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Retention and growth of Sawhorses

Not sure if its possible but why not have have a limited amount of visits to the forum before being blocked with a friendly notice stating "membership required if you would like to continue benefiting from this forum". It could be based off of the PC IP address maybe ???

Also Virginia has the VBCOA which i'm sure other states have something similar, if we could reach out to those organisations to let their members be aware of this forum and its benefits.

Just my two cents.
 
If that was actually an option, and I am NOT and IT geek, I think that could be a good gateway, maybe a 100 visits, 200? Or more, but if you are a constant lurker, at some point you need to step up?
 
Updated numbers:

We would have been at 120 Sawhorses if everyone would have renewed from the beginning of this year. As of now we have 84 Sawhorses and 36 that have let their subscription run out. It's hard to believe that many can't afford less than $0.10 per day or $2.92 per month. I am going to work on a Paypal Payment plan. Don't forget we lose about 3% to Paypal too but that is the best way to collect money from all over the globe.
 
I will need to think about this issue a bit for how to get people to contribute. It seems Jeff has worked hard on ideas. The amount is not that great and I know budgets are tight. Perhaps one thing that is in they way is that the members list is large 5K + and the real posters are no where near the members numbers.

Further, those that post and contribute I would place in a different aspect of consideration. There are many across the country that are inspectors who just do it as a job. Then there are those that do it as a professional and go beyond the 9:00 to 5:00. Those are the people that are most inclined to post and become saw horses.
 
Does it cost anything to add a Donate bar at the top of the page ? I just checked another of the forums i use .

I know its useful cos i have donated when i feel i've learned something useful. I know it won't solve the problem but it might help.

Laser Pointers
 
swerve said:
Does it cost anything to add a Donate bar at the top of the page ? I just checked another of the forums i use .I know its useful cos i have donated when i feel i've learned something useful. I know it won't solve the problem but it might help.

Laser Pointers
Click to expand...
I think there use to be one may be in one if the threads now

That is why I think a quarterly post to ask for donations is one way to go
 
Yes CDA I agree! We also need to encourage people to support as often as we can. This site is of major value to anyone that has a code question or a compliance issue that they may not be sure of.
 
I agree a donation button may help and definitely support the limit views before membership, but I think even 100 visits is too high. I would think more like 10-20; just enough so they know what they'll get for their money. As others have said, this site is a HUGE asset that I would have no problem paying a little more for, but I know there is that fine line of how much is too much. I just consider it a cost of doing plan reviews/inspections and do not even think twice about it.

I wish I had more ideas to help.

Thanks for all of your time/work you put in on this!
 
midwestFCO said:
I agree a donation button may help and definitely support the limit views before membership, but I think even 100 visits is too high. I would think more like 10-20; just enough so they know what they'll get for their money. As others have said, this site is a HUGE asset that I would have no problem paying a little more for, but I know there is that fine line of how much is too much. I just consider it a cost of doing plan reviews/inspections and do not even think twice about it.I wish I had more ideas to help.

Thanks for all of your time/work you put in on this!
Click to expand...
I agree with a lower view limit then need to pay. Being free is a good thing to a limit, but when the views far out way the sawhorse membership then it is not.
 
Position statement post.

What if there was a section that a home owner or building owner could post a question and pay to get a specific code article, area specific, position statement from 5 individuals in that specific code discipline.

Current post example;

Florida, commercial application, is an in use cover required for a temporary wiring method for a trade show? Is GFCI also required?

As per NEC 2008--------------XXXXX
 
Gregg Harris said:
What if there was a section that a home owner or building owner could post a question and pay to get a specific code article, area specific, position statement from 5 individuals in that specific code discipline.Current post example;

Florida, commercial application, is an in use cover required for a temporary wiring method for a trade show? Is GFCI also required?

As per NEC 2008--------------XXXXX
Click to expand...
That is an interesting idea but we would then have to guarantee that someone would answer it and answer it professionally without controversy. We have a hard enough time agreeing on black and white issues when it comes to code interpretation.
 
jar546 said:
That is an interesting idea but we would then have to guarantee that someone would answer it and answer it professionally without controversy. We have a hard enough time agreeing on black and white issues when it comes to code interpretation.
Click to expand...
Post the specific article and code edition in use at the specific location, Florida NEC 2008 IRC IBC etc. If no answer no pay, I rarely see a post that does not get responded to and I believe that if it was implemented that it would encourage participation and gain revenue at the same time.

There a plenty of sites "subject specific" that will answer questions that people need answers to because they have been told something that can or can not be done.

An example that I see frequently is areas that have amended articles that do not get attention.

Example IMC 1101.10, IRC 1411.6

Modification Number: IRC 2012 18.

Section: M1411.6 Locking access port caps.

Modification: Deleted without substitution.

Reason: The section appears to solve a non-issue at an added cost to the consumer.

Proponent: Home Builders Association of South Carolina.

Effective Date: July 1, 2013.

