Ad-Free Apolyton: THE POLL

[mrmitchell]

I don't know how much is involved in paying for a website and bandwidth and all that, but I'm going to suggest what I did in the other thread

x = all ad revenues for that timeframe / number of unique visitors for that timeframe
c = cost of service

c = x + 1

[DanQ]

Originally posted by PLATO

Also, the poll mentions "other goodies". Any hints on what they may be?

For the moment, the "other goodies" would most likely consist of (at least to start):

(1) Increased Private Messaging space (send/received messeages);
(2a) Increased avatar size; and
(2b) The ability to have a custom avatar regardless of post count if desired.

---------
Dan; Apolyton CS

[Arnelos]

I'd be willing to pay.

Financial situation isn't the best that the moment, but will improve with the second job soon.

[mrmitchell]

(2a) Increased avatar size; and

Dan, I'd agree with all of them--except for this one.

I am only a user, but no ads, 1, and 2b would be a nice plan.

[MarkG]

Originally posted by DataAeolus
As for those without credit cards, would it be possible to set up a PO Box account for checks and money orders?

due to real life issues for both me and dan, that's not very easy during this period

[MarkG]

Originally posted by Zopperoni
It'll be interesting to estimate the "break-even" point, i.e. the point where a subscriber raises the same amount of cash as a non-subscriber.
Mark, Dan, maybe you can give that estimation based on ad revenue and site statistics?

i'm not sure how a fair number can be given about this. we've got users browsing one page of apolyton per month and users who browse 10000 pages

I'd also like to put forward the suggestion of a "lifetime subscription".
With this option, one would pay the amount of (for example) five years subscription in one time, but one would then be a "lifetime member" of the site.

sounds interesting

[MarkG]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
I reckon that a monthly fee will be somewhat higher than an annual fee. So $30 - $40 a year and $4 - $5 a month looks about right.

given the paypal charges per transaction, a per month option is not very financially "beautifull"

but we'll see these things when we get to the part of deciding prices....

[PLATO]

Originally posted by MarkG
but we'll see these things when we get to the part of deciding prices....

Can you give us an idea of the parameters you'll be working within to determine this? Are there any start up costs?

[Boris Godunov]

Yes, I'd pay a reasonable amount.

Considering Lefty's big offer, perhaps you can do something akin to what opera houses and such do when listing donors. There are categories, and you get a special custom title based on the category of your donation. The more you donate, the better the goodies you get, too. That would be incentive for people not just to give, but give more.

So, it could be like:

For up to $30/year, you get the title "Procurator" and the ability to have a custom avatar regardless of post count

For up to $60/year, you get the title "Consul," the ability to have a custom avatar regardless of post count AND larger avatar size

For up to $150/year, you get the title "Caesar," the ability to have a custom avatar regardless of post count AND larger avatar size, AND a larger pm box

For over $150/year, you get the title "Augustus," the ability to have a custom avatar regardless of post count AND larger avatar size, AND a larger pm box, AND the chance to ban Ming one day per year on a whim.

Or something like that.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
AND the chance to ban Ming one day per year on a whim.

This brings another revenue producing device to mind...

The Apolyton Auction.

Maybe a once per year event where such things as custom titles...banning Ming for a day...Mod for a day, etc... could be sold for a price. Hmmm....

[mrmitchell]

for blocking ads and effectively stealing money, you get the title "Total D!ck" and your avatar and signature are replaced with richard simmons fan club.

just kidding

[Skanky Burns]

Custom avatar that isn't based on post count is hardly a great thing for most of us - those who are most likely to pay are those who use the site most often - who are most likely to have over 500 posts.

Still, I would pay just to be rid of ads. A larger avatar etc would be icing on the cake.

[ixnay]

I would pay for Apolyton if it were on the same pricing scale as the Something Awful forums:

(these are all 1-time fees)
$10 for a new account
$10 for a platinum upgrade (allows for extra features like searching & private messages)
$10 to remove all ads
$10 for an archive account (lets you read through every archived thread)

$5 to change your avatar/custom title (don't think this would be necessary on apolyton)
$10 to change someone else's avatar/custom title (again, don't think this would be necessary)

$20 to add a smiley to the forums

Instituting any of these measures would be good (well, not charging for new accounts in this case). There's no way I'd pay for a subscription or anything more than a one-time fee, though.

[MarkG]

i'm not fond of the idea of charging for stuff that for years apolytoners have been using for free

[Nubclear]

Markos, the glorious communist