Official how to keep AO alive thread

[Caffiend]

Charge admission for AO? No, I think it'd die really quick. Donations would be cool, I'd throw a couple of bucks this way. But I think they should be able to offset most of the operating cost through banners and such (just no pop ups). I'd click some banners every day to support AO.

[Bolter]

I for one would contribute to AO if there was an option to.

classifieds is very popular, how about charging a small fee like 0.5% for allowing someone to sell something? (Did that make sense?) This wouldn't cover the costs, but it could be a start if in conjunction with something else.

There should be new rules also like only the thread starter puts his/her sig. Everyone else in the thread removes theres. Things like posting just a smilie would have to go (sorry Mango)

[BobTheCow]

Are you all on crack? Nice forum as it is, I wouldn't pay 50 a month just to see whats on mangos mind or which gun is no longer cool.

Whoever guessed $50+ per month meant for the site as a whole, not for how much they suggested any one person should pay.

My thoughts on the issue:
I would pay to access, post, search, whatever... if it's set up, I personally will pay. However, I don't think most people will. Somebody already mentioned these ideas, but what I think would work best would be either A) a donation system, B) a sponsor situation with purchased banner ads and such, C) the ability for individual users to purchase certain privelages such as signatures or avatars or custom titles or PM's or attachments (a la SomethingAwful), or D) some combination of the above 3.

AO needs to stick around. I think it's become much more valuable to AGD, as well as everybody affiliated with the forums, than may be apparent.

[Thordic]

AO won't go anywhere. Theres enough people who care about this site who will cough up the money to keep it going.

If Tom can't figure out a way to keep the site running, theres a few of us out there who will make sure the site stays up somehow.

[Mango]

Just do what many other sites do, they have a premium for those who pay. I say you activate avatars and those who pay get to have an avatar, those who don't pay do not get an avatar. Also, those who pay get special features like the use of the upload server and a special members only forum with pictures and videos. That is the best way to go about it.

[MarkM]

I for one would contribute to AO if there was an option to.

classifieds is very popular, how about charging a small fee like 0.5% for allowing someone to sell something? (Did that make sense?) This wouldn't cover the costs, but it could be a start if in conjunction with something else.

There should be new rules also like only the thread starter puts his/her sig. Everyone else in the thread removes theres. Things like posting just a smilie would have to go (sorry Mango)

All of the ideas will be looked at etc but the easiest one to implement would be NO Attachments hosted on AO's server...this would include pics and signatures...BUT! these can still be allowed as long as you host them elsewhere...this straight away drops some of the running costs for the board since the bandwidth is transferred to another server and since there are plenty of free webspace servers (or IP provided ones) this shouldn't make for any issues...in a lot of cases it will stop a lot of people attaching pics since they may have to pay for them to be attached I have set up a seperate section on my server to upload pics to for my use online a few weeks ago. Even though I have used AO as a host at times it wouldn't hurt me for those hosted pics to go as I could reload them immediately. The ruling would have to be that the pics were within a certain size much the same as we already have for signatures but for pics it would be more important but by now most all people should know how to edit a pic...it doesn't take long to do.
Remember how pleasant it was when the attachment software went on the missing list a while ago?

[cphilip]

I am going to move this thread to Talk and make it the official thread on this subject. So as to not have more keep cropping up.

[Lee]

donation button w/ little "supporer" logo for people who give. ICD owners.com does it that way and it seems to work for them, and, there are a lot more members here.

[Vanced]

Just do what many other sites do, they have a premium for those who pay. I say you activate avatars and those who pay get to have an avatar, those who don't pay do not get an avatar. Also, those who pay get special features like the use of the upload server and a special members only forum with pictures and videos. That is the best way to go about it.

Banners and Ad's is always a good start...

I think Mango's idea is going in the right direction... I have seen it done on many online RPG's message boards and stuff. Admission and useage is free to all... BUT...

Yearly premium's for members who want features such as Signatures ( Wouldn't be AO without um), Upload Pics, Right to use HTML, Smileys ( Cause we all love this guy --> ), and have a members only area as well... And offer a one time Lifetime membership option for us hardcore AGD fans & to capitalize on the sudden swell of Support for Tom and AO/AGD.

Also consider teaming up with some of our great dealers to create an Exclusive AO line of merchandice that all proceds goes to maintaining AO...

AO will live on as long as we as AO want to support it.....

Just my virtual 2 cents for ya...

[Pickle]

My ideas (for what they are worth)

1. Try donations before banners
2. No pay for use site
3. Having money does not equal getting rid of trolls. Idiots can have money too
4. cphil does a GREAT job here. One of the best mods I have ever seen. Clone him a few times. Seriously, get some more mods like cphil and start cracking some heads. A PBN idiot craack down is in order.
5. I like the merchandise idea
6. I also like the idea of giving supporting members more bells and whistles. Don't make it too exclusive though. One of the neat things about AO is its inclusiveness. That has to remain!

[cphilip]

donation button w/ little "supporer" logo for people who give. ICD owners.com does it that way and it seems to work for them, and, there are a lot more members here.

Ok here is my 2 cents worth

I don't like donations for set operational funds. I don't finance my home budget by variable income. I want to know the Mortgage and Utilities are covered by steady dependable income. So while donations would be fine to stick in the bank for unexpected costs and perhaps for improvement costs they are not dependable enough for daily expenses.

What we must do is trim our costs to a reasonable set amount and secure regular income based on that figure. Through cost trimming and advertising/sponsorships we can accomplish that I think.

Then donations can cover things like hardware and software upgrades. I am not against special privelages for Donors. And not against special privelages for Sponsors and Advertisers either.

I am totaly against membership fee's.

All things on the table though.

[ScatterPlot]

Heh, I hate idiots too. I bet there's a ton of people here that would GLADLY help out as a "sub-mod" or something that would help with moron control.

Aside from a donation count (like a post count), I think that paid-for members should have the ability to use , but NO ONE ELSE!!!

[MindJob]

I dont know why AO wouldnt go to AGD in the long run.... the expense can be written off, Im almost posative.

[Muzikman]

I dont know why AO wouldnt go to AGD in the long run.... the expense can be written off, Im almost posative.

Yeah, it might be a write off, but it still costs money and I don't think that is money that AGD has right now. As for someone who said that it probably only costs $50 a month to run AO is FAR off. I do not know the actual numbers, but my dedicated server with a mear 80GB of space costs me $175 a month. So my guess is that the site costs about $200-$300 a month to run and this doesn't account for any upgrades. I think a Basic / Premium member would be a good idea. I also think trimming the fat off is also a good idea. I think if you did both, AO would be self sustaining. I also have a few other ideas, but I will keep them to myself right now.

[Load SM5]

4. cphil does a GREAT job here. One of the best mods I have ever seen. Clone him a few times.

Have you ever seen Phil? If so you would'nt be saying that.