Suscription model for the site

[Guest regulation]

My thoughts are that very few people will pay such a charge -- too few to make it worthwhile. $30 is more than it costs to search the online archives of the New York Times or the L.A. Times, for example. Like I said above, I just don't know of a lot of people who have made money by charging for content on the Net. Even companies like AOL, Slate and Britannica had to give it up. People are just too accustomed to getting content free of charge. I know I am.

 

HB mentioned that the number of advertisers who would want to be represented on a site like this is very small. Why? One reason is that not many advertisers want to be accused of condoning prostitution. Another is that the audience they can reach by advertising here is pretty small by the standards of the ad industry -- just men who want to hire male escorts, plus a few more who don't but want to fantasize about it. That being the case, I have a feeling that charging for access of any kind is not going to produce a huge amount of revenue even if it did not drive people away.

 

I haven't thought a lot about this problem, but I guess if I were HB I would consider hooking up with an aggregator that sells ads for porn sites. That might boost his ad revenue.

[Guest regulation]

My thoughts are that very few people will pay such a charge -- too few to make it worthwhile. $30 is more than it costs to search the online archives of the New York Times or the L.A. Times, for example. Like I said above, I just don't know of a lot of people who have made money by charging for content on the Net. Even companies like AOL, Slate and Britannica had to give it up. People are just too accustomed to getting content free of charge. I know I am.

 

HB mentioned that the number of advertisers who would want to be represented on a site like this is very small. Why? One reason is that not many advertisers want to be accused of condoning prostitution. Another is that the audience they can reach by advertising here is pretty small by the standards of the ad industry -- just men who want to hire male escorts, plus a few more who don't but want to fantasize about it. That being the case, I have a feeling that charging for access of any kind is not going to produce a huge amount of revenue even if it did not drive people away.

 

I haven't thought a lot about this problem, but I guess if I were HB I would consider hooking up with an aggregator that sells ads for porn sites. That might boost his ad revenue.

[Losgatan]

It seems pointless to compare this site to a purely commercial "pay for content" enterprise. The audience here has a very special interest and we all owe HooBoy a debt of gratitude for keeping the site going inspite of the fact that paid advertising may never fully support its costs.

 

We also owe him our financial support. If the "voluntary contribution" model doesn't work, then it would be perfectly reasonable for HooBoy to charge a monthly subscription fee of $15-20.

 

I find this site to be extremely valuable -- and entertaining -- and would gladly help support it. Surely there must be others here who feel the same way.

[Losgatan]

It seems pointless to compare this site to a purely commercial "pay for content" enterprise. The audience here has a very special interest and we all owe HooBoy a debt of gratitude for keeping the site going inspite of the fact that paid advertising may never fully support its costs.

 

We also owe him our financial support. If the "voluntary contribution" model doesn't work, then it would be perfectly reasonable for HooBoy to charge a monthly subscription fee of $15-20.

 

I find this site to be extremely valuable -- and entertaining -- and would gladly help support it. Surely there must be others here who feel the same way.

[Guest regulation]

If you really believe that, why not organize a periodic fund-raising drive for the site like PBS? Just tell people that X amount of money is needed to keep the site going for a given period, and that we have until X date to raise it from contributions or the site goes down -- or perhaps one or more features would have to be eliminated to make up the shortfall. That would put your theory to the test.

[Guest regulation]

If you really believe that, why not organize a periodic fund-raising drive for the site like PBS? Just tell people that X amount of money is needed to keep the site going for a given period, and that we have until X date to raise it from contributions or the site goes down -- or perhaps one or more features would have to be eliminated to make up the shortfall. That would put your theory to the test.

[HooBoy]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-00 AT 09:46AM (EST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-00 AT 09:44 AM (EST)

 

At this point in time there are a few people who are contributing money voluntarily. I will get advertisers eventually and of course if you buy from the Sex Toy Store, Video Store or any of the other banners on the site, you're helping to make this worthwhile for my time.

 

I am much like the escorts that are reviewed here, my time is what is valuable.

 

But I do not want to see rancor develop over how money should be raised. If you do not want to contribute, so be it, you are still welcome here. If you do, Bless you. Eventually, I will have features that will be exclusive to supporters, but the basics of what you see now, including this message center, I think should remain free.

 

Naturally, I will not be able to maintain it if my income does not exceed my expenditures or if the time/value equation does not warrant the commitment.

 

Thank you for your input on this issue. It has been very helpful and enlightening for me.

 

HooBoy

Email: HooBoy@male4malescorts.com

[HooBoy]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-00 AT 09:46AM (EST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-00 AT 09:44 AM (EST)

 

At this point in time there are a few people who are contributing money voluntarily. I will get advertisers eventually and of course if you buy from the Sex Toy Store, Video Store or any of the other banners on the site, you're helping to make this worthwhile for my time.

 

I am much like the escorts that are reviewed here, my time is what is valuable.

 

But I do not want to see rancor develop over how money should be raised. If you do not want to contribute, so be it, you are still welcome here. If you do, Bless you. Eventually, I will have features that will be exclusive to supporters, but the basics of what you see now, including this message center, I think should remain free.

 

Naturally, I will not be able to maintain it if my income does not exceed my expenditures or if the time/value equation does not warrant the commitment.

 

Thank you for your input on this issue. It has been very helpful and enlightening for me.

 

HooBoy

Email: HooBoy@male4malescorts.com