Site usage through the roof. Need ideas for funding the site

[mike]

Hi All,

You may or may not have noticed the site is experiencing a huge growth. In fact it is growing through the roof traffic and hit wise. Take a look at the stats. http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=Statistics&op=Stats

2003,2004 combined total year stats roughly equals this months stats. The monthly usage is now over 20gigs a month. At the moment (with the the two site sponsers) I am paying $30 a month out of my own pocket. This is about to goto $60 out of my own pocket when we need to goto the 40gig plan......which I cant really afford. I have tried to get more site advertisers but they all seem to like paying zillions in advertising in the magazines instead and stay away from this site, although they get plenty of referals on here

I've got a few options I can think of:

A: start selling shit on here again (takes alot of my spare time up)
B: try really really hard to get more sponsers
C: charge the current sponsers more( probably end up loosing them and have to pay the whole dam lot myself)
D: setup a donations scheme.
E: setup some sort of payed membership where members get certain deals etc (would need some ideas here)
F: Just close the site down, join a club and enjoy 4wding the old fashioned way

Any other suggestions?

You got any options Bill?

The reason I bring this up now is that its going to get out of hand soon.


Mike

[lilpigzuk]

E: setup some sort of payed membership where members get certain deals etc (would need some ideas here)

Mike

I like this idea, quite happy to make an annual donation (or what ever suits) Doesnt worry me if you get some sort of deal in return or not as I get enough info (and good reading at work ) to make a donation worthwhile.
You probably only have 60 or so members who are active who would pay towards it (probably a heap less who would actually dip into their own pockets).
You have my financial support anyway

[SupraLux]

I've got a few options I can think of:

A: start selling shit on here again (takes alot of my spare time up)

Is it worth your while? It detracts from the sales that your site sponsors get, making them less likely to want to advertise

B: try really really hard to get more sponsers

You should do this anyway, thats called sales... you run a business (well, it might not seem that way right now, and I bet the guy that started Pirate thought the same... but I guarantee hes making s**tloads right now). Sell the product, sell the brand. Once ORE gets out there as a recognised group at things like the Sheffield Mudplug then recognition will follow.

C: charge the current sponsers more( probably end up loosing them and have to pay the whole dam lot myself)

Yes and no. I can't speak for other advertisers, but this is a comfortable place for me. I can't say I make a huge amount of sales from advertising here, but then I have no easy way to track sales generated from this site. I believe the advertising is more a way I can help support the site and enable it to survive... god, if it wasn't here I would probably have to do work or something during the day!

D: setup a donations scheme.

Whats your Paypal address? I'm sure you'd get the odd one... although keeping them going is harder... not a great option I think

E: setup some sort of payed membership where members get certain deals etc (would need some ideas here)

Free: Basic member. SOME Forums, Tech, Most basic site features
$20/yr: Subscriber. Cool logo beside name, All forums, enter prize draws, photo galleries, etc
$50/yr: Vendor. Subscriber features + ability to advertise products and offers on the site (in selected forums only), ability to run prize draws, etc.

Then on top of that the usual banner adds, and other advertising ideas (How about having forum sponsors - ie: a banner at the head of specific forums, or threads...)

Coffee mugs? T-shirts?

Just some random thoughts mixed with things I have seen elsewhere... I'll add more as I think of them

Steve

PS:

F: Just close the site down, join a club and enjoy 4wding the old fashioned way

I will run it for you if I have to, but you better not even think about shutting this down... there will be a good number of angry 4WDers NZ-wide looking for you Nah, just kidding... but if it gets to the point you need help then you maybe need to ask - there are a number of IT people, sales people, marketing people, software engineers, etc on here who would not think twice about helping out keep this alive.

Personally, I think there should be some responsibility on the part of the site users to help keep the site alive... and if that means paying, then get out the chequebooks guys... Hands up who hasn't been saved from a large mechanical bill by info they got here? Whats $20 compared to that?

Not everyone will agree I'm sure, but I believe this site is worth the effort, so make the call, and lets get it sorted.

