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State of the SN - No BS

Pony up you cheap *******! Last time I sent $500 and since that was the equivalent of five lifetime memberships I had hoped I'd be good for a while.

I've been out of work the last two months or I'd send some more.
 
Marketing, promotions, and branding are my bag. If you need insight, PM me.
 
You asked for thoughts, so here are mine in no particular order. If you want to ban me after this, there will be no hard feelings. Its your board and I respect your right to do as you please.

I don't think an ad-supported site would be so bad. I know I'm in the minority, but I've visited other VBulletin sites (some non-sports related) with ads and its not so bad. I'd urge you to consider the idea. Another idea would be to promote varied SN merchandise. I might be tempted to put one of those magnets on my car, or buy a coffee mug or something.

I came here around 2008 or thereabouts when the Trib's board (free) shut down. This board was recommended by the Tribune staff in their closing message. I figured that donators got special priviledges (as they should) and non-donators got fewer bells and whistles. As someone without much disposable income, I chose not to go further into debt with a monthly credit card donation. Not that I don't appreciate the time folks put in, its just that internet fees are not high on my priority list. That is the most personal financial info. I will reveal on an internet discussion board in front of strangers. Until very recently, I've felt welcomed here. FWIW, I thought one of the coolest features of this board was the karma feature. I developed a personal policy of giving karma to any post that made me smile or laugh, and made sure to give out at least a few karma hits every time I logged in.

One thing that bothers me is when people imply that this site is going downhill, or isn't like it used to be. I think they're wrong. This site is as good as it ever was since I've been here. Maybe not as many posters, but great nonetheless. Sure, people with thin skin have left, but **** them if they can't take the heat. It's a freaking message board, not the center of your life. Certainly not worth getting pissed off about. A message board should be a diversion...a change of pace...somewhere to chill to escape your real life for awhile. Not the center of your life where someone goes off on you and you feel you have to leave.

If you want to make this a subscribers-only site, I'll find somewhere else to hang out. I'll miss the humor, and the handful of posters who crack me up almost every day, but I'll get my Steelers fix somewhere else if need be. But please consider the ads and merchandise idea.
 
I'd buy a Steelernation coffee mug. Might even drink coffee out of it!
 
I don't think they will make it a subscribers only site, IMO.

I think they do have costs of running the site.

Just finished school and just started a new job. Getting caught up on bills but I will be back to contributing very soon.
 
I help the board in two ways....One, I donate. And Two, I don't post much. The less I post, the better the board.
 
Buff,

Last time the site went down, it barely came back. That was the second or third in a year or so, and took weeks. What happens, specifically with regard to timeline and full "reboot", next time it happens?
 
I hope Buff won't mind me taking it upon myself to answer a few of these:

I don't think an ad-supported site would be so bad. I know I'm in the minority, but I've visited other VBulletin sites (some non-sports related) with ads and its not so bad. I'd urge you to consider the idea. Another idea would be to promote varied SN merchandise. I might be tempted to put one of those magnets on my car, or buy a coffee mug or something.
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I don't know the ins and outs of selling ads, but I'm sure it's something of a pain in the ***. As far as merchandise goes, generally to get any sort of decent price on stuff like that you have to purchase massive quantities. Personally I wouldn't risk getting stuck with it.

Random question and I know the answer is probably " it depends" but approx. how much is needed per month to keep this place up and running
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Just looking at the number of people who contribute, we know nobody's getting rich off this site. Whatever the fixed costs are, I don't begrudge anybody making a few bucks for their time in keeping it up.

Last time the site went down, it barely came back. That was the second or third in a year or so, and took weeks. What happens, specifically with regard to timeline and full "reboot", next time it happens?
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This is one of the reasons I stopped contributing for awhile after contributing for many years. But, ultimately I think we have to understand...this is a voluntary contribution towards keeping this group going, not a purchase of a product. The owners make no guarantees or promise refunds. This isn't a full time job for any of them. Perhaps Dave and Buff could extend memberships by the amount of time the site goes down if it happens again. But from their point of view, contribute or don't, just know if you don't the site will probably go bye bye. They aren't trying to force anyone. It's up to us.

I've been looking for reassurance that the site will still be around 6 months from now, but I'm going to go ahead and take Buff at his word, and take the 34.00 risk today, because I spend a lot of time here and it's only fair. If a few more of us do that I think we can expect to see the site stick around. If you can't afford a 6 month membership, maybe just throw 6 bucks in an envelope and mail it to them. Show these guys that we are committed to sticking around, just like they are. I think they'd be more inclined to spend more time fixing a problem faster if they knew that.

That is all.
 
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OFTB, you said it perfectly.

