I need to raise $$$ for bandwidth and ....

[LennonCook]

Originally posted by Dreamer128: I'm not an expert, but isn't it possible to delete inactive members (Who say, haven't posted for two months) to take some weight of the server?

As Saz said, the bandwidth is to do with traffic on the servers internet connection. Inactive user culling is possible, but it wouldnt help with bandwidth.
Since it is something which is on the server itself, and has nothing to do with the traffic on the connection.
If we were having problems with, say, not being able to post through the server being full; yes inactive user culling would indeed help there.
Effectively, there are two ways to solve a bandwidth problem- get more, or use less. To use Saz's analogy, to stop utter congestion on a high way, you can either build a few more lanes on it, or you can put a limit, such as a toll, on the traffic. Relating that back to bandwidth, you can either get more bandwidth (such as a better connection) or you can put some kind of limit on the bandwidth used. To limit the used bandwidth, a few options come to mind:

• Make members pay to join
• Make the forum only viewable for members
• Introduce a pay per post system

As you can see, none of those is good. Making members pay would limit the usefullness of the forum, as some of the people who help people out alot in the games forums would not be able to pay. Making it only possible for members to view the forum would again limit its usefullness, as someone would have to join to see if theyre question is on page 1 of the forum in question, and answered perfectly in the first reply.
Thus, our only real option is to 'put more lanes', and get more bandwidth. This would mean a T3 connection, or atleast buying more bandwidth to use.

[ 05-08-2002, 05:45 AM: Message edited by: LennonCook ]

[WOLFGIR]

Lennon.. Plueze...
Lighten up on the red oki??

Nobody is bothering a headache to read what you post! [img]smile.gif[/img]

So pretty please?? No more red!!!

[Memnoch]

Having read through the posts, I can see that we've got some good ideas here. Let me add a few of my own, building on what others have said:

1. Give us a monthly/quarterly/yearly savings goal that we can strive for, and let us know how we're going. I think this is really important, because we can then do the sums and work out what monthly cash flow we would need to cover our costs. Otherwise people can forget. I'm sure that spread out to all the members here, if those who can donate put in even $1 a month, all you need is 40 people to give $1 a month and you've covered it. But we need to know what the goal is, so we can best work out what financial strategy to use - it might even mean withholding a donation till the following month if this month's goal's already been achieved. This will mean our cash flow will be nice and smooth instead of peaky and volatile.

2. Donations - make the Donations box more visible. It tends to get lost amid those other buttons out there - maybe something like that little graph you did would help, Z? Show that this is an ONGOING issue. Think about it - we raised $1400 in four months, that equates to about $350 a month. If we donated even a tenth of what we donated for the server on a monthly basis, that's still $35 a month (spread out among 7000 members that's very achievable).

3. Making memberships based on money - BAD IDEA. We've built our spirit on equality for everyone, young or old, rich or poor. Those who can't pay (or are too young) shouldn't be made to feel like second class citizens. I think this will be really counterproductive and will lead to feelings of resentment/jealously/inferiority, etc. It's not worth it.

4. I don't mind banners too much as long as they're not pop-ups, and they help everyone to contribute. Just be specific in your list of corporates who would mesh well with our spirit here, because it will help you sell the concept of getting the banner. Gamebanshee's now got popups and they are horrible - normal ones would be ok - if you do games publishers it might even lead to more positive relationships with those companies.

5. What about links to onselling some Amazon.com fantasy books, etc. Do you get a fee for each buyer who gets redirected to Amazon? This might be an option.

6. Selling materials like T-shirts sound good - but can be a bit of work organizing. Maybe do a cost-benefit analysis of this to see if it's financially viable.

Hope this all helps. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 05-08-2002, 05:58 AM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]

[Epona]

Originally posted by Memnoch: 5. What about links to onselling some Amazon.com fantasy books, etc. Do you get a fee for each buyer who gets redirected to Amazon? This might be an option.

Yes Mario, at least when I had an archaeology society website a few years back, we had a link to Amazon and got money every time someone bought anything from them after being redirected from that link. Helped out a little bit towards running costs.

