A Different Twist for an Archery Forum

[2Dogs]

I'm a member of a few different forums, one I reguarly read is the Archers Retreat....here http://www.bowhuntingzone.com/cgi-bin//Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true

They are setting up a new Premium site and you will have to pay an annual fee of $12 USD to be able to make posts...and possible read it later.

I joined the premium service out of curiosity to see how it will go for a year, I'm MERLIN 1400.

What do you guys think about having to "subscribe" to an Archery Forum........it's quite a hot topic on the site at the moment

[James Park]

Paul,
I can understand that it does cost a bit to run a forum. For example, Marcus must be needing more and more disk space for this forum, and we are using his bandwidth (which I am sure comes at a cost). Hence, I can see only three options:
1. The forum operator does it for free and pays the cost himself, as a service to the sport and because he likes doing it (and we are grateful Marcus, it is most worthwhile).
2. The forum operator uses our many accesses to the forum to attract advertising, which then pays for it and gets the forum operator a profit. The ads, however, will probably annoy we users (one site I use from time-to-time has "pop up ads" which annoy me incredible, and in fact stop me looking at it). Hence, if ads are included, the way they are included makes a very great difference to their accepability.
3. We, the users, pay a fee. This seems reasonably fair, so long as the fee is not too high. However, my guess is that with a fee, many potential users will get scared away, and the forum will not be nearly as good as it could be.
Hence, in my humble view: option 2 done in an appropriate manner is the best option.

[2Dogs]

Jim,

I think number 2 would be the best option as well.

The owners of the Retreat site discussed the scaring away theory for new members and have come up with a 20 day trial period

.....hehhe sort of sounds like those Porno sites that offer you a "Free 30 day Trial"............Not that I know anything about that sought of stuff :wink:

[Marcus]

This is an issue for me and I'm glad you bought it up. At the moment the site doesn't take up too much disk space. However I do pay a fair bit for the server bandwidth (sometimes close to $1000 in a month) and I own the hardware, software and the development time. For example the DVA and archery sites are around $15000 worth of work over the last 12 months.
Why would I do it?
Because I think Archery in Australia needs something. Not saying this is the answer and what I'm doing will make the sport better, but it's like my contribution to the sport that I grew up with.
But I do need to eat.
Personally I would never charge a user to access the forum. $12 a year is quite good, but I wouldn't pay it myself, no matter how good it was.
Where I would charge is for something like the online Postal shoot once all the kinks are sorted out.
Advertising is a catch 22. I couldn't charge for it right now, but if I got stacks of users I would in the future. I hate pop up adds too so no worried there.
So yep right now we are using option 1 although option 2 would be nice. :)
Best way to pay for this board would be to tell as many people as possible. I also use this as a platform to show what I can do web wise. So if you know anyone with a web development or hosting needs you can pass it on to me. The more paying clients I get, the more I can keep this running.
By the way, thanks for your support everyone.

[2Dogs]

Jeessuusss Marcus,

This is one expensive hobby for you, I had no idea the costs were that high.

How can you afford to do Archery and have a Mrs as well ??? :lol:

[2Dogs]

I forgot to say your doing a DAM good job.

I appreciate it, and only wish this kind of stuff had of been around years ago, Archery in Australia needs this kind of communication tools.

there's so few of us and we all live so far apart. Now just think if all you "Mexicans" saw the light and moved to Queensland just how better off you'd all be and Archery as well for that matter. :wink:

Hangon a minute? I think 3/4 of Queensland is owned by Bloody Victorians anyway :lol:

[Marcus]

Those months hurt me.
Honestly I have no idea.
I commercially host as well, so my costs are reduced from clients. However I have never broken even on the server. Always more to buy for it. I could lower the costs by hosting from home, but I really like the 10mb connenction I have. :D
I'm faster than a $700 per month ADSL connection.
I'll give you a hint. I'm not running a Acer PC from my home internet account. My server alone cost me around $10000. That was 2 years ago so it's worth it. I won't need to replace it for another 2 at least.

But iit's my job too and I enjoy it. Except server rebuilds at 3am.

Apparently everyone who owns an internet company is a millionaire, I'm just waiting for the cheques to come in. :cry:
How can you afford to do Archery and have a Mrs as well ???
Question is how can I afford to have a Mrs who does archery as well? I ask myself that everyday.
Oh well, he who dies with the most money still dies.

[Marcus]

Thanks Paul. Good feedback helps make it worth while.
I don't know how we coped without the internet to learn from. So many great archers out there who you would never meet otherwise.

Move to Queensland?ppffffttt Too bloody hot, I'm keen to move to Hobart myself.

[2Dogs]

Hey Marcus, don't you ever sleep?????

I noticed that we tend to post predominatley from the hours of 12:00am and 1am :D

I have a 3 year old and an Ugly Mrs, so this is MY time :lol:

What's your excuse????

hehehheeh if she reads this I'm TOAST baabbahhaaahaaa :roll:

[Marcus]

Yeah I don't like sleep so I avoid going to bed as much as possible. Problem is I have a hard time waking up. Went to bed at 2am and got up at 10:30 this morning.
I'm more productive between 10pm and 1am.
My wife reads books and ignores me after dinner. Upside is she's quiet. ;)