Supporters section?

[ivan747]

For split second I saw a button on the forum page saying something like "Supporters". For $25 you get access to a private section of the forum and private, exclusive videos. Dave, what's going on? 

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;area=subscriptions

[EEVblog]

Yes, I am trying to setup a private supports section on the forum (but am having a few technical difficulties at present).
The idea is that the people who want to donate get at least something in return. i.e. access to a section of the forum that regular members don't.
What use is that? I don't really know yet, but I could maybe posts some behind the scenes/update videos or something, have discount coupons for stuff or something like that 
Note that this is NOT the "extra paid content" I've been thinking about, it's just a benefit for those who donate.

Those who don't wish to donate, you haven't lost anything.

As always, comments invited.

[marshallh]

Well I just paid up so we'll see soon enough

[EEVblog]

Well I just paid up so we'll see soon enough

I'd better post something in there then! 
So it all worked fine and you now have access to the section?
It seems I've got it working now. Regular members and guests will see the section exists, but won't be able to access it.
Those with over 1000 posts should automatically get access also.

[marshallh]

Well I just paid up so we'll see soon enough

I'd better post something in there then! 
So it all worked fine and you now have access to the section?
It seems I've got it working now. Regular members and guests will see the section exists, but won't be able to access it.
Those with over 1000 posts should automatically get access also.

"The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.

The paypal transaction said it was via eCheck, odd because usually I just pull off some of the account balance

[EEVblog]

"The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.

Hmm. It should have automatically changed your profile to "Supporter"...

The paypal transaction said it was via eCheck, odd because usually I just pull off some of the account balance

Hmm again, eCheck usually takes days to process.

I can't see you (or anyone) in the subscriptions section, it's empty. But when I try to add you manually it says you are already subscribed.
Hmm, something ain't right.
I did just fix IPN notification in Paypal though, so maybe that was it.

[marshallh]

Working now

[EEVblog]

Working now

Yep, I see Supporter next to your name on the left there.
You still aren't showing up in the internal subscriber list though, crazy...

[EEVblog]

Ah, it had set your subscription to expire in 2005!   
Fixed.

[Lightages]

So all those who have contributed money in the past, those who have contributed much of their time and expertise to help you grow the forum, and those who cannot afford to pay do not get the benefit of this "private club"? Is this really fair?

[GeoffS]

So all those who have contributed money in the past, those who have contributed much of their time and expertise to help you grow the forum, and those who cannot afford to pay do not get the benefit of this "private club"? Is this really fair?

If the information in the supporters section is over and above that which is currently available on the forum, I don't see a problem.
Existing users are not losing anything. Users will decide if the extra 'goodies' are considered worth contributing for.

[EEVblog]

So all those who have contributed money in the past, those who have contributed much of their time and expertise to help you grow the forum, and those who cannot afford to pay do not get the benefit of this "private club"? Is this really fair?

No, it's not. That's why I said those who have made large contributions to the forum (1000+ posts) will automatically get added (about 35 people I think currently).
I also have not mentioned that those who have donated in the past will also get access, just let me know if you want it. I have no way to automatically correlate previous paypal donations to forum accounts.

So the questions comes down to do I offer nothing at all to those who have donated financially (and with large content contributions), or do I offer something?
And if I do offer them something, even if it's just token access to a "private" board on the forum, what's the threshold? Is it a thousand posts, 500?, 250? 100?, 50? Does the person at 900 posts, or 400 posts, or 200 feel like they are being left out?

[PA0PBZ]

So all those who have contributed money in the past, those who have contributed much of their time and expertise to help you grow the forum, and those who cannot afford to pay do not get the benefit of this "private club"? Is this really fair?

Oh come on, only 48 more posts and you are in.

[nitro2k01]

So, what I'm thinking is, what is the incentive? What are people supposed to talk about in the supporter forum? One benefit is that it's out of the way of curious and Googley eyes. But is that enough incentive? Talking about things without getting replies from "common idiots"? Gossiping out of public view? I guess time will tell what people will discuss.

I think at the very least, that supporters should be able to turn off the ads.

[EEVblog]

So, what I'm thinking is, what is the incentive? What are people supposed to talk about in the supporter forum? One benefit is that it's out of the way of curious and Googley eyes. But is that enough incentive? Talking about things without getting replies from "common idiots"? Gossiping out of public view? I guess time will tell what people will discuss.

I don't really know if a private section in itself is an "incentive" or not, but at least it gives me a place to potentially offer something additional. e.g. I could upload the odd video of something and have it set private, the URL or which is only available in the private section. I could also have discount codes for merch or other products, or maybe even giveaways or something. Maybe show a project I'm working on that I wouldn't normally show to the general public yet?
The posting volume should also be low enough so that I'm able to read every post, unlike the rest of the forum with 600+ posts a day. So if you are a supporter and want to ask me something that would be the best place.
And I'm open to other suggestions.

I think at the very least, that supporters should be able to turn off the ads.

Yes, I agree. I'll see if that's possible. Off-hand I don't think so.

[Precisiontools]

Here's an incentive...how about we support someone who made the effort to bring us all together?

[ISmellBurning]

The first words on every page of this forum are as follows...

"EEVblog Electronics Community Forum ......    A FREE & OPEN Forum For Electronics Enthusiasts & Professionals"

Just saying, but with 'paid for, private' sections, you may feel the need to reword this.   

[firewalker]

What about users that donate an amount every month?

Alexander.

[PA0PBZ]

Well, I paid. Not because of wanting access to all the secrets, but just because it was about time to make a small donation, and this is a good moment to do so 

[marshallh]

There are a variety of things I will be more forthcoming to talk about when it won't be spidered and indexed by Google.

Works in progress, more speicalized things, etc.. sure there are others too.

[Rufus]

No, it's not. That's why I said those who have made large contributions to the forum (1000+ posts) will automatically get added (about 35 people I think currently).

Like Kiriakos-GR still our largest contributor?

So the questions comes down to do I offer nothing at all to those who have donated financially (and with large content contributions), or do I offer something?

When you offer something in return for a donation it becomes a payment. You won't attract payments without offering a lot and loose at least some of the 'feel-good' attraction of donating.

In the past it has annoyed the hell out of me to find a donation to the author of some freeware later turned into a payment by updates being made available only to doners. I deliberately didn't provide any forum profile with my donation so didn't even get access to the updates I had unknowingly paid for.

[GeoffS]

No, it's not. That's why I said those who have made large contributions to the forum (1000+ posts) will automatically get added (about 35 people I think currently).

Like Kiriakos-GR?

Rules don't apply to banned users, that's why they get banned.   

[EEVblog]

The first words on every page of this forum are as follows...
"EEVblog Electronics Community Forum ......    A FREE & OPEN Forum For Electronics Enthusiasts & Professionals"
Just saying, but with 'paid for, private' sections, you may feel the need to reword this.   

Ok, so you have a better suggestion about how I can offer something for the donators and major contributors?
If so I'm all ears.
I thought a section on the forum would be a good idea because:
a) Many people already have account, no need to set up and account and visit somewhere else.
b) The forum software has the mechanism in place to do this already.

[EEVblog]

What about users that donate an amount every month?

Of course. If you are one of those contributors then drop me an email and I'll add you.
I don't have an automated way to know what contributors correspond to what forum accounts.

[EEVblog]

There are a variety of things I will be more forthcoming to talk about when it won't be spidered and indexed by Google.
Works in progress, more speicalized things, etc.. sure there are others too.

That could be one of the benefits I guess. Potentially get some technical feedback from a narrow group of people instead of going public.
I'm pretty sure that section will be hidden form the bots, but have no way to actually test this?