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- Thread starter EviLore
- Start date
Lady Bird
Matsuno's Goebbels
I think giving a unique set of emoticons and Like emoticons exclusive to gold users would be a good way to create incentives for more members to purchase gold. It would also increase visibility to gold status. Emoticons (and Likes) affect how you interact with other members, and having some gold-exclusive troll-ish/humorous ones could lead to a lot of funny moments. Especially for Like emoticons, as there are so few of them, so any additional ones would stand out.
So far, gold membership offers mostly "selfish" (not sure if that's the right word) features like QoL upgrades or prestige. Gifting seems to be the only exception to that. Adding a few more features that affect how gold members interact and have fun with the community would increase its appeal, as long as it isn't overdone nor disrespectful to other members.
So far, gold membership offers mostly "selfish" (not sure if that's the right word) features like QoL upgrades or prestige. Gifting seems to be the only exception to that. Adding a few more features that affect how gold members interact and have fun with the community would increase its appeal, as long as it isn't overdone nor disrespectful to other members.
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cormack12
Gold Member
I've read most of this and I love GAF man. I remember first finding it. Then trying to sign up and waiting a while. Then finally posting. In terms of interactions GAF is cool. Even the console warriors at times. They're just like naughty cousins screaming in the back room.
Been a lot of cool ideas but it sounds like traffic isn't the problem. There's enough traffic, just the way ads are monetised has changed and the site isn't getting the ad revenue the traffic should be generating.
I think there's a few things that might be worth considering. The front page built from the rss feed is the first thing I'd do. News is posted here so regularly so I'm sure someone with some time and base coding skills could generate a front page of latest news from the rss feed for gaming
I think as well it might be an idea to fund some xenforo plugins. Crowd fund the purchase and development costs. That way the community can decide (within reason) if there's a particular plugin they might like. Or sponsor one?
The podcast/video thing might be achievable but not sure if you'd monetise the patreon or the youtube video itself. Would probably need a group of 10 or so people to work on a theme, content etc.
I'd like to see an imageboard subforum for just memes and sharing stuff but not even sure a plugin exists.
All the other stuff sounds cool. I post on a subforum and one of the patreons gives you access to set your own CT as well. Unique reactions are a good idea as well.
Affiliate links are a good idea but is there a parser that can do the heavy lifting for it. Creating a thread takes time so it might be best to have a subforum and do a quick post where you just select the brand, item, price and link and it generates a small post for the specific item - so it looks like hotukdeals. Usually we just get massive lists from psn whereas people might post specific individual items if that's possible?
Been a lot of cool ideas but it sounds like traffic isn't the problem. There's enough traffic, just the way ads are monetised has changed and the site isn't getting the ad revenue the traffic should be generating.
I think there's a few things that might be worth considering. The front page built from the rss feed is the first thing I'd do. News is posted here so regularly so I'm sure someone with some time and base coding skills could generate a front page of latest news from the rss feed for gaming
I think as well it might be an idea to fund some xenforo plugins. Crowd fund the purchase and development costs. That way the community can decide (within reason) if there's a particular plugin they might like. Or sponsor one?
The podcast/video thing might be achievable but not sure if you'd monetise the patreon or the youtube video itself. Would probably need a group of 10 or so people to work on a theme, content etc.
I'd like to see an imageboard subforum for just memes and sharing stuff but not even sure a plugin exists.
All the other stuff sounds cool. I post on a subforum and one of the patreons gives you access to set your own CT as well. Unique reactions are a good idea as well.
Affiliate links are a good idea but is there a parser that can do the heavy lifting for it. Creating a thread takes time so it might be best to have a subforum and do a quick post where you just select the brand, item, price and link and it generates a small post for the specific item - so it looks like hotukdeals. Usually we just get massive lists from psn whereas people might post specific individual items if that's possible?
JackMcGunns
Member
Haha, I can see that button used and abused on some annoying posters
Wait, what did I do?
