unforum

[natas]

[Lysithea]

[slinkydge]

something that works well in the UK are STICKERS!! You post up a template or something so users can print out a sheet/page of stickers which they go round sticking on public transport, walls and vehicles etc... free advertising basically - then you push for minimum donations for every new sign up say $5?

[jessie1326]

[degravedi]

I know you don't like the idea of adding advertising, but as a user I can definitely say that I'd prefer ads to not having unFiction!

Now that doesn't necessarily mean you have to automatically go to those annoying flashing noisy banners that drive everyone insane. But having people pay for ARG related advertisements might be in everyone's interest. For example: having tasteful game related ads, like promoting the new Tron movie, Super 8, or any of the large campaigns for new video games. I don't think that anything that already has an ARG/viral/extended experience attached to it would be viewed as too annoying for users. And even small PMs might like the chance to draw more players to their games. It would be more like supporting the movement than just plunking ads on the pages. At least in my humble opinion. And even if users find this too invasive, a premium membership could give them the option to turn off the ads?

That said, maybe also a pay-to-enter raffle of good swag items (you can even ask for prize donations!) per month/every few months ect. Say each entry would be $1. So you could enter a single ticket for only $1, but users who contribute more to the site would get more tickets/chances to win. So a $20 donor would get 20 entrances and thus a better chance of winning.

[louiscontaldi]

A few ideas from my head:
I agree, donations here are really only recognized with things over $100. Is there anyway we can make a donation/thermometer widget? the more you donate the closer you get to the next level and get something new at each level (personalize name, Order of the Trout, maybe a small Order of the Trout you can add to the persons avatar picture, etc etc). Also have a page dedicated to people who donate. Maybe also a list of the top donators, Something like "All donations are important to us at uF but a special thank you to these people" deal, with the names of all the other donators below, how much they donated, maybe their own thermometers.

I like the idea of having PMs advertise as well. I wouldnt mind seeing games on the banners or sides, as long as they are related and not flashing obnoxiously or trying to sell me an ipod.

And ARG donation week is also a great idea. See if you can get other comapnies to help match the amount you can get in donations. You know, all those big ones like 42 and other speakers at ARGfest. Raffle off swag that week, come out with special tshirts that you can collectivly get money for an order a group price at a better rate, make it a contest.

A more interesting idea, how about we play a game? I know it is frowned upon but how about taking some of the best PM minds on this forum and making a game created by unfiction and making it a pay to play game, or something where people would need to buy IG merch to find clues.

This all said, I also wouldnt mind paying a $20 yearly fee or $2 monthly fee.

[konamouse]

I like pixie's idea about subscription to have a signature.
Health-o-meter is also a good idea - folks need to know the state of the bank, when it goes low you might get more subscriptions/sponsorship.
Non-flashing banner for new or ongoing game might also help your revenue stream.
Unfortunately, T-shirts & swag auction/raffles have been poor profit/high workload in the past.

IMHO: No to separate private forum (no perceived benefit and creates even more of a class system). No to PM posting in character area. I like that uF has remained a character-free OOG area.

[enaxor]

[ljm]

Anyways, as an admin and staff member of another site, we pretty much cover our hosting with our ad revenue. And we have quite a bit of bandwidth because our site is extremely photo heavy. And our ad presence isn't nauseating.

Feel free to check it out:
www.westcoaster.net
And the forums:
www.westcoaster.net/community

That ONE ad at the top of the site basically pays for most of our hosting, and it doesn't seem to bother anybody.

I, too, don't think ads are a problem if they're done in a way that is easy to ignore.

[catherwood]

[rose]

oh man this is a tough question. I hate ads. I would much rather the users, including me, pay for the service in some way. I really think this should be a community supported forum. I've always felt that unfiction is a community, an important community to me. I think that part of the responsibility we have as members of the community is to help pay for this forum --not that I've done as much as I should either--but I think maybe we need to consider that keeping this forum going is our job, and not something we should farm out to whatever advertiser wants to buy time or space.

I missed everything about argfest, but i guess there is no way to have an additional 5 bucks for unfiction?

How about something like the PBS annual drive? If we had a goal amount, then we could work towards raising it. Maybe contributors could get something cute, but I think a name on a list should be enough. We could do a virtual bake sale with the brownies.

I would much prefer we try to raise the money here ourselves and exhaust all those options, before we go outside to advertisers

[FilmEdge]

I do like the idea of a funds-meter display to show monthly contributions or such, since it gives members a visual cue to act when needed. This would seem more effective both psychologically ("do you value this forum?") and in a community spirit way. Nebulous discussions of funding won't encourage many to contribute because the 'problem' is hazy and abstract to readers without some cue to act.

It won't be the solution in itself, but I think it will help generally.

[FSURobbie]

[Bluefire]

I say just make a donation subscription that costs something like $5/month, and is purely for people to do out of good will. Maybe put a donator tag on their account or an asterisk next to their name, that's what slashdot does. You'd be surprised at the support you'll get.

[vapor]

Lots of good ideas so far. Here is my latest, which is actually kind of a combination of ideas mention above.

I'm thinking a new game which includes a fundraiser. Here is how it works.

The game sign up would be the fundraiser page. It includes a meter which shows how well the fundraising is going and how much is needed to reach a goal. With a donation, you earn different levels of immersion in the game.

*minimum donation - access to exclusive subforum with access to the pre-game discussion
*level 2 donation - above plus donation badge for your sig
*level 3 donation - above plus t-shirt (uF or other)
*level 4 donation - above plus kloos mailed with t-shirt
*level 4 donation - 1 and 2 plus swag and kloos[/list]
*level 5 donation - all above.
*generous donations - (optional) Be a PM apprentice. Play as an IG character!

Pregame begins shortly after the fundraiser begins. Make it emmersive and fun. It would be cool to see some old ARG characters come back for the pregame. The game itself would launch after the meter reaches the top (like a count up).

So what do you think, uF? Too much? It's a bit lofty I know but we've got some real talent here and if some resources is pooled I think it could be done.