Forums that Charge

[Nexus]

Hey, I'll put my vote for DomainState.com to have a "donations" button. Guys, you should really consider it. Let people show their appreciation! A friend of mine runs a large forum and receives sizeable donations regularly to defray and out right eliminate out of pocket costs. A voluntary gesture, very informal. I have to say I like that model better than a pure "pay-to-play" scenario.

~ Nexus

[Scott]

Being a web developer and visiting many "free" forums thoughout my day the "pay to read" model is a put off. I can see the hardcores joining up but casual visitors will be here.

A donation button is a great idea. Keep this forum open and friendly, you'll attract more visitors and positive cash flow.

[debath]

Donation Button

I'm with the person who suggested this. The informality and voluntary process is much more appealing than the "do it or you can't come in" approach. As a poor student (and I'm NOT making that up - jeez, I wish I was - just one subject for this coming term requires me to purchase 4 textbooks which amount to over $400!!! aaaahhhhh), I would still consider donating funds to keep a good forum running rather than being forced into payment for somewhere I visit when able to.

I believe this forum is certainly worthy of a donation button, however, it would have to be remembered/realised by those who are donating that it is THEIR choice - no-one is forcing them and if they do make a donation, that wouldn't give them any special privileges.

Food for thought at least ...

Deb

[Goh]

I am not against donation. Forum that survives on donation might not last long (change ownership anytime), while forum that does not need donation to survive will tend to last longer, what do you think?

[safesys]

We're very happy with the way the site is going, and theres certainly no danger of it changing hands or closing.

We're a community site that was built to discuss domains and not as a dollar printing machine. The small amount of advertising we carry covers the costs and the owners benefit just as much from the knowledge and experience shared here as everyone else.

When we input time or resources into the site, its not done with a view to what profit we can make back from the members by doing so - and you won't hear us whining about what things cost etc because when we do something we do it because we want to and are happy to do it within the free nature of the site.

As the saying goes, the best things in life are free

[Goh]

Since I can't give nuffin, at least I would like to say thx.net to safesys, snoopy and mattyp for the free resources and effort.

[debath]

I like that Safe! You're right - the best things in life ARE free and this forum certainly falls into that category.

I for one am VERY grateful to know that this place exists, I can ask questions and get a sensible answer, I can come in one day, look around, come back a few days later and know that you're not going to charge me for doing so in order to make money from something that we all benefit from.

I believe the comment made earlier (by yourself I think) was something along the lines of other 'charging' forums seeing themselves as being a 'higher power' than their members - that is certainly the feeling I get in that regard and that's what I really like about this place - everyone seems to be on equal footing.

Great job, great place, GREAT moderators/proprietors and very valuable information.

Take it easy ...

Deb

[oohdale]

Originally posted by Nexus
Hey, I'll put my vote for DomainState.com to have a "donations" button. Guys, you should really consider it. Let people show their appreciation! A friend of mine runs a large forum and receives sizeable donations regularly to defray and out right eliminate out of pocket costs. A voluntary gesture, very informal. I have to say I like that model better than a pure "pay-to-play" scenario.

~ Nexus

I bet just the hosting costs are a lot not alone the other hidden cost. Donations seem in order to me -- good idea.

[generic]

yeah safe, what's the harm in allowing donations?


LOL - whining about costs. Now where have I heard whining about costs before?

[DomeBase]

Originally posted by DomeBase
if you do not allow new folks to see what they will get for their money, then you may get few new folks... turning membership into a one-way door (going out).

this proposal elsewhere to be reversed

[generic]

surprised it took so long

[snoopy]

Originally posted by Tee
yeah safe, what's the harm in allowing donations?


LOL - whining about costs. Now where have I heard whining about costs before?

thx tee and all

As it is the fairly modest amount of advertising covers costs etc quite comfortably so we don't really see any need for donations.

We see the site as an important resource for domainers, and concur with safe that its something we get a lot of value out of ourselves (since we all do domains full time), so taking donations wouldn't seem right for something that we feel we get a lot of benefit from.

[oohdale]

Originally posted by snoopy
thx tee and all

As it is the fairly modest amount of advertising covers costs etc quite comfortably so we don't really see any need for donations.

We see the site as an important resource for domainers, and concur with safe that its something we get a lot of value out of ourselves (since we all do domains full time), so taking donations wouldn't seem right for something that we feel we get a lot of benefit from.

Well Spoken.

[debath]

Oh Baby - the words "so taking donations wouldn't seem right ...."

I love it - but I love this forum too so if it ever comes to pass ....

Deb

[namethink]

While the altruistic sentiments of the board owners with regards to donations (let alone a "paid" forum) are commendable, I think a larger opportunity is being overlooked here.

Snoopy said: "We see the site as an important resource for domainers." So do all the members of DNS. In which case, why not open the board up to donations with the goal that if enough money is "chipped in," the funds can be put towards further developing the online domain resources of this site--resources that would require more than the three board owners are able to do or afford.

If a few thousand dollars are in "the pot" over the period of a year or two, that can pay for some programming to get some custom software--used through DNS or downloadable--developed for our domaining needs. It would be great to have a program that could run a check off a (current as possible) copy of the root to seem which 4-letter domains are still unregged...things like that.

Or the money can be used for domain lobby issues. Or to incorporate this site as a tightly held (the three owners) nonprofit org for the domaining community, to ensure its continuity. This could be especially important if this site continues to grow and becomes THE primary domaining site and community.

I think everyone who wants to "donate" would be more than happy to see these collective funds used to grow and develop the DomainState site and resource offerings. This money could be used to develop this great domaining asset...I would ask the three DNS owners to reconsider the "donate button" issue in this light.

Miles