ZAP!!!! 
Pejo
Member
I don't have personal experience with this, but isn't there a way to monetize captcha solving, by adding it before somebody can post? I don't love the idea of solving a captcha before I can post something, but if it helps keep the lights on, I'd rather do that than some of the other ideas brought into this thread. Maybe make exceptions if you pay for GAF Gold.
Banjo64
cumsessed
So if we’re going of recent bans you’ve got Swift Star, Ethomaz, BryanK and ParaSeoul….
OverHeat
« generous god »
Ethomaz is ban!? Praised the sun
BigBooper
Member
Truth. Often when I'm browsing, I'm sitting in a recliner at least a room away from my wallet. There's been at least twice when I wanted to go gold, but was too lazy when I remembered I had to have a credit card.
EverydayBeast
thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
GAF’s point was it was a gaming forum primary with its building blocks being free, and game specific.
Miyazaki’s Slave
Gold Member
Take my filthy fiat patronage....
Also, direct advertising would be cool as well. I don't know what you are using for ad mediation but if you have the ability to run House Ad's and can share your asset requirements perhaps some folks here who have "things to sell" could pay you directly for advertising.
Reave
Member
Haven't read everyone's posts to see what ideas have been suggested so far, but here's my take (and hopefully there are no redundancies) based on my experience in brand-building and content management. Hope it's useful.
Ad revenue strategies, subscription models, and the like are serviceable options for the time being. However, if we're being honest, those initiatives likely can't resolve the long-term challenges NeoGAF will face. Times have changed, as have the definition, location, and motives of internet communities at large.
I think it's going to require a big-picture perspective to understand what NeoGAF really needs to thrive moving forward because, well... ad revenue strategies, SEO, and subscription models aren't going to cut it. They're band-aids, at best. In the end, the proposition for both new, undecided, and longtime members would remain the same -- come here and be a part of the community. But... a community of what, exactly? About what? For what?
Simply put, NeoGAF is a community without a cause. A bit aimless.
So, in order to solve the financial future of NeoGAF, I think it takes calibrating and redefining the branding and purpose of NeoGAF first. Once that happens, we would have the brand-driven parameters, missions, and core pillars we need to find true solutions that keep the site alive and motivates users to pay or subscribe to the mission of NeoGAF. Anything short of that will just amount to a glorified "hey please help fund us" charity request with meager perks to offer in return.
Community feedback, as helpful as it is, can't match the kind of insight and foresight you could attain from those resources. That said, my suggestion is to reach out to a branding agency or a full-service performance marketing agency. Doing so can help to establish a CBI (creative business idea) to help lay the all-important groundwork for NeoGAF's future, along with determining if/how to leverage this community beyond simply being message board members to drive/curate content and to provide true "onlyness" compared to other avenues out there (social media included).
Perhaps that means expanding the borders of NeoGAF beyond being a message board, as some suggested. One (rough) idea is to create a NeoGAF Network, of sorts. Community-made podcasts, game reviews, carefully curated thought-pieces or videos from solid content creators -- all under the banner of that proposed network and volunteered without charge by its creators. Perhaps this means more visible leadership from Tyler and others, literally. Videos, perhaps a staff-only podcast to talk about NeoGAF's journey, and such. Or hey... perhaps not. All comes down to what this staff and any third-party resources determine.
Point being, there's a way through this patch. But, it's going to take a more cerebral, organized, big-picture CBI first. Then, you can work backwards from there and pair the right ideas with the right version of NeoGAF.
This was all a stream of thought, so apologies for any jank. Hope this helpful.
Ad revenue strategies, subscription models, and the like are serviceable options for the time being. However, if we're being honest, those initiatives likely can't resolve the long-term challenges NeoGAF will face. Times have changed, as have the definition, location, and motives of internet communities at large.