Steve

[Steve_t647]

Hi,

I am new to the site and think some form of yearly registration fee or membership is the only way to go.

Would be the least time consuming anyway, and fix the immediate financial issue. You could also ask the ppl running trips from the site to pay $5 per vehicle per trip if enough run on an honesty system.

This site is awesome and possibly the major contributors like those identified elsewhere (we all know who they are) could be exempted because of the service and knowledge they provide to the site, we dont want to loose them.

Another sponsor may help also off loading some images and mpg files to elsewhere will help if possible.

my 2c anyway.

[Leithfield]

D: setup a donations scheme.
E: setup some sort of payed membership where members get certain deals etc (would need some ideas here)
Mike

1/ Would support both of those suggestions.
2/ Draconian, but perhaps establish a prospective cut-off date for introduction of a no donate/no-pay policy = no post; i.e., read only access (great motivation to contribute financially).
3/ If ORE should ever progress to establishing an off-shoot club, could a portion of the membership fee be ear-marked to help offset the expense incurred in maintaining the website?

[turoa]

I would be happy paying to use this site. I have learnt alot off here and my knowledge will keep growing (hopefully).

[DieselBoy]

Agreed

I can't help with IT, advertising or anything like that, and i bet there are a large number of people here that are in the same situation.

What those people in that same situation could do is be paying members.

How about tying that in with NZ4WDA and ORE4x4 Club. Memebership to the OREclub could include in the large part $$ for running the site, the main medium by which the members communicate.

Maybe this potential Crisis is the push thats needed to make the club idea happen??

I honestly don't think it wil change things.

An example that got me thinking was this Rerewhakaitu Bush Run that ORE member Scott has organised. Ben and i were keen to do it in Wopass, but when we got the entry form it required NZ4WDA membership.
So here we are about to join a club that neither of us wants to really join, and are unlikly to ever do trips with, yet pay the $$$$ to them regardless.

I would MUCH rather that $$ go to ORE membership. If only that could get us NZ4WDA membership to.................................

(If i shouldn't mention the club in the open forums, feel free to delete this post ?

[mike]

(If i shouldn't mention the club in the open forums, feel free to delete this post ?

Nope thats fine.

It seems E, has the most support and probably makes the most sense. I also like the ideas presented by Leithfield and DB about the club as well.

Forum sponsers, prizes from vendors is certainly a good idea and one which steve has suggested prior ( liked it when i read it first but thought we wouldnt actually need to go there so soon )

Thanks for your input guys and it seems the E: path would be the most popular and acceptable. Anybody got suggestions over and above:

A: maybe std membership $20 per year options??
AA: another membership here for more perhaps?
AAA: club membership pays for NZFDA fee + ORE membership (which ever one)
B: $50-$100 vendor membership, postings in advertisers forums etc

All thoughts welcome.

[Sadam_Husain]

Considering the quality and potential of the site I'm more than happy to pay a subscription to see it continue and grow to meet the demand of current and future members

[SupraLux]

How about you make the club membership separate, just as the club will be separate from the forum, but allow club members to have free "subscriber" status on the forum as part of their membership 'package'.

Club membership, say $50/year including club benefits, NZFWDA membership, discount structures with selected 'approved' vendors, etc (No idea if thats reasonable, just a figure I plucked out of thin air)

Other memberships as above... feel free to bump up the 'vendor' pricing, but remember those vendors will probably run 'give-aways' on the site which will also cost them.

Steve

[wopass]

Agreed

I can't help with IT, advertising or anything like that, and i bet there are a large number of people here that are in the same situation.

What those people in that same situation could do is be paying members.

How about tying that in with NZ4WDA and ORE4x4 Club. Memebership to the OREclub could include in the large part $$ for running the site, the main medium by which the members communicate.

Maybe this potential Crisis is the push thats needed to make the club idea happen??

I honestly don't think it wil change things.

An example that got me thinking was this Rerewhakaitu Bush Run that ORE member Scott has organised. Ben and i were keen to do it in Wopass, but when we got the entry form it required NZ4WDA membership.
So here we are about to join a club that neither of us wants to really join, and are unlikly to ever do trips with, yet pay the $$$$ to them regardless.