We let this site go for a while but we're committed to bringing it back up. Justin is doing a great job in promoting the site and bringing high profile people on board. We just announced one, and we're close to announcing another one. Failure is not a word in my vocabulary, and this site has been a winner from the get-go.
 
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I don't post as much due to work, but I think the board is alive and well. Justin is doing a great job with the new features. I think a big reason for losing posters is simply age. We are a bunch of old *******.
 
Why doesn't Buff have a Contributor badge?

I'm glad to pony up the 6 bucks a month or whatever. This place has become the very epicenter of my lonely, lonely worthless existence and it is the only reason I haven't put my plan for the destruction of the human race into action. Don't do it!
 
Buff is cheap.

Thanks for the uplifting post!
 
Oh, and I must add that there are a few contributors that have gone above and beyond their regular contribution and kicked in a few more bucks to the cause. I know they don't want me to publicly praise them, which makes their extra contributions even more special.

For instance, one generous contributor has donated a year membership to a deserving individual. There are some good peeps on this board.
 
I posted a message on Facebook the other day saying how much I love this place. I have always been a contributor even now that I am still unemployed because I know it is not cheap to run this place and the membership fee is not outrageous.

And the couple of you that talked about the board going away for awhile you really don't know the story - From what I understood it was an accident which destroyed all the code. Recreating it was not a simple task. And for the record, when I did update my Yearly membership was extended for a couple months because of the inconvenience.
 
Buff said:
Oh, and I must add that there are a few contributors that have gone above and beyond their regular contribution and kicked in a few more bucks to the cause. I know they don't want me to publicly praise them, which makes their extra contributions even more special.

For instance, one generous contributor has donated a year membership to a deserving individual. There are some good peeps on this board.
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This is what I meant in my OP. Send me a list of deserving recipients, please...
 
Well, I'll tell ya ... I just signed up for the $6 monthly option. I would have done the 6 month or yearly, but I've got two kids in college, one H.S. kid going to wrestling camps and a Jr. High kid going to a singing/acting camp this summer. So, the monthly option fits more nicely into my budget. Wish I could do more, but kids cost money ... lol.
 
Thanks SteelBuckeye. Every little bit helps, much appreciated.

Bermuda: If you have someone in mind that you wish to receive a gift, just let me know via PM and I'll take care of it.

Someone has already given a 6 month subscription to Litos.

I have another yearly subscription graciously donated that can go to someone worthy. Here's the catch: You can't nominate yourself.

Thanks to everyone who have stepped up so far. We promise you, your dollars will be going to making this site the best it's ever been and more.
 
Buff said:
Thanks SteelBuckeye. Every little bit helps, much appreciated.

Bermuda: If you have someone in mind that you wish to receive a gift, just let me know via PM and I'll take care of it.

Someone has already given a 6 month subscription to Litos.

I have another yearly subscription graciously donated that can go to someone worthy. Here's the catch: You can't nominate yourself.

Thanks to everyone who have stepped up so far. We promise you, your dollars will be going to making this site the best it's ever been and more.
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Spike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I just want to know why nobody ever asks me to be a moderator?

I'd get this place cleaned up by golly!

(No... Not really. I have no time for these things.)

Hey! Where's my cool "Donator" tag. I demand instant gratification.
 
Wig, we expect you to rule this place with your tin foil hat.

Donator tag installed. Thanks for your contribution!
 
BAS said:
I have never minded paying for membership here... I just never know when I'm due for renewal. Automated Reminder messages would be a good addition.
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agree...been here to long and contributed always. site needs to remain. Justin? A child shall lead us...;)
 
wig said:
I just want to know why nobody ever asks me to be a moderator?

I'd get this place cleaned up by golly!.
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You had one job and you screwed that all up. :D If you can't handle one lousy SN Recipe book , how can you be trusted the moderate SN? :):):)
 
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Buff said:
Thanks SteelBuckeye. Every little bit helps, much appreciated.

Bermuda: If you have someone in mind that you wish to receive a gift, just let me know via PM and I'll take care of it.

Someone has already given a 6 month subscription to Litos.

I have another yearly subscription graciously donated that can go to someone worthy. Here's the catch: You can't nominate yourself.

Thanks to everyone who have stepped up so far. We promise you, your dollars will be going to making this site the best it's ever been and more.
Click to expand...

oh man I really appreciate it, send my biggest thanks to him if he wants to stay anonymous, If he wants to PM me that would be great too.
I hope in a near future I'll be earning in $ and will be able to give back to someone else that might need it as much as I do right now.

This place is the best, this is the second time someone has paid for my subscription (but I think she is not currently on the board) and I'm always grateful for it. You guys are like a big twisted online family to me.

Thanks again.
 
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