Way to Russia Talk Lounge

WayToRussia

Do you have any idea what it could be good to advertise on this forum, so that it's interesting for people and at the same time can bring some income to us?

I know you would maybe prefer not to have any ads at all, but we need to get money somewhere to support this forum and it seems like a good idea.

Or maybe you have any other ideas?

For example, we could introduce a subscription scheme and 5 most helpful posters get 50% of all the revenue we make in a month. I don't think there will be much though, because it may lock a lot of posters out (those who don't want to pay).

Or we could introduce donations instead of subscriptions...

Or if you think there should be no ads at all, let me know (and why)...

Thanks a lot for your help! Smile

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

A lot of postsers are the 'come and go' types, they come here with a travel-related quetion, then leave after they got the answer.

Of course, lets say you should pay the moderators some way or another... Wink

I really don't mind the ads, but many posters already use WTR services anyway, or start to use them after using this forum since WTR is part of the forum.

Rick · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:22 pm Post subject:

I would vote to take away all the adds, but that would probably take you out of business Wink

Probably the success of the WTR forum would not be as great if it wasn't free. Loosing posters will probably mean loosing input of valuable new content by hobbyist regulars. Content that feeds the forum and at times also feeds back into the site.
Donations would be okay i guess if you manage to get it safe technically. Personally i never had any problem with the adds displayed. As long as they promote good services that add value I won't mind.

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

IF you had to do with (third-party) ads, make them small and don't clutter the site. The text ads that were here were ok. No one complained about them as far as I know. The ads should also be from good companies that will be useful to Russia travellers, and offer reliable services.

I think locking out posters is a real bad idea. This forum has not a lot of 'regulars' or even enough traffic to generate enough subscription income to fund anything.

vorteks · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 8:43 pm Post subject:

I think most of us have high speed connections. Adds wouldnt be a hinderance. The forum is also an evidence for investors that you do have an audience. Go ahead Dimitri, there is no ethical problems with adds if they don t impose themselves and hinder the visibility of threads (banners are ok, pop ups are annoying)

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

I think this forum can do much more advertising. If I were you, I would add free personals/dating to this forum (a real one where the users can post pictures, search by age, categories, city, etc.) That will draw a lot of new people to the forum (especially men from the west).

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

Dmitri, do whatever you wish to improve your business. Do not ask anybody as we are all just visitors on here. You have the prerogative to change this site in any way shape or form.

Rick · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 12:00 am Post subject:

no.. i think it is a good business practice to ask for opinions and ideas. as long as he keeps in mind we are only a couple of people (the 'regulars'). i don't think he was planning to just make things as we tell him to do.

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

It would make a huge difference if we were paying customers and he wanted to get our feedback because our money was involved. But we are just visitors and to ask a visitor how to run one's business is not really necessary. That's why I thought he should just do anything without our feedback involved. This whole site came about without our participation, what makes it different now?

Rick · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 12:08 pm Post subject:

It works... That's what 'makes it different'. To determine what made it a success and to build on that. Besides, some of us are not 'just visitors'. We visit the place daily and have a quite good picture of the questions and posts that come up. Kind of posters etc.

Some of us answered numerous questions that were quite helpful to other 'visitors'. They really help to build up the reputation of WTR.

Also there seems to me to be no problem to consider us his 'clients', even if we maybe only once asked him a question in the past and got stuck on the forum..