I would pay for what we have already, cant get it anywhere else.

The ads really really don't bother me at all, and I don't think there's anybody here who will claim the contrary.

I'm even prepared to click the links (even if I'm not interested) if it means more income generated (You didn't quite answer my PM question, Norio ?)

I'm prepared to pay a membership fee if the ads don't cover the costs of hosting, but not to get rid of a silly banner. If people are bothered about the banner, they can always use Firefox and the AdBlock+ plug-in.

Squonk wrote: I would pay for what we have already, cant get it anywhere else.

How much?

I would pay a membership fee for this site, for sure. Maybe R50 per month max?

Tonedef wrote: I'm even prepared to click the links (even if I'm not interested) if it means more income generated (You didn't quite answer my PM question, Norio ?)

I can't tell you to click ads you're not interested in. That's like fraud or something because I'd be defrauding my advertisers of their money.

Tonedef wrote: I'm prepared to pay a membership fee if the ads don't cover the costs of hosting, but not to get rid of a silly banner. If people are bothered about the banner, they can always use Firefox and the AdBlock+ plug-in.

The ads don't do much really. This forum is pretty much sponsored by my business, only without the sponsoring. Of course, if we could find someone with the right connections (and available time) to help us selling advertising (and set up the sold ads) then it could eventually even become profitable.

In other words, ja a subscription would help but I wouldn't want to go down that road unless I knew a significant number of people would go for it.

Norio wrote:

Squonk wrote: I would pay for what we have already, cant get it anywhere else.

How much?

How much do you need to cover costs?

The problem is that you will retain your current regulars, but you'll struggle to increase membership. One thing about the internet is that people are loathe to spend cash on stuff they can get for free elsewhere. It's just human nature I guess.

Well how about a "donations" option. Would that be able to generate some cash for the site?

I don't mind the adds really. I've seen other forums (Mylespaul forums for example) that are much more annoying and intrusive.

Norio wrote: I can't tell you to click ads you're not interested in. That's like fraud or something because I'd be defrauding my advertisers of their money.

Gotcha! ? ?

Squonk wrote: I would pay for what we have already, cant get it anywhere else.

I'd like to interrogate this, Squonk. What is it you're talking about? The interaction between the members?

How about selling members' music and taking a cut?

Well, let's see what we got here, for free.

1) Classifieds section (worth it's weight in gold all by itself)
2) Lessons, compos and learning forums
3) Guitar discussion with free advice, which is usually of a high standard.
4) Technical sections with free advice, which is usually of the highest standard.

Wot else?

I'm sure you'd be able to easily make up for hosting costs via donations.

dee wrote: Well how about a "donations" option. Would that be able to generate some cash for the site?

Worth looking into, thanks ?

Conrad wrote: How about selling members' music and taking a cut?

Need people to actually make music, upload it and promote it. Becomes a moerse thing to build on top of everything else.

Conrad wrote: How about selling members' music and taking a cut?

Lawyers' fees would bankrupt Norio within the first month. ?

raithza wrote: I'm sure you'd be able to easily make up for hosting costs via donations.

We're not looking to ONLY cover costs. I believe Alan and I deserve more than that. And I'd LOVE to be making enough dosh with GFSA to actually PAY people for quality lessons, articles, etc. As well as paying Rene for all his efforts in moderating and running the challenges.

2 sites i rather like work on a donations scheme with members that have donated then havng access to other bits..

dont know what those are tho as the normal site has everything im interested in..

odd one

Not really. I would love to sound all noble and say yes, but I can't. Mr. Pessimist me reckons a lot of other folks won't either. I can't think of anything extra a Premium membership might offer extra to what is already here. Unless you take away features from the regular site, which will kill it in the long run. What the Premium site will become is most likely an exclusive old boys club type of thing, and that will really kill the vibe here. This forum's best bit is it's friendly manner and wide variety of inputs. Dividing it will in the long run negate those to a large degree. Give a guy a free hamburger and he'll thank you for it with a smile. Charge him for it and he will want to have it his way and then complain if it isn't to his taste. And he will be right to do so. When folks pay they want value, and if they don't get it they go somewhere else. And if you can't afford the menu or aren't willing to pay for the food, why bother going to the restuarant in the first place? Naah dude, rather leave the ads. When they are relevant nobody will mind.

I am an advertising guy... been in the industry most of my working life. So advertising doesn't offend me... Ads are necessary to cover costs and even make money for a site like GFSA.

As an adman, what gets to me though is the indiscriminent placing of ads in irrelevant media... like the ads we are currently seeing on the site. If the media placement agency was doing their job properly, they would understand the profile of the members to this site and place ads accordingly.

I know what happens... some junior in the company sees "guitar forum" and immediately supposes that the members are a bunch of low-lifes and adds in the package of ads we are now seeing onto the site.

If was an advertiser and they were placing my ads in the wrong media, I would take my business elsewhere since it would be a waste of my advertising budget. Another problem arises and that is that members know how to block ads and legitimate advertising will also get the chop. Totally unproductive.

Norio, I would be willing to discuss this with Ad Dynamo if you and Alan don't have the time... my donation to the Forum.

Norio wrote:
We're not looking to ONLY cover costs. I believe Alan and I deserve more than that. And I'd LOVE to be making enough dosh with GFSA to actually PAY people for quality lessons, articles, etc. As well as paying Rene for all his efforts in moderating and running the challenges.

OK, hang on a tick.

When I said fee, I was also thinking of a small contribution to help cover costs. Personally the ads don't bother me, but Pete makes a good point about them.

Honestly, I'm not looking for professional lessons or articles. There are a number of paysites elsewhere that already specialise in things like lessons, and there are loads of sites with journalists writing up gear etc. That's not what I'm looking for on this site.

I come to this site because I like the type of member here, in general. I find that the rules and the enforcement of the rules helps retain that type of member that I like, and attract others of a similar bent. I LIKE the fact that this forum is not a general free-for-all like others, and I acknowledge that the rules help keep it that way. So yes, sure, I don't mind the people behind this infrastructure asking for support.

But what you've suggested above is a bit of a different animal. I think you'd need to have a clearer product offering if you're thinking of moving beyond the forum itself and asking for money for it.