Premium Memberships
 

Guys remember we pay for our bandwith (the site) with the money you guys are paying to be a premium member. You gain access to the gill net and sports bar. Also with a yearly membership you receive $300 salty cash which I need to catch up on because several of you have not been awarded your salty cash, I will do that next week. We only have a handful of sponsors on this site so the folks that are paying for a premium membership keep us running and also allow us to have a tournament and do other things for the members that we do. Lastly, I use to have more drawings for items, I will be starting that back up next week, this drawing is open only to premium members.

I have received two request this last week to cancel your premium membership. When I get a request like this I take it as hey I don't want to support the site anymore. People feel the way they feel but I want to thank those of you that help us keep the lights on.

And for those of you that are premium, go start a rant in the sports bar or gill net. ;)
Regards,

Casey, I am happy to subscribe! THANK YOU for hosting it!!

For those of you that don't subscribe, Its 6$ a month, for the cost of a few beers you get ALLLL THISS!!!

easy peasy on paypal

I don't think all of the fishing info should be free either. There's premium members posting reports on where and how and nonpaying members using the info. All of the fishing discussions and report sections should require a membership. That's just my thoughts on it though.

fishing discussions no, you need that to bring in new members to the site and have the content to keep them here.

it might be a good idea for maybe an "advice from the pros forum" that would require a membership, that would be very tempted for those needing advice trying to learn to be better fishermen.

I also think a nice teaser post every now and then, about "look at what you are missing in the paid membership threads" along with a reminder that its only $6 a month, might help people see why they need to join.

I think people are just so used to everything on the internet being free, that they often need to be convinced why they should join up with memberships

True. Maybe a one month free trial then you have to pay for the fishing stuff. $4 basic membership gets you the fishing info. $8 premium membership gets you everything. I have so much fun with this site and the people on it. It's worth every penny to me.

I bet people would be glad to pay for an "ask a charter guide a question" forum even if it was $1 or $2 or maybe even $5 per question as long as they get "real" answers if you know what I mean.

its hard to get real info that teaches you things instead of being told "google it" or "just go fish and figure it out the patterns yourself" as is often a reply you see to someone asking "basic" novice questions

This is very true and a good point. At the same time it would also mean sc would be asking guides to give free honest advice while sc gets the profit. Granted I want this site to have the $ to keep going. It would be like having a "pay to ask a mechanic forum". I should spend my down time from work answering questions about your truck and do it for free while someone else gets the $. I don't think it's a fair thing to ask of the guides. If someone wants to give advice I think it's great but I don't think they should feel obligated to do so. Obviously that would depend on if they had an arrangement with Casey.

Also (just something to think about) a mulititude of daily/weekly $1/2 transactions to keep up with will add a lot more stress and time needed to keep the books balanced and accurate. Even though it's all electronic at the end their is someone that has to find out why column A and column B don't match up.

what I had in mind was if say, 4 or 5 guides would be willing to pop in and answer a few questions from time to time.

more like a forum column where guys willing to help support the site didn't mind taking a few questions in their spare time. sort of the way moderators volunteer to watch over the forums to help the site. its not for everyone and yes it takes time out of your day but when the stuff is shared by say, 4 or 5 guys, as long as at least one of these guys finds time to check the forum each day, all questions get answered and often several answers from several guys.

it definitely would depend on guys willing to commit a "little" free time every now and then, but I don't think any more time then they already spend on the forums anyway.

im shocked that no one else cares enough to offer any suggestions

Didn't know Casey was appointing a committee to rewrite the structure of the site

We weren't assuming he was but given the nature of his post I don't see the harm in throwing out ideas that could bring extra revenue to the site. If he likes an idea that's good if not that's good too. It's his to do as he wishes.
I apologize if I missed your post where you stated your idea on how to help generate more money to help keep the site going and also help the site have funds to sponsor events. I'm sure it was there but must have overlooked it. ;)

If you missed the sarcasm in that last part I'll gladly explain it to you.

Lol, I was responding at Keakars hack at everyone saying they don't care.


On a side note, if you really want to make money you gotta put Vermilion Bay fishing reports and advice in the paid section. Easily the most resourceful people sharing from that area, and an extremely high demand place for info because the place is so tough to fish if you don't know it - there's no fish in a large part of that place for half the year or better

[emoji41]

If you really want good advice and you want to learn from a guide, book a trip with him and ask him to teach you the lake while showing you some helpful tips and techniques. These guys fish for a living and I don't blame them one bit for not giving out specific info on a website that thousands of people view.

Valid point. I get get what Keakars was saying though. A lot of peeps care to be here as long as it's free. This site has something for everyone. You want to talk about your day at the lake with the kids and people will talk about it with you and how great family time is. You want to show off your tomatoes and peeps are there for that. Show off your new boat and peeps are there. Gill net stuff or sports bar and there are peeps. Maybe not on the same page but they are there.lol.
Monthly fee. Basic $4. Gets everything but premium access. Premium $8 gets what premiums have. Platinum $12. A no holds barred post or link whatever you want section. As long as Its legal activity. This section will need a disclaimer. A free one month basic membership to get new people in. Just a thought.

