I would at least start with a subscription plan. I have been a Swaylock’s member for 15+ years for FREE. I would subscribe fror $50-60/per year going forward. I wonder how many others would do that? 100-200? I login every day and would very much miss this site.
This kind of goes to what I’m saying.
A poster says they are willing to subscribe for the information they want. Just like surfline…
And the successful social media platforms have ways for content creators to monetize their efforts.
And those successful platforms have a way for the content creators to block negative comments and abusive followers.
If you want success, follow success
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subscriptions available
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creators can make money on content
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creators have control over which comments allowed to stay
These all sound like good ideas to me.
How about posting is free but archives available by subscription? Current posting continues unabated but you pay to research past threads. Is that even possible?
Thing is; There is already a problem with newbies asking the same old questions that could easily be found in the Archives. In my opinion; You’ve got to either pay for both or make both free. If people post for free, they will just ask the same old question that will eventually be answered by somebody. No need to do a little leg work in the archives. Especially if you have to pay to access Archives.
Charging for ability to post makes sense. If you’re going to do that then you need free content to lure people in, otherwise you get no new members. I’m not sure how then you charge for archives. I’d start with a nominal fee and increase it each year and watch the stats. I think $50/year, while fair for the quality of content, is probably going to drive the hobbyists away.
I wouldn’t be too optimistic that people would pay to use this website. You might get a few but not enough to keep the lights on and certainly not enough to have a thriving forum community. Pros would probably rather a site like this not exist and hobbyists aren’t going to pay for it.
‘‘IF YOU WANT SUCCESS, FOLLOW SUCCESS’’
Could not be more well said.
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I agree with what mako says.
I consider myself a hobbyist & I have posted my last few builds as well as asked questions during builds, but the fact is I have a main business that is not related to surfboard building. While I get extreme stoke everytime that I build a new board, that has become sporadic recently as my other business is my priority. I haven’t built a board in over a year & haven’t been on the site in quite a few months. I just started looking at the site again because I’m planning another board build later this winter.
With inflation so high & the prospects of a recession looming, I can’t justify paying an annual subscription for a site that i’m not using much more than once or twice a year. It’s a bummer I know, but the thing that will be the biggest shame is not being able to talk with the great guys I’ve come to know on this site like bb30; stoneburner; mcding; and huck. I value the information they’ve given to me over the years.
All true mako. And Parthenon is right. Bleak economic times ahead. I’m old, but still working and doing pretty good with my occupation. The one that makes me money.
More or less what guys do on Instagram no?
I think that if you want to make it work you’re just going to have to start trying some of these different suggestions until you hit on the formula that works best for your needs & circumstances
I do think there is enough interest to keep it going. And I see it filling a real need in the surfing world.
Other than Surfline, Swaylock’s is the only surf site I spend any time on. And I visit every day.
It’s funny though; I mention it to one of my customers when selling them a blank or cloth, resin etc. and they’ve never heard of it.
Which seems crazy to me because every internet search I do with a question will almost always have a swaylocks result on the first page. Maybe those folks just don’t comb the internet for answers?
Words of wisdom.Thunder of applause. Good that we are still a few thinking the same.
Waiting for the tsunami that will wipe us dinosaurs out for good.
Meanwhile…
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