I think it's going to require a big-picture perspective to understand what NeoGAF really needs to thrive moving forward because, well... ad revenue strategies, SEO, and subscription models aren't going to cut it. They're band-aids, at best. In the end, the proposition for both new, undecided, and longtime members would remain the same -- come here and be a part of the community. But... a community of what, exactly? About what? For what?
Simply put, NeoGAF is a community without a cause. A bit aimless.
So, in order to solve the financial future of NeoGAF, I think it takes calibrating and redefining the branding and purpose of NeoGAF first. Once that happens, we would have the brand-driven parameters, missions, and core pillars we need to find true solutions that keep the site alive and motivates users to pay or subscribe to the mission of NeoGAF. Anything short of that will just amount to a glorified "hey please help fund us" charity request with meager perks to offer in return.
Community feedback, as helpful as it is, can't match the kind of insight and foresight you could attain from those resources. That said, my suggestion is to reach out to a branding agency or a full-service performance marketing agency. Doing so can help to establish a CBI (creative business idea) to help lay the all-important groundwork for NeoGAF's future, along with determining if/how to leverage this community beyond simply being message board members to drive/curate content and to provide true "onlyness" compared to other avenues out there (social media included).
Perhaps that means expanding the borders of NeoGAF beyond being a message board, as some suggested. One (rough) idea is to create a NeoGAF Network, of sorts. Community-made podcasts, game reviews, carefully curated thought-pieces or videos from solid content creators -- all under the banner of that proposed network and volunteered without charge by its creators. Perhaps this means more visible leadership from Tyler and others, literally. Videos, perhaps a staff-only podcast to talk about NeoGAF's journey, and such. Or hey... perhaps not. All comes down to what this staff and any third-party resources determine.
Point being, there's a way through this patch. But, it's going to take a more cerebral, organized, big-picture CBI first. Then, you can work backwards from there and pair the right ideas with the right version of NeoGAF.
This was all a stream of thought, so apologies for any jank. Hope this helpful.
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.Pennywise
Banned
In order to be able to go forward, you must let go the past.
You don't have to lose all that history either. But archiving it would be the best way to proceed. There's no use in keeping all that up when 98% of users don't even bother with it. I think most people would be ok with archiving everything before and after the incident™.
Another suggestion. Up the premium perks. As of now, being Gold doesn't give much apart from a normal user. Also, more (lesser and bigger, bronze, platinum, diamond, etc) tiers would be good.
Btw now I know the true reason behind the entire Politics sub being nuked lol (at least that was something good from all of this).
You don't have to lose all that history either. But archiving it would be the best way to proceed. There's no use in keeping all that up when 98% of users don't even bother with it. I think most people would be ok with archiving everything before and after the incident™.
Another suggestion. Up the premium perks. As of now, being Gold doesn't give much apart from a normal user. Also, more (lesser and bigger, bronze, platinum, diamond, etc) tiers would be good.
Btw now I know the true reason behind the entire Politics sub being nuked lol (at least that was something good from all of this).
We’re a gaming forum fyi.
Thaedolus
Member
Imagine a time where we could just…let that be. Mmmh. Makes me nostalgic.
fart town usa
Gold Member
DGrayson
should start a gaf centered podcast where he and
EverydayBeast
interview a member each week.Bookmark this post. Spotify contract after the 1st year, I guarantee it.
cd_jakevas
Member
So is RE. The difference is I do not go there but I log in and visit NeoGaf every day. That difference should be highlighted.
Oddvintagechap
Member
I wanna be first on, cause that’ll be the last one.
Bookmark this post. Spotify contract after the 1st year, I guarantee it.
STARSBarry
Gold Member
I think improving what gold offers is the way to go, as it essentially self advertises rather than offering higher patreon rewards.
You know I was just thinking about how I miss PlayStation theme's since I upgraded to my PS5. Perhaps allowing gold users to set custom colours for their post backgrounds that other users can see/ be forced to put up with, although that might drive the dark mode people nuts.
Outside of that maybe allow gold membership to set a custom header for the area that displays our username and title...
