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

[Furgus]

Personally I'm with most of the comments here - ie happy to pay a membership fee as I know there is a lot of good advice.

My only concern is that new members reading only selected forum threads would not see the good stuff & not join, then slowly other of the paying members leave as they move on to other projects etc..............

I know is is a depressing thought but I thought I'd bring it up.

As for something more helpful - well again I'd happy buy shirts etc to go with the stickers on my trucks - ideally the advertisers are the way to go as this keeps the whole forum open to all - new & old alike but of course someone has to do some real hard work to make this happen - & by my reckoning Mike seems to have done plenty of hard work already - so I guess it's up to everyone else to have a word in some (hopefully cashfilled) ears & see if that'll increase the revenue.

just my 2c worth

[Mongoose]

I like Rory's idea, not sure it would raise all of the money but it would help.
Found the meetings at one of the CHCH 4wd clubs a bit dry and dull with all the reports from chairman, reports from treasurer blahblahblah. But less regular meetings without all that crap and just beer, snags and mud would be awesome.

I think the concensus is clear though Mike, we're happy to pay if you want to sort out a way for us to do it. Merchandise would add to it too, I'd happily pay for a t-shirt. I'm sure if you want help organising stuff a small informal committee to help you cope would be easy enough to set up.
I'd be keen to help certainly.

[Mongoose]

what we need is a keen 4wheeler who also owns a web hosting company.......

[1lurch]

The first annual "Off Road Express Jamboree" could be a bloody good thing . just not in the middle of winter near chch !

a bit of merchendise , a few suppliers , the mad butcher , and the tui girls ...... thats not too much to ask .

Reefton has plenty of tracks for all levels of experiance , or up here might get a few from the north island over .

[Jerry]

Happy to contribute, is it loads of pics causing the excess traffic? perhaps put some pic limitations to help ease the traffic?

Is it hosted off a box at home or on a webhost somewhere? just wondering if its cheaper to host elsewhere?

[Rangielux]

Found the meetings at one of the CHCH 4wd clubs a bit dry and dull with all the reports from chairman, reports from treasurer blahblahblah. But less regular meetings without all that crap and just beer, snags and mud

Don't take this too heavily
Because you're a member of a club doesn't mean you have to go to all or any? of the meetings ( well over three quarters of 4wd club members in NZ would never go to a meeting)
but it sounds as tho lots like the idea of a membership of a club type set up (to get Access/insurance benefits) although don't want to be members of a regular 4wd club for a number of reasons - perhaps because of the old-school and over regulation orientated some have become .

NZFWDA struggles with recruiting younger members and from what I see on here, there is many more younger people - must be something in that

ORE 4wd club and have a couple restricted forums like you already run maybe?

[Rangielux]

The first annual "Off Road Express Jamboree" could be a bloody good thing

or up here might get a few from the north island over .

This also sounds like a good fundraiser - one in the south / one in the north 2x the money

[MNC]

Yup, I`d be in for an ORE club and a ORE members trip, AND an ORE T-Shirt - "I live for Dirty Weekends"

[niblik]

mike... to elaborate from what rory mentioned.. since everyone here seems to be thinking along the same lines, why not try to get a few heads around the chilly bin at the upcoming sheffield event? faces with names and get a real feel for the whole group scenario, team atmosphere...? i know from what was said on the bog hole thread, there will be a fair number of us there and that'll give a sort of dry run for the club style thang.. i realise non-cantabrians may not make it... sorry... but you know what i mean...

[Mongoose]

No I know you don't need to go to meetings. But it seemed an important part of membership and the best way to get to know the other members well. A lot of the stuff was good and enjoyable, it was the necessities brought about by having the club all official and legal where things had to be done properly, treasurers report etc. that tended to make it a bit dry.

To be honest this club were also a little too conservative in their approach and a little too quick to put a stop to what many members saw as safe and responsible enjoyment of their 4wds. However I could see where they were coming from to a certain extent and definitely supported the sentiment behind it, if we rip up DOC land then DOC don't let us come back.

I wonder though if part of the appeal of ORE is the lack of rigidity and conformity, it's just a load of 4wd enthusiasts having fun with their toys. There is a worry that DOC will end up innevitably restricting access to clubs only though.

[mike]

cheers for all the replies guys. loads to digest. I've got a few good ideas already from whats been posted and a couple of realisations about restricting access (loosing potential members through not seeing the good stuff in restricted forums). I will post what I think might work and also work arounds to some of the potential problems and see if people can expand on them.

