Site's Two Years Old--Where From Here?

[GermanS1]

Paul, I don't have any great answers for you but I will second those who have said that this site is a hugely valuable resource. What you've done is to create the only true e-zine for precision shooting oriented people like us. The forums here are a good exchange of information, but the features that you put together are shining examples of firearms journalism at its best. There is no other place where we can get in-depth, unbiased, personal level information on equipment that is out there winning matches like we can find here. The photography is also excellent - icing on an already great cake.

My computer skills are far too limited to suggest what models of payment for content would work best, but I can tell you that whetever you decide, I'll be there as a member.
German Salazar

 

[Forum Boss]

German,

Thanks for the words of support. There is one thing that everybody can do that requires no fees. And that's simply to spread the word. As the site grows, sponsor/advertising revenues can grow commensurately and we can start talking to the bigger players such as Olin, Hornady, Sako/Beretta, Kimber, Cabela's etc.

If each user invites four or five friends to check out the site, within a short time our traffic figures could increase dramatically. That in turn, will entice more sponsors to get on board.

I do think there may be a place for some kind of online store, but perhaps we could just sell discount coupons for mechandise sold by other vendors. Imagine, for example, if for for $10, you could purchase a coupon good for $30 off a Krieger barrel. I've also had discussions with Grafs and MidSouth about creating some special discount status for site regulars.

 

[USAPatriot]

I would like to work out a deal with vendors so that purchasing a "premium membership" would be a no-brainer--e.g. the membership would pay for itself immediately, and could be worth hundreds of dollars to someone buying a couple of actions or multiple barrels.

Something like a coupon book perhaps? Anyone could call a vendor and tell em "I'm a member of 6mmbr.com" and the vendor'd have no way to check. A coupon book would let you control who gets what and the vendor would be assured he wasn't being taken for a ride. The upside is the member has his membership money going out one way and coming right back to him in the coupon book. -Rod-

 

[Forum Boss]

Something like a coupon book perhaps? Anyone could call a vendor and tell em "I'm a member of 6mmbr.com" and the vendor'd have no way to check. A coupon book would let you control who gets what and the vendor would be assured he wasn't being taken for a ride. The upside is the member has his membership money going out one way and coming right back to him in the coupon book. -Rod-

Rod,

Yes, this is exactly what I had in mind--either a coupon book, or perhaps sell individual discount certificates. With the latter, it would be "pay as you go"--you would buy a single certificate if you wanted a barrel, another if you needed a stock etc.

What I'm trying to sort out is how the coupon book,or certificates) could be made unique and not reproduceable. The idea would fail if somebody purchased one certificate then xeroxed them off for all his buddies. Perhaps if they were individually numbered, like travelers checks.

 

[USAPatriot]

Individually numbered would be a good idea and you'd have to keep the vendors apprised of sales so they don't get taken.

I think a coupon book would be the better bet or maybe a single certificate as another option in addition to the book. For most people, their first impulse when ordering a barrel or a scope won't be to swing by here or elsewhere and buy themselves a discount. You can't be awake all the time and a lot of purchases are spur of the moment. They might be valuable as gifts too, maybe moreso than something a person would use for themselves. -Rod-

EDIT: When I was running the Orchid business we sold a lot of gift certificates which I printed myself. None left the house without the recipient's name printed on it and my signature as well. That's every bit as good as a seial number.

 

[Kiwishooter]

From an International participant.
I like a lot of the ideas put forward for raising funds to operate this site.

As one or two have pointed out in previous posts whatever you decide to do has to also be practical for the International participants of this site also.

The idea of a coupon book would add to the cost and delivery times of purchases by International members as they would have to mail the coupon to qualify for the discounted purchase. Where most of these buyers would just use email or phone and there credit card, perhaps an electronic certificate or membership number.

Ian Owen
NZ

 

[sling_n_glove]

I'm new to 6mmBR.com but I've found it to be immensely informative so far. The articles are great and I have found a few gems buried within them here and there. I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay for them as they are though.

I would be quite willing to pay for a good look at the complete and undistilled information that you and your contributors are generating when working out loads, etc. I can get all the opinions I could ever want to hear just by going to the local ranges and chatting with shooters. The problem, however, is that there are voids in what they tell me and it's hard to figure out what exactly I'd like to try just based on talking with them. What would be worth the membership fee is a LARGE collection of cold hard facts - good and bad - that people have discovered in working out accuracy problems. This includes the things people do for loading and cartridge construction and also what works for building rifles that work great. Of course, we'd have to be able to read about what people have done that doesn't work out,so those of us who like to experiment don't reinvent any square wheels).

On top of that, discounts on dies, Krieger barrels and other primo gear would make a membership fee worthwhile.