Those above two would take a fair bit of work however so in a more basic note, perhaps allow goldmembers to use animated gif's for avatars.
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fart town usa
Gold Member
EviLore
Rather than keep the entirety of the Gaf Archives. Maybe just save the threads that are notable and have them in a 'Classic GAF/Retro GAF' section?
I don't know who would mine that material but most of that stuff can probably be purged if it's really driving up the costs of maintaining the forum.
Iced Arcade
Member
Dropping the price of Gold and adding a few perks might increase the subscriptions.
Have a webpage front for news/articles.
Have a podcast that's tied into the gold subscription, possibly partner with someone. (With the option to purchase individual episode).
Have a webpage front for news/articles.
Have a podcast that's tied into the gold subscription, possibly partner with someone. (With the option to purchase individual episode).
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ChoosableOne
ChoosableAll
I unblocked it on adblock now. I thought you guys making money with sponsored threads(IbizaPacholo?)(some VGC threads recently)(and assassination of Kretos for Microsoft etc.). If it was not the case, then you should think about it. And you can make a new shiny but simple homepage that includes gaming news(like n4g) which will hopefully attracts more ads? , and we(and visitors) can click those links and discuss them on forums(visitors could give like?), among other old style threads. It would attract more outsiders to forums imho.
Hope you can survive this crisis.
Hope you can survive this crisis.
Chiggs
Member
EviLore
It's pretty simple, honestly:
1. Make people pay to register
2. If people get banned multiple times, they pay to register again and unlock their profile.
3. Make people pay for avatars and custom titles.
4. Make people pay to access the archives.
These are plays straight from the SomethingAwful playbook, circa 2004/5. It worked then and it can work now.
bitbydeath
Member
It’d also work if it’s applied based on tags used in the thread. Eg. A PlayStation news thread gets a PlayStation tag, members who previously harassed that section become blocked from commenting inside it.
Head-to-heads can work the same way too. Have a PlayStation or Xbox tag applied and either parties restricted can’t comment either.
near
Gold Member
It's pretty simple, honestly:
1. Make people pay to register
2. If people get banned multiple times, they pay to register again and unlock their profile.
3. Make people pay for avatars and custom titles.
4. Make people pay to access the archives.
These are plays straight from the SomethingAwful playbook, circa 2004/5. It worked then and it can work now.
I'm in favour of this. The only problem is that it's a risky move for a community that is trying to generate traffic and stable revenue streams, it would need to be supplemented with features like podcasts and other forms of exclusive content for it to be remotely viable. I'd throw money at this though.
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Reave
Member
That’s fine, but it’s also evidently not enough. Best of luck and hopefully everything works out well.
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BadBurger
Is 'That Pure Potato'
Even though I disagree with you I gift you gold, because this place is great and we can disagree on things in one thread and then be best friends in another. It's also a community of sorts. I enjoy everyone here, even those who clearly don't like me, because I was raised a good Christian boy before I forsook the Lord. Kind of losing my train of thought. Anyways enjoy the gold and hopefully you can one day view these kinds of internet communities as the communal spaces they are and also take joy in being a part of it.
ReBurn
Gold Member
Elder Legend
Banned
Damn dude, I appericiate the love
And yeah you hit nail on the head. It's OK too be normal humans and disagree/agree with certain things but still being respectful unlike other places
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bender
What time is it?
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
All the best Evil and mods. Hoping Gaf keeps chugging along.
DaGwaphics
Member
It's pretty simple, honestly:
1. Make people pay to register
2. If people get banned multiple times, they pay to register again and unlock their profile.
3. Make people pay for avatars and custom titles.
4. Make people pay to access the archives.
These are plays straight from the SomethingAwful playbook, circa 2004/5. It worked then and it can work now.
Probably not going to be good for new signup numbers.
