Increasing Gold Membership numbers?

[Lewis B]

I would be against spam type nihonto/tosogu banner advertising. The NMB already curates the list of retailers it links to in the commercial section, so restricting banners to these 'safe' vetted retailers would be preferred. I don't need to see links to Chinese made swords aimed at laido or kitsch modern koshirae monstrosities. Lets keep it classy...

[When Necessary]

Just now, Alex A said:

Its paypal linked to a credit card, no issues

 

Dee, you need thicker Skin, you get wound up too easily.

True, but why would I financially support a forum where I am almost universally disliked and often even mocked by the actual owner of the forum?

When I do ask questions, I hardly ever get a response and when I try to make constructive comments there's usually a deafening wall of silence.

 

Nah, I think I'll keep my $5.30, thanks.

[Alex A]

Don't stop you coming back for more! haha

[robinalexander]

Dee, give it a break.

[Natichu]

Possibly an unpopular suggestion, but I would think limiting searches for non-gold members would be a helpful way to monetize things. While the ongoing conversations are always good to follow, as several have pointed out one of the greatest benefits of NMB is the huge amount of information that is readily searchable for research purposes. 

 

Limiting search rates is one thing, but if non-gold members were limited to a total number of searches per day/week/month, that may well encourage sign ups. 

 

It may also have the knock-on effect of an increase in basic posts that can be answered by a simple search rather than starting a new thread, but that seems like a pain that might be worth bearing to help leverage the forum's greatest asset - its knowledge base. 

[Scogg]

The problem with adjusting the search function restrictions, is that the search function can be easily bypassed via google. 

For example, if you type into google "Nihonto message board hakikake vs kaen", a post of mine, with the same title from a few years ago, is the first result.

If you type "hakikake vs kaen" into NMB's seach bar, it's the third result.

I actually don't use the NMB search function because i'm so used to "rapid fire" searching, that the pauses it gives me between searches becomes a hinderance. 
Instead I do it through google with the same or similar results at a faster pace. 
-Sam

 

Edited September 10 by Scogg
grammar

[Natichu]

45 minutes ago, Scogg said:

The problem with adjusting the search function restrictions, is that the search function can be easily bypassed via google. 

For example, if you type into google "Nihonto message board hakikake vs kaen", a post of mine, with the same title from a few years ago, is the first result.

If you type "hakikake vs kaen" into NMB's seach bar, it's the third result.

I actually don't use the NMB search function because i'm so used to "rapid fire" searching, that the pauses it gives me between searches becomes a hinderance. 
Instead I do it through google with the same or similar results at a faster pace. 
-Sam

 

Makes sense. I figured there was likely a workaround, but one that simple clearly makes it a non-starter. 

[Bruce Pennington]

Brian,

Every business that uses monthly payment vs one-time annual charges more for the monthly.  It's an incentive for paying the annual.  So, $60 for annual, or $6 monthly ($72 per year).  It would increase your intake and make the lower monthly costs palatable to those with less income and/or hobby money on a monthly basis.

 

Merchandise - I'd buy an NMB t-shirt!

[Alex A]

I want an NMB mug 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I think it is totally understandable that there are several different forums and closed groups floating around various places. In my ideal world there would be just 1 huge meeting place where everyone would get together and share info freely. Of course real life doesn't work like that... People are people and not everyone will get along, and there are probably studies on why certain groups will form etc.

 

Just checked that my membership here at NMB is closing in 18 years, and to be honest this is one of my favorite places online and has been for a long time. I hope to be a member in here as long as the forum is up. I have met so many amazing people through this forum online and some I have even met in person in various places. I admit that I am too grown into the forum that I feel quite puzzled how people are not joining in for gold membership at such cheap overall price. For me it is about the community in here, maybe the difficult thing is getting the new folks feeling welcome in the community.

[Brian]

1 hour ago, Scogg said:

The problem with adjusting the search function restrictions, is that the search function can be easily bypassed via google. 

For example, if you type into google "Nihonto message board hakikake vs kaen", a post of mine, with the same title from a few years ago, is the first result.

If you type "hakikake vs kaen" into NMB's seach bar, it's the third result.
 

True Sam. But the main reason for the search delays really is the hammer on the server/database, and not so much an incentive for Gold. I don't mind at all if people use Google...that hits their servers (much larger than mine) so I don't get the processor useage warnings :-)
Search delays are a tiny incentive for Gold but not used for that.

[Steve Waszak]

Just subscribed. 

[Brian]

Thank you Steve, and to the 2 or 3 others that also took up a membership. Really do appreciate it.
I'll be going through more of this over the weekend. I did add the month to month option in the subscriptions section, let's see if that is an option for anyone at $6/month. 
All very good feedback from everyone, and I'll consider every comment carefully.