I would MUCH rather that $$ go to ORE membership. If only that could get us NZ4WDA membership to.................................

(If i shouldn't mention the club in the open forums, feel free to delete this post ?

aggree with all that

[bajabug]

E: setup some sort of payed membership where members get certain deals etc (would need some ideas here)

Mike

Where do we pay our money Mike

You could approach the NZFWDA and find out if ORE 4wd club could be signed up as a club instead of everybody having individual membership.
This would obviously be a higher membership fee but all members of ORE 4wd would be able to attend NZFWA runs as members of ORE 4wd club.

This is the way the speedway that I am a member of works - You pay membership to the club and they in turn pay membership to a governing body.

Just my thoughts anyway
Darryl Foster

[jumper]

what about selling a ore t-shirt and charge an extra $10-15 for it?
it keeps it simple and could be done quickly, its also advertising the site.

[Rangielux]

It seems E, has the most support and probably makes the most sense. I also like the ideas presented by Leithfield and DB about the club as well.

Forum sponsers

Thanks for your input guys and it seems the E: path would be the most popular and acceptable. Anybody got suggestions over and above:

A: maybe std membership $20 per year options??
AA: another membership here for more perhaps?
AAA: club membership pays for NZFDA fee + ORE membership (which ever one)
B: $50-$100 vendor membership, postings in advertisers forums etc

All thoughts welcome.

Sponsership and advertising is the way to make things pay one would think ?
Whats the 2 NZ 4wd mags circulation I wonder compared to hits on here ?

I'd be OK with the club thing or some other way of paying(I'm already a club member anyway) but clubs create a lot of work too tho. And if you started a club and wanted to affiliate with NZFWDA then the first $25 has to go to them

Thats my initial thoughts ....will be back later

[wopass]

what about selling a ore t-shirt and charge an extra $10-15 for it?
it keeps it simple and could be done quickly, its also advertising the site.

i want an O.R.E jumper ! but with

"WOPASS"

AAA MEMBER

WWW.OFFROADEXPRESS.CO.NZ

PURE MUDSLINGING ACTION

[Mongoose]

Yup, I'm happy with paying too, for the figures being talked about it's well worth it as far as I'm concerned.
Formalising into an official club would be great too.

Any other club is happy to charge subs much bigger than 20 bucks a year so why not ours.

[MATT4U]

I would have no problem in paying for a sub to this site, Also an ORE shirt or somethng would be really really cool

[mercutio]

mike take the increase in site usage as a compliment for all the hard work you have put in over the years now it is time to get something back from it

i would have no problem paying $50 or more per year i spend more time on this site now than any other.i pay more than $50 per year to use other sites that i spend less time on and i don't get the practical knowledge and advice out of them.

i also like the idea of running the ORE 4x4 club alongside it as well i think it is time now to make it happen

[penetrator]

mike take the increase in site usage as a compliment for all the hard work you have put in over the years now it is time to get something back from it

I agree mate great work Mike as a lot of the other comments say for someone new to 4wding 12 months ago (and im sure the same applies to some of the oldies) I have picked up tons of info met a few good people and saved myself some decent mechanic bills by being taught the right stuff on here.

Membership fee sounds like a great way to keep the site running and if it puts a bit back in your pocket then awesome you deserve it pal

you just let us know a price and how to pay and ill splash out the plastic for the cause

[DaveM]

Yip, agree with membership fees, but still restricted use for non paying members (try before you buy type thing).

Would be good to get a sticker included in the membership and maybe the option of a T shirt (With a Safari on the front, hilux on back, tow rope going around the side of the shirt )

Of course the fee would have to include the price of a sticker, but at least no members would have an excuse not to advertise the site

[niblik]

well mike.. i'm pretty new to this site too and the connections/friends made and the info i've received not to mention the amount of relationship damage that has occurred in my home life ( ) is enough proof that the site is a great thing and is too good to shut down...

i'm with what appears to be every other sensible member of this site, do the payed membership thing and supplement that with some more advertisers and hopefully it might pay you dividends..

youre doin a great job mike. for that i thank you heaps, besides, what eles would i do till early hours of the morning...? sleep? quality time with the mrs? ps2? yeah, 'm good..

