An Answer to BB's dilemmas ?

[TomLally]

How many people lurk or actively post on this site and others such as NI or Koichat ?. All take time and money to set up and run. Maybe it's time for subscriptions ?. Or maybe, sites like this and NO to be part of the site you subscribe to the magazine ?. We all benefit from these sites. I certainly have. A few years ago I didn't know these sites existed and I'd kept (or struggled to keep) koi for some 13 years at that point. I did it on my own and in the dark, I didn't know that there was a 'Koi Community'. It's through various BB's after having all fish die that I decided to give it one more go rather than fill it in. I think I learned more in one year of access to BB's than I had in the previous 13.

I had originally subscribed to Koi Bito and NI. Both of them lapsed when the subscriptions lapsed. I'm lazy, when I subscribe I just expect it to keep on arriving and money to keep on going from my account. When I notice that I haven't had a mag for a while I'm too lazy to do anything about it but I should. perhaps the subscriptions should be continuous until otherwise notified...

Whatever, maybe it's about time we who use these boards start paying for the privelage ?

[MikeM]

If users had to pay, Tom, I think too many would let their subscription lapse. The boards are best when they reach a critical mass of users and many would never learn there was a board if they could not access it for free from the start. I expect a number of K-B subscriptions have sold due to people being part of this board and then wanting to find out what the excitement is about.

Now that we have over 1,000 registered on this board, the economics of paying for a banner ad are looking better. Because the users are international, it is a good spot for equipment/hardware makers/distributors who are looking at an international market. Because there are a number of higher-end users, it is a good spot for higher-end dealers to build recognition. I am sure that Genki, for example, is now far better known in the Eastern U.S. than would be true if Kevin did not support this board. And, if it had not been for K-B, where would you have learned so much about Momotaro and Bakki Showers? I think the marketing success of introducing Momotaro's jumbo tosai to the U.S. and Bakki/BH sales are largely due to K-B. It got the word to the opinion-makers in U.S. koikeeping, and then it could take off.

I am constantly surprised by the lack of marketing know-how among those focused on the koikeeping market (as compared to those focused on water gardening market). They have a relatively small market to which to sell their very expensive products, whether they be $3,000 filters or $3,000 fish ... not many customers. The profit is best in the high-end sales and the mid-level is not bad. But, most follow the lead of the fellows focused on watergardeners ... big volume, low margin. That is not where the dealers and manufacturers with high-end product should be, but you will see them there spending their resources to convince a lot of folks with puddle-ponds who are only interested in $20 tosai. They would more efficiently use their marketing dollars to build their reputation for quality by getting their names/products before the opinion-makers of the hobby, such as through K-B and this board.

Brian does not have a marketing staff to sell ads. It would be nice if K-B's subscribers and the users of this board could make a point of talking up K-B when dealing with their favorite product providers. At least let the current advertisers know that you saw their ad on the K-B board.

[junglegeorge12]

one thing I appreciate about brian is his honest approach, he does not pretend to be doing it 'just for the hobby' like some ohter boards are doing. It is very related to business goals. This site is a great place for learning and gathering information and spreading information and ideas. I think it would serve everyone in the hobby or the business to make sure it can keep going successfully. The ones that worry me are the ones claiming they are not in it for any business reasons, ti simply is not true, they are just able to hide their real interests and how they are getting money from it.

Charging a subscription for the forum would ruin it, as well as charging folks who post pics of their beloved koi. However, one of the things many starting or smaller businesses need is AFFORDABLE ways to become known. Many of them cannot afford to buy meds for thier koi, let alone pay hundreds a month for an ad, however $30-50 is very affordable.

It might be worth it to have a page for adverts that range in price depending on size and location from the banners right in the forum to little 2" ads at the bottom of a seperate advert page on the site for just a few bucks a month. Then as folks businesses grow and benefit, they will buy larger more expensive ads.

The most successful direct mail marketing company in the US uses exactly that strategy. They get folks rolling for just $30, then it goes up as the ads get bigger and better and reach more folks. The result is multifold, they have tons of customers buying ads now as they are the hot way to advertise(you probably get their ads in your mailbox weekly), and small businesses being started on the side who can hardly pay their phone are becoming multimillion dollar corporations within a few years simply due to being able to afford to get rolling. You have to make it a win win for everyone, and give everyone equal treatment and oppurtunity. For instance (and do not get me wrong I like Momotaro and all their products), but they are the only breeders I see on this site so far. Long term that could be seen as very monopolizing and lead to folks shying away just from feeling like it may not a board about the whole hobby where they can find balanced, unbiased info they can trust completely. Eventually, it could lead to other breeders teaming up and forming a strategy to compete with this board or defame it, rather than feeling welcome to join the community. Maurice can hardly afford his farm costs, the banner price I saw might be too high for him right now with all his expenses, but something in the $30-50 range might be very affordable, even if it isn't 'front page'.

[junglegeorge12]

woops, a double post

[gregbickal]

I post on half a dozen boards and I hate it. Wouldnt it be nice if there were just one board....

<edited by poster for sensitive content>

So everytime you post, someone on another board doesnt know what you are referring to, or hasent heard of you. You say, go look at this post on this board, and they say "I dont post on that board"

Every board has its hardened crew that are there helping answer questions for the newbees. Then there are us migrators, that flock from board to board trying to keep up with every hot topic.

As for charging fees, they do that on some other boards. I find that alot of times when im searching for programming questions, the question comes up, but then I have to join the pay board to see the answer.

Personally I wouldnt pay to be on a board, Id just go to another one which is free, probably most people would.

Your board is just a way to bring traffic to know about your magazine, which is good, advertizing costs, which maintaining and running the board is.

[Tim C]

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[koifishgirl]

Gosh, you guys put the metal to the petal dont you Go ahead a rev it up. It does not matter what other think of the fights, just get it out in the open, me I like to fight behind closed doors. Pm if I have a problem. Now if its Luke, its out in the open

I think all forum should charge a fee to get in, just like you would if you join a koi club, not much is free these days, and it cost to keep this board up and running. I would not do it for free, allthough I like the idea of being able to log on and read whats in the mag for free. This forum should make people pay, why should we be getting free info without paying for the mag? I know koi hobbyist or any other would pay to get info they needed, its just us, we are koi nuts you know. How many times have people dissussed what is in the mag on this board, or how many times have pm;s been sent to friends of what is in the mag. Do you think that is right? Nope its not! Life is just not free anymore

Judy

[gregbickal]

Are you talking about me? Didnt mean that to come across as an attack. My oppoligies... Thats twice today... Is my sensitivity radar not turned on today or what?

Tim C, are you Tim Cash? Well, if so then I could see how that remark might have been taken wrong. It wasen't malicious, I promise.

Jeeez.

[Tim C]

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[koifishgirl]

Your a nice guy Greg and I did not see anything wrong with your post. You said what you had to say, if other have a problem with it well then it is there problem and sound like a person one to me. We have the right to say what is on our minds without being knocked down for it. Just my two thought on the matter.