Concern over site viability

[tor lives]

Hi folks,
Just putting it out there guys......site traffic is significantly down in recent weeks, (except for those bastard spammers ), and this is cause for some concern over the mid-to-long term viability of the A/CAM site.
A/CAM is costing me over $100 a month to maintain, and this is in addition to the significant start-up costs which have not yet been fully recovered. Membership fees have assisted cost recovery to a certain extent, but they are also proving to be a deterrent to potential new site members, and I am looking at getting rid of the $25.00 fee as a result.
To be honest, I am a little concerned......A/CAM is a great little site with an excellent core bunch of "regulars" but the membership simply has to grow if the site is to have a future. We are never going to be in the AMI, Hyperscale, or BritModeller league as far as membership numbers are concerned, (we are after all a very specific SIG), but we have simply got to grow if we are to survive.
TOR

[Graeme H]

Ray, I can understand how you feel, you do have a core of top modellers, which is what it's all about, I think to grow membership it will be up to you to decide, but agree something must be done.

Paul is right in that we don't want some of them, but membership is really up to the owner, as David did to you.

Both Britmodeler and AirlineCafe have open membership, and people can make a contribution separately to help defray costs, Britmodeler calls them Gold Members, and AirlinerCafe calls the Upper Deck Members, to reward them in some way, perhaps something along that line may be the way to increase membership, nothing forced, just a way for those who are able to offer some help.

On another note, things are easing for me, as my wife completed chemo a month ago, and we wait to see how things go, I have managed to rebuild my fence that the white ants got into, and have even dragged out an old Revell F100 that I started probably back in about 2001 at my mother in laws in the UK, so it's probably due to be completed, I plan on it being Alliance airlines, nothing better than a local outfit, but having to relearn a few airbrushing skills.

[hrtpaul]

I've been thinking about this for a little bit now. Mate, it's up to you whether ya drop the entry fee or not. I personally can't see the big deal in paying $25. I see it as just another modelling cost I'm willing to pay. It's less than what a decent kit is worth (and sometimes even a shit one ) and I've got more than my $$$ worth from here already. In saying that, it wouldn't worry me if you did drop the fee either. I wouldn't feel ripped off or cheated in the slightest. As I said my membership has more than paid for itself. I guess it'll mean a bit more work for the admins keeping peeps in line (and you've done a hell of a job keeping the likes of Damo, Adam, Wally etc in line ). The good thing on this site is we have a very fair and transparent set of site rules that aren't that hard to follow which makes it a great place to visit. As long as we keep up that fairness and transparency that is lacking on some sites have then I reckon it'll be a cracker. Bottom line is mate, it's your site and you have to do what's best for the site, the sponsors and the peeps that visit (which has been accomplished very well so far).

P.S. Do whatever you have to to keep this site going man. I love this joint

[RayS]

I agree the fee is a put off for most since you can get everything on the the net for nuffin.

Have you considered google adds or the like which would send some cash your way? ARC and other use this. Perhaps offer the membership to remove adds?

Just thinking out aloud here

[tor lives]

The google ad thing offers some food for thought.......I might look into that.
There is also the option of selling the site as a going concern, though I would like to avoid that if I could.
At all costs I want to try and maintain that friendly, interment, small model club-like feel about the place, as it is this feature that distinguishes A/CAM from other model sites.
TOR

[F-27pax]

I've got no inspirational thoughts about this problem but I don't understand how the level of membership makes this site more viable. If nobody is paying anything to join this site where does the money to keep it going come from? Perhaps this is an innocent problem from somebody who knows nothing about how the interweb works.

I'm quite happy to pay out my $25 a year, perhaps even more to keep the site going because I find it more enjoyable than most interweb sites.

[VH-WAL]

I guess the problem is that this site satisfies a niche market with a cliquey membership similar to the regulars one may find in a typical British village pub. All very cosy but it does get a bit incestual and dare I say a bit predictable and boring. It seems to me that one does not actually have to change that aspect, as more members come in the site will evolve so the problem is getting more people in.

I guess we have to sell ourselves a bit, make our presence known in other modelling sites, drop an occasional link to a particular page / project of interest in these forums to get people to click in and have a browse, just for example

make a post in a site with a link to here showing say photos of racing mustangs saying here are some great reference shots for this subject.

Maybe drop a link to a completed build on here drawing attention to it, if someone on another site request information about a "civilish" kit or subject suggest they check in with ACAMto pose the question. This sort of thing shouldnt be blatant or overdone we don't want to annoy anyone... I think the fee will have to go for a broader audience / participation... maybe a free 3 month trial period?

One thing we could do is donate a kit or two and advertise a civil subject model competition through ACAM, members would vote on the entries and winner takes the prize,there would be no problem with posting this in other sites,

eg ACAM Group Build commencing, subject Civil Racers end date xxxx 1st prize Broplan vacuform Piaggio P166 (what a bastard act that would be! what was second prize? 2 Broplan kits LOL)

that's it I am out of ideas

[davecana]

Unfortunately, it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. The fee keeps those less savory characters away, but also deters others from joining. I have no qualms about the fee, and am even frequenting the free AMI site less and less. The attitude of some AMI posters is just arogance I don't want, and I am willing to pay so I can talk models without the attitude.
I like the idea of a tiered membership as previously mentioned. Pay to remove ads, or don't pay and receive ads.

[hrtpaul]

Some great food for thought there Ray. I do like Wally's idea of dropping links at other sites re completed models etc. Like he said we wouldn't want to do it all the time like spammers but get the ACAM name out there. Maybe try and drop the fee for a 3 -6 month period to see how it goes. Oh and if you haven't guessed I NEED THIS SITE TO STAY

[RayS]

Further to Wally's post, I recall a lot of indignant comments when you advertised the site to the Airliner groups. Perhaps if you drop the fees and reposted there then you would get some interest from some of those at the other sites?