P.S The jamboree thing in each island sounds awesome. Maybe every 4 years a national one to watch the AB's win the world cup final

keep posting the ideas

Mike

[mercutio]

allow paying members unlimited storage in the photo albums
and non paying members allow viewing only or limit the amount of pics they can show

[wopass]

Maybe every 4 years a national one to watch the AB's win the world cup final

Mike

they only play rugby because they cant ride moto cross or drive 4x4's !

"if it aint got tits or wheels... im not interested"

sorry to go off topic there mike

back to the subject at hand

different levels of membership.
there are those of us that would like to see ORE have a NZFWDA association so we can go play at events etc and those that want to be able to use the site unlimited so, 2 types of full membership for that(at different costs) and then there are the others that dont use the site much but like to have access so another level of cost for them, then theres the visitors(free to visit but limited access or limited to a access time frame) that want to see how cool we all are and get hooked by the 4x4 bug before they join.

my thoughts

ps: i still want the 'T' shirt

[niblik]

ps: i still want the 'T' shirt

someone, for heavens sake, get the man a t-shirt!
kiddin wopass, i like the way ya thinkin...

[De-Ranged]

Wopass has some good stuff there... really like the idea of NZFDA only for those that want it

Just a thought on the restricted access and your concern about turning away newbies... why not just restrict the code in the forums (or even just the tech forums)so non-members get to read what were talking about but to see pic's use links they have to join it sorta creates a carrot... ever read a post and sat there scratching your head, you know the answer is there.... now if you could just see what their talkin about

I'd leave the gallery open for view... it gives people a chance to see what we're about ... posting to it well thats another deal members only, possibly with dif volumes for dif levels of membership

but there's a downside to all this.... more hours spent piecing together code and more server space, I think I should shut up now.....


Cheers Reece
Ps hey and thanks for all this to date Mike bloody awsome
:thumleft:

[lowbox]

Ask for donations - email members every 3-6 months or so with an easy way to donate paypal or address to post some $ to.

Maybe ask sponsors and users to contribute goods to a trademe charity auction series - for the benefit of the site

ct

[hosehustler]

Hi Mike,
read the entire thread this morning..........couldn't sleep and Kath told me to leave her alone , I would like to start the ball rolling in the interim to help you out while you get all your plans sorted, I think you have been out of pocket too long , would like to start a weekly auto-payment to the ORE account, a small donation weekly in the same manner by other members should stem the tide
Also the ORE west coast trip I have planned http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... 1329#21329
now has a trip fee of $5 per vehicle for the weekend which will be credited to the ORE account

[albundy]

Shit Mike, we grew too big too fast. All good. Start charging membership fees, start the club and tag some form of fee into it. Also start drumming up more business. Show those jokers your facts, go to the suppliers, ARB, etc.

[SupraSurf]

..

[SupraLux]

Secondly to generate some $$$ I would be keen to get the members to send me any good video footage and I'll compile an ORE DVD which is sold for say $25 and ORE gets all the profit. This could be an annual thing.

Anyone seen SupraSurfs home video collection (no, not THAT collection)?

Theres some damn fine work in there, and that an offer you really want to jump on.

Also, whatever you choose to do, don't limit access to the core of the board - that will turn people away... just make paying an optional extra for optional extra benefits... and as Mike said, keep the club separate (which I know you are thinking of doing anyway)... this is a forum, not a club. Most of the people here are either dissafected previous club members or the rabble and scruff of humanity who don't fit into organisations well (Me being the latter )

Steve

[H2OLOVA]

I would definitely be a keen subscriber. I'm not a member of any 4WD club, so some tie up with the NZ4WDA would be handy for access and Insurance purposes. I'll make enquiries about advertising on this site........

Although i'm fairly new to this forum, i've already saved alot of hassles for myself just by being able to talk to people who have been there, done that.

Big ups to Mike for an excellent job :thumleft:

[Bubba]

Wow, this thread exploded

I paniced when I read it. What closing down!!! I need my daily fill of ORE!!

I like the follwing ideas;

I like the idea of basic subsciption

Selling coffee mugs, tee shirts (new one each year) key rings and all manner of crap (I can do all my Xmas shopping here)

Competitions- DVD's teeshirts maybe at the start then maybe you could raffle off a new diff for say... a Vitara. You could also raffle off a slightly used front bumper off a Surf.

donations from regulars to the site

Paying for organised trips and donations for casual trips..

