[rose]

Quote:

I guess what I'm saying is: ultimately, there is something about the way this conversation is framed that REALLY doesn't sit right with me, and I just wanted to say my peace.

I'm not sure why you feel that way; I think that everyone is just giving their opinions on what to do.

I'm opposed to sponsorship for a number of reasons, but I understand it is an option. As mentioned, I would prefer to have this remain a community that sustains itself before Space sells ad space to sponsors. I also don't think there would be more pressure to donate or not donate. It is just a thing, you know. Everyone just does what they can and want to do.

I don't think that anyone undervalues the space here or how valuable a commodity it may be to someone; I personally am not interested in selling that space until a last resort.

If anything, I think that using production company money to sponsor ARGFest is a better use of those funds.

[diszaster]

At the risk of being unpopular(er), I'm going to make one last push for sponsorship to be what finances unfiction in the long term, by making a sponsorship space bigger and sticking in it in the corner, while possibly keeping the small stamp space for individual donors.

Note: I'm not saying do random Google or click-thru style ads, because quite frankly, you don't make any money unless you click on them anyway (and no, people don't click on them). Nor am I saying that those other ideas should be rejected. Not at all.

I just can't help but think that uF is missing a real opportunity here to be more fiscally solvent. Users hardcore enough or financially able to donate come and go, it's just not stable. However, there is ONE group that always benefits from uF--the producers and production service providers.

Producers (when successful) really are making money off of the uF audience, which would not be here, if it weren't for uF. I think it's time that the people who (at least in theory/in some cases) make money off of uF users be at least considered the right source for funds. Why?

1. Sponsorship space at uF would be REALLY valuable to some production companies, for obvious reasons. However, no major sponsor is going to pay for that tiny postage stamp at the top.

2. Some of the hugely expensive, successful ARG and viral campaigns recently clearly involved more money than I will ever have in my entire life.

3. A PM sponsoring uF is not without precedent. Yellow Curtain part 8 did it recently.

4. Collectively, this group has the contact list to make this a viable stream of income for uF. It just needs to reach out to them with something to offer.

Personally, I would rather be subjected to a sponsorship logo than be subjected more directly to peer pressure to contribute financially to uF and get a gold star on my belly (I mean... profile). I also feel this way about my upcoming high school reunion too.

I guess what I'm saying is: ultimately, there is something about the way this conversation is framed that REALLY doesn't sit right with me, and I just wanted to say my peace.

[Tenshi Akui]

Just thought of something, not sure if it would generate lots of revenue but I know I would buy it. Why not see if someone can make an official Unfiction App for the iPod/iPhone? I do a lot of checking the boards from my iPod at work (as I am now) and the mobile browser is a pain.

Maybe the app could include some mobile versions of some of the decoders also offered on unxfiction, for those code breaking emergancies?

Just an idea if code one for you if I had a clue how to lol.

[rose]

I like these ideas Spacebass!!

Monthly Meter
I wonder if it might be good to have one major push a year just dedicated to basic fundraising--maybe around the anniversary of the founding of unfiction--, as well as a monthly cost meter. I think a focused effort will be more effective. It can get easy to ignore a monthly thing. I'm leaning heavily in favor of the annual fundraiser, but make the goal high enough to make cash reserves.

T-shirts
Probably not as reliable a way to get cash on a consistent basis. Although,
I like the t-shirt ideas as well esp. if robbie gets in on it. I wore my Harvey Dent T-shirt for a while around the time the Dark Knight was showing and people noticed it. I'm sure we might have some content creators who would enjoy it if we had something promoting their game -though access to the content is usually in the control of the client. Example, I wonder if Campfire would have let us make something for the enhanced viewing thing they are doing for Discovery now.

badges
I have to admit that I am surprising pleased by seeing my little moderator badge. Shiny! So maybe badges are a way to go, though they may make the forums more junking looking? Dunno about that. I'm happy with just a list. Anyway, I think a badge might cost more than just a donation? Maybe a special cost?

Keep it simple

As for deciding what to do, I think we should aim to keep the technical/ work aspect of it as simple as possible. I think that minimizing the technical difficulty/ hassle to SpaceBass and the admins as much as possible should be the second highest priority to actually raising the money. Example: I would not worry about doing the unfiction email thing, if it will be a nightmare. We all have access to many email accounts these days.
Amount
Also, I am thinking why not do more than just get by? I think it would be great to raise enough money so unfiction has some cash reserves should some thing come up in the future. As mentioned above, I think we should do an annual thing to raise money for the year, not just a month to month survival plan.

Weekly sponsorship
As for the existing sponsorship place at the top of the page, would it be possible to change it so it can be shared by people? I would be glad to cover half or a third of a week, if I found a couple other people to go with. I think I am not alone in that thought.

I'm 100% behind the effort to fund this forum ourselves. I have every confidence that this is something we can and should do.

[Rogi Ocnorb]

For those of us who are "Boosters" and "Trout" and have just plain donated recently, will any credit be given if/when services start costing?

[tk42one]

What I would love to see & would be more the willing to pay for is a phone app that sends push notifications. I know this is way to much to do, but it was the 1st thing that came to my mind. I kinda have a bit of a problem with controlling the scale of my thinking...

[louiscontaldi]

Im liking it!! Although, what is your opinion on an uF running booster game. You seem to be neither for or against it on your list

[FSURobbie]

I'm on board for all of the above Spacebass. Tee designs are no problem and I've played with QR/AR codes before so I can help out there as well. I will do whatever I can, I've gotten too much mileage out of uF to not lend a hand.

[enaxor]

SpaceBass wrote:

Monthly Health-o-Meter. A donation meter at the bottom of every page where the donation button currently sits, showing how much of that month's actual costs are covered by donations for the month. This would reset each month and we could keep a running tally somewhere of how well we did each month.

If this works it'd be great, but I'm afraid this may turn into an end of the month scramble for funds each month, similar to what happened with ARGfest in the last week. On the other hand, as someone said earlier, the visual cue may be enough to make this work.

[SpaceBass]

 Current Thoughts

[AmblinAlong]

If there was high quality awesome designed swag for a good price that we can associate to a film with a saying/logo then that would be cool.


PS-by high quality i mean not that iron on crap that falls off in the dryer

[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.

[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.

[FSURobbie]

vapor wrote:

Maybe an annual fund-raiser/sweepstakes. We could make it fun. Maybe give prizes/badges for donations. It would not be a steady stream of income but I bet if done proper it could pad the coffers nicely. Give the forum a chance to not only survive but also to grow.

I think that's a good idea.

On a separate note, I can't offer a lot of help financially but I can offer my services. I'm a graphic designer/illustrator and would be more than willing to design some t-shirts, stickers, posters...whatever, if it would help and folks would actually buy them. I know Space discounted the shirt idea earlier but I wanted to throw that out there.

[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.