,
 
conarb said:
Jeff:Why not contact Advanced Medical Technologies and see if they would be interested in sponsoring the ADA forum, they spend lots of money promoting ADA and it would seem that they would be interested in sponsoring a forum that supports their cause, especially in light of their current problem with the ACA. There is no better way to promote the sales of your products than to mandate them by code, look at what the Fire Sprinkler industry did with their code mandate, in this case it isn't mandating the use of the products, but mandating the increased utility of their products.
Click to expand...
I went to AMT's website and looked at their Issues Overview page. I am not sure this is what they are looking for. I do not see where they are advocating for ADA compliance. Please point me in the right direction if I am not seeing something. Their focus is elsewhere concerning access to medical.
 
Jef:

In the durable medical goods industry AdcMed alone¹ spent $1,237,836 lobbying congress last year, I'd contact them, they've got their laws past, now they need to implement them. what better way than through code enforcement? If you check the information on the site you'll see they have spent as much as $6 million in some prior years, unfortunately it only goes back to 1998, not far enough to see what they spent for the ADA itself.

¹ Lobbying Spending Database - AdvaMed, 2013 | OpenSecrets
 
Just spoke with the general counsel for Ava Med. They represent a lot of implant device companies and others and do not believe that there is a connection to us other than wheelchairs, therefore they are not interested and don't believe we are a good fit for advertising.
 
How much, on average, does it cost to operate the site? How many regular posters are there? How many regular thread starters? How many readers? Would a smaller amount from a larger group of people be better?

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What about restricting the search function?

Non-registered users cannot search the forum. Or, let them search and see the thread titles returned, but do not let them see the body of the threads. Or maybe just let them see the original post. (Would this cut down on bandwidth requirements?) This might get people to register.

Registered users can only perform a set number of free searches per month / quarter / year. (The downside might be recurring posts on the same topic because registered users ran out of free searches.)

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Can you limit the number of free posts or number of threads started per / month / quarter / year by registered users. Then let them purchase additional posts. $0.25 per post, $5 unlimited for the month, $40 unlimited for the year? If they are smart, they will opt for the sawhorse at $35; but, not everyone is smart. This might get registered users to become paying members.

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As far as restricting more areas for only sawhorses, can you tailor the sections each person cannot see? For example, hiding commercial areas from those only participating in the residential areas would not have an impact.

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Perhaps restrict mobile apps to sawhorses or registered users that subscribe for that perk, say $15 / year. (I myself do not use mobile apps. I tend to prefer using a normal website over the mobile app. Maybe it is just me.) Some registered users may pony up the cash.

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Order and sell calendars

Twelve months of JAR pictures at various job sites?
 
Mech, let me address a few of the items.

First I am not sure that placing restrictions will get us the growth that we need. In order to get people to register I don't allow guests to view photographs. The more photos that everyone posts that are relevant to the subject, the more likely people are to register.

Next, We do have lots of option for contributing to the forum. Since these options were put into place, starting at $5, not one person has taken us up on it. I believe that $35 for the year is quite the bargain and 2 years for $60 AND you get a free Code Check 7th Edition is more than a bargain. The problem is that once you register, there is very little incentive to contribute if you are just lurking and gaining info that way. We simply have to rely on those with good intentions that can afford $0.10 a day.

Right now all the bills are paid and I am waiting for another bill from the IT company for some banner changes and Google analytic changes we are making. There is also a software update that has to be completed, probably this weekend so I suspect she will bill us for everything all at once. For Jan we will be getting the lease bill for the year with the new rates and they just went up about 3% mid 2013 so I am suspecting another increase. This year we had a bunch of software license renewal and maintenance fees hit plus updates on mobile apps. Apple wanted more money to renew the iPhone app we have too. Maybe I should charge for downloading the mobile apps???
 
The good news is that I received an email from the advertising agency that handles Simpson Strong Tie and other companies. They had preliminary talks with Simpson about us after I spent some time pitching the forum to them the other day and so far they are very interested. She is suppose to have a meeting with them tomorrow and get back with me by Friday if all goes according to plan. We did not talk money yet as we don't know what they are going to do.

I also spoke with No-Burn and they are going to mull it over but I did not get a great feel from them. I did not get returned phone calls from Weyerhauser or Roseburg.
 
+ = + = +

Simpson-Strongtie is not the only game around......Tamlyn also manufactures connectors.

See the link: Tamlyn - Xtreme Trimâ„¢, Color Flashing, and building products



What about the American Wood Council, [ AWC ] ...American Forest & Paper Association

[ NF & PA ], ...Weyerhauser, ...Lowe's, ...the Plumbing & Drainage Institute [ PDI ],

...various water heater manufacturers [ O.E. Smith, ...Bradford-white, ...American,

and others], ...various plumbing & piping manufacturers, ...various electrical product

manufacturers [ Leviton, ...Square D, others ].....In addition to operating this Forum

Jeff, ...it sounds as though you also now need a marketing department to pimp this

Forum !

A QUESTION FOR THE SMART FOLKS [ especially Jim Brown ]: In the

interest of mutual promotion of the industry & all things code related, ...would ICC

[ aka - The Cow ] advertise on here ?........NOTE: This would be a good opportunity

for them to mend some fences and "extend the olive branch" to the many code

officials they insulted in Denver.



+ = + = +
 
I doubt that ICC would be inclined to even acknowledge this forum, much less help out, as it became in existence due to their dismantling of their forum. Just sayin......

Would be a good endorsement, but I doubt it will happen...............
 
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