Gatorchatter monetization discussion thread
- Thread starter oxrageous
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- Jun 9, 2014
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Personally, Id say just force the adblocker exceptions.
Sometimes I browse not logged in just figuring that it makes you a little more money to keep the lights on.
The ads are always narrowly tailored what we probably like anyway. it's only annoying when you get that occasional browser hijacker problem
- Jun 11, 2014
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TBH you have a bunch of cheapskates on here. I don’t think they would mind paying a one time fee – but an annual or monthly fee they would scoff at.
Thus - the conundrum.
To Urg’s point - I would think that you would need some type of pay for content.
While I think the features this board has are second to none it’s access to information that will drive pay membership.
And I think that would take a lot of work. Have you thought about finding a way to partner with a pay membership website? Like 247?
Or maybe find a way to partner with the UAA. Although that would be really delicate. Because you would not want a monetary relationship to create censorship. Or even the illusion of censorship. But the value in that for a member could be gator sports experiences. Such as tickets to games or autographed memorabilia. The benefit to the UAA is an interactive web interface we are thousands of fans can talk about athletics and get access to information. It would really help them keep a pulse on the Fanbase.
I know that’s a lot of yipyap I just typed down but I think if you just try to charge members (even though it would really improve the website experience and support long-term health of the website) I think you’ll have a challenge Getting people to positively engage. As you said – people will complain about spending $60 a year for a subscription even though this is a website they spend virtually every day on. And then they’ll go to a bar and spend $60 on a tab.
Thus - the conundrum.
To Urg’s point - I would think that you would need some type of pay for content.
While I think the features this board has are second to none it’s access to information that will drive pay membership.
And I think that would take a lot of work. Have you thought about finding a way to partner with a pay membership website? Like 247?
Or maybe find a way to partner with the UAA. Although that would be really delicate. Because you would not want a monetary relationship to create censorship. Or even the illusion of censorship. But the value in that for a member could be gator sports experiences. Such as tickets to games or autographed memorabilia. The benefit to the UAA is an interactive web interface we are thousands of fans can talk about athletics and get access to information. It would really help them keep a pulse on the Fanbase.
I know that’s a lot of yipyap I just typed down but I think if you just try to charge members (even though it would really improve the website experience and support long-term health of the website) I think you’ll have a challenge Getting people to positively engage. As you said – people will complain about spending $60 a year for a subscription even though this is a website they spend virtually every day on. And then they’ll go to a bar and spend $60 on a tab.
- Jun 10, 2014
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Founding Member
Guessing that the first 150 most active users are the real candidates to sign up. Your sample shows that 38% who've responded are willing to sign up. That gives you 57. Let's say you charge sixty bucks a year. Then you've got a little over three grand. But you lose some add revenue. And I assume your lifetime members will either not have to pay up or will bitch. Now I don't know where you net out but it's not much.
Personally, I don't care. Adds don't bother me that much.
I think you need to pray for a big football season, grow the membership with we're free and we're better, then think about it next year. I'm still amazed there are not more members on board.
Personally, I don't care. Adds don't bother me that much.
I think you need to pray for a big football season, grow the membership with we're free and we're better, then think about it next year. I'm still amazed there are not more members on board.
- Jun 11, 2014
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I’m with the content point of view. There’s no information here that isn’t found elsewhere. Let’s face it, the majority of the threads are articles started on other sites and direct you there. Then, come back here to discussion.
The ad free access is a nice to have, not a need to have. Most every other site has ads and you just ignore them. Not everyone has an ad-blocker.
The ad free access is a nice to have, not a need to have. Most every other site has ads and you just ignore them. Not everyone has an ad-blocker.
- Jun 19, 2014
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- 2,048
Founding Member
I don't mind ads on websites, I don't see the problem. As was mentioned I think an ad block remover is cool. I have a handful of sites that I visit where I gladly turn my adblocker off.
If you're considering making a pay portion, then you have to consider moderating members like Sas. His shtick is cute for free but I don't know who would pay to have him insult every poster and constantly trash the website. It's a huge turn off for free. Guarantee more people would be active without that childishness. But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.
Just considering the dynamic of the current product and the change in the perceived value of a paid membership. I'll do my best to support you anyways
If you're considering making a pay portion, then you have to consider moderating members like Sas. His shtick is cute for free but I don't know who would pay to have him insult every poster and constantly trash the website. It's a huge turn off for free. Guarantee more people would be active without that childishness. But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.
Just considering the dynamic of the current product and the change in the perceived value of a paid membership. I'll do my best to support you anyways
- Jun 5, 2014
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I'm not sure you understood. I have rejected the idea of making it a subscription site. The sports portion would always be free, the question is would we lose membership if I took away the extra sections and the chatbox without paying for them?
And GatorJ is right, so much of money is psychological. I've seen people freak out over paying $8 for a movie that will spend literally $150 a month on Starbucks coffee. Or blow through a $100 dinner without thinking twice. Or spend God knows how much on alcohol on a single weekend.
There are many people that think it's ludicrous to spend one single cent on a website, even if they spend a significant portion of their year on here enjoying the community. It's weird. They would cut themselves if it was taken away, yet money-wise they think it's worth nothing.
You guys are also too hung up on "content". It's about all the unique personalities and banter on here that provides the value, not insider content. We have the smartest, funniest Gator fans anywhere, and it isn't close. There's a reason why we hundreds, often thousands, of lurkers a day on here - they don't want to get directly involved, but they enjoy the hell out of the discussions.
- Nov 9, 2015
- 7,401
- 4,168
Not that anybody else should do as I do, but for me the internet is free or it is not for me. Of course the owners need to make whatever decisions they think best for their business.
- Jun 9, 2014
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They're making an issue of content because it's the most convenient parallel argument.
I do depend on this site for UF updates to some degree but obviously not exclusively. I'm mainly here for the laughs and camaraderie. This place is a cool little sports bar that never closes.
You know I'll pony up if it comes down to it.
- Jun 5, 2014
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You pay for your internet access.
- Nov 9, 2015
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The question was for content, not for access. And I might in the future cut that out as free access can be obtained.
- Jun 5, 2014
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How? At the library?
Why do some people fight paying for things that entertain them? I would expect that from millennials (who think everything in life should be free), but most of you people are old farts.
- Jun 10, 2014
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You’d likely lose a few of the politicos if they had to pay for access. I don’t visit the chatbox too often and I suspect it’s mostly used by a dozen or so...except for game days, so it may not reduce membership by much.
- Jun 12, 2016
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I checked out gatorchatter for a short while, and pretty quickly decided that the one time, $75 lifetime fee would work for me. I personally do not like small amounts being pulled out of my account every month. As far as annual fees, I generally only regularly renew those I need, such as Microsoft Word, etc.
- Jun 5, 2014
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- Nov 9, 2015
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You can't "force" anybody to pay.
- Jun 3, 2016
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I too became a lifetime member because I saw value in the site. It is very hard to get different views on our Gators south of the border.
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