costs you, just keep giving it to me, as is, for free. Give me your lunch money too while you're at it."

GG: Ask for donations, put up banner ads, do whatever you have to do to pay for this. If you have to require a membership/subscription fee through paypal, I might be able to justify the expenditure if the monthly fee was very small. For the sake of all those less fortunate WEG fans who are only here on an old hand-me-down computer, a cheap internet connection, some free time and a love of WEG, I truly hope it doesn't come to a mandatory monthly fee.

[skeloric]

For the sake of all those less fortunate WEG fans who are only here on an old hand-me-down computer, a cheap internet connection, some free time and a love of WEG, I truly hope it doesn't come to a mandatory monthly fee.
You have just described me quite well.
this is an old computer (though no hand-me-down) and I have a reasonably cheap broadband (could not even countenance dial up) lots of free time (I represent the success of the Bush administration by being unemployed for 4 years) and a love of TORG (one part of WEG) and a growing fascination for D6 Star Wars (and a desire to create a TORG Cosm for Star Wars [I really should get on that some day]).

As it is, a mandatory membership would force me out.

[The Game Guy]

I'll dollar for dollar match donations up to $300 (others donate up to $300 or more, I donate up to $300), that should mean you'll end up with a tiny surplus for future expansion, or advertising banner ads.

I appreciate the offer. I would love to get enough donations where I wouldn't even need to have banner ads as I think they muck up websites and slow down loadtimes.

Thank you again for the offer.

[The Game Guy]

You have just described me quite well.
this is an old computer (though no hand-me-down) and I have a reasonably cheap broadband (could not even countenance dial up) lots of free time (I represent the success of the Bush administration by being unemployed for 4 years) and a love of TORG (one part of WEG) and a growing fascination for D6 Star Wars (and a desire to create a TORG Cosm for Star Wars [I really should get on that some day]).

As it is, a mandatory membership would force me out.

Skeloric,

I understand that not everyone can afford to donate and no one is talking about mandatory memberships (at least not me). I really don't see that as productive unless you are creating a site that will be creating new content for it's members, regular articles and are looking to make a profit.

Making a profit is not what I am looking for. I am just looking for help to create the bills. Until you mentioned it (I believe it was you) I wasn't even going to float the idea of donations because I didnt think it would go over well.

I have to admit, people are more receptive to it then I had imagined (that's a good thing).

[hellsreach]

I appreciate the offer. I would love to get enough donations where I wouldn't even need to have banner ads as I think they muck up websites and slow down loadtimes.

Thank you again for the offer.

Oh, I hate banner ads which is why I've never had a single on the WEG site, but you could certainly help other sites out but putting the Fan Forum banner on their sites.

[The Game Guy]

I had wondered but had been afraid to ask GG how this site was being paid for. Yes, I would like to support this site, for what it is now and even more so if this becomes the official WEG board. But ongoing monthly donations aren't probably gonna happen from me. I think small annual donations are most realistic from me, perhaps in the spirit of December holidays. I just got married this year, and my wife and I plan on starting a family soon. We need a new(er) car, a house, baby stuff, etc. My days of extra money and reckless spending are coming to a grinding halt. Yes, these are some of my greedy excuses.

I wasn't looking at monthly donations, I was looking more towards yearly donations. And I hesitated at asking even that because I wasn't sure how to approach the subject.

As you can guess, the money to run this site is coming out of my own pocket. It's not a ton of money, as the domain and the software are paid for yearly so really all I pay is the monthly cost of the hosting plan.


Honestly, I don't have a problem with banner ads, and I'm not sure why anyone would. I admit I wouldn't want annoying pop-ups (or even the sound and momentary freeze caused by the pop-up blocking). And I wouldn't like those ads that expand over your screen, or move around as your cursor does. But people telling GG they don't want simple banner ads is almost like saying, "Game Guy, I don't care how much this costs you, just keep giving it to me, as is, for free. Give me your lunch money too while you're at it."

Well I understand the problem with banner ads. They get in the way, the slow the site down and they are just a mess. For me, I personally would rather donate to a site then see banner ads.


GG: Ask for donations, put up banner ads, do whatever you have to do to pay for this. If you have to require a membership/subscription fee through paypal, I might be able to justify the expenditure if the monthly fee was very small. For the sake of all those less fortunate WEG fans who are only here on an old hand-me-down computer, a cheap internet connection, some free time and a love of WEG, I truly hope it doesn't come to a mandatory monthly fee.