:whistle:

[Rangielux]

Would be good to get a sticker included in the membership and maybe the option of a T shirt (With a Safari on the front, hilux on back, tow rope going around the side of the shirt )

T-shirts are cool, although they would have to be reversable - A Dieselboy

[DaveM]

T-shirts are cool, although they would have to be reversable - A Dieselboy

I thought the photo showed you being towed backwards Rangielux

[hiriklux]

yeh ill pay the site is awsome met heaps of wheelers here and the odd pie gobbler and the club idea is a good one to takes care of the insurance side

would be criminal to close it down


rik

[timo]

I would be more than happy to pay for using this site
Im new to the site and dont post alot but the amount of interesting and imformative reading and pics is fantastic. Its great to look at what other people are doing and gain ideas/information from it.

Some sort of ORE merchandise avaliable with membership would be a good idea as well- bumper sticker/ t shirt

[De-Ranged]

I like the club idea... and wouldn't mind paying for that... hell even the $20 forum fee... no worries, even like the idea of a trip fee, especially if there is some form of insurance coverage through NZFDA.. also help gain access
We need a good logo so you/we can get recognition and gain press... a good example of one is Pirate its a simple stand out and everyone knows it

As for advertising um yea I was gona talk to you about that.... when I've got a few other things out of the way was gona push the 4WD engineering so there's possible some more

Cheers Reece

[matwelli]

Hi Guys,

I am a bit late chipping in my vote here (we are on page two already)

I vote for a paid membership to the ORE off road club, that includes the NZ4wd association as well.

I dont belong to any "real club" as so far cant be arsed attending a meeting and two "level two" runs before being considered if I am worthy or not.

charge me $60 bucks per year, give me my card, window sticker and a mug for the office

If I can pay the membership by paypal, so much the better.

I also think have part of the forum only available to members - trip planning, posting in the photo gallary, and maybe the manufacturer specific areas, weekend achievments.


Most of the useage is probably all the photos being posted and viewed.

duckworks magazine (online boat building mag) did similar last year, had some areas available to any one, but the really good stuff restricted to paid members.

I dont think you want to make all of the forum available only to memebers as wont get any "new blood" in.

[rokhound]

8) well mike.. i'm pretty new to this site too and the connections/friends made and the info i've received not to mention the amount of relationship damage that has occurred in my home life ( ) is enough proof that the site is a great thing and is too good to shut down...

i'm with what appears to be every other sensible member of this site, do the payed membership thing and supplement that with some more advertisers and hopefully it might pay you dividends..

youre doin a great job mike. for that i thank you heaps, besides, what eles would i do till early hours of the morning...? sleep? quality time with the mrs? ps2? yeah, 'm good..

:whistle:

HERE HERE!
I'm right there with niblik. Forum fee is a grewat idea but I don,t want to see any affiliation to NZ4WDA at this stage.
NZ4WDA is effectively only of any use to North Islans clubs (and for them it is a great system). Currently of all the well known South Island clubs. only 4 belong to the NZ4WDA. I seem to recall that when I was in a local (ChCh) club, the general consensus was that bang for buck (down here anyway) NZ4WDA was just not worth it.
To make my position simple, BRING ON THE FORUM USERS FEE.

[Summit033]

Charging for membership is fine by me, donations are fine, hell you can even have my first born son! This site is the main thing that keeps me going over here in London, so when I eventually get home I can put the dreams into reality..... but for now it is back home on the tube.... wow is me....

[Rory]

How about making a weekend of it. Find some private land with plenty of mud and hills, run a few competitions eg trials, night navigation etc. over the course of a weekend, with camping and BBQ and charge per vehicle.

A chance to put faces to names, take the P**s, swop parts and buy the new forum T-shirt.

Two or three a year might go a long way to helping?