 | |
View Poll Results: Is it bad form to take donations AND commercial revenue to try to break even? | |
No
|    | 36 | 90.00% | |
Yes
|    | 4 | 10.00% |
 | | 
06-26-2005, 12:30 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dallas Age: 37
Posts: 6,940
Chips: 37,262
| | | asking for donations - bad form?
On occasion I have been told by several members that I should post a donations link. The site IS in the red and all money comes from my pocket. I started the site, and I make the decisions on spending money, and I take all the risks for it. I try to recoup it all with advertising and finding excellent deals, but ChipTalk's still in the red.
And I am planning to do a new site mod that will take hiring a guy that has helped on mods a lot (not a member). I am going to make the site friendly to search engines so we can get more people here. This is a bigger project than I can handle, and the guy I am planning it with is in the SEO/advertising field plus knows phpBB like the back of his hand. And he is reasonable priced. But I am drifting from my subject....
Bottom line is, is it bad form to put a donation link up? I really don't want to, because I take commercial money already (not much, but I try to). It seems to me that the two don't mix. |
06-26-2005, 12:38 AM
|  | On the Bubble | | Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 131
Chips: 143
| | | Re: asking for donations - bad form?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by TenPercenter On occasion I have been told by several members that I should post a donations link. The site IS in the red and all money comes from my pocket. I started the site, and I make the decisions on spending money, and I take all the risks for it. I try to recoup it all with advertising and finding excellent deals, but ChipTalk's still in the red.
And I am planning to do a new site mod that will take hiring a guy that has helped on mods a lot (not a member). I am going to make the site friendly to search engines so we can get more people here. This is a bigger project than I can handle, and the guy I am planning it with is in the SEO/advertising field plus knows phpBB like the back of his hand. And he is reasonable priced. But I am drifting from my subject....
Bottom line is, is it bad form to put a donation link up? I really don't want to, because I take commercial money already (not much, but I try to). It seems to me that the two don't mix. |
Ten
Sorry I dont have a life just kidding, But it is not bad to ask for money to help with the site..... Hell you should not foot all the bill.... Just my OPINION  |
06-26-2005, 01:08 AM
|  | World Series Champ | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,379
Chips: 103
| | | I don't think it would be bad form to a donation link. Hope you are not too much in the red. |
06-26-2005, 01:14 AM
|  | ChipTalk.net Article Writer | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada Age: 34
Posts: 1,377
Chips: 4,248
| | Definitely not, in fact a lot of the forums I visit accept donations through PayPal to help cover the costs. You could even sweeten the deal by awarding chips based on the donation size so if someone wanted to get an item from the ChipTalk store, but were short a few chips, they could just make a donation. 
__________________ CT Hammers member  |
06-26-2005, 01:48 AM
| | Short Stack | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 19
Chips: 20
| | | I dont consider it bad form in any way. What ever keeps the site going. You have the market cornered as far as a PokerChip forum goes and its a great site thats easy to navigate and very user friendly.
The chiptalk bonus chips are a great deal, though some post more than others and it seems like there have been a great deal of posting just for that fact, but if you can manage it without it getting out of hand theres no reason it should become a problem.
I wouldent say I myself would just come out and donate for my use of the forums, but if I ever came into a group buy or saved some money from one of your sponsers, I would definatly throw out a donation for this site helping my pocket book out.
Keep up the good work.
TD |
06-26-2005, 01:54 AM
|  | World Series Final Table | | Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,834
Chips: 29,466
| | | How much $ do you need?
__________________
[URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8584/captlego402ji.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Currently Working on the [url=http://chiptalk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12490] Chip Breakdown Calculator [COLOR="Yellow"]V0.6 Now Available![/COLOR] [/url]
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06-26-2005, 03:20 AM
|  | World Series Final Table | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: portland Age: 98
Posts: 2,833
Chips: 1,818
| | | marketing group buys?
facilitation group buys? whats that worth to members?
I believe this board is unique - given the participation in group buys & members providing marketing/enthusiasm to other large audiences/forums.
Clearly, many would donate - what kind of expenses is this site running? Obviously, many collectors/sellers/vendors participate here.
10 - Your facillitation of this service to US demands homage 
__________________
“One cannot step twice in the same river.” – Heraclitus |
06-26-2005, 03:32 AM
| | In the Money | | Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 305
Chips: 303
| | I've read a lot here, learned a great deal, and even had a few giggles along the way.
Seems to me that's worth- something?
This is a great place. I say- do whatever you must to keep it going. Be it ads, donations, CT car wash day...?!!
. |
06-26-2005, 07:33 AM
|  | On the Bubble | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lilburn, GA
Posts: 163
Chips: 1,480
| | | Ten,
As much time as you obviously put into this site, doing anything to not also lose money on it is OK by me. If advertising were already covering your costs and you just wanted some more money, then I would take asking for donations to be bad form.
Thanks for everything, and I'll chip in some small amount that my budget will allow when the donate button goes in.
Later,
Bruce |
06-26-2005, 08:52 AM
| | On the Bubble | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: East Tennesse
Posts: 53
Chips: 104
| | | Ten,
Something to consider is Paypal's policy on gambling related payments. I seem to remember that about a year ago on Scott Keen's poker table site, his Paypal account was suspended due to what they (Paypal) thought went against their policy. He solicits donations from his board's users, just as you are contemplating.
I finished my table last fall, and do not visit his forum anymore, so I don't know how it all worked out. But, I just did a quick scan through his site, and it looks as though donations cannot be made via Paypal anymore. Before sinking too much into developing a donation system, you might contact Scott for his experience and suggestions. Not trying to tell you how to run the site, just trying to give you a head's up!!!
By the way, I'm all for donations or maybe even a subscription fee.
Greg J. | | |
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