[DieselBoy]

Found the meetings at one of the CHCH 4wd clubs a bit dry and dull with all the reports from chairman, reports from treasurer blahblahblah. But less regular meetings without all that crap and just beer, snags and mud

Don't take this too heavily
Because you're a member of a club doesn't mean you have to go to all or any? of the meetings ( well over three quarters of 4wd club members in NZ would never go to a meeting)
but it sounds as tho lots like the idea of a membership of a club type set up (to get Access/insurance benefits) although don't want to be members of a regular 4wd club for a number of reasons - perhaps because of the old-school and over regulation orientated some have become .

NZFWDA struggles with recruiting younger members and from what I see on here, there is many more younger people - must be something in that

ORE 4wd club and have a couple restricted forums like you already run maybe?

This man is on the money here

[zigen]

though i havent been here very long, i would be very happy to pay a membership fee in order to keep this place up and running.

[SupraSurf]

..

[mike]

Don't worry mike ORE is never going to become a club. A small club is going to shoot off the side of ORE so that we can get cheap insurance for our week long trips. It gives land owners assurance for us to enter their property. For those just going up the river beds or public tracks its not an issue but for those of us that head onto private land and forests etc it is. It will be so low key I bet you dont even notice it exists

Mike

[rokhound]

Thread is gettin hi-jacked a little with the club debate but I'll reiterate my comment:

ORE is the "ONE and ONLY" place we have in NZ for 4WDers to get together ( online or trips ) that is NOT a club with all the attached BS. If you want to support the NZFWDA or a club then go out an join an existing one. NZ has so many clubs now but only one ORE don't destroy that !

sorry rant over and out

Right on the button Mike.
ORE has to survive as a totally independant organisation. (Why do you think it has grown so FAST in the first place?)
If we all do our bit to bring in paying sponsers in the form of advertising etc, and/or running the odd event (opens up the can of worms over who will run it etc though), and/or merchandising, This site should not only be self funding, but just might turn a wee profit.

Site Admin Mike: It may be time to try and get some independant advise on running things with a view more to the financial side (not trying to be a smart bastard or condescending), this is ultimatly your baby, and if there is some rewrad to be had why shouldn't you get the first bite. Just remember, as with all good concepts, you still need to maintain the numbers.
It should not go unrecogonised that some on this site contribute an awful amount of useful advise and comments, and without them. this site would not be the success that it is now. (then there are the others like me who just talk shit!) If the site has to become self funding, I don't see to big a problem with that. The only issues that could arise is if a cash surplus happens. (but that is probably another debate for another day).

ORE ROCKS. AND IT IS OUR SITE, WE NEED TO KEEP IT HAPPENING!
Another of my 2c worth (think that makes about 20c in total now, coool)

[Rangielux]

ORE has to survive as a totally independant organisation. (Why do you think it has grown so FAST in the first place?)
If we all do our bit to bring in paying sponsers in the form of advertising etc, and/or running the odd event (opens up the can of worms over who will run it etc though), and/or merchandising, This site should not only be self funding, but just might turn a wee profit.


Another of my 2c worth (think that makes about 20c in total now, coool)

Shit I'm gettin quoted a bit here , but thats Ok, I didn't mean to start the club or no club thing going. It won't really affect me anyway. I'm a member of a 4wd club and I, in my own way get what I need from that club (just as many other forum members on here do also) but I also, in a different way , get what I need from ORE too and are happy to have the two seperate.

I most agree with rochound above tho, that and a couple of Jambourees, would that be enough money ?

Mike, what about analysing the comments in the thread, and any other advice you receive and then if you are still having trouble with options put it in a poll and see what happens ?

[H2OLOVA]

As most, if not all, of the people on this site love actually going out a getting dirty (in their 4wds' of course) any cash surpluses could soon be spent on ORE sponsored 4wd trips! I've always wanted to take my truck to Australia!!!
Also, as mentioned, there are some members who do contribute more than others (although the usefulness of some of their contributions remains dubious!!) any cash 'left over' as such could be put up as prize money--most valuable contributor.... etc. And just to keep everyone involved you have the prizes for the most posts, craziest photo, stupidest post (now that would be a hard decision!!)

Anyway, to get back on track, i think cash surpluses are the least of our worries here at the moment and, although we have a high membership count and site hits, it is converting these into $$ that will be the hard part.

[mike]

Mike, what about analysing the comments in the thread, and any other advice you receive and then if you are still having trouble with options put it in a poll and see what happens ?

Just in the process of going through it all and listing all the points. got 16 so far. need to wittle these down through some more feedback. the feedback so far is great. I think any extra cash would go towards new servers as the last new server(site currently running on it) is 6.5 years old and the new one I'm building to take its place is 5 years old.

Mike