[Cristiano]

So there has been a rapid decline in advertising on SLU over the past 6 months, without a corresponding drop in traffic, and May has been one of the worst months. While there are several very steady advertisers, the number of individual monthly ads have dropped dramatically.

Part of the reason I have offered so many ways to promote businesses in SL, from the new product listings, commercial announcements and real estate forums to feed.me is because it was offset by advertising and benefits the community as a whole. However, it does not go unnoticed that most who use these resources have never purchased an ad on the site. Obviously, once the genie is out of the bottle it is hard to put it back in, but it is frustrating to say the least.

I don't want to restrict any of the resources on SLU, as they are part of what makes this community great. I have always wanted to provide a platform for people to be be able to promote themselves to other SL users. However, I am troubled by the continued steep decline of advertising to offset the costs of running a site like this. I would love feedback and ideas on how to avoid having to restrict things, or to continue to incur part of the expenses of the site.

[pancake]

Can we rent personal ads


One relatively well put together avatar looking for part time no strings attached lover.
Only witty, rich, creative men should apply.
Must be available on demand, at my convenience, and go away when I'm busy or bored.
Mind reading skills are an appreciated bonus.

[Misty Harley]

What area's are not highly used on the forum? Maybe discontinuing or combining some of those areas together might help?

Also, I know you don't want to restrict but sometimes, it's a necessity. Maybe restricting signatures to supporters might help with generating some revenue? I'm not sure how much space sig's take up.

What's the highest space taker that is here?

[Soen Eber]

Coffee mugs and tote bags?

Premium content channels like "Shit Taco says"?

On a more serious note, network with Frau Jo. She's been able to make 1920s Berlin self-sustaining and always comes up with ways to get money out of people without annoying them.

Also: You have skills. You have a network via SLU. Start working it. At least tell us what skills you have that you charge clients for, so we can recommend you to people who we know are in need of that service.

[Cindy Claveau]

It may come down to a choice between your preferred "light touch", Cristiano, and plain old business.

It's a decision only you can make, but if I were you I'd start with charging a small fee for any merchants who want to post in any of the SLU Classified sections, unless they're already a paying advertiser.

That would include New Product Listings and Commercial Announcements.

I think it's admirable that you want to help the community but I don't think you should be expected to foot the entire bill yourself. That only invites people to take advantage of you.

[Beebo Brink]

Originally Posted by Soen Eber

Also: You have skills. You have a network via SLU. Start working it. At least tell us what skills you have that you charge clients for, so we recommend you to people who we know are in need of that service.

SLU should pay for itself. Cris shouldn't have to go drum up work to pay for the upkeep of the forums.

Quarterly fund-raising drives to remind people to donate is one method that you've never used, Cris, and yet so many sites I frequent do this. DU has a fund-raising goal posted on the site with updates every few hours to show how much money has been donated. My favorite was the year that reaching goal displayed a boxing glove punching George Bush, but something less partisan might be in order for SLU.

Promote the subscriptions and provide some tangible benefit -- besides a warm fuzzy feeling -- for subscribers. The New Products forum be a benefit, for instance. Promote the members who contribute to the forum.

[Elysium Hynes]

what about advertisement on the feed? not only for shops but also blogs and other SL related resources.

[Beebo Brink]

Fund-raising Challenge #1: I'll post a picture of Beebo wearing a pink dress if we can raise US$500 in donations to SLU within the next week.

Starting... now.

http://www.sluniverse.com/php/index....eid=supportslu

[pancake]

Originally Posted by Beebo Brink

Quarterly fund-raising drives to remind people to donate is one method that you've never used, Cris, and yet so many sites I frequent do this. DU has a fund-raising goal posted on the site with updates every few hours to show how much money has been donated. My favorite was the year that reaching goal displayed a boxing glove punching George Bush, but something less partisan might be in order for SLU.

I love the idea of a fundraiser, and increased awareness of the methods to donate. People are forgetful, and the Support SLU is discreetly placed, drawing attention to it will probably increase donations.


Could even have a fundraising party in world! Just a plain old tip jar would do the trick while we mingle and frolic

Originally Posted by Beebo Brink

Promote the subscriptions and provide some tangible benefit -- besides a warm fuzzy feeling -- for subscribers. The New Products forum be a benefit, for instance. Promote the members who contribute to the forum.

This makes sense, having a benefit of being "premium" (please forgive any comparison) perhaps something like requiring a paid subscription to post to certain threads.

[Elysium Hynes]

Originally Posted by Beebo Brink

Fund-raising Challenge #1: I'll post a picture of Beebo wearing a pink dress if we can raise US$500 in donations to SLU within the next week.

Starting... now.

