Looking for input

[amykhar]

Currently I have a board that is just large enough to cost too much and too much of a hobby site to bring in income.

I have members who +++++ and moan when I prune. I have members who gleefully block out site ads and expect me to provide them with free entertainment. Sigh.

I am considering pruning most of our almost 2000 members and keeping only the 36 or so paid members. Then, distribute hosting costs evenly for all the paid members, kill the banners and just hang out together.

I don't want to do it, but currently I still cover $500 a year in hosting, $30 a year in software upgrades, and $45 a year for domain renewals out of my own pocket. I haven't worked full-time in over a year now, and it is almost impossible to justify this hobby.

Any words of wisdom?

Amy

[Velocd]

$500 a year for hosting? Well, you have a relatively small forum, so what kind of service do you have from your host? This isn't a dedicated is it, if so, I would recommend getting an inexpensive but very reliable $20 host, such as Vervehosting (my host).

Otherwise, if you have regular old hosting, are you talking about almost $40/month you have to spend? $45 domain renewels??

I pay $15 annual domain renewels, as well $15/month (soon I should upgrade to $20).

If you were to prune all those members to leave you 36, then justifying your hobby would be easy enough if you only have to pay $10 hosting and $15 annually for registration-- right?

Anyway, a forum usually is meant to be open, and I don't recommend closing it for only pay members. Actually, a paid-registration forum seems alittle odd actually, but I understand you need ways to pay for your hosting.

Hmm.. maybe T-shirts? (http://www.cafepress.com) ;)

[RDX1]

<a href="http://www.namcheap.com" target="_blank">www.namcheap.com</a> has 8.88 domains

[Dean C]

Amy - are you one of these people who doesn't utilise their skills ;)

Your a coder... there's lots of big paid jobs out there waiting for you ;)!

- miSt

[Tony G]

I agree with Mist, I don't want to see you giving money away instead of earning it. :)

If it's too big, try finding somebody who is as interested in it as you are to help you out.

[Erwin]

Today at 02:00 PM amykhar said this in Post #1 (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?postid=385820#post385820)
.. currently I still cover $500 a year in hosting, $30 a year in software upgrades, and $45 a year for domain renewals out of my own pocket.

That's not much you know. :) I pay almost that much in a month. LOL! Try to get more members to donate and support the site. Implement a "points" system where each dollar translates to points that can be traded for things. :) It worked great on my forums.

[amykhar]

No, the $500 a year is what I pay out of my own pocket. Subscription fees cover the rest. Currently, our hosting is $109 a month.

Amy

[amykhar]

Today at 06:20 AM Mist said this in Post #4 (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?postid=385879#post385879)
Amy - are you one of these people who doesn't utilise their skills ;)

Your a coder... there's lots of big paid jobs out there waiting for you ;)!

- miSt

I agree, Mist. I am actually moving towards doing some of this. The problem thus far has been that invariably when I accept a paying job, the kids and hubby decide to go nuts and have a fit every time I go near the computer. :rolleyes:

Amy

[Velocd]

$109 a month

Why do you pay $109/month? Given your forum seems quite relatively small in size, you could be saving much more money getting a reliable $20-25/month host.

That's not much you know. I pay almost that much in a month. LOL!

Sure it isn't, Doctor Erwin. ;)

[Dean C]

Hehe that's understandable Amy

Erwin doesn't want his forums made public which i have to respect but he has an excellent system set up for allowing donations in which the incentive for it is really good. I might even donate if i wasn't so stingy ;)

Try to offer incentives for donations and tell ure kids and husband Mist says "let amy work ;)"

All the best

- miSt

[filburt1]

Today at 10:14 AM amykhar said this in Post #7 (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?postid=385948#post385948)
No, the $500 a year is what I pay out of my own pocket. Subscription fees cover the rest. Currently, our hosting is $109 a month.

Amy


Do donation drives. It has worked for me so far.

[Chris M]

$109/month is alot:eek:

P.S. - I know the address of Erwin's forums;)

*uses for Blackmail:D:p:D:p*

Satan

[filburt1]

He's told me before but I forgot :p, I only remember the theme.

Of course check out this forum: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=17 . Oh, wait, you can't! Haha! :p :D

[assassingod]

You're evil filburt

[Chris M]

Totally;)

It's ok - I have plans for this little url:D

Satan

[Tigga]

I would seriously recommend finding another host. It's hard to find good/cheap hosts (damn near impossible), but they are out there. I'm currently using Pixie Host (http://pixiehost.com) and so far I'd have to say they've been great. $35/month for 5gb of storage and 50gb of bandwidth, and they're the only hosting company that has acutally been able to handle my site without any problems. Even with 50+ users online the server load usually stays around 0.50 or less. :)

[Dean C]

Satan - and if you make it public i'm sure you'll get a stern warning ;)

- miSt