Site Support Response February 2004

[Regs]

Well, since adding a couple of banners and making the Premium Membership "page" 10 days ago, response has been staggering.

How staggering?

$0

So this gets me to thinking, how can I best "reward" those who do show their support w/o taking away the basic premise for the site, that is, the ability to voice your opinions on the various topics that affect us all.

Would turning off the private messaging system for everyone except for premium members be a good start? Or is the private messaging system considered too much of a basic service here?

Is the "fee" too high?

Should I start really bashing everyone over the head with topics everywhere in the forums pleading for some more support?

The thing that I'm really starting to worry about is that the site support is now is really limited to those choosing to renew their support. That's not entirely fair in my books and I can certainly see their point if they start to feel a bit of resentment.

So what should be done?

Cheers,

~Regs.

[sensei_hanson]

Make the non-paying membership as bare bones as possible I guess.

It seems inevitable that you'll have to start limiting any free "perks" in order to get people to pay for TTP. Just the nature of the beast, I suppose.

Just a quick note about the pop-up TTP message you implemented - the anti-virus software I got off Telus stops all pop-ups. So I saw it once and never again on my home PC. I know this may be an isolated case, but I felt it worth mentioning.

[SC]

I use the PM feature HUGE, so that would be a start (temp).(On a downfall, you might get PMs possing as posts.) As far as I'm concerned everyone on this site is taking advantage of the system.

Why don't you close off some major forums that everyone has access to. The more you pay the more you have access to... (i.e. 'closed fields' or tiny forums you think that don't have significance...but big impact)

Think about the most used features. Perhaps people shouldn't be allowed to start their own threads, or even post (I know it's severe, but it could be a start).

just killing time, on the new job

[TheRob]

Take everything away, and lower the price a tad. $25 maybe?

What about two different types of memberships? A Premium Membership then maybe a Platinum Membership. Platinum being what us normal PM's have and the Premium being a dumbed down version of it. Then the poeple who don't pay, get to read, post and that is it. No voting on polls, no PMs, no viewing attachments, no nothing. Take away more of the forums too. Give them the local soccer stuff, but nothing else.

[Keeper]

Frankly, I think users receive a bit too much for free.

1. Take away PM's. They're not a basic service, however you may have to start policing forums a bit more in order to prevent an otherwise private conversation becoming private.

2. Take away non-members' ability to view full-sized photos. Thumbnails only.

3. Apply #2 to the multimedia section as well.

4. No signatures for non-members.

5. No personal information for non-members, apart from, perhaps, their team/club.

6. When non-members click on something they don't have access to, they presently receive a message: "You don't have permission to do that." Or words to that effect. Perhaps add/change it to "In order to do that thing you want to do, register for a TTP membership." (Maybe even offer a one-time-only, 3-day trial membership.

I guess I'll be having to break out that cheque book sooner than I thought . . .

[bonefish]

Regs,

Would the current engine you use for this board allow you to allow a user(IP-Address) to subscribe to a limited number of forums/threads? Once they used up their "X" selections(Which cannot be swapped) you could give them the option of adding others for a "X" Fee(single or block) or unlimited for whatever the Premium membership fee would be.

As well, what is the current load on your site. I am sure that more exposure would bring more paying users but it might also impact your bandwidth negatively(Especially if the call for more subscribers brings a lot more freeloaders)

-MoneyForNuthinAndChicksForFree- or -TTPisinDireStraits-

[knvb]

If you take away PM's to non-members then what happens if a member wants to talk to a non? Major piss off. Perhaps make their 'box' super small, a dream come true for Glasgow Girl.... Try em' at 2-4 total PM's sent, inbox or other wise.

Limit posts. Non members can only post up to 10 - 20 times then they're done. Definitely take away the MMG, viewing and posting and I agree with non-member Keeper on his 2 thru 5.

$35 is way more than fair. It's something like .09 1/2 cents a day for 24/7 TTP, it's a fcuking ridiculously low price for the amount of cash, time and effort put into this site.

Non-memeber regular readers/ users sort it out!

[Hands of Stone]

You take away from the non-members, PM's is a good one, but why not try to give more to the Premium Members. I have to say, I was really disapointed with no Soccer Cup pools this year. The NFL Pool was great and so is the NHL Pool.
Have more Pools at a reduced rate for Premium Members, or even free for Premium Members. Then charge extra for non-members to take part in pools or ban non-members from pools all together. You want non-members to continue thier banter on here, because thats what we all get to read and TTP, but don't allow non-members anything else, the bigy for me is the Pools.
HOS Hoping for Provincial Cup Pools, Open, O-35 and Ladies.
When does the Chick Tourney start? Don't allow any Non-members in that, and watch Membership go up, or not.

hos

New TTP Slogan, "TTP, Just Pennies a Day, Stop being such a Cheap Cnut"

[Regs]

I have to say, I was really disapointed with no Soccer Cup pools this year

Sorry but you're only the second person then that has said peep about my decision not to put the time into running it this year... the lack of people asking about it and the lack of complaints made it seem like a pretty good decision.