[Bruce The Aussie]

I fyou had some sort of automatic yearly donation of $5 and 500 people sighned up then thats $2500, enough to cover monthly expensis and a little extra for other things. they could just get a small pic in there sig. something like a pic of a blood pac (from the blood bank) with "i donate yearly" under it (just to keep donaters happy).
my second idea includes getting a nutty millionaire from IW to pay $200 a month to have a special avatar, like "i'm a nutty millionaire" with a pic of the mad hatter under it [img]tongue.gif[/img]

just my [img]graemlins/2cents.gif[/img]

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by Bruce The Aussie: they could just get a small pic in there sig. something like a pic of a blood pac (from the blood bank) with "i donate yearly" under it (just to keep donaters happy).

I don't think donators are really looking for recognition - they just want IW to be around forever.

[Bahamut]

I wholeheartedly agree with you Memnoch

T-shirts are nice... but then what about us here or I mean, ALL of us? We are scattered althroughout...

[Cerek the Barbaric]

HULK HATE STUPID BANNERS!

OK, not really, but I just couldn't resist that after seeing the trailer for next summer's movie.

I don't think the banners would be a bad idea, especially from the various game manufacturers. They couldn't ask for a site that is more focused on their "target market".

The link to Amazon is also a good idea.

T-shirts and hats would be nice, but you run into a lot of administrative costs (I've done it before). You have to charge enough for the shirts to cover the production cost and still make enough profit to pay for the bandwith. Shipping charges will be a major headache, since you would be shipping literally all over the world.

If you decide to do that, I would recommend setting up an account with UPS. Then all your shipping could be done online and you could find out the exact shipping costs ahead of time. PLUS, UPS will come to Ziroc's house to pick the packages up instead him making a trip down to MailBoxes, etc. everyday. But trust me, it's a major pain to get all those packages ready before UPS picks up every day (I run the Purchasing Dept of a small hospital).

Personally, I LIKE the idea of the special avatars. I agree that the ranks should remain unchanged and there should be NO "members only" sections ANYWHERE on IW. I understand the feelings of Epona, LoA, Cloudy, Mesuline, Wolfgir, and the others. I've been very poor myself. And I'm not rich by any means now. My wife and I just barely get by sometimes. But I think a small acknowledgement of those who do choose to donate monthly is a reasonable request and the special avatar would be the best way to do that (Just so you know, I doubt I would be able to make a monthly donation myself, so I wouldn't qualify for a special avatar either. But I wouldn't be offended by anyone who could do it).

However, that is the ONLY "privilege" I would endorse and if this ever became a "pay site" I would be gone tomorrow.

AFA as sending cash through the mail...

NO NO NO - BAAAAAD IDEA!!!

If your envelope gets lost in the mail, you're just plain out of luck (and out of money). There is NO WAY to recover it. At least with a cashiers check or money order, you have a receipt. Also, send the envelope "CERTIFIED". That way, you get a receipt from the Post Office when Ziroc receives payment (he would have to sign for the evelope). If you never get the receipt from the Post Office, you can then take your receipt from the check or money order to the Post Office and get your money back (policies may vary on this, so check with your local Mailer first).

Maybe Ziroc could check with Black Isle, WOTC, and a few other "game oriented" companies and see how much revenue he could generate from their banners (or by posting links to their sites).

[Larry_OHF]

Originally posted by Ziroc: Lot's of good ideas, keep them coming!! A Members 'gold plan' may be an idea.. something like--for 'x amount a month or something' you get extra options..it would have to be worth it. Like an image YOU as your avatar.. *not a rank difference*

For everyone that was screaming and bold coloring their fonts and all that about what I said...I wanted you to realize that Ziroc said this above, It is Ziroc's forum, not ours, and if Ziroc thought this was a good idea, then he gets it. Who are we to tell him off? If Ziroc can find a way around your concerns for it, and still make this idea happen, then I praise him for it, and support it. Nothing that anybody else whines about matters.
So calm your asses down.

[Epona]

Larry, I don't think anyone was yelling at you mate. My comments certainly weren't aimed in your direction. It was Galadria who first raised the idea, not Ziroc, and if one member is allowed to make suggestions I disagree with, then disagree I shall - vocally and politely which is what I did. As did Cloudy, Melusine and LoA. As long as it stays civil I see no problem [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 05-08-2002, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Epona ]