Save Our Website! (1 Viewer)

[Respaul]

++ [ originally posted by baggio ] ++


Well if you can make people believe that its the ultimate site for a Juve fan, why wont people pay to join it. Also if you think about it, there are two ways to look at it, either people will be put off by the fact that theyve got to pay to get through, but on the other hand, putting a price on the membership actually elevates the premium of the site automatically, and could make people believe in the product.

Either way, a risk at this stage is not going to be a bad thing, because whichever way you look at it, its all or nothing.

This site is no where near big enough to start charging and still survive.
It doesnt get many posters as it is what about if they had to pay.

Looking right now on a saturday afternoon... A time when its common to get high numbers online across europe...

The site has 11 members online... Flicking over to another 2 forums i read i see one with 413 members and one with 607 members online.... even with those numbers neither of them charge.

You also forget that many hear are young or students... many without credit cards etc... how are they gonna pay... Thats a big chunk of your members gone allready

The idea that the club would be interested in a site that rarely has more than 25 members online at anyone time is also absolutely ridiculous...

The site jus isnt big or popular enough for those kind of ideas... even with advertising you arent gonna too much more than break even...

Also look at the referal list... Hardly any members have brought in other members... Most of those that have come in on referal have not exactly been active members

That tells you alot

You need someone with available funds and ideas to improve the site and bring in new members

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Martin]

I certainly appreciate the sentiment. It's nice to see that people really care about this place, although just showing up everyday already proves that.

Oddly enough, money is not the main problem here. I know a free host that would take us in exchange for ads and there would be no problem. The reason I haven't is that our current host has been giving us a free ride and while that is so, there's no reason to move. Renewing the domain name is $15/year, that's not hard to come up with.

Look, the reason so few people get into running websites is because it's complicated. It takes a strong interest in web design, web technology, server administration etc. Like any other big project that you do in your spare time by yourself, it takes a lot of time and effort. You also have to *want* to do it. How many people do you know who built their own car? Most people settle for buying one from a manufacturer. And most people settle for using existing websites instead of building one themself. Like I said, it takes a special kind of interest. One that few people possess. And I no longer do.

Now, since Juventuz already exists and runs fine, it's not a question of building anything. I have barely made any changes the last 2 years. But you still need the know how to run the site. If something breaks, I can fix it in a couple of hours, often I have to get the host to do it because the problem is something I don't have access to. The more skilled you are at diagnosing the problem, the quicker you can fix it. Or the quicker the host will fix it if you give them reliable bug reports. Believe me, I started out just like you. But I have accumulated this knowledge for 6 years.

Noone is getting rich here, it's not about that. I have spent more money on keeping the site alive than I ever profited from it. But a financial investment at least shows that the person who wants to take over is willing to spend money on it, otherwise it will certainly die. Like I said, there is a free host I know of but that doesn't guarantee free hosting forever, it may not be adequate or it the service may be slow or a million other things. So the bottom line is if you own a site that costs money to run and you cover those costs with advertising, you have to be prepared to incur those costs yourself should the advertising fail you.

The very best thing would be to turn the site over to someone in the community who cares about it. If you cast a quick glance at the members list, the person most active is Graham. As it happens, he also knows quite a bit about websites and I'm sure he could get up to speed on anything he doesn't know. But Graham is not interested. And as far as I'm concerned, he's the only qualified candidate for that kind of take over.

So that leaves me with the option to sell it to someone who both knows how to run a website and wants to run Juventuz. Since I'm busy with school right now, I have pushed back the deadline to July 31 but I expect to settle the issue of the new owner in June.

 

[gray]

++ [ originally posted by Martin ] ++
The very best thing would be to turn the site over to someone in the community who cares about it. If you cast a quick glance at the members list, the person most active is Graham. As it happens, he also knows quite a bit about websites and I'm sure he could get up to speed on anything he doesn't know. But Graham is not interested. And as far as I'm concerned, he's the only qualified candidate for that kind of take over.

"not to put any pressure on you or anything" eh?

Of course I'm interested, but you and I know that it's not just a question of interest. I'm very busy with university commitments these days, and I hardly have a day in a week where I can relax and spend some time on my own.

Other factors aside, of course I'd consider it a great joy and privilege to take up such a role at this site. Sad as it is to say, it's been a big part of my life for the past couple of years, and it's been nothing but a pleasure being a part of this community.

That said, as things stand I don't think I'm in a position to take up a project of such magnitude. As I briefly mentioned earlier, I'm in my make-or-break year of my course, and as much as taking the helm at Juventuz would bring me more pleasure, I don't think it would be a responsible move for me at this point in time.

Of course I may change my mind, especially as "d-day" approaches, because I can't honestly see myself sitting by the wayside while this place goes down the drain. I'm not making any promises though...

 

[JCK]

I don't know if I am being nosy or I am allowed to ask such a question, but I will ask it anyway and feel free to answer or not.

Have you got any potential buyer or offer so far?

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by gray ] ++

"not to put any pressure on you or anything" eh?

