10/17/2009 14:44:36

ok Steve, I'm all for it....I hate to say it and I don't want it to come across the wrong way, but I think it's what the site needs...no more stupid fake accounts, no more teens using it as an opp to post pics that their mum's would not be happy about (sorry boys...!), no more spam (i hope).  So, I've paid mine and let's see what happens!

How could i possibly refuse when this site has provided me with such entertainment, and heartache...! 

10/17/2009 03:17:19

Surely we could get some suntan lotion company to sponsor the site! We must be their greatest target audience ever!!

10/17/2009 02:59:12

Hi Curly :) - thanks for your long post :)- as I answered on your profile too...the problem is not the way of payment :) - I have paypal and I use it if I want to do some ebay transactions. Its just that I dont pay for social internet sites...I know it maybe tough...but I just dont pay because I think some services ought to be free...for the number crunching...maybe you could implement a filter to cut down and render all images lower so that if you upload a huge 1.5 mg picture it will get 0.130 instead? I think banners would be a good thing too :) - I mean we have our rocket riding lady :) - why not have a shampoo or whatever ad on there? and at the sides? We have allways a lot of lurkers around :) - people who are not logged in if they click around the count for their clicks too :) - just a musement HAVE A WONDERFUL Weekend! 

10/16/2009 23:44:17

@Fisbiscuit, that's what I worry about most.  I was just mentioning on another blog how I did go for the $20 fees to both of the (currently on hold/limbo) twin sites of Realm Of Redheads and Planet Redhead.  But for the former, you could browse all the profiles and pictures of the cool/pretty reds, read the redhead interviews of the week, and most of the site info before deciding to join.  PlanetRedhead, like a typical matchmaking site, allowed you to create a free profile with pictures, search and browse others, and I think even wink.  You had to pay-up to message other users - the typical matchmaking business model.

In each case, they gave you some major glimpse of what was inside, a brightly lit store window of sorts.

@Chazz, likewise, I really like your idea of one of those "donation meter" things.  It's kind of a gentle reminder that it costs money to host and maintain, so it could encourage users to upgrade on their own and maybe even donate.

Ads "above the fold" are best, but I did see a site recently where they did that trick of mixing ads between headlines or comments.  It flowed really well too, I mistook some of them for site content!

@gingerme
Well, the thing is, I'm guessing space isn't the problem.  It's often the bandwidth that can really cost.  For instance, the gallery is probably one of the biggest "space hogs" on the site, with currently about 30,000 images.  If we assume these jpegs are at worst 1024x768 fullscreen, then that could come out to maybe an average of 100KB or 0.1MB.  So that's about 3GB of data, not that much by today's hard drive standards - my cheapo shared-server $7/month hosting offers me 150 GB.

But a typical gallery page view might have about say 1.0 MB displayed on it.  If 100 users look at 10 gallery pages, everyday, then that's 30 GB of transfer per month.  So it can add up.  My current cheapo package only offers 1200GB of transfer/month, and if you go over for the month, it's $0.50/GB - ouch!

So, aside from crunching the numbers, I second VeryWellRed's blog sentiment to keep the exisitng profiles if possible. 
1. They could serve as a sort of memorial of sorts, and we could keep visiting their photos, artwork, etc.
2. The polls, if boldly extrapolated, show a little more than 50% of active users will stay.  If you say that the 850 people who've logged in over the past month minus the 100 or so new members are "active", less the current VIPs, you get about 300 new VIPs.  So that would mean 8,000-9,000 profiles lost!
3. A good chunk of those not paying on Nov. 1st are either "can't afford now" (it's a global depression, I know several without jobs including myself, in a sense) or "wait and see."  If you retain their profiles, so they can pay at a later date and not lose anything, they'll have much more incentive to do so.
4. If people still get e-mails of comments/messages posted to their accounts, just like on matchmaking sites, the mystery may get the best of them and they'll reactivate to see what people are saying to them.

@Lee_S
Lots of people seem to be chipping in some cool, possibly workable ideas.  I even was in touch with a member who was thinking of offering some webspace if it could help.  But the ideas so far: ads, donation meters, limits on free accounts, seem like a good start too.

@RalionMa
To repeat what I said on your blog - will miss you.  And I know most users outside the United States don't want or have PayPal accounts.  Do you use other forms of payment in Europe then?  Straight up credit card?  A competitor to PayPal?  Or do you just not buy much online?

