| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
admin
Forum Admin
Canada
2338 Posts |
 Posted - 02/10/2008 : 11:24:50
|
Hey gang,
As you all know we offer our hockey pools at PickupHockey.com for no charge. Yes that is right our hockey pools are FREE! This is something we are proud of and it will likely never change.
But an idea we are toying with is the OPTION to pay as little or as much as you want for your pool. So if you don't want to pay a cent then you don't have to, you'll still get a great pool with all the functions that currently exist. But if you choose to drop us a few bucks; $1, $5, $10, $15 or whatever, you can (hey, it might make you feel good right!)
As you can imagine, a site with a couple hundred thousand users and tens of millions of page views comes with a little overhead (ok, lots of overhead!  ) So this sounds like a way to cover some of the costs of the site, but still maintains a FREE HOCKEY POOL option if our visitors prefer. Basically you only pay IF you want to.
Anyway, I wanted to open up this discussion with our forum members and guests to get some feedback on what you all thought about that concept. I've always maintained that we're nothing without our members so let's have it.....
|
|
|
shinnyafterschool
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
375 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 12:39:26
|
| Seems like a good idea admin, It probably would make me feel good. Next year i'll be getting a draft of my own organized with my friends and I'll be sure we chip in a few bucks. |
 |
|
|
Leafs Rock Planet
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
902 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 13:20:44
|
I think that this idea could potentially work.
Another idea that I think this site could possibly ponder is a pay per upgrade feature. Which could include something like the more you pay, the more features would be included in your pool. Just a thought. |
|
|
|
Leafsfan_94
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1070 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 16:44:11
|
that sounds like a good idea
unfortunately i wont be in on it
>>>Go Leafs Go<<<
Leafsfan_94
|
|
|
|
Guest4043
( )
|
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 20:50:17
|
quote:
Originally posted by Leafsfan_94
that sounds like a good idea
unfortunately i wont be in on it
>>>Go Leafs Go<<<
Leafsfan_94
why? |
|
|
|
Ripley
PickupHockey Pro
USA
365 Posts |
|
|
MarkhamMax
Rookie
Canada
102 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2008 : 22:59:22
|
I think what attracts your current volume of members here is the rare $0 price tag.
And the traffic is what draws the interest of advertisers. So, to keep that kind of traffic hitting the site - it has to continue to maintain that offer.
That said, I would think the ads have to carry the bulk of the financial load, and an optional pay structure for premium services could be implemented to pick up the slack.
What those premium services will be is for you to decide.
What I would suggest, is that those premium services shouldn't punish the user who wants to use the site for free, or else you will find yourself losing the volume of traffic needed to maintain ad dollars.
Its a bit like a dog chasing its tail in that regard.
So I guess you have two questions:
- What premium services are people willing to pay for?
- How do I keep the site attractive to the freeloaders?
The only thing I would have wanted in previous years that I considered paying for was real-time scores. Of course, now this can be had for free on the NHL's web site among others. So what led me to pay for pool websites in the past? The site itself. These sites were fine tuned, staffed, offered video, timely updates, etc...
It's a tough draw. You'll have to put your thinking cap on to attract willing wallets on a semi-pay site.
My instinct says it's got to be all or nothing. Pay or no pay. Period. And if it involves pay, the site must be every bit as good as your competitors. |
|
|
|
admin
Forum Admin
Canada
2338 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2008 : 10:37:40
|
MM I may have misunderstood but it sounds like you are thinking that we are converting the site to a pay site. To be clear, we are not. In this scenario it will remain 100% free. We would only include the OPTION to pay if you felt inclined to do so.
I do agree with you that some premium services could be added that we could charge for as well such as real time stats, ad removal, etc. Any others?
I really would like to get feedback from everyone so let's please keep this topic lively. |
|
|
|
Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2008 : 10:50:48
|
Here's the thing, if people don't have to pay, they won't. With all due respect, I never used this site when another out there(which will remain nameless) was free. The only reason I can here was because it was free and stayed free while the other costs money.
I do agree with pay for premium services. Those guys that have the same draft that lasts year over year or those geeks (like me) that want to know every number for every player under everyone condition. Those people that want the e-mail each day to see how their team is doing, all of that should be paid for.
In the end, I am not really sure if I would pay for something extra. I am just being completely honest. If there were two options of basically the same thing, one free and one not, I would by lying if I said I would pay for it. |
|
|
|
Guest7418
( )
|
Posted - 02/11/2008 : 11:10:45
|
| Will never pay. |
|
|
|
Tiger
Top Prospect
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2008 : 15:18:45
|
| I would pay. I have money and it's no skin off my back. just like a restaurant, i go to where I get good service and the food is good. Other pay sites have crappy service so I don't go to them, I come here. I would pay a few bucks. But I don't think everyone would but obviously that is ok too. its a good concept to pay what you want |
|
|
|
MarkhamMax
Rookie
Canada
102 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2008 : 21:28:19
|
quote:
Originally posted by admin
MM I may have misunderstood but it sounds like you are thinking that we are converting the site to a pay site. To be clear, we are not. In this scenario it will remain 100% free. We would only include the OPTION to pay if you felt inclined to do so.
I do agree with you that some premium services could be added that we could charge for as well such as real time stats, ad removal, etc. Any others?
I really would like to get feedback from everyone so let's please keep this topic lively.
Hi Admin. Yes, I understood the proposal for an optional pay portion - that's why I mention keeping the site 'attractive to freeloaders' in the portion of my post that reads: "you have two questions to consider".
I think what may have thrown you off was my opinion at the end of the post that I feel it has to be an all pay, or no pay site. This was more of a response to the idea that people who do pay will get the benefit of "added services".
If you are proposing that the people who do pay will get no additional benefits vs. those who do not pay, then I don't see you generating much money, or at least 'significant' money, other than from a handful of your faithful core members.
In essence, I guess I am saying that if you NEED to generate money from memberships, it won't happen all the time there is an option to not pay. |
Edited by - MarkhamMax on 02/11/2008 21:29:20 |
|
|
|
GoOilGo
Top Prospect
Canada
42 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2008 : 00:37:19
|
| I think it's a good idea I'll definetly give in a toonie or so, I'm an admin pet now. |
|
|
|
Leafsfan_94
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1070 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2008 : 09:54:09
|
actually i really liek this site, so i may send in i dont know maybe $15.00 if you could tell me where to send it
quote:
Originally posted by Leafsfan_94
that sounds like a good idea
unfortunately i wont be in on it
>>>Go Leafs Go<<<
Leafsfan_94
Leafsfan_94
|
|
|
|
admin
Forum Admin
Canada
2338 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2008 : 16:37:05
|
Hey gang,
if we were to take this aprroach the money would go towards the operation of the site (hosting, staff payments, upgrades, maintenance etc.) if were were fortunate enough to make a profit then great but that is highly unlikely in the short term.
Just a heads up, we won't be doing this for playoffs, maybe the next regular season. And since this thread is a little old now, if anyone is just reading it now, a payment (of any size you wish) would be 100% optional. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Pay as little or a much as you want for your pool 