Of course I'm interested, but you and I know that it's not just a question of interest. I'm very busy with university commitments these days, and I hardly have a day in a week where I can relax and spend some time on my own.

Other factors aside, of course I'd consider it a great joy and privilege to take up such a role at this site. Sad as it is to say, it's been a big part of my life for the past couple of years, and it's been nothing but a pleasure being a part of this community.

That said, as things stand I don't think I'm in a position to take up a project of such magnitude. As I briefly mentioned earlier, I'm in my make-or-break year of my course, and as much as taking the helm at Juventuz would bring me more pleasure, I don't think it would be a responsible move for me at this point in time.

Of course I may change my mind, especially as "d-day" approaches, because I can't honestly see myself sitting by the wayside while this place goes down the drain. I'm not making any promises though...

When I say "interested" I mean being willing to take on that kind of commitment. When I asked you around Christmas, you said you couldn't make it work for the same reasons you mention now. And that's perfectly understandable and fair.

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by Jeeks ] ++
I don't know if I am being nosy or I am allowed to ask such a question, but I will ask it anyway and feel free to answer or not.

Have you got any potential buyer or offer so far?

There has been some interest but there is no way of knowing who is serious and who isn't until the bidding actually starts.

 

[ßöмßäяðîëя]

When doe the official bidding window open?

 

[Chxta]

++ [ originally posted by Martin ] ++
Oddly enough, money is not the main problem here. I know a free host that would take us in exchange for ads and there would be no problem. The reason I haven't is that our current host has been giving us a free ride and while that is so, there's no reason to move. Renewing the domain name is $15/year, that's not hard to come up with.

That being the case. I am very serious about this, and I AM GIVING MY WORD OUT HERE IN THE OPEN.
Find someone who will manage the site (time is a serious problem for me), put it on the free host (Xtratime which I just joined is on a free host I think) and I WILL BEAR THE COSTS OF DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION ONCE A YEAR.
This promise is valid for the next 5 years after which we shall review it.

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by Bürke ] ++
When doe the official bidding window open?

As soon as I have time to see to it. Probably early-mid June.

 

[K10]

Juventuz soon to become like Laziomania?

 

[Bjerknes]

++ [ originally posted by Bürke ] ++
When doe the official bidding window open?

Don't even think about it Burke.

 

[ßöмßäяðîëя]

Don't tease me.

 

[Lilianna]

++ [ originally posted by Holdon ] ++
How much is Martin asking for, does anyone know?

actually i was wondering too

 

[baggio]

Martin can we know the amount?

 

[jaecole]

Didn't he just say bidding hasn't begun?

You'll know the amount at the time if you are bidding.

 

[Dr-Juve]

How much is Juventuz.com?

 

[swag]

If we need someone besides Graham to throw their name in a hat to assist with the technical maintenace of the site, I've been in the business of professionally building and maintaining major Web sites for 10 years now (as Martin personally knows in more detail).

There are financial considerations too, but I'd pledge a commitment of some amount time every week to join in with Graham (any others?) at running this baby. If it averages to a couple hours per week, that's nothing big -- I do at least that much posting here every week. But if it's going to be several hours a week, I would like to partner with a small circle of others who can cover.

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by swag ] ++
If we need someone besides Graham to throw their name in a hat to assist with the technical maintenace of the site, I've been in the business of professionally building and maintaining major Web sites for 10 years now (as Martin personally knows in more detail).

There are financial considerations too, but I'd pledge a commitment of some amount time every week to join in with Graham (any others?) at running this baby. If it averages to a couple hours per week, that's nothing big -- I do at least that much posting here every week. But if it's going to be several hours a week, I would like to partner with a small circle of others who can cover.

That's the kind of news I like to hear! But it has to be a properly coordinated effort and at the end of the day I need one person to be responsible for this.

To answer your question, I'm sure you know what it's like to run a website, especially one not very complicated. There's no work to do unless something breaks or unless it didn't work to begin with. If there is an issue of moving hosts, I'd like you guys to be able to handle it, but of course I can lend a hand.

 

[ßöмßäяðîëя]

++ [ originally posted by swag ] ++
If we need someone besides Graham to throw their name in a hat to assist with the technical maintenace of the site, I've been in the business of professionally building and maintaining major Web sites for 10 years now (as Martin personally knows in more detail).

There are financial considerations too, but I'd pledge a commitment of some amount time every week to join in with Graham (any others?) at running this baby. If it averages to a couple hours per week, that's nothing big -- I do at least that much posting here every week. But if it's going to be several hours a week, I would like to partner with a small circle of others who can cover.

Look, I am a **** face all the time, that is no new news to anyone. But, I will, if allowed, do some extra work on here.

I would have to be taught what to do, as I know nothing about this kind of stuff. And, if that makes me an automatic reject, then that is fine too. I just want to put my 2 cents in and tell you guys that I could make a commitment to this site.

(I am not joking.)

 

[Bjerknes]

Sorry Burke, no offense, but I don't trust you with that job. We need somebody completely serious, willing, and has a good record if we want this forum to survive.