10/16/2009 17:10:07

HI Steve! Thank you a lot for your effort in giving us a way to get in touch with each other :) - I have met here some splendid people that I would have had very much more difficult in getting to know if this page would not have existed :). I am a little sad that it is going to become just one of the many that are only for paysite... but I guess you have your good reasons for this and I can respect this. I would have understood also if you would have started to raise some money with advertisements like facebook and Myspace do it...but I guess this is not your way so, again thanks for all the effort and I wish you and all the ones who will stay on all the best!! 

 

10/16/2009 15:26:46

I definately agree with gingerme here!! Come on let's work towards this together!

Without being a free site redhedd will lose a lot of it's charm, and a lot of its members. 

10/16/2009 15:11:44

Okey dokey...
Just a question..
If someone could please answer this question I have had in ponder for some time..
If there are truly almost 10,000 members.... Which it says...  Why are almost the same people on all the time?  Taking advantage of a great site? 
Why?? Well, I think that people stop by, make a page, and never return.. Soo.. Steve...
Why not make those people who do that disappear?  Make it so that you must be active and contribute to stay on.  I get that thats not the reason behind a site like this..  There must be sooooooooooooooo many wasted spaces/pages on here that havent been used in a year or so..
For so many members, I never have seen more than I think 25 people on at the same time..
That I dont understand..
I dont pretend to have any business sense.. But, I am sure with all the great people on here from all over the globe, it could remain free and grow in a way that would not be counter-productive from a marketing sense..
Come on all you business people.....
Steve, give it a couple more months and let the people who like it here try to help.. If people really want it to stay free, they will find a way..

10/16/2009 14:34:31

Shame, I shall ponder a $25 year subscription as not really on here that often as I was.  I think I've been a member twice!  Though I ask a couple of questions.  Us Redhedd's don't seem to be great in the opportunity to raise the cash. 
A lack of Redhedd awareness as well!  Not much on the Internet about Redhedd.com!

  I can't but help think that some more advertising or more Redhedd awareness was needed, or something to get more members and help out Steve here.
Maybe us Redheads don;t know how to make people aware of Redhedd.com, or even why here in Scotland and probably Ireland need to hold a Redhead event like in Holland.  Us Scots like to give cash if it means fun!
I'm thinking out loud, I don't know the answer.  I do know I ve came across some great people and friends though.  Money can't buy that!

10/16/2009 14:20:01

maybe cause i said it first...lol
i was sure i wasn't the only one to think this way...
just had to put it out there to see where you other reds stand...
8)

10/16/2009 08:33:32

CelticCurls made some very good points.  Perhaps you should have tried some more advertising.  For example you could put some text ads between comments on profile pages as well as in the comments on gallery photos.  The forum would be another good place for text ads.  Also you could try to accept ads from companies or those with small businesses.  Just put a link that says "click to place your ad here" on the main page.  Also, on the main page you should try to put a donation link in a prominent place along with an explanation that donations help to keep the site going.  I know of several celebrity sites that place a meter on the main page that shows how close they are to reaching their montly goals for bandwidth and server costs.  You've probably already made up your mind but I just thought i'd throw out some suggestions.  I think that as fishbiscuit has said, it's going to be hard to get new members to join if they have to pay.  New members are what keeps good communities going.  

10/16/2009 06:28:18

I do not know.  I am a VIP because I feel this is a great site and I have the extra to send your way. BUT, I found this site from a search and would never have joined before being able to see what you where doing.

I think we will lose the spam but also lose great members.

10/16/2009 02:49:42

Ah no this is a real shame, not that i blame you of course as you've been paying for us all this time - for that i thank you hugely! Advertising/sponsorship definately seems like the right way forwards to me, especially if you could get some red headed celebrities to endorse the site and raise its publicity or something.

Ah well, i loved my time here and made some great friends, but i'm affraid this means that i'll be off soon. All good things must come to an end i suppose...

Thank you everyone for making it such a wonderful stay, i'll be on regularly til the november switch over. Keep spreading the redhedd love,

 Lee x

10/15/2009 20:29:42

advertising.... advertising....... advertising...... but that costs money initially to do.......  steve its either porn or prostitution for ya buddy because you have to keep this place free! but maybe it has its beneifts too?