Sorry if this seems a little terse. I'm not in the best of moods at the moment.. but I still need help with this issue.
Among the other brickwalls that have fallen on me tonght, I come to find out that "at some point" in the next few months, I may be staring down the barrel of a forced relocation.
Whether I end up changing landlords, remains to be seen.. as it is, I'm in something of a financial bind at the moment, and am still a bit short of my monthly RL rent. Anyways.. today I was told that my rent is increasing to $25/USD per month for the space where my store is. (2304sq.m., 791 prims)
ANYWAYS. To the poll.
Unfortunately, the "forced relocation" is not scheduled, and is nebulously suggested to be taking place "at some point in the next few months"... If it were my choice, it would be sudden and quick. I have new products about to be released, and I could easily handle the transition in location at the same time. But having to wait, means that now's a great time to start an "update group".. so that when I DO finally move, I can notify people.
I figure that I have 4 major types of solution for an update group.. and I need some help deciding which one to use.
- An open invite group.
Pros: simple to understand, people are used to them. Little signs can be made to make joining the group a little easier. The process is a little complicated and thereby serves as it's own intelligence test. Cost: L$100
Cons: people can only be in 25 groups. people quit groups, particularly if they're not busy. Spam, people join open enrollment groups to beg for cash, etc. Open enroll groups can be rejoined if you're kicked.
- Bot-driven automatic group invites
Pros: MUCH simpler, one click and the invite is there. Can use close-enrollment group permission. Bot can maintain a banlist.
Cons: Expensive (L$3100), people leave groups, 25 group limit, Bot must be logged in semi-frequently. (not really a con, bot can also serve as fashion model in shop)
- Subscribe-O-Matic (hippo and others).
Pros: doesn't use a group slot. People like them, ESPECIALLY fashion people. No spam in the group.
Cons: F'ing expensive (L$1500/month for 250 subscribers on SoM, L$3k/mo for 500, L$6k/mo for unlimited members... Hippo's is cheaper, but it's still monthly), ongoing expense, people can "forget" that they joined a group, particularly if it's not very active. Likelihood of being ARed for spam is much higher. Every announcement will bring a rash of complaints and demands to be removed.
- Subscribe-O-Manual. Make a sign for people to click, save off the keys as emails. Feed the UUIDs into scripted delivery objects AS NEEDED.
Pros: code can be added to vendors as well. Free. Simple to operate, no spam. Doesn't take a group slot.
Cons: high amount of work and patience required. AR likelihood is just as high as SoM, if not higher. NEarly impossible to remove people who complain about "mailings".