Lord Panda
The Sea is Always Right
It's pretty simple, honestly:
1. Make people pay to register
2. If people get banned multiple times, they pay to register again and unlock their profile.
3. Make people pay for avatars and custom titles.
4. Make people pay to access the archives.
These are plays straight from the SomethingAwful playbook, circa 2004/5. It worked then and it can work now.
Nah, only agree with 2 and 3. Banned folks can pay to get out of jail again. Think of it as a fine for their transgressions.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Banned folks paying to get back in I'd support. And the more bans you get the higher the fee. For extra laughs, their profile can even be tagged to see how many times they paid to get out of jail.
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Dr Bass
Member
yeah I dunno. You would have to have some pretty iron clad reasons for banning if you're talking about involving money on an increasing scale to get out. I can't say I understand why some people get banned and others don't considering the behavior of some who don't vs. those who do. I keep my mouth shut about it though because I just sorta don't care.
And it ain't my business.
My point? Seems like huge can of worms without real monetary benefit. I mean how many banned people are gonna pay to come back. This is a forum not a place for extortion.
The answers, sans gimmicks, seems kinda obvious to me. More Gold Members. Patreon supporters. More users, with more eyeballs on ads.
Chiggs
Member
With SomethingAwful, it had the opposite effect. And cut down on the trash significantly.
Not sure what the other plays are, honestly. Begging for donations?
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Fair enough. It was a more for potential laughs than a serious feature. But if actually implemented, I'd be ok with it too.yeah I dunno. You would have to have some pretty iron clad reasons for banning if you're talking about involving money on an increasing scale to get out. I can't say I understand why some people get banned and others don't considering the behavior of some who don't vs. those who do. I keep my mouth shut about it though because I just sorta don't care.
And it ain't my business.
My point? Seems like huge can of worms without real monetary benefit. I mean how many banned people are gonna pay to come back. This is a forum not a place for extortion.
The answers, sans gimmicks, seems kinda obvious to me. More Gold Members. Patreon supporters. More users, with more eyeballs on ads.
Chiggs
Member
yeah I dunno. You would have to have some pretty iron clad reasons for banning if you're talking about involving money on an increasing scale to get out. I can't say I understand why some people get banned and others don't considering the behavior of some who don't vs. those who do. I keep my mouth shut about it though because I just sorta don't care.
And it ain't my business.
My point? Seems like huge can of worms without real monetary benefit. I mean how many banned people are gonna pay to come back. This is a forum not a place for extortion.
The answers, sans gimmicks, seems kinda obvious to me. More Gold Members. Patreon supporters. More users, with more eyeballs on ads.
Except there is a use-case for this exact scenario. It's called SomethingAwful, and it allowed Richard "Lowtax" Kyanka to live quite a comfortable life until he blew his brains out last November.
Getting banned doesn't automatically mean you pay to get back in, but 3 or 4 bans = permaban = time to register for a new account. It would be the site's discretion.
Again, for the people that poo-poo'd my ideas (and they're really not my ideas), what are the alternatives? Patreon? Donation begging? That's a fate worse than death.
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Dr Bass
Member
It could be funny. I give you that.
So working for the Red Cross or St. Jude's is a fate worse than death. Noted.
I wouldn't take disagreement over ideas too personally. What worked for SA doesn't necessarily work for NeoGAF. There is such a thing as the culture of a forum. I think some of the suggestions have been higher NeoGAF tiers to allow for things like changing the avatar quote etc. but that would basically destroy the point of "earning" one from the mods. Those things are either badges of honor or extreme badges of shame, and they are hilarious. The second you let someone change that for the friendly fee of 10 dollars a month, that whole inside joke feel of NeoGAF goes out the window. That's part of the draw, for me at least.
I don't think these are "easy" problems to solve, otherwise they would already be solved. I think the first step is the right one. Ask people who practically live on this board to contribute if they can. You know when I take my girl out for coffee now, I'm paying 15 bucks for two drinks. It's not unreasonable to ask the regulars for a fiver a month.