Subscription for Edugeek : Would you pay?

[contink]

The whole "we need the adverts to pay the costs" discussion pops up again and again and each time the "well, nobody would pay a subscription" position is trotted out as the reason for it but nobody, to my knowledge has ever actually asked the question... So, here goes.

 

1. Would you consider paying a nominal subscription fee of say £5 a year to use the Edugeek site advert free?

 

2. If you wouldn't would you accept the adverts as is, without adblocking software? (be honest).

 

 

To get this started:

 

1. Yes... I'm already paying £15+ a year for eventid subscription and this place is very useful so £5 - £10 a year is an investment IMHO.

 

2. I've already installed the adblocker and whilst that means the post-1st post adverts aren't appearing I'm not blocking the main index page ads unless they are a flash hell to look at.

 

 

 

... and just to be realistic here, I'm pretty sure you can offer a dual level system here... Adverts for those who won't/can't pay and advert free for those who can/will.

[ThatBoringBloke]

Yes I'd pay.

[elsiegee40]

Yes I would pay, but...

 

one of the attractions of the site is that it is open to all. I think that free is better and can tolerate the ads at the current level.

 

I certainly don't like the idea of our cash-strapped schools forking out for our membership.

Edited February 11, 2008 by elsiegee40

[Guest Guest]

No i wouldnt pay. And not (just ) because im tight, but because if i came accross this site and couldnt access any of it without paying id just move on. How am i supposed to know if the site is any good before i hand over my money?

[ThatBoringBloke]

Yes I would pay, but...

 

one of the attractions of the site is that it is open to all. I think that free is better and can tolerate the ads at the current level.

 

I certainly don't like the idea of our cash-strapped schools foring out for our membership.

 

I think that what the admins are suggesting is that you have the choice, those that pay wouldn't get to see the ad's. those that don't pay still see them.

 

throw that in with some other 'premium member' bebefits and I think that you're on to something good.

 

[contink]

Just to note:

 

1. I'm not an admin (heaven forbid!) just throwing out a suggestion here and seeing if it might fly

 

2. Suggesting a dual layer system whereby you can see whether the site's any good (complete with adverts) and if you want to help cover the costs (while getting rid of adverts) you can subscribe.

[Elky]

Think of us poor advertisers!

[tscnmuk]

I would pay - if only for the time and effort that all of the people running the site must invest. Using EduGeek has saved my back many times, from silly little problems that I just could not get my head around to complicated solutions to even more complicated questions.

 

As far as taking money from cash strapped schools, is their anybody on here who wouldn't pay £5/£10 or even a little more personally, simply for the peace of mind that the site offers.

 

Tom

[siuko]

More than happy with the adverts as they are...

 

They aren't exactly unsightly or anything.

 

So I wouldn't pay a subscription

[strawberry]

quite happy to see the ads to be honest, i've found some decent suppliers via the ads.

[webman]

I don't mind (or block) the adverts so would not pay.

[Joanne]

the ads are fine... they are just pictures. A lot better than some forums I've been on that flash in your face and make you verge on siezures.

[projector1]

yes i would pay

[iatkinson]

Wouldn't mind paying a nominal fee as the sites really useful, though the adverts don't bother me so if going two tier and had the choice probably stay on the free side. Adverts do come in useful at times as well.

[plexer]

I think that how the adverts are currently displayed is unobtrusive enough for me not to consider using ad blocks.

 

Ben

[mac_shinobi]

I think that what the admins are suggesting is that you have the choice, those that pay wouldn't get to see the ad's. those that don't pay still see them.

 

throw that in with some other 'premium member' bebefits and I think that you're on to something good.

 

 

what would the 'premium member benefits' be ?

[Jake]

what would the 'premium member benefits' be ?

 

Free use of my cage as a rest area for any tired female subscribers

[Joanne]

hahaha... my chair is sufficient thanks!

[Dos_Box]

Its a lovely idea and one which industry (when we come together occasionally) assumes is our model for raising money. Unforunately just to pay for BETT we would have had to have a guaranteed 1000 members paying £5 each. After this we still would need hosting (£1000), and funding for the conferences amongst other things.

[elsiegee40]

Free use of my cage as a rest area for any tired female subscribers

 

 

...need to think about this one! Where's WITCH?

[mac_shinobi]

Its a lovely idea and one which industry (when we come together occasionally) assumes is our model for raising money. Unforunately just to pay for BETT we would have had to have a guaranteed 1000 members paying £5 each. After this we still would need hosting (£1000), and funding for the conferences amongst other things.

 

how many members are there at the minute.

 

I mean experts exchange charges for a years full membership but I just end up earning 3000 points a month and it gives me the same benefits.

 

I mean if you wanted to go the points route then you would have to do an accepted solution type system where by users could rate answers A , B and C and the grade determines how you multiply the points so if the asker assigns the question 250 points ( with a maximum being 500 points )

 

Then if the asker graded the solution as C then it would only multiply 250 points by 2 so the person who gave that solution pointed the asker in the correct direction but with no steps or ones that were not that good.

 

That means the person who gave it would end up with say 500 points over all.

 

Same for B aside from it would multiply it by 3 and A would be multiplied by 4

 

so B would be 250 * 3

 

and A would be 250 * 4

 

so basically

 

amount of points multiplied by grade given to solution = over all points in the month

 

where

 

A = 4

B = 3

C = 2

 

not sure how that helps though - just a comparision really

[mac_shinobi]

Free use of my cage as a rest area for any tired female subscribers

 

lol @ Joannes reply

 

if that was the case Jake , that would be pimping out female edugeek users without there conscent, am not sure what they would think to that but am guessing it wouldn't be a good reply / response lol.

 

<<-- ducks from all the swinging hand bags and runs and hides lol j/k

[FN-GM]

I would not pay if I was a first time visitor. Not being tight I have donated around £15 the last few months but websites such as experts exchange you have to pay for and it doesn’t attract people. By the way where is the donation box?

 

z

[ZeroHour]

Biggest problem with subscriptions are like dos said, the basics of the math.

It simply does not work out for simply a ad free version of the site for a minimal fee. To make ends meet it would need to be higher then £5 and if it was a lot more people just wouldnt pay for it. Its like TV licensing, I dont mind paying for ad free but dont the ad free value being equal to the cost of the license (I know its a simplified comparison).

There is no simple solution for advertising and generating site revenue but I am trying to think up other ways to generate possible funding but really the current choices are limited.

I will be posting a more in depth post in the other thread regarding the ad banner after the first post, including my thoughts about adblocking software so keep a eye out for that later tonight.

[bossman]

Yes I would pay just for the comedy factor as it has made me laugh on quite a few occasions when feelin a little low, that is worth it's weight in gold (not that i would pay anymore than is being suggested mind). :)