How does this sound?

mikecentola · #1 (**permalink**) 09-16-2007, 10:24 AM

I've been kicking around the idea of changing around the memberships for the site, in an effort to possibly attract more members and make it more worthwhile for those who are on the fence about joining.

I'm proposing that we change the membership to a one-time only lifetime membership. The price would be like $40 or $50 and it would carry a lifetime membership to this site. With that you would be given more things with the initial membership (We're considering keychains and license plate brackets), and obviously the discounts on rspeed branded stuff

Current Premium members would be grandfathered in, and I'm not sure how we'd handle the basic members.

I'm hoping this would make less like you are "paying to be on a site" and more like you're buying some merch to help support the site, and allow us to get new things. As most of you know, I've spent a ton of money on this site ($3000+) and pretty much any money that comes in from the site is put back towards it

Anyways let me hear some comments/suggestions? Please keep the negativity out of this thread. I'm not in the mood, and I've got my finger on the ban button. Kthxbye.

ckivic4dr · #2 (**permalink**) 09-16-2007, 10:36 AM

That sounds like a good idea.. i would definitely get that.. i say do it

Celtic1982citleC · #3 (**permalink**) 09-16-2007, 12:03 PM

Why not have everything on the site "free" but have (as most sites do) a "donate to help your home" section...in which depending on your donation you're entitled "points" which then allow you to "purchase" memoribilia from an rSpeed store? Just my .02

xceebeex · #4 (**permalink**) 09-16-2007, 02:13 PM

That sounds like a decent idea, but make sure that you take into account those who have contributed already. If you change it to $40-50 for a lifetime and then expect the already premium members to contribute, that jumps their contribution to $70-80.

waltbabyluv · #5 (**permalink**) 09-16-2007, 02:16 PM

I think there should be "im not going to pay to post on a forum" choice

mikecentola · #6 (**permalink**) 09-16-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MYIX8UR8

Why not have everything on the site "free" but have (as most sites do) a "donate to help your home" section...in which depending on your donation you're entitled "points" which then allow you to "purchase" memoribilia from an rSpeed store? Just my .02

Do you really think people are going to donate to help the site if they can get everything they want already if they aren't even willing to do it to get rspeed stuff?

My case in point:

Quote:

Originally Posted by waltbabyluv

I think there should be "im not going to pay to post on a forum" choice

Quote:

Originally Posted by xceebeex

That sounds like a decent idea, but make sure that you take into account those who have contributed already. If you change it to $40-50 for a lifetime and then expect the already premium members to contribute, that jumps their contribution to $70-80.

Yeah I said above that all current premium members would be grandfathered in.

I think we're going to start offering more features such as an rspeed.org email account and other various things if we do the lifetime membership.

Lifetime memberships seems easier, and it would basically be like buying a package of goods and getting "free" goodies on the site.

beepbeep · #7 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 07:54 AM

That sounds cool Mike.

J the donation idea is great but i agree with Mike, people wont "donate" if they dont have to.

xceebeex · #8 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikecentola

Yeah I said above that all current premium members would be grandfathered in.

My bad, apparently my reading comprehension sucks.

Shawn96VR-4 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 10:39 AM

The fun of starting a pay site. It's a decent idea but most sites typically are free to generate mass amounts of members and then offer paid membership where you can provide a means to justify the cost.

It's tough to ask people to pay when the traffic is low. Just my 2 cents.

xceebeex · #10 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn96VR-4

The fun of starting a pay site. It's a decent idea but most sites typically are free to generate mass amounts of members and then offer paid membership where you can provide a means to justify the cost.

It's tough to ask people to pay when the traffic is low. Just my 2 cents.

He isn't really asking people to pay though. You can still use like 85% of the site without paying a dime. He is also offering "goodies" when signing up as well as other discounts when appropriate. If those are not good enough incentives for someone to pay, then don't pay. He is not forcing it down anyone's throat.

Shawn96VR-4 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xceebeex

He isn't really asking people to pay though. You can still use like 85% of the site without paying a dime. He is also offering "goodies" when signing up as well as other discounts when appropriate. If those are not good enough incentives for someone to pay, then don't pay. He is not forcing it down anyone's throat.

Well, there IS a bit of influence.

I am just saying that most successful sites get the traffic up (tough to front the initial bill but that's the way it is) and THEN provide membership fees after you get people hooked. Most people do not want/will not pay for a site with low traffic.

That's all I am trying to say.