Why do we need a change in revenue?

[Kristie]

Simply because it's getting too costly for me to operate anymore.

1) It costs approximately $300/yr for the service alone...Add $30/yr for the vbulletin license, $25/yr for the photo gallery and now $50/yr for the new blogging software (I see it as a good addition otherwise i wouldn't have purchased it).

2) I'm not being paid for my time and effort...I've never asked for payment and I never will, i just want to make ends meet when it comes to the costs I have to pay other people.

3) Ad revenues don't work for this type of forum. I've tried it a few times and I've made nothing off of google, nor off of linkshare (which is where all the mac/toy/etc ads come from). I've had a few generous advertisers in the past but to be honest, they never really had great turnout for exposure so i don't really want to offer that option anymore. Ads just don't work unless it's a "niche" and JG has so many things going on, it's not micro enough to make $$ with ads.

I may change my mind and do sponsorship ads for particular forums in the future but at the moment, I'm not going there.

Now, you don't have to subscribe. For the most part, you'll still have the capabilities you had before with access to the safehouse and the photo gallery etc. you'll be able to view and comment on other people's blogs and profile photo albums, you just won't be able to create your own without becoming a subscription member.

The new forum i'm opening up is intended to be an unmoderated forum where anything goes because i know i can trust my Jetgirl Plus subscribers to not get too out of hand, but, in the case it does, i may have to moderate a time or two. I will try to keep it as minimal as possible.

Please feel free to type any questions or comments....i don't expect this subscription thing to go over nicely.. most forum members have a BIG problem with being asked for fees....and in lieu of becoming a subscription member, there's always the option to donate instead.

Thanks for your patience and support.

[Imachickadee75]

Hey Kristie, thanks for the explaination. I did not realize the costs you take on yourself. I'll admit, at first it kind of hit me the wrong way, but I appreciate that it is only an option to upgrade so to speak. My biggest concern was for those of us in the early years with little to no pay, "extras" like this just aren't in the budget. Yet Jetgirls has been a godsend for me at the same time. I also like that we can just make a donation, I'll keep that in mind the next time we experience a windfall of cash.
I so appreciate all that you and Doug do. Jetgirls has gotten me through some real rough patches......

Jackie

[katbuad]

Kristie, I can imagine that the "goodness of your heart" doesn't pay the bills of running this forum. And that the forum has expenses that you have been absorbing without complaint. And that it is unrealistic to expect to get "something for nothing."

I am going to pay the membership dues when I get home and can enter the required info. It isn't an unreasonable expense for the huge benefits that I receive from this forum on almost a daily basis.

(Here comes the BUT) . .but I have a tendancy (and I think almost everyone has the same tendancy) to be more vocal about my dislikes and wants when I am a paying customer versuses a guest in someone's living room.

[Kristie]

I understand that and i expect that too.

Hey Jackie, i remember how hard it was in the early years, those days are rarely far from my mind....it's the main reason this won't be a membership only site and the tier structure on the free accounts is set up so that benefits escalate as post count increases...The more posting, the more benefits open up such that you almost don't need a plus account (ie: longevity pays). Plus, you've been here for almost 2 years, so you can easily go for the discount pretty soon too!

I'm willing to work deals too

I'm just trying to make ends meet now...not looking for profit.