I wasn't even considering mandatory monthly fees. As I mentioned above I was hesitant to even broach the subject of donations.

In order to justify monthly fees we would have to be providing new content that was propriatory to this site and a whole lot more to justify it. I am not looking to get rich or even make money, I am looking to just cover the costs of running the site. If we just break even then I am happy.

As far as I am concerned monthly fees are not an option nor something I would even seriously consider unless I am running a site to make money, which I am not here.

That's not why I started the WEG Fan Forums.

[The Game Guy]

Oh, I hate banner ads which is why I've never had a single on the WEG site, but you could certainly help other sites out but putting the Fan Forum banner on their sites.

Yes this is true, I am just not sure how to do it that it doesn't become more of a mess then it is worth.

[skeloric]

Skeloric,
I understand that not everyone can afford to donate and no one is talking about mandatory memberships (at least not me). I really don't see that as productive unless you are creating a site that will be creating new content for it's members, regular articles and are looking to make a profit.

No fears.
I just wanted to nip such notions in the bud.



Making a profit is not what I am looking for. I am just looking for help to create the bills. Until you mentioned it (I believe it was you) I wasn't even going to float the idea of donations because I didnt think it would go over well.

I have to admit, people are more receptive to it then I had imagined (that's a good thing).
I believe it was me too.
People can find taking an active part in the support of their favorite forums to be an emotionally rewarding experience.

[imported_Magman]

If you are going to be accepting donations, pick one of the methods out there that you feel comfortable with so people can start to get donations to you.

Paypal seems to be the most used.

[The Game Guy]

No fears. I just wanted to nip such notions in the bud.

and


I believe it was me too.
People can find taking an active part in the support of their favorite forums to be an emotionally rewarding experience.

Well there is nothing to nip in the bud but cool. As for people wanting to take part in supporting a forum, there are people like that out there. And then there are some people out there who are just freeloaders. It doesn't look like we have any of the freeloaders here which is good.

[The Game Guy]

If you are going to be accepting donations, pick one of the methods out there that you feel comfortable with so people can start to get donations to you.

Paypal seems to be the most used.

I think first and formost that Paypal would be the way we would go.

[Kythian]

People can find taking an active part in the support of their favorite forums to be an emotionally rewarding experience.

It helps promote a sense of 'ownership' and 'belonging'. It's like when you buy your first toy as a kid... it just means more.

GG: What is the annual all-in cost, if you don't mind spilling that info?

[The Game Guy]

It helps promote a sense of 'ownership' and 'belonging'. It's like when you buy your first toy as a kid... it just means more.

GG: What is the annual all-in cost, if you don't mind spilling that info?

For the software and domain altogether it's $167. The total hosting for the year is $240, but that is split between other sites as well. So if I could raise $167 that would be great, if I could get that amount and cover a little of the hosting cost that would be even better.

[Kalzazz]

Banner ads dont bother me if they can be nicely implemented rather than annoying, since most banner ads on RPG sites have been either for RPGs or webcomics, things I am actually interested in, and they make money for The Game Guy which is good

Of course, if they do annoying things like making sounds, causing crashes, website speed crawling, or giving me free viruses and spyware I dont like that

[skeloric]

If the banner can be "present but not intrusive" I think people would have a lot less problem with it.
Rather like the new TV show FRINGE.
It runs about 5 minutes of commercials versus about 20 minutes in other shows.
60 seconds plus 90 seconds plus 90 seconds plus 70 seconds.
5.167 minutes in nice tiny manageable splices that actually go by too fast for me to fast forward through on my ReplayTV.
Advertising needs to be so quick and painless that you barely have time to register its presence rather than being there long enough to begin to annoy.
Annoyance can LOSE a customer faster than many commercials could ever gain them.
1 angry dissatisfied customer counters and negates the benefits of 100 happy satisfied customers -- that's foundational business education.
This is where Banner Ads have to be just as careful as any other branch of business, you have to find the proper balance between putting out the message and overdoing it until it annoys.

[The Game Guy]

Well Skeloric, that's why I want to go the donations route (Only for those who can afford to that is).

[The Game Guy]

I just wanted to let everyone know that the donations page is up so if you would like to donate and you can you can now do so.

The Donations page can be found from the main page (it's near the top of the naviagtion box) or by clicking on the link below:

http://www.wegfanforums.com/index.php/?pageid=WFFDONATIONS

Thank You