It doesnt need to pop-up, just having that clickable at the bottom should be enough?

Let's put like this...

Someone who's been around for 12 years asked where to sell a smartphone - Trade Me or Facebook. When pointed to the offers and wanted forum he said he didn't know about ir before.

Similarly, some emailed me asking to support Geekzone. When pointed in the direction of the subscriber page, they didn't know it was an option.

Some people don't read. Or aren't curious enough.

If we had 1000 subscribers I wouldn't even have to run ads.

I'd have to say I find it a bit annoying that I'm already a subscriber that pays monthly.  But I'm still getting nagged by the google popup for more money. 

I am a subscriber and was surprised to see the pop-up. Perhaps I should have looked more carefully - but didn’t. I just closed it thinking it was a scam.

I am also a subscriber and was surprised by the popup, but not annoyed. I have made additional contributions from time to time directly into the Soho account so I feel like I am doing my share. Geekzone is an important resource to me and I do hope it is not struggling.

freitasm:

 

It will pop-up, as I mentioned because some people asked for alternative ways, even being a subscriber. If it is something people feel strongly I might remove it for subscribers.

 

If you click the X to close, it will disappear for a few weeks.

 

Oh, I see now, like some others I suspect first saw it at work, closed it then the the next time I went back I was at home on a different machine. Every few weeks will be fine

Amazing what people will complain about. I found it a super easy method of throwing a few bucks in the pot. Barely an inconvenience. 

Thanks.

OK call me stupid. I cannot for the life of me find this pop up. Am on an iPad. When I clicked subscribe to GZ there’s a link telling me to ask for an account, so it’s not there.  

I think it’s a good thing to have a button rather than a pop up, that we can send a cup of coffee to when we feel generous. Some of us legacy lifetime subscribers got in for way less than the new subs and if people can afford it, voluntarily throwing a few dollars at it now and then is a nice gesture.

The whole point is helping keep a local resource alive. I doubt BDFL will ever get rich from any of this and he ain’t getting any younger either, so GZ is a work of love that he has to deal with daily. The odd coffee we send is an appreciation for the effort and patience he puts in while holding down a job. 

Make it simple for everyone. Stick a steaming cup of coffee button in a corner that you hover over and it says 'buy me a coffee' that anyone can click on. Not intrusive and voluntary. 

Not stupid. Because some subscribers mentioned it in a bad light, it won't load for subscribers. If you want to see it you have to logout as it will show for logged out visitors and non-subscribers users only.

freitasm:

 

If we had 1000 subscribers I wouldn't even have to run ads

 

What is the current subscriber count?

We have 110 recurring subscriptions and 80 lifetime subscribers.

Out of 52,000 New Zealand users. Of which about 5,000 have posted in the last year.

freitasm:

 

We have 110 recurring subscriptions and 80 lifetime subscribers.

 

Out of 52,000 New Zealand users. Of which about 5,000 have posted in the last year.

 

So... I'll ask the question again. 

Is the current monetization working or is it not sufficient? What's missing that could be done? More newsletters that remind people?

To me, the pop up to contribute reminds me of pop up ass, which behaviorally I'm going to immediately close and be annoyed, that's.. why people turn ad blockers. Non intrusive ones are fine, but again it popped up twice for two different sessions that were already logged in. If that has been changed then awesome, but I'm still going to be worried because this forum is not just an amazing resource, it helped me significantly in a way I don't think money can pay it back.

I genuinely care, and if my two posts were looked at in bad faith then I apologize, was not my intent.

MaxineN:

 

Is the current monetization working or is it not sufficient? What's missing that could be done? More newsletters that remind people?

 

Ads pus subscriptions work. But ideally we would have more subscriptions than ads - people complain so much about them.

A few years back I was about to shutdown the site. Discussed this with some friends. But decided to stay longer, and slowly the ads recovered. This year, with the migration to a new datacentre and lower running costs it will be just about enoug. Despite lower costs we still have other incidentals like Cloudflare, domains, trademarks, lawyers - cue The Chairman - GST, tax, rental, electricity, broadband, backups and more).

I don't like the idea of sending newsletter just to ask people for money. If I'm sending a newsletter to invite for a competition or something else, sure i will add the asking, but I won't sent just for it. They should see the value of it and contribute when possible. It's hard for everyone.

freitasm:

 

MaxineN:

 

Is the current monetization working or is it not sufficient? What's missing that could be done? More newsletters that remind people?

 

 

Ads pus subscriptions work. But ideally we would have more subscriptions than ads - people complain so much about them.

 

A few years back I was about to shutdown the site. Discussed this with some friends. But decided to stay longer, and slowly the ads recovered. This year, with the migration to a new datacentre and lower running costs it will be just about enoug. Despite lower costs we still have other incidentals like Cloudflare, domains, trademarks, lawyers - cue The Chairman - GST, tax, rental, electricity, broadband, backups and more).

 

I don't like the idea of sending newsletter just to ask people for money. If I'm sending a newsletter to invite for a competition or something else, sure i will add the asking, but I won't sent just for it. They should see the value of it and contribute when possible. It's hard for everyone.

 

Newsletter doesn't have to be about asking money, could be a small thing at the top with a summary of what's going on in the forums, regular news/blogs that kinda thing. Yes competitions or invitations is also nice.

Just a thought. I would be OK if you raised the $ of the monthly subscription.