Jason Perry
Founder and Leader
Site Founder
Staff Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Lifetime Supporter
Registered Member
Thanks as always for your participation and being part of this PEB FORUM community!
I have gone through a lot of work to update the site over the past few months. Let me explain a bit.
First, when I say "update," it truly is an update. The forum software is Xenforo. (A great software for forums!) The Xenforo platform is what have used for the past several years. It is, in my estimation, the best out there. That said, it has taken a long (or maybe more accurately, a Loooooooonggggggggg) time for me to and the various pieces (software platform, hosting, add-ons, etc., etc., and probably others) to get things working the way I hoped and expected. Along the way, I have had to spend a lot of money to not only maintain but to try to advance the site. To date, I am not really satisfied with the results over the last year or so....but, I am pleased with recent developments).
Additionally, I have changed hosting providers, have increased the site's capabilities, and have done a lot of work to improve the user experience. This site is always a work in progress. And, based on resources (internal and external) it has been a continual process, with some steps forward and some steps back along the way. With a lot of work on the backend and server side as well as the work of designers (and, also the contribution of a lot of the moderators and long time members of the site) I think the site is a helpful resource.
I will be posting more about the issue of supporting the site in the near term. I have personally spent tens of thousands of dollars to make the site what it is. About two years ago, I started to show Google adsense ads. They eventually resulted in about $50 per month in revenue. I have put up a link for an "upgrade" (which did not give any additional benefit) for supporting members at $1/mo for six months (which I am grateful for those who have opted for that contribution; just so the people know, it is a net (after fees) of 67 cents a month.
The ads were much more revenue producing. About $100/mo when they were up and optimized. Past 6 months or so, between the new software, the new hosting account, and other issues, I was not able to pull off having ad based support on the PEBFORUM, so that support went away.
Here is where I am at as far as the forum and my thoughts on revenue. I am at a steady net loss personally from the costs of the PEBFORUM. I love the forum, and will likely maintain it, no matter what. Still, it is a cost, I lose money over time on the forum and my aspirations have always been for much more out of the community we have built.
What do I want from the forum? Well, I have always hoped that the information and community help folks in understanding the issues and the process for getting their due. I have hoped that the forum would at least be self-supporting, i.e., not cost me more than it takes in for maintaining the site. But, in the back of my pocket, I had hoped for much more. I had hoped (and still hope) that we could create a self-supporting community that could work to effect change. To advocate for members, to have enough resources to assist and to advocate for change.
We are not there yet. I have re-instituted some ads to help with the costs. I may end up charging for "enhanced" features. I don't know what will come and have to see what additional features I can instute to help folks. We have more than 45,000 members. We have more than 175,000 messages/posts on the PEBFORUM. Many thousands of more folks and many multiples of the member's number have read the forums and have chosen not to sign up.
For now, I have added some ads from outside advertisers. That is the way ahead for maintaining the site and the community. However, if everyone who joined would pledge to give dollar a month (or even $1),al) , I could do a lot. If there were a higher gift of $20 or more, I could set up representation clinics, lobby Congress for improvements and fixes to the problems, and be equipped to fight further for folks. I really woudn't put much hope out that every member would contribute $1. But, if ten percent gave a dollar a month (at least for a year, but on an ongoing basis) the possibilities go up greatly. I am working on establishing a non-profit organization to advance our goals.
We will see what direction the New Years takes. I am interested in any input.
Regards,
Jason
I have gone through a lot of work to update the site over the past few months. Let me explain a bit.
First, when I say "update," it truly is an update. The forum software is Xenforo. (A great software for forums!) The Xenforo platform is what have used for the past several years. It is, in my estimation, the best out there. That said, it has taken a long (or maybe more accurately, a Loooooooonggggggggg) time for me to and the various pieces (software platform, hosting, add-ons, etc., etc., and probably others) to get things working the way I hoped and expected. Along the way, I have had to spend a lot of money to not only maintain but to try to advance the site. To date, I am not really satisfied with the results over the last year or so....but, I am pleased with recent developments).
Additionally, I have changed hosting providers, have increased the site's capabilities, and have done a lot of work to improve the user experience. This site is always a work in progress. And, based on resources (internal and external) it has been a continual process, with some steps forward and some steps back along the way. With a lot of work on the backend and server side as well as the work of designers (and, also the contribution of a lot of the moderators and long time members of the site) I think the site is a helpful resource.
I will be posting more about the issue of supporting the site in the near term. I have personally spent tens of thousands of dollars to make the site what it is. About two years ago, I started to show Google adsense ads. They eventually resulted in about $50 per month in revenue. I have put up a link for an "upgrade" (which did not give any additional benefit) for supporting members at $1/mo for six months (which I am grateful for those who have opted for that contribution; just so the people know, it is a net (after fees) of 67 cents a month.
The ads were much more revenue producing. About $100/mo when they were up and optimized. Past 6 months or so, between the new software, the new hosting account, and other issues, I was not able to pull off having ad based support on the PEBFORUM, so that support went away.
Here is where I am at as far as the forum and my thoughts on revenue. I am at a steady net loss personally from the costs of the PEBFORUM. I love the forum, and will likely maintain it, no matter what. Still, it is a cost, I lose money over time on the forum and my aspirations have always been for much more out of the community we have built.
What do I want from the forum? Well, I have always hoped that the information and community help folks in understanding the issues and the process for getting their due. I have hoped that the forum would at least be self-supporting, i.e., not cost me more than it takes in for maintaining the site. But, in the back of my pocket, I had hoped for much more. I had hoped (and still hope) that we could create a self-supporting community that could work to effect change. To advocate for members, to have enough resources to assist and to advocate for change.
We are not there yet. I have re-instituted some ads to help with the costs. I may end up charging for "enhanced" features. I don't know what will come and have to see what additional features I can instute to help folks. We have more than 45,000 members. We have more than 175,000 messages/posts on the PEBFORUM. Many thousands of more folks and many multiples of the member's number have read the forums and have chosen not to sign up.
For now, I have added some ads from outside advertisers. That is the way ahead for maintaining the site and the community. However, if everyone who joined would pledge to give dollar a month (or even $1),al) , I could do a lot. If there were a higher gift of $20 or more, I could set up representation clinics, lobby Congress for improvements and fixes to the problems, and be equipped to fight further for folks. I really woudn't put much hope out that every member would contribute $1. But, if ten percent gave a dollar a month (at least for a year, but on an ongoing basis) the possibilities go up greatly. I am working on establishing a non-profit organization to advance our goals.
We will see what direction the New Years takes. I am interested in any input.
Regards,
Jason
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