Keeping Speed Talk Online

[Dave Koehler]

Please see this thread.
https://www.speed-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=55689

My initial thoughts are something along the lines of $20.00 or less per year membership or a one time lifetime fee.
There are enough members that this might be a nice little income for Don's family.
At the very least enough to counter the web host and forum expenses.

Depending on how it is setup this can either be easy or a pain for Beverly to maintain.
Perhaps use something like Patreon or paypal for a low monthly recurring fee.

I don't think advertising will work. One always has to chase down slow or non paying wannabees.
I have not looked into it but I bet in addition for having to make the ads it probably cost more to do so.

If push comes to shove and the logistics and expenses could be figured out someone else like me might possibly host the forum.

[tlowe]

What is the cost of the server and the server company?

[tjs44]

Yenko site is $25 a year.I would have no issue with that for this site.JMO,Tom

[Dave Koehler]

What is the cost of the server and the server company?

Not our business.
I suspect this database takes up a lot of space and the cost is definitely charged by the host based on size.
To get stable operations and server space with multiple backups you use a pro host.
Preferably one that does not accept P**n site customers.
Granted the cost is all over the map based on who the is the host.
I suspect staying with the current host is the best bet based on the past stability.
This is definitely not a Go Daddy situation

[JoePorting]

Beverly might want to try and sell speed talk. It might be worth $100k to some business like Edelbrock or Hotrod magazine. Maybe she should put out a big ad in Hotrod magazine and see if she gets any bites.

[PackardV8]

Yes, Don's family deserves whatever the market will bring.
No, if Speed Talk is sold into the corporate hell, this haven from crappola advertising would be lost forever. We were blessed as long as it lasted.
Maybe, we'll see what happens. FWIW, I thought about it and realized it costs more time and money than a hobby can support.

jack vines

[MadBill]

Some more info here: https://www.speed-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=55725

FWIW, I think with 20,000 members twenty five cents (net) per member per year would more than cover the costs.

[JoePorting]

If everyone paid that would only be about $5000. I doubt that's enough to run a business. I'm guessing there are only 1000 active members. If we paid $20 a year that would be $20k. That might work but will probably still not be enough. Ads might be the only realistic solution.

[JoePorting]

Another option would be to offer a donation address or PayPal link. She might be able to raise $20k to $50k a year just doing that. If donations are falling off she could do a donation drive just like PBS.

[MadBill]

Hi Joe.
Beverly previously shared with me the basic costs of maintaining the site, but I can't find those numbers now, so she appears to have deleted them and in respect of that action I won't quote them, but my previous post is still operative.

No matter; if we can 'exceed the need' any surplus would be a fitting token of our gratitude for Don's great work and no doubt most welcome by his family.

[Baprace]

Another option would be to offer a donation address or PayPal link. She might be able to raise $20k to $50k a year just doing that. If donations are falling off she could do a donation drive just like PBS.

I like the idea that JoePorting had posted, it seems like a simple solution.

[1989TransAm]

I would not mind making a yearly donation to help keep Speed Talk online.

[donforeman]

If everyone paid that would only be about $5000. I doubt that's enough to run a business. I'm guessing there are only 1000 active members. If we paid $20 a year that would be $20k. That might work but will probably still not be enough. Ads might be the only realistic solution.

Not enough to live off of, but way more than just hosting fees and upkeep for a message board cost. I keep trying to buy the book at the top of the page but that will not even load into the shopping cart. I would think that selling products would generate income too. Referral commissions from adsense and other sites as posted above can actually generate a lot of what is needed.

[donforeman]

I don't think advertising will work. One always has to chase down slow or non paying wannabees.

Not if you make them pay in advance.

[Adger Smith]

If it gets to be too much for Beverly I would not mind taking over Don's passion for this site.
I'm semi retired, Rich, Famous and good looking. I bet one of those is a requirement... Yea, Pick one or two.. LOL!