We Need Ideas!

[Talina]

I don't know what sort of customizable stuff there is, but isn't sacrificing those things worth keeping the site and this community alive? This referring to my post on the first page suggesting a free-to-use forum. Personally, if we have to sacrifice a bit of flash, I wouldn't mind. Then again, I'm not a high maintenance person. Perhaps there should be a vote on the options?

I agree with whoever said that most people wouldn't donate because they're in school and don't earn much. I'm in that boat, and it is a sucky one.

Call me cheap, but I think keeping a forum pretty is the last of our worries. It's a bonus, but I thought people were here for the community, not the way the forum looked? Again, should we vote on it?

I'm not the boss, but... it looks like improvements on any shop or donation thing won't work. The main thing I'm worried about with ads is that there would be so many it would become trashy and override any aesthetic quality the forum had. Hm...

I don't think the look is the main reason against a free-to-use forum. That is a point we would get used to. (Except it would be a shame about the work, they invested)
But you won't find any free forum, that is still for free with this amount of traffic, a forum with so many members needs... So it would be posibly a little bit cheaper, but for that there would be many limitations.

[Rhynn]

By the way, the clicking on ads thing- not a good idea. It's against Google's rules for us to tell people to click the ads, it could get us banned. So if you wish to click ads by all means do so, but don't do it because we said so or just because it'll bring in money for us!

[Niffz]

I was unaware that we Needed funds. Bring back the donate button with a PayPal and I'll be more than happy to part with a few bucks here and there!

[Lava]

I was unaware that we Needed funds. Bring back the donate button with a PayPal and I'll be more than happy to part with a few bucks here and there!

Agreed. I have been out of school for 20+ years, and I have a little mad money I can part with as well. Such a fun forum, we can all pitch in to help.

[Niffz]

Would getting rid of some of the older posts (not archiving - totally deleting older not needed posts) help? Also, maybe an option of deleting people that aren't active for say 6 months? Would that help?
Maybe the above things would help us to not outgrow our current server?

[Bellina]

Oh, beanies! We know some members who love beanies!

I think asking some members to contribute their crafts/artwork/etc to the site for some commission is a great idea. If I were at all good at knitting I would offer my services but, alas, I'm terrible at it .

Our other issue is that a large number of active members are under 18, well actually under 16 if we're honest. Which means they can't donate or buy things without their parents permission. Some of the younger members have stated that their parents don't approve of all the time they spend online so I doubt they'd be willing to let them buy things here, sadly.

I think some of the items in the shop are for a very limited audience. The Quidditch stuff isn't for everyone, the logo gear is off-putting with how large the logos look, and the sweatpants would be nice if they were available in more than just DE logo.

As for the ads, if you added an ad bar on the left side I don't think it would put people off too much. It's way better than having them in every single post or, worse, the site going dark cause there is no revenue.

Eventhough the artists did a great job with the logos. I agree with DawnPumpkin about the shirts. I personally would like the long sleeve DE shirt if it had a PFF or Ravenclaw logo or just the letters that spell out Ravenclaw. That said I am at a loss for real ideas. I am new here, but I think PFF is a great community that would probably be really good without the really cool technical stuff that is in the background. I think this forum is really good because the core people have really good minds, and I would hate to see it lost.

[StarHazel20799]

So just to clarify...clicking on ads brings in extra funding for the site but it is against the rules to promote us doing so? Can you confirm if this is the case Rhynn?

[Rhynn]

You shall not, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to: (i) directly or indirectly generate queries, Referral Events, or impressions of or clicks on any Ad, Link, Search Result, or Referral Button (including without limitation by clicking on “play” for any video Ad) through any automated, deceptive, fraudulent or other invalid means, including but not limited to through repeated manual clicks, the use of robots or other automated query tools and/or computer generated search requests, and/or the unauthorized use of other search engine optimization services and/or software;

[Aspy]

That quote-- is it a quote from somewhere or are you quoting from older posts--- is very difficult to understand. 93 words in a sentence that doesn't look like is finished... with many difficult words too!

[Rhynn]

It's from Google AdSense's Terms and Conditions. That's only the first part of the sentence actually, it went on for about 50 more lines...