Supporting membership

[Lowdown3]

We have had several requests for a Supporting Member program. We are definitely considering it.

I have done similar things on other boards I'm a member of, seems like they run anywhere from $40. to $100. a year. Benefits seem to run from absolutely nothing to being able to put an Avatar by your name or access to a special forum where only other Supporting members can go.

I'd like to offer more than this if we do it.

Being a marketing guy, I want to hear from YOU on this.

Given the above price comparisons, what would you consider a good value for this? What special features would you like to see or would make it more valuable to you? Would special discounts from advertisers and/or a gift certificate from an advertiser might it more palatable- wherein essentially you would get back some of the cost of the supporting membership via a gift certificate to an advertiser.

What about a special supporting members only sub forum? Ability to add an Avatar next to your name?

What benefits would you be looking for, other than the obvious help to the forum.

I'd like to offer a lot for the folks that did this. Looking for your input on this.

Thanks
Robert

[610Alpha]

I like the idea of being able to help defray the cost of running this forum. I am the website admin for my church so I know roughly what it costs monthly. I would suggest varying levels of support i.e. bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Each level would get a little more. Here is a quick example:

bronze - $30/yr - special forum access and maybe 1-3 discount coupons per year

silver - $50/yr - avatar, 3-6 coupons per year, special forum access

gold - $70/yr - 6-9 coupons, $10 certificate, special forum access, and avatar

platinum - $100/yr - coupon per month, $20 certificate, , special forum access, and avatar

Off the top of my head.

[protus]

100$ forum access and an autogrpahed picture of me....;p

i say 2 grades of memebership- a low end ( 20-30$) and high end 50-100$.

Each would have a memebers only forum to visit ( one forum they both use)
This is where the SP movies would be,special group buys for SP members and a discounted rate/coupon once a year that can be used with vendors or during the group sales.
The higher end members would get a special avatar or sig line, or they are in a speical quaterly drawing that only they can be part of.
just some fast thoughts

[Lowdown3]

Thanks for the comments/thoughts on this.

I'm leaning towards a special "hidden" forum that only Supporting members can view. In there we will post most if not all of the new semi private "training videos". So in other words only Supporting Members will be able to see some or all of these private training videos. This will be just one of the benefits of the supporting membership. In addition their will be something to the effect of
*A $25. gift certificate towards purchase of preparedness/survival items from the site sponsor.
*You'll be able to put an avatar next to your name
*"Supporting Member" title next to your username
*Special discounts on prep goods via the site vendors and others.

We will likely do payment via Paypal where NONE of your payment information goes any where but paypal. If folks choose not to use paypal other payment options would include Visa, MC and Discover or checks/money orders. We have 18 years in business and have never had a "security breach" and we put NOTHING on the computer or digitally that we don't have to. We process credit cards the old fashion way- punch in the number to an old school terminal. We are a family owned business so no "employee" is gonna run off with your info. In 18 years we have NEVER had a problem in that regard. Unlike a lot of other companies, we still offer the old fashioned "send a Money order and use an assumed name and drop box" approach.

The membership rate will likely be in the $50. to $60. for a YEAR range which is below average from other sites that offer a LOT less. I've found no place so far that offered that much for that little.

Still open to ideas though, keep them coming. Thanks

[610Alpha]

American Preppers Network has a gold Membership for $5/month and they offer the following:

• 10% discount all orders. SurvivalGearBags.com
• Free CPR Minikey with any order at The Cure
• Additional 2% off at Millers Grain House
• 30% off any purchase from SurvivalCD.com
• Free Lifetime Membership at SafeCastle Royal $29.95 value
• 50% off the book "Its A Disaster and What Are You Gonna Do About It?" (print version)
• Free E-Book "Its A Disaster and What Are You Gonna Do About It?"
• $10 off James Stevens Book "Making The Best Of Basics"
• Free Ad free sub-domains of Prepper.org

Just as an example. I didn't even know about APN until just the other day.

[protus]

5$
x
12 months
for self promoting swag.

who wants to learn anything when i can get a faked 5% off my order at some food place ( go price comparing and see)
sorry to be blunt...but a little research will point to why those promo's are in that 5$ a month deal.

[610Alpha]

just an example, S & P would obviously do better than that pitiful example. Need to go do my zombie workout so they won't catch me :)

[Boyd]

just an example, S & P would obviously do better than that pitiful example. Need to go do my zombie workout so they won't catch me :)

I think rule #1 is cardio ... http://www.horror-movies.ca/horror_16631.html :)

Regardless of perks, I'd be willing to contribute to this board, for the information alone is worth it, not to mention the contacts you make.

[610Alpha]

Here is the zombie fitness I saw a couple of months ago:.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/05/st_zombie_workout/