[Mark]

I have not commented as it is difficult to figure bonuses or incentives for gold membership.  Many of the comments above make good sense.  

 

I agree with the thought that having people "just use us" for multiple translations and info for commercial benefit (selling elsewhere) is frustrating. I enjoy some help from time to time, thanks to the group!  some suggestions to limit abuse (without supporting the forum) sounds positive.

 

One suggestions for a benefit of membership could be an advantage on sale items.  We are all in different time zones and i see comments from members about missing opportunities to buy something.  Maybe gold members have access to new sale listings for 12 hours before they are listed for everyone?  Or maybe gold members receive a notification of some type like an email  (possibly members could turn these on or off as preferred) might give gold members a slight advantage to see new items for sale.  From a sellers perspective selling to a gold member might be easier than navigating multiple unknown people inquiring and making a sale more difficult. 

 

I'll give it some more thought 

 

Mark

[kissakai]

I (gold member for some years), support Marks suggestion as I've missed opportunities to buy various items

[Tohagi]

Hello to everyone,

 

The reason I suscribed is because I felt gratefull for help and assistance.

 

Maybe: 

- provide priority assistance to members,

- possibility to hire a private thread showroom to finish a transacrtion betwen members,

- international net of people helping with homeland issues and mediations in transactions,

- some continental IRL NMB meetings,

- begining an online Kanteï school.

- good sample for the 300 most sognificant smith meï...

 

A lot of fun for young and old timers...

[zanilu]

I support Mark suggestion about priority on sales.

 

Luca

[Kanenaga]

The gold tier seems to be working, I would be ok to see multiple donation tiers. Like the gold tier, but add platinum and diamond, perhaps 2x and 3x? This forum is for a community that collects expensive things, some high-end collectors lurk, many (some) would be ok to donate more. Tier badges would be a constant reminder and encouragement to donate, even without a quid-pro-quo, and hopefully with less need for periodic pleas. Might be not too difficult administratively (actually, I know nothing about managing a forum like this one, but I'm sure it's more work than most of us realize). 

[Mikaveli]

1 minute ago, Kanenaga said:

The gold tier seems to be working, I would be ok to see multiple donation tiers. Like the gold tier, but add platinum and diamond, perhaps 2x and 3x? This forum is for a community that collects expensive things, some high-end collectors lurk, many (some) would be ok to donate more. Tier badges would be a constant reminder and encouragement to donate, even without a quid-pro-quo, and hopefully with less need for periodic pleas. Might be not too difficult administratively (actually, I know nothing about managing a forum like this one, but I'm sure it's more work than most of us realize). 

 

And a Juyo tier that's 10 times as much! 😂

[Brian]

Bear in mind I'm constrained by what the forum software allows. Not sure it allows bumping for certain tiers, or previews of sales for such either. I'll check all of that out.

Is there any interest in a super group that would have much larger image sizes/resolution, much higher posting limits, no search delays etc etc?
I am not sure there is. If there is, that is possible.
The month-to-month membership so far has had no take-up. We will see.

 

[Lewis B]

I'm already appreciating the throttle-less benefits when in search mode. 

 

Regarding priority access for sales. Would it be easier to have FS listings channeled initially through a 'holding' sub forum visible only by subscribers? There are so few new listings on a day-to-day basis, they could easily be posted there and after say 24-48 hours, repopulated into their respective specific subgroups at the end of the embargo. Just a thought. I see this being a big enticement for active collectors/buyers. 

[Bruce Pennington]

Brian,

It's been so long since I first created an NMB account.  Is there a way, when a 1st-timer logs in to create the screen name, etc, that a page has to be read that explains membership options and a brief line on how important it is in maintaining NMB operations?

[When Necessary]

Three new gold members gained, two really old ones lost - all in the same week.

[Brian]

And a 3rd member coming up 

[When Necessary]

To join or leave?

[Lewis B]

35 minutes ago, When Necessary said:

To join?

That would be the 4th.....

[Shugyosha]

1 hour ago, When Necessary said:

To join or leave?

 

You can check out any time you like but...

[Kiipu]

I would make the "Downvote" available only to those with a Gold Membership.  If you like the suggestion, "Like" it, if you dislike it, "Downvote" it.

[Rivkin]

11 hours ago, Kiipu said:

I would make the "Downvote" available only to those with a Gold Membership.  If you like the suggestion, "Like" it, if you dislike it, "Downvote" it.

Special finger option for platinum members! I like your unconventional thinking.

[Brian]

Thomas, a good idea. But unfortunately not able to do that in the software settings otherwise I would have done that.