SLUniverse.com - Second Life Community - Support SLUniverse

Beebo makes promises and i hit donate

[Aliselia Aeon]

Originally Posted by Beebo Brink

Fund-raising Challenge #1: I'll post a picture of Beebo wearing a pink dress if we can raise US$500 in donations to SLU within the next week.

Starting... now.

SLUniverse.com - Second Life Community - Support SLUniverse

Like this?



*runs and hides*

[pancake]

Originally Posted by Aliselia Aeon

Like this?

Or the person who donates the most picks the dress

[Beebo Brink]

Originally Posted by Aliselia Aeon

Like this?



*runs and hides*

Start gathering your choices now and if SLU meets the challenge, I'll hold a poll to decide on which gown I wear.

[Sredni Eel]

I always buy a month of advertising when I can, and have an ongoing subscription of support. That said, maybe hold some sort of paid raffle. People can "buy" their way into a raffle giveaway on the site. Or, you can take a cue from some of those funky photo contests, and hold an SLU photo contest. People must contribute to the Save Ferris fund to participate (voting, or putting up their favorite avatar pic).

[Eclectic Wingtips]

I dont buy banners because to be honest I saw no concernable pick up in business for me. however I paid the years subscription for slu instead as I do use the new products forum ( well ana does this for me now but she is being paid by us to do it)

[Misty Harley]

Now I want Friday to hurry up and arrive....Beebo in a frilly dress. Well worth the money spent!

friday cause that's when I get paid)

[Misty Harley]

Originally Posted by Sredni Eel

I always buy a month of advertising when I can, and have an ongoing subscription of support. That said, maybe hold some sort of paid raffle. People can "buy" their way into a raffle giveaway on the site. Or, you can take a cue from some of those funky photo contests, and hold an SLU photo contest. People must contribute to the Save Ferris fund to participate (voting, or putting up their favorite avatar pic).

maybe even a sponsored one..where creators donate x amount of money to be a sponsor and those are where the person entering the contest has to have at least one thing from at least one sponsor?

[Casey Pelous]

uhhhhhh.... this is borderline embarassing to ask, but ....

Is there a donation jar inworld? (And a quarterly fundraising party inworld wouldn't offend my delicate sensibilities a bit!)

Cris, I love you and SLU, but your revenue generation efforts are pretty close to invisible. As I've been known to tell salespeople, ask not and thou shalt receive not. F'rinstance - I know there's a way to be a "supporter", I THINK it is $100 a year, but I've no idea how to "sign up" nor if there are "easier" options, such as "$10 per month automatically charged to your credit card."

BTW, that last option skyrocketed PBS's donations. If you follow PBS fundraising you'll realize you almost never hear a "cheaper" option until near the end of the drive.

[Eboni Khan]

I am a firm believer that the banners work, if the banners are well made, they create a dramatic increase in sales, in my experience.

[Ciaran Laval]

Cristiano you see the facts and figures, we don't. That's how it should be, however if you have any SLU banners I can put on adboards in world, I'm more than willing to do that, it's a simple script to open the website and maybe a notecard inworld with info about feed.me and the site itself would be helpful.

[Charlotte Bartlett]

For the quarterly event if that's something you would like - just pick a date rotate for volunteers to organize it - keep it low effort, have us creators make stuff and donate it for sale (give us great marketing opportunity to reach audience here) all proceeds to SLU. The stuff for sale actually could be on marketplace etc for repeat sales not just the event... with the distribution set to Cris or something.

AND here is the thing this would allow so many of us to actually meet an avatar behind the keyboard I would adore to have an opportunity to meet some fellow SLUers.

I would be happy to donate a space and build for the party for the first one if anybody felt it worthwhile...I feel a bit eek saying that as no idea if people would support that idea, but the offer is there!

[Joshua Nightshade]

Originally Posted by Eboni Khan

I am a firm believer that the banners work, if the banners are well made, they create a dramatic increase in sales, in my experience.

My sexy robot chicks ad campaign had the highest click-through ratio on SLU according to Cristiano. I am sure it was down to having girls in their underwear next to really, really hot robots though.

[Casey Pelous]

Originally Posted by Joshua Nightshade

My sexy robot chicks ad campaign had the highest click-through ratio on SLU according to Cristiano. I am sure it was down to having girls in their underwear next to really, really hot robots though.

Well, when has that EVER not been a surefire recipe for success?

Also, I'm clearly coming down with a case of the herpyderps. There's already the recurring subscription option.

Now, make it easier for me to find, even WITH the herpyderps.

[Charlotte Bartlett]

I just found it via Beebo's post and now am a proud subscription owner!

[Cristiano]

I've always emphasized advertising over donations because I'm more comfortable with that, but I appreciate the support immensely, and the feedback. It's just weird that advertising was pretty much like clockwork for the past 4 years, with a few fluctuations, and then it went right off a cliff.