Yeah that point has been brought up already. They make a livong doing that and should not be onlogated to give out free advice.

This site is a sevice (my opinion) that helps a lot of people in different ways. Met one of my best friends here. Not just a fishing buddy but we adore his family. Ace Archer his wife and their amazing children. If not for this site I would have never met them. I'll pay for that.

YEP, I got owned yesterday!!! VBAY kicked my tail, I was humbled and humiliated on that trip.

I bought a membership about a month ago. I'm always on here so I figured what the heck. It didn't really give me anything extra except access to the Gill Net which no one is hardly posting anything in any way. I think its still important to support the site especially if you use it for entertainment, education, or whatever else.

Well in that case i'll have to give you something new to look at in the gill net. Man when that no rules platinum package comes i'm gona have some fun.

Lol I guess I have to go look at the gill net now

Once football season starts the sports bar gets fun

I'm not so sure about that.

No Salty, no ASR, no Ellis Who QB...

I'm gonna behave this year

What about reduce the membership fee and make it a requirement to access any part of the site.....I'm not a member...that would get me to join...there seems to be no benefit to the member to pay other than that person feels better about themselves.

A$$R will definitely be back for football season

Have you been in the premium section?

This would also nose dive any future members from joining. I wouldn't pay for a site that I couldn't try before.

No, but from what some on this post has said I'm not missing much.....am I wrong?
What am I missing from the premium section?
Not trying to rowl anyone up...Just trying to give my perspective.

On the nose dive of membership if mandatory...what if you were able to get a 3 month free trial?

I like it as is, premium membership is ridiculously cheap entertainment

This post makes you look like a welfare leach. Why put in anything when I can reap the benefits of other peoples money for free.

It is crazy cheap fun. Like I said earlier. One month free trial then a $4 basic membership. $8 premium. $12 platinum membership. Platinum should be a no holds barred 18yr old minimum section :)

The people who use this site (market) will determine if the premium extra site is worth the cost.

I am probably like most users, I get what I want for free. So why pay to get more when I am satisfied with what is free?

Because sponsors and paid members are the reason you get your free stuff. It really looks bad when you openly admit you aren't willing to support the site. It's $6 a month. Really. Just a welfare leach. I'm guessing you don't have a business. It take $ to keep this site going. When paid peeps get tired of supporting free loaders and bail there will be no sc for you to visit. You are a blood sucking leach.

This thread may go premium

Maybe
Sorry but it pisses me off.

At least that would get rid of the free loaders.

For once, I will be one to enjoy what I get from this website for free. I was premium, but the Gill Net and all of those discussions boards provide me with 0 information. I get what I need for free, and I could care less if that pisses someone off.

I am pretty sure there are plenty of freeloaders on this website that offer plenty of information...To say you have never gained knowledge from a user that does not pay would be a strong statement.

Basically you are paying for the ability to talk **** on the internet. To each his own..

You are correct sir. When I first found this site I asked for advice on my first surf fishing trip. I got tons of advice from great people. After that I paid up and still do so. Never said I wasn't on here for free at some point but I soon realized it was something I wanted to support.

Hell yeah cuz talkin sh it on the internet is fun.lol

I've received quality information from this site, and have no qualms with paying for membership, though I hope that change doesn't happen for a month or so. Leaving for school in a week and will have limited monetary resources till late August.

Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

HAHA! Yep I have no business. Just on welfare...

This is a business. Whomever is the owner has his/her free rights to put on the internet anything free or for profit. It is the proprietor's decision.

Now, if the "free" stuff is taken away that is the operator of this web-sites deciscion, but he/she may start losing advertisement revenue. Or the people may decide to pay for this service. That is the risk the operator has to make.

Or the operator can start beating down his cost of bandwidth and such. I did that with my business (or am I on welfare)...

But for you to get bent out of shape by me stating a view from a user that the operator can use to improve his/her product and try to raise revenue isn't good form. So stop :cry:...I like many people are not paying because it really isn't necessary. And the operator is making money off of advertising or should be. That's how facebook, yahoo, linkin and others do it. It's a great business model. I use yahoo and linkin in addition to this and I don't pay for those services.

Now a way to get someone like me to pay money is maybe to offer a free preview to the premium. I may see I like or need it and would be willing to pay. Like I said right now, I get what I want. 5 to 10 minute break a day to see if anyone is catching/killing/playing/etc.

Or even offer a payment plan which a percentage is used for marsh restoration or research on Big Lake or such. Again not my decision, but could be a good time to poll the audience. Market it a little or something.

Like I said talking sh it on the internet is fun. I was just being a sarcastic smartazz and trying to get people talking sh it. Yeah I was trolling. Lol
I agree with you that thongs could be done to help intice people to go premium. I like your idea about a free premium trial. Like you said it ultimately isn't up to us.

BloodKnot there are a couple of very interesting threads in the gill net you will like. Might be a little scared of mine :)

What is the gill net?

Man.....I missed out on all the fun....been stuck in line at da government office.

One question...Does Salty Cajun accept the Louisiana Purchase Card as a form of payment?

I kid I kid

Dude that was funny. Lm ao