Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Mike Temporale
[*]Free Stuff - Erm... Like?
|
I dunno. Whatta ya got??? I just like free stuff! ;D
Seriously and Respectfully....
I'm ALL for supporting websites that I visit everyday to help pay for server/hosting costs, expenses, etc. I visit this site everyday and would donate on that basis. I already subscribe/donate to a few.
But it also has advertisments, hardware and software stores, etc...in other words...it already generates money for someone. (how much/little is a different story!) Discounts are great but require me to spend additional money to benefit from them, which is generating additional money for someone. The ThoughtsMedia sites are a business, and if I am going to contribute to that income...I'd like to see some additional value for my money.
Giveaways and Contests are great...but you actually have to follow through and give the stuff away eventually.
Double entries to subscribers is a nice idea. When a valuable item is won (like a phone possibly, or SD Media, etc) the subscription then seems well worth the price. Even when someone else wins (which is always the case for me!
) it's still fun and I still see value in that. Especially when you see a familiar, contributing member win...not the one post member. It shows the site is giving back.
Most items can probably be obtained as promotional advertisment from the manufacturer. That fact that someone behind the scenes is working to obtain these items shows the site is working for it's members as well as for it's own promotional interests.
Don't get me wrong. It's not all about "what's in it for me". The site is great and provides a great source of information and entertainment for me. I am thankful for everyone's hard work. I enjoy contributing in the forums and reading the front page news.
You have waited for Smartphones is the US to really break before beginning subscription services on SPT. Waited for it to be worth it, I guess. But if the site is going to start accepting money...respectfully...let's see some harder work here.
- More original and breaking news & reviews. Not just copies of news/reviews from other sites.
- More forum participation from the Mods and Founder helping out users, especially the newbies. (I hate ZERO reply posts.)
- Some incentives/promotion to pump up US development of software, plugins, homescreens, etc for the Smartphone platform. Everything is coming out of the UK & EU. This is the site that could spark the creative juices of our many US developers (hobbyists and professionals).
I mostly troll around Modaco where I help moderate. 2500+ posts there and thousands of page hits which equates to god-only-knows how many hours of mis-spent time. It's great as there are a ton of members, many of whom actually write software, tweaks, plugins, homescreens, etc. Most of the tweaks and tips originate from there. (Grant it, they've had smartphones longer than us). Their forums definitely hold a greater knowledgebase than here. But it is definitely geared toward UK and Europe in some areas when it comes to Carrier/Network support, Location specific software, contests limited to UK eligibility, etc.
I'd really like this site to be the premier US Smartphone website. That's the value for me.
PS. I also think things like homescreens, ringtomes and especially the mobile version of the forums...should all be free.
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
