Posted on 11/29/2001 11:32:06 PM PST by Jim Robinson
With the new forum software, the number of threads may take on a new meaning. Jim's thread is still running at 2300+ replies with no sign of an end.
I propose that each thread stay alive until it drops out of Breaking News and then a new one be started. We will have to adjust dalereed's math once results are in.
If we can generate the responses (over 2,000 in half a day) that the thread generated yesterday for an average of $20 the fundraiser will be over before Monday especially if the donations from that thread are counted into the total.
There have been a lot of people who have voiced opinions saying that FR ought to go to a subscription model, charging a fee (monthly, annual, etc). I believe that a straight subscription model would probably be the death of FR. I don't believe you'd get enough subscribers to keep vibrant discussion going, nor enough money to support bandwidth requirements even if you did.
While there is no doubt you'd probably have a fairly decent conversion to a membership, it would probably be in the single digits percentagewise. Most Internet businesses that have converted from a "free to fee" subscription for their content convert less than 5%, regardless of what the subscription fee is.
Many I am aware of, including some that provided extremely valuable content for Internet marketing (not the same old, same old, but great fresh content) converted in the 1-3% range. And the subscription rate was less than $20 a year for daily free Internet marketing content.
In addition, I think you would have the same problems with subscriptions that you would with commercial advertising. Namely that charging a subscription fee for access to "Fair Use Content" might not be considered kosher by the powers that be.
But, all that being said, you might provide various membership levels based on donation levels and usage. IE - to post an article you have to have a membership (and double that if you want to post a vanity;-) that you earned based on the donations you've made. This might keep some of the disruptors, DUers, AFers, and other inane posters down to a tolerable level.
You could do this and still keep your donation model. You could have membership levels depending on how much you donate. Red memberships receive certain privelages (posting articles and vanities), White memberships receive certain privelages (posting published articles only), and Red memberships (can reply to postings, but not actual do any posting themselves, access to FReepermail & Profiles, etc.). Those who don't contribute any donations still have access, but they aren't members and can only Lurk.
I kind of made this up on the fly, but I think you might have pretty good luck with it. It would probably encourage increases in donations, and still accomodate those who won't contribute now, but might later. And, I believe it would get you around charging for access to Fair Use content.
What about an e-Zine to keep folks informed and involved? Your current membership is much larger than those who visit your board on a daily or even weekly basis. If you had an e-Zine that was e-mailed out, say weekly, with events of notice, maybe a "vanity of the week", notifications of financial status or fundraising threads, weekly site statistics, and some "sell/enthusiasm" to get the lesser engaged more willing to make donations.
It's been so long since I signed up that I don't remember if you collected e-mail addresses when we registered or not. I can't believe that you wouldn't collect this information, but e-mail follow up is the most powerful tool in Internet marketing, that you've got to be willing to use it.
Well said, Grampa Dave. If you can do it, we all can.
As Jim Robinson said in yesterday's post:
My projections are that our regular monthly expenses for next year will be running in the neighborhood of $22,000 per month, or approximately $264,000 total for the year. This means we will need to raise approximately $66,000 per quarter.
He also said that Free Republic now has "tens of thousands of participants;" yet, we do not have enough monthly donors to cover the monthly expenses.
So many of the more than 2,000 who replied to yesterday's thread said they were willing to pay a monthly or yearly fee. Why not just make a regular small monthly donation to help keep Free Republic going?
Voluntary contributions do not change the status of Free Republic, but charging a fee would.
LOL I love that. heh heh
The goal is to raise $80,000 for the first quarter of 2002
I'd be willing to come up and help you if it becomes to big an overload.
He also said that Free Republic now has "tens of thousands of participants;" yet, we do not have enough monthly donors to cover the monthly expenses.
So many of the more than 2,000 who replied to yesterday's thread said they were willing to pay a monthly or yearly fee. Why not just make a regular small monthly donation to help keep Free Republic going?
Lets do some simple math. Jim said that we need $66,000/quarter.
If 4400 Freepers instead of wanting a Free Republic Lunch just gave $5/month on an automatic basis, that $66,000 would be raised.
If 5,000 Freepers gave $10/month, the Free Republic Life Form would receive $150,000 per quarter or 2.27 times the minimum that Jim needs! Can you imagine the collateral damage we could do to the left wingers and those who hate America, here and abroad!
Thanks, Jim!
On the last fundraiser when the bombing started we raised an incredible amount of money in a very short time.
You provide a wonderful service to the internet community and Free Republic has helped make the defining difference in many significant events and has been an effective instrument in the ceaseless war against the cancerous liberal tyranny that has so compromised our Constitution.
While I may not have been around as long as many of the others, I have become become an enthusiastic cheerleader and have brought several others onboard. Like others, I had absolutely no idea what it cost to keep this place up and running! I have a new appreciation for you and John and while I imagine I am one of the poorer FReepers, what you do is vital to me and to so many and I intend to find a way to contribute at least a little to support something I believe in so much and will encourage fellow FReepers that I am in touch with to do so as well.
May God richly bless you Jim and John for all you do for us and for America. I hope you are greatly encouraged by the outpouring of support you have received on this and on yesterday's thread. There should be no doubt in your minds how much we need and appreciate you.
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