Pools are fun, I agree but do you know what a headache it is trying to collect entry fees? I've had people complain about a $2 admin fee

There are already 2 pools that are FREE for EVERYONE and I've put up $240 out of my own pocket as prizes... and I've done it 2 years in a row

You're asking for more stuff as a premium member? stay tuned...

But really, I think that's over-looking some of the stuff that HAS been added...

Everyone has given good feedback so far and I'll attempt to address your points by tomorrow (I just couldn't let HOS' comments go by)

Cheers,

~Regs.

[Hands of Stone]

Originally Posted by Regs

Pools are fun, I agree but do you know what a headache it is trying to collect entry fees? I've had people complain about a $2 admin fee

Increase the admin. cost for those non-members, to say $5 or more, if they don't like it, don't play or become a Member. Make it easier for yourself and us, include Pools (money needed for them into the Membership cost). Even if you came to me and asked for a total of $100 a year for TTP, all paid at once, but that included the NFL Pool, NHL Pool, Chick Tourney, and Soccer Pools, it would save you on collecting the moneys and having to chase people around. The pools would get more interesting with more people in them, and it would be easier for you.
Or is $100 bucks all at one time too much for people, I should ask the wife first, before I send this in.

hos

[Soccer Mom]

Go here and take notes about their insider service. Maybe that will spark some ideas.

[wolfman]

Limit "non-member" usage. Access Denied...You have been given a red card!

Prior to becoming a member I could navigate through the website with hardly any borders, all the hard work that must go into the maintenence & development of this site is worth $25-30 a year!

I havent logged anytime since becoming a member, so my suggestions are very few.

Keep up the good work on the site!!

Are we having a Masters Golf Pool?
I'm thinking of taking John Daly for highest score...Man I love that guy!!

[Therapist]

I agree with Keeper's ideas.

[knvb]

Wolfman, funny you should ask....

Golf's 4 Major's Pool

[ParkHead]

If you take away PM's to non-members then what happens if a member wants to talk to a non? Major piss off. Perhaps make their 'box' super small, a dream come true for Glasgow Girl.... Try em' at 2-4 total PM's sent, inbox or other wise.

I agree but also for the reason that you want non-members to join so you give them a taste of what they get. Taking PM's completely away I think would not help in getting new people to join.

Limit posts. Non members can only post up to 10 - 20 times then they're done. Definitely take away the MMG, viewing and posting and I agree with non-member Keeper on his 2 thru 5.

This is a really tough one. Posting is the foundation of TTP. But I have to agree again because unless people are pushed into things they will probably just continue to carry on as usual. They make there 20 or so posts then they have the option to join or just read. It could go both ways though. Some people would sign up while most would probably choose not to sign up. But in the end though you would have everyone that is posting all members.

Parkhead

[TheRob]

People would just sign up under new names to get "20 new posts".

[wolfman]

Originally Posted by knvb

Wolfman, funny you should ask....

Golf's 4 Major's Pool

thanks for the update! i gotta spend more time on this site!

[rangerforever]

I'm much like KNVB that I just don't get why people don't subscribe.

I agree, $35, give me a fcuking break people.
Are you that fcuking skint?

$35 is the average individual beer tab after a Ranger training session for fcuk's sakes..

Regs, should you wish to go down the road to impose restrictions on certain threads and activities on here just to get people to part with their hard earned $35 so they can enjoy the most excellent site to it's fullest by all means do it.

How you go about it is beyond me my son.
But best of luck.....

I'm off to take a shit, sit on the throne, and think about a client's file.
I figure I'll be on it for 15 minutes.
So, 0.25 of an hour at $175/ hour = $43.75.

That should do it,

RF

[Ballbaby]

I'm off to take a shit, sit on the throne, and think about a client's file.
I figure I'll be on it for 15 minutes.
So, 0.25 of an hour at $175/ hour = $43.75.

15 minute shit huh? Can you picture rangerforever on a toilet for 15 minutes? How much volume of waste does the big man add to our sewage system? Apparently he does his best thinking while dumping. I guess most of us do.

In that case Regs, I will give your queries more thought during my next bowel movement. I hope I can come up with something in 3 minutes.

Regs, one thing many of the users must understand is that this site does require a ton of work and that eventually, if not already, you should see some income coming your way. If anyone has an issue with that, they truly must be inept. You will eventually have to make a decision, bite the bullet so to say, charge an appropriate fee for the quality of service the user gets. At the moment, I believe it's a bargain at $35.00 but really the members who post are the ones who become Premium Members. The lurkers enjoy reading the posts from those they know and discussing matters at training and games. The question is, what will it take for the lurkers to become Premium Members? Perhaps a nominal fee for a level of membership below Premium? Otherwise, they cannot navigate the site at all.

Just questions that could lead to some discussion and clarification.

[Regs]

Perhaps a nominal fee for a level of membership below Premium? Otherwise, they cannot navigate the site at all.

That's the 4th time I've heard that suggestion today and one that I've always tried to not think of doing but maybe I should.

So far, all the feedback has been good and well-received... please keep it coming!

Cheers,

~Regs.