Some proposed changes
Oct 21, 2007 12:33:31 GMT
Post by admin on Oct 21, 2007 12:33:31 GMT
Hey folks,
I've a few ideas that have been rattling around in my head that I want to run by you all.
PROPOSAL/IDEA # 1
The first idea is that, as you may know, I introduced an 'ask a question' page on SBG with the answers published for everyone to see. And it has been a huge success, indeed, it has been so successful that it is becoming a problem!!
Instead of being able to add reviews to SBG, I get bogged down for several hours a day answering questions. And no matter how I phrase it, I am often repeating myself - which I don't really blame on the person answering the question, it is just that the page has become so long that it is both intimidating and impossible to find the answers...
So my idea is perhaps to send new 'sword questions' or 'beginners forum' section to the forum, where people with questions can ask away and anyone who knows the answer (or perhaps, where to find the answer) and happens to be online can field it for me. And indeed, it would free up enough time that I might be able to drop by a bit more frequently, which I'd love to do more...!
PROPOSAL/IDEA # 2
The second thing is a proposal to allow members to donate a small amount of money to the site to help finance SBG giveaways and increased forum functionality.
As you may know, it hasn't been a great month for SBG...
So much so that I was forced to temporarily suspend the free for all reward points for reviews set up - and this is something that has caused me considerable emabarrasment and frustration... The situation isn't so bad that I will be shutting down the site anytime soon. Indeed, I OWE it to each and every one of you to keep it going - and come hell or highwater, that is exactly what I will do!!
However, there is a way that those of you who are in a position to help a little can invest in creating an even better forum...
Here's my idea:
The good people who host the SBG Sword Forum, Pro Boards place google ads on the boards to make money. However, for $7 I am able to buy 7 credits - and replace the ads with my own for up to 50,000 page views (which lasts around 4 days with our current traffic).
I have experimented with this for about a month now, and on the whole, by doing so am able to make a few more dollars than I pay. (and which is why, when the credits run out, for a few hours you may notice TWO sets of google ads ). However, here is where it gets interesting...
ANYONE can purchase credits via google checkout for the SBG Sword Forum here at the rate of $7 for 7 credits.
But where it gets interesting is that the extra money made by having my own google ads on the site instead of theirs can be used to purchase the ability for the forum to host its own images, which would mean no more need to use a third party site like image shack, etc. And if enough people did it consistently, the donated and invested money would go back into revitilizing and partially funding further competitions, give aways, etc...!
I must admit I am not entirely comfortable with the idea of asking for a donation. It is essentially not in my nature to do so. But people have often asked me how they can give something back to SBG in the past, and in the end - if you want to, this is something that I think would really work for EVERYONEs benefit...
Anyway guys, let me know what you think about these two ideas. And if you have any other suggestions or ways that you want to contribute to the SBG community, let me know.
Thanks for reading my long and rambling post.
- Paul
P.S. Clicking on the google ads to raise revenue for SBG isn't recommended. For a start, someone has paid good money for those ads, and it isn't right to abuse it. And secondly, google aren't silly - if they find a pattern of people clicking on the ads that doesn't seem natural - the old 'click fraud' squad has a look at it and may actually terminate the ads all together - and THAT would hurt SBG quite badly, as like all content sites, a reasonable portion of the sites overall income comes from google...
So naturally, if you spot an ad that is of interest, by all means check it out. But please don't click on them artificially as it will hurt SBG rather than help. Cheers, - Paul
I've a few ideas that have been rattling around in my head that I want to run by you all.
PROPOSAL/IDEA # 1
The first idea is that, as you may know, I introduced an 'ask a question' page on SBG with the answers published for everyone to see. And it has been a huge success, indeed, it has been so successful that it is becoming a problem!!
Instead of being able to add reviews to SBG, I get bogged down for several hours a day answering questions. And no matter how I phrase it, I am often repeating myself - which I don't really blame on the person answering the question, it is just that the page has become so long that it is both intimidating and impossible to find the answers...
So my idea is perhaps to send new 'sword questions' or 'beginners forum' section to the forum, where people with questions can ask away and anyone who knows the answer (or perhaps, where to find the answer) and happens to be online can field it for me. And indeed, it would free up enough time that I might be able to drop by a bit more frequently, which I'd love to do more...!
PROPOSAL/IDEA # 2
The second thing is a proposal to allow members to donate a small amount of money to the site to help finance SBG giveaways and increased forum functionality.
As you may know, it hasn't been a great month for SBG...
So much so that I was forced to temporarily suspend the free for all reward points for reviews set up - and this is something that has caused me considerable emabarrasment and frustration... The situation isn't so bad that I will be shutting down the site anytime soon. Indeed, I OWE it to each and every one of you to keep it going - and come hell or highwater, that is exactly what I will do!!
However, there is a way that those of you who are in a position to help a little can invest in creating an even better forum...
Here's my idea:
The good people who host the SBG Sword Forum, Pro Boards place google ads on the boards to make money. However, for $7 I am able to buy 7 credits - and replace the ads with my own for up to 50,000 page views (which lasts around 4 days with our current traffic).
I have experimented with this for about a month now, and on the whole, by doing so am able to make a few more dollars than I pay. (and which is why, when the credits run out, for a few hours you may notice TWO sets of google ads ). However, here is where it gets interesting...
ANYONE can purchase credits via google checkout for the SBG Sword Forum here at the rate of $7 for 7 credits.
But where it gets interesting is that the extra money made by having my own google ads on the site instead of theirs can be used to purchase the ability for the forum to host its own images, which would mean no more need to use a third party site like image shack, etc. And if enough people did it consistently, the donated and invested money would go back into revitilizing and partially funding further competitions, give aways, etc...!
I must admit I am not entirely comfortable with the idea of asking for a donation. It is essentially not in my nature to do so. But people have often asked me how they can give something back to SBG in the past, and in the end - if you want to, this is something that I think would really work for EVERYONEs benefit...
Anyway guys, let me know what you think about these two ideas. And if you have any other suggestions or ways that you want to contribute to the SBG community, let me know.
Thanks for reading my long and rambling post.
- Paul
P.S. Clicking on the google ads to raise revenue for SBG isn't recommended. For a start, someone has paid good money for those ads, and it isn't right to abuse it. And secondly, google aren't silly - if they find a pattern of people clicking on the ads that doesn't seem natural - the old 'click fraud' squad has a look at it and may actually terminate the ads all together - and THAT would hurt SBG quite badly, as like all content sites, a reasonable portion of the sites overall income comes from google...
So naturally, if you spot an ad that is of interest, by all means check it out. But please don't click on them artificially as it will hurt SBG rather than help. Cheers, - Paul