Rather than just question the viability of the premium account idea without offering alternatives, I've taken a look at how other boards handles the same issues without resorting to some sort of multi-tiered poster structure.
The first thing they do is employ Amazon and Google Ads, and make big drives to get people to order books through those ads (they get a cut of them) rather than just going to the sites direct. You have a lot of people reviewing books on this site, it should be relatively straightforward to set up a link on those reviews to the respective Amazon pages, and if people like the sound of the book they can order it that way and RAFO gets a cut of the cash. Since RAFO has provided a service in making them aware of the book, that works out. Obviously, you can also encourage the WHEEL OF TIME fanbase to order TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT via an Amazon link on the site as well.
Secondly, is the good old-fashioned pledge drive, maybe mixed in with competitions and raffles. Whenever other sites' hosting fees are coming up and they haven't made enough money via advertising, they simply say, "We need £xxx, we've provided you with countless hours of entertainment/job-endangering time-wasting, help us out," and put up a PayPal account. When they reach the amount needed, they take it down, say thanks, and sometimes throw in prizes or some sort of raffle arrangement so those who contribute get a chance of winning some books or other gear.
Thirdly, sponsorship. This is harder to get, but as an SFF-related website with several thousand members, it's possible that at least one or two publishers might consider some sort of deal in return for advertising their books on the site in a relatively non-obtrusive way. £6 a month to get their names in front of a couple of thousand book-buyers isn't a lot to a company like Tor or Orbit, especially considering the site's long association (through its direct ancestor, Wotmania, which I would recommend playing up, as Wotmania was very well-regarded by some publishers) with the WHEEL OF TIME web presence.
Just some ideas. Other sites use them to pay for much higher web hosting fees than RAFO has, so they do work.
The first thing they do is employ Amazon and Google Ads, and make big drives to get people to order books through those ads (they get a cut of them) rather than just going to the sites direct. You have a lot of people reviewing books on this site, it should be relatively straightforward to set up a link on those reviews to the respective Amazon pages, and if people like the sound of the book they can order it that way and RAFO gets a cut of the cash. Since RAFO has provided a service in making them aware of the book, that works out. Obviously, you can also encourage the WHEEL OF TIME fanbase to order TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT via an Amazon link on the site as well.
Secondly, is the good old-fashioned pledge drive, maybe mixed in with competitions and raffles. Whenever other sites' hosting fees are coming up and they haven't made enough money via advertising, they simply say, "We need £xxx, we've provided you with countless hours of entertainment/job-endangering time-wasting, help us out," and put up a PayPal account. When they reach the amount needed, they take it down, say thanks, and sometimes throw in prizes or some sort of raffle arrangement so those who contribute get a chance of winning some books or other gear.
Thirdly, sponsorship. This is harder to get, but as an SFF-related website with several thousand members, it's possible that at least one or two publishers might consider some sort of deal in return for advertising their books on the site in a relatively non-obtrusive way. £6 a month to get their names in front of a couple of thousand book-buyers isn't a lot to a company like Tor or Orbit, especially considering the site's long association (through its direct ancestor, Wotmania, which I would recommend playing up, as Wotmania was very well-regarded by some publishers) with the WHEEL OF TIME web presence.
Just some ideas. Other sites use them to pay for much higher web hosting fees than RAFO has, so they do work.
This message last edited by Werthead on 15/07/2010 at 01:18:14 AM
EDIT: Remember folks, today's the last day of the free premium accounts!
06/07/2010 08:52:02 PM
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I see that you've also fixed the spelling of "received" in the noteboards.
06/07/2010 09:08:00 PM
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Throw in a pair of dinosaur socks and an Indiana Jones 'monkey-head' soup bowl and I'm sold.
06/07/2010 11:46:47 PM
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Just how much bandwidth is Read and Find out using per month?
11/07/2010 05:50:02 AM
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Oh Jing.
12/07/2010 08:05:31 PM
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While hosting can be had that cheap, I certainly wouldn't want to use it.
13/07/2010 12:04:55 AM
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You want to charge people for functionality every other forum on the web gives them for free?
14/07/2010 08:47:32 PM
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It is exactly the same stuff Mike asked money for
14/07/2010 09:00:55 PM
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Why can't people even ask the question(s)?
14/07/2010 09:22:11 PM
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The messageboards are perfectly functional without a premium account.
14/07/2010 09:17:43 PM
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I see it as a way of giving people something back for donations.
14/07/2010 10:09:08 PM
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He does have a point when it comes to hyperlinks.
15/07/2010 06:52:41 PM
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Viable alternatives
15/07/2010 01:16:39 AM
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Advertising makes a site look like shit.
16/07/2010 08:28:00 AM
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Only if you choose to let it.
16/07/2010 12:17:47 PM
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This is just the BBforum argument rehashed.
16/07/2010 06:07:20 PM
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But those are the very things being introduced by the premium accounts.
17/07/2010 12:44:05 PM
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As I've said above...
16/07/2010 01:49:37 PM
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Re: As I've said above...
16/07/2010 05:58:39 PM
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Premium Plus account does.
16/07/2010 06:05:07 PM
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What's the point if people can't see my obnoxious, animated avatar?!
16/07/2010 06:10:03 PM
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Good lord Ghavrel, you're just posting straw men. Don't put words in people's mouths. *NM*
16/07/2010 07:08:20 PM
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No, I'm mocking your arguments because they are dumb. Difference! :p *NM*
17/07/2010 02:21:43 AM
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That at least is not a problem, as the premium accounts are introducing them to the site.
17/07/2010 12:46:33 PM
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They aren't displayed, so I don't mind. But what is "far worse" than other SFF forums? *NM*
17/07/2010 10:08:47 PM
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Re: Premium Plus account does.
16/07/2010 06:13:17 PM
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It's a start
16/07/2010 06:37:44 PM
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Just signed up for Premium Plus.....and totally un-Britished the calendar/time zone
17/07/2010 05:48:39 AM
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Sounds like a bargain to me. This must have taken an unbelievable amount of work to set up.
26/07/2010 07:48:16 PM
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