dropping like stones...

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

On Thu, 13 Dec 2001, David VillaSunscape wrote:

> Gomberg's experience with PAM should be instructive for us. i'm not exactly
> sure what it says, other than the fact that he didn't have any kind of
> backing to be able to withstand the startup phase of an endeavor. Also, the
> fact that his number of subscribers dropped like a stone from the initial
> ones was because the articles were too technical.

I offer an alternate (or perhaps a companion) suggestion on why the
membership dropped. During the first year, membership slowly increased.  
After this point, it started to decline, and in the last six months, it
plummetted.  But what Dave did during this time was to first increase
dues, and then eventually only offer 3-year subscriptions (err, sorry, "12
issue" subscriptions) or other "sample trial issues" options.  If you
checked the website during this time, you wouldn't even be able to figure
out what the subscription rates were.  This is firsthand experience.  
Rather than make things easier and more inviting, he made them difficult
and more prohibitive.

> My basic dollar thoughts are that if we can offset any increase in costs for
> color pages, paying a little for articles and photos, and the like by
> selling advertising, we should be just fine. I also think that when we come
> out with the first issue of the "new TAG" (assuming that the next one is
> going to be the one Erik described) we should also raise our dues to $20. By
> then we will be offering the membership some extras for their membership
> fee -- a bigger better more colorful TAG, back issues of PAM, a regular
> annual convention, who knows what else.

I'm leery of raising the dues so soon after the dryest year we've had for
TAG yet (1999 included).  I would suggest we either try to do this with
advertising, or wait at least a year to "prove" ourselves.  Thanks